question about aqua class and dining options

[martini girl]

I have just booked an aqua class on the reflection for next year and was told by the travel company that we have to eat in Blu and if we want to eat in the main dining room we have to make arrangements with the maitre-d. Is this true and what is the menu like in Blu? Can you get any of the dishes offered in the main dining room and what options do you have for breakfast? I appreciate any input

[neverbeenhere]

arrangements - yes you will need to do that.

 

Search BLU MENUS for...

[cruisestitch]

When you book Aqua, Blu is your dining room for dinner.

 

You can go to the MDR or Blu or Aqua Spa Cafe or buffet for breakfast.

[Cruise a holic]

I have just booked an aqua class on the reflection for next year and was told by the travel company that we have to eat in Blu and if we want to eat in the main dining room we have to make arrangements with the maitre-d. Is this true and what is the menu like in Blu? Can you get any of the dishes offered in the main dining room and what options do you have for breakfast? I appreciate any input

 

You can have breakfast at any venue- you are not limited to Blu. For dinner, you can dine in any speciality restaurant for a fee. The reason most people take Blu is so that they can dine (especially dinner) in blu. The food is supposed to be "clean". Less gravies, etc. If you aren't interested in having dinner in Blu, save your money and book a balcony cabin and go to a few speciality restaurants- which IMO are much better then Blu.

 

 

With Aqua class, you do get some other perks- bottled water in your cabin, cold tea which I didn't ever drink as we didn't enjoy the taste, canapes in the afternoon which aren't very good- and some fancy bottles of shampoo, conditioner, etc. Your shower has sprays which some people like also.

 

You also have access to the persian garden- which is hot stone beds, a sauna and steam room. If you are interested in the "points to get to Elite or higher" either cc or aqua class offer additional credit for the cruise.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Miaminice]

1) You don't HAVE TO do anything :) You are on a cruise!

 

2) You will probably love BLU. Great Food, nice ambiance. For most it is THE reason to book Aqua Class.

 

3) If you feel like dining at the MDR, you just go to the Select Dining floor and ask for a table. Simple as that...

 

We just got back from the Holy Land Cruise on the beautiful Silhouette. On formal night we felt like going to MDR. The night before we asked the BLU maitre if we had to make any arrangements... Simple answer: No, you just go there and give them your stateroom number...

 

Booking Aqua you have the privilege to eat in BLU - not the obligation ;)

[Sloop-JohnB]

I have just booked an aqua class on the reflection for next year and was told by the travel company that we have to eat in Blu and if we want to eat in the main dining room we have to make arrangements with the maitre-d. Is this true and what is the menu like in Blu? Can you get any of the dishes offered in the main dining room and what options do you have for breakfast? I appreciate any input

 

Indeed Blu is the Dining Room for Aqua Class Pax... It is designed for "cleaner / healthier" eating... Which is sort of the whole idea of Aqua Class... A healthier lifestyle in coordination with the Spa etc (although realistically, I think people book Aqua Class for a variety of reasons... Some for the Blu DR, some for the Spa options, and some because of the Stateroom Amenities / location etc)

 

As far as eating elsewhere...

 

Blu is only your designated spot for Dinner *

 

Rest of the day you have a full range of options... MDR (open everyday for Breakfast & Lunch on Sea Days) - Buffet (open around the clock... Although items are more limited between meal times) - Aqua Spa Cafe (located near the Spa, and open for Breakfast & Lunch) - Mast Grill (located near the Pool, and open for Lunch and all afternoon) - Cafe al Bacio & Gelateria (serving up complimentary sweets).

 

All of the above are FREE for everyone... With just Cafe al Bacio having pay for premium hot bevvys (this is Celebrity's answer to Starbucks... High end Coffees & Teas... Hot or Cold)

 

In addition there are the Secialty Dining Restaurants (the charge varies by venue from $ 5 to $ 50 per person) ... Bistro on 5 is open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. The rest are open for Dinner (and Lunch on Sea Days)

 

In ALL cases... Opening Hours are always published in the daily Celebrity Today Newsletter which is delivered to your cabin.

