First Time Celebrity & Blu

[Fergusdog]

We are booked in Aqua Class on our first X cruise. I'm a little confused about the seating times and how it relates to Blu (past cruises all on NCL, so no set dining times). If we book an early seating, does that apply to Blu as well or is Blu anytime seating all the time? Any information would be helpful.

[chemmo]

You will love Celebrity, I am sure. Blu is open dining, rarely any waits although at key times 7.30ish you may wait a few minutes.

[dkjretired]

We are booked in Aqua Class on our first X cruise. I'm a little confused about the seating times and how it relates to Blu (past cruises all on NCL, so no set dining times). If we book an early seating, does that apply to Blu as well or is Blu anytime seating all the time? Any information would be helpful.

 

Blu is anytime seating all the time and is your designated dining room, you do not have a seat reserved for you in the MDR. With that being said, when you choose your dining options, make sure you pick a traditional dining time. I know this makes no sense but if you don't pick a time the computer make you pre pay gratuities because it will show up as Select dining. When you arrive at the ship there will be a letter which explains the anytime dining in Blu and requests the first night you come at the traditional time. You may just ignore this and go whenever you want. Again, do not pick Select Dining.

[flames9]

for bookings, they make u pick a seating time..but that's a celebrity computer issue. No reservations in BLU.....1 can stay smart casual even on formal nights--or dress up if u wish..either way you will be fine...

[Fergusdog]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful!

[true45]

We are booked in Aqua Class on our first X cruise. I'm a little confused about the seating times and how it relates to Blu (past cruises all on NCL, so no set dining times). If we book an early seating, does that apply to Blu as well or is Blu anytime seating all the time? Any information would be helpful.

 

 

Blu is no-set seating time

You can ignore your early or late seating that many find on their website reservation

 

Also, when you board you may find a letter with a suggested dining time for the first night at Blu. It us just a suggestion. We just went to dinner on our original plan. On any night, we never had to wait more than a minute or so

 

Don't miss the breakfasts

 

Happy sailing

Linda

[Jane2357]

What is the opening and closing time of Blu? If you arrive towards the end is there a rush to get you in and out?

[luv2cruisecats]

What is the opening and closing time of Blu? If you arrive towards the end is there a rush to get you in and out?

 

They always have some stragglers and we have seen no evidence of trying to rush you. Blu is fantastic and best to find a head waiter you like and then always ask to be seated in their section; you will be amazed at the service.

[TeaBag]

We did find Blu closed after 9AM. It was disappointing. We like the breakfast.

[smojeo]

We, too, will be dining in Blu for the first time, and, frankly, are a bit worried we won't like the menu. If Blu is not to our liking, can we go to the MDR?

[true45]

We, too, will be dining in Blu for the first time, and, frankly, are a bit worried we won't like the menu. If Blu is not to our liking, can we go to the MDR?

 

 

Yes but ask the maitre d to arrange this for you

 

We did not like the dinner menus much

[keesar]

What is the opening and closing time of Blu? If you arrive towards the end is there a rush to get you in and out?

 

Breakfast is usually 8 to 9:30 am

Dinner is 5:45 to 9:30 pm.

 

We have never been rushed. Enjoy.

[Wiltonian]

Breakfast is usually 8 to 9:30 am

Dinner is 5:45 to 9:30 pm.

 

We have never been rushed. Enjoy.

 

We found that breakfast times in Blu on Equinox varied between sea days and port days,

 

Stuart

[cynbar]

We, too, will be dining in Blu for the first time, and, frankly, are a bit worried we won't like the menu. If Blu is not to our liking, can we go to the MDR?

 

The answer is yes but there may be different ways the ship works this out. First step is to speak with the maitre d' in Blu. He will check re: where there is room for you. MDR dining has 3 choices and each is capacity controlled: Select, early Traditional and late Traditional. Select makes the most sense, but if it is very popular on your cruise, you may be asked to arrive at a certain time and then be added to a table in one of the traditional seatings.

[ozark74]

Breakfast is usually 8 to 9:30 am

Dinner is 5:45 to 9:30 pm.

 

We have never been rushed. Enjoy.