 

For more info on all the Celebrity Dining Options, and which Specialty Dining venues will be on your ship see the listing on Celebrity's Website:

 

Celebrity - Restaurants & Cafes = http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/cruise-restaurants

 

* Blu Dining Room vs MDR... For more info on how this works for the situation you are inquiring about, I suggest you take a look at this recent topic:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=44470228

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers!

Edited October 24, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[martini girl]

thanks to everyone that responded

[cruisestitch]

Miaminice wrote: "If you feel like dining at the MDR, you just go to the Select Dining floor and ask for a table. Simple as that.."

 

That may have worked on the cruise they were on, but it isn't generally the best advice.

 

You should coordinate with the Blu staff who will tell you what is available for you if you want to go to the MDR.

 

It may be that Select Dining is full, or even overbooked. By going there instead of your assigned dining room, it puts more pressure on that space (and remember, the people from the MDR can't just go to Blu to "balance it out" unless they are in a Suite). People who want Select may be told that there is a 10 or 15 or 30 minute wait, and having someone come in from Blu just complicates that for the staff and for those who signed up for Select.

 

So, you might be told that you would need to go to one of the two Traditional Dining times in order to eat in the MDR.

 

And, by letting the Blu staff know that you won't be eating there, you might be freeing up a space for a Suite passenger. They can only eat in Blu on a "space available" basis.

 

And further "Booking Aqua you have the privilege to eat in BLU - not the obligation" is not entirely accurate. Blu is the assigned dining room for Aqua guests. To eat elsewhere might take some adjustment.

Edited October 24, 2014 by cruisestitch

[wallie5446]

I have just booked an aqua class on the reflection for next year and was told by the travel company that we have to eat in Blu and if we want to eat in the main dining room we have to make arrangements with the maitre-d. Is this true and what is the menu like in Blu? Can you get any of the dishes offered in the main dining room and what options do you have for breakfast? I appreciate any input

 

The number 1 reason folks book a Aqua level cabin is to dine in Blu, and #2 is to have open access to the Gardens. Other than that there is no reason to spend the extra $$ as the cabins are the same 194 sq ft,as any other balcony cabin on the ship.

 

Sounds like the travel co sold you the cabin that makes them the highest commission:(

 

ps: on our upcoming cruise the difference between our 1A and Aqua was $1100.00 per person more for the Aqua cabin just to dine in Blu.!

Edited October 24, 2014 by wallie5446

[ECCruise]

 

ps: on our upcoming cruise the difference between our 1A and Aqua was $1100.00 per person more for the Aqua cabin just to dine in Blu.!

 

Can relate. One of our bookings was 2000 extra for AQ, the other 1800.

 

Not. Uncertain who would be paying those premiums.

[attilamom1217]

We have never paid more than $200 per person difference over least expensive balcony for Aqua Class. We probably never will.

 

That said Blu us wonderful. DH was reluctant to try it but he loved it and we ate all of our dinners and half our breakfasts there.

 

 

 

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[cynbar]

Dining slots on Celebrity are capacity controlled. If you are in AQ, you are assigned to Blu for dinner. Other passengers choose between Select Dining, Early Traditional or Late Traditional. Sometimes one or all of these are heavily booked, making it harder to just "drop in." All reports say that if Blu diners want to try the MDR, they are supposed to go to the Blu Maitre D', and he will help with arrangements. Sometimes he may tell them to go right to Select, but there have been reports when Blu diners were told Select is full. Then, they were usually directed to an empty table in either Early or Late Traditional. But in general, AQ cruisers are expected to eat most of their dinners in Blu. The OP may want to look at the menus in Blu --- if it doesn't seem that they will want to eat there, they probably should book another category since all balcony cabins are the same size.

[dabear]

IMHO the food in Blu was superior to MDR. if the price is right , go for it!