 

Breakfast in BLU starts at 0730 to 0900.

[calicakes]

The answer is yes but there may be different ways the ship works this out. First step is to speak with the maitre d' in Blu. He will check re: where there is room for you. MDR dining has 3 choices and each is capacity controlled: Select, early Traditional and late Traditional. Select makes the most sense, but if it is very popular on your cruise, you may be asked to arrive at a certain time and then be added to a table in one of the traditional seatings.

 

 

 

You can also order WHATEVER you want from the MDR and they will bring it up to Blu. I always get shrimp cocktail or french onion soup. In the morning, I ask for grits( which are not available in Blu).

[20pluscruises]

We did find Blu closed after 9AM. It was disappointing. We like the breakfast.

 

I believe 9:00 am on port days and 9:30 am at sea days.

[cruisestitch]

Getting food from the MDR menu if you are dining in Blu might be easier on the M-class ships where the MDR and Blu share a kitchen. On S-class ships, Blu is quite far from the MDR and diners have been told that they cannot get items from the MDR there. You can always ask.

[vivi9909]

Getting food from the MDR menu if you are dining in Blu might be easier on the M-class ships where the MDR and Blu share a kitchen. On S-class ships, Blu is quite far from the MDR and diners have been told that they cannot get items from the MDR there. You can always ask.

 

We tried once to order something from MDR in Blu during a Bermuda cruise on the Summit (M-Class ship) and we were told it was not allowed "to prevent cross-contamination".

[dkjretired]

We tried once to order something from MDR in Blu during a Bermuda cruise on the Summit (M-Class ship) and we were told it was not allowed "to prevent cross-contamination".

 

They used to do it on a regular basis but appear to be getting away from it on all class ships.

[UniPac]

We are booked in Aqua Class on our first X cruise. I'm a little confused about the seating times and how it relates to Blu (past cruises all on NCL, so no set dining times). If we book an early seating, does that apply to Blu as well or is Blu anytime seating all the time? Any information would be helpful.

 

So now you learned that you can come anytime you want, mostly without the waiting time you might have with Select dining in MDR.

If you want to go to the MDR, just show up, let them know that you normally eat in Blu and they will be happy to find a seat for you - worked for us without any problems.

 

If you are interested in the blu menus, check the link in my signature.

[cruisestitch]

Sorry but that is bad advice. Please do not go to the MDR and "just show up".

 

If you are in Aqua Class your dining room assignment is BLU.

 

If you want to try the MDR one night, please discuss with the BLU Maitre'D, who will see if they can accommodate you, this would be on a space available basis.

 

If you "just show up" you would be taking a space that a diner who paid for Select Dining might need. On many cruises, Select Dining is actually oversold and passengers who have that as their dining assignment are being asked to wait for a table. Having guests from Blu just exacerbates that situation. After all, guests from the MDR can't just go to Blu to balance things out.

 

If you want to try the MDR, it might be that the Maitre D can make an arrangement for you to dine at one of the fixed dining times. Or perhaps you can be allowed into the Select area. But you should ask, and make the proper arrangements.

 

It might have worked for the previous poster with no problems, but that really isn't the way to do it.

[ChucktownSteve]

We tried once to order something from MDR in Blu during a Bermuda cruise on the Summit (M-Class ship) and we were told it was not allowed "to prevent cross-contamination".

 

So if I understand you correctly, the MDR kitchen is contaminated? :eek:

[WestLakeGirl]

If you're assigned to the Aqua Class dining room and don't want to eat there, be sure to make arrangements for your gratuity to be transferred, you shouldn't just go to the ding room without making sure there will be room for you and that its ok with the Main Dining room management, the best way to do this is to talk to the Blu staff first

[calicakes]

If you're assigned to the Aqua Class dining room and don't want to eat there, be sure to make arrangements for your gratuity to be transferred, you shouldn't just go to the ding room without making sure there will be room for you and that its ok with the Main Dining room management, the best way to do this is to talk to the Blu staff first

 

 

I think Blu is one of the best perks of AQ. They are not open for lunch, only breakfast and dinner so you can always eat in the MDR for lunch. Once again, you can have your BLU waiter bring you anything you want from MDR.