First time for AquaClass - Question about Blue

[marieps]

Tami, may I ask what ship you're on?  If E class, there will be no "window tables" from which to chose as Blu is in an interior (inferior)  location.  None the less, you'll have a great time, and don't forget about breakfast.  It's one of the MANY benefits of the Blu experience.

[mrgabriel]

2 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

 

Thanks for letting me know, so we won't be surprised.  Hopefully the wait won't be too bad.  What's the best time?  I doubt we will come when they open.  I guess if the line is too long we could always hit the buffet unless there is something on the menu one of us really wants.  

 

 

This will be my first time cruising with my two friends, so I don't know when they will want to eat.  I doubt we will get there when they open though.  Typically on land, we don't eat early.  While I would prefer the same waiter each night, it won't stop me from enjoying dinner and having a great time.

 

We've found it to be busy around 7 pm every day. On days when you've been in a port, it can be very busy about 90 minutes after the ship leaves port - especially if it's a later departure. It seems like a lot of people get back onboard then have a shower and go out.

 

They will do their best to put you at a seat in your server's section. Blu is small enough that if you wind up in another section, your server will usually come by to say hello.  

[mrgabriel]

2 hours ago, TeaBag said:

We are early diners also and we line up hoping to get a window table.  Our last cruise there were 3 couples who must have come down really early and they took 3 of the 5 window tables.  That left only the two on the banquettes, (where we usually sat) one at each end of the room.  We did get the same waiter who remembered us from another cruise.  I would think if you came later, your chance of getting the same waiter each night would not be so good.

It's been our experience that we don't always get a window table even if we're the first people there. Sometimes there has been an open table at the window and we're seated one row in. And if your server's window tables are all full you may wind up elsewhere.

 

Just managing expectations 🙂 For us, a table anywhere in Blu (or Luminae!) is a treat. 

[NCteacherlovescruising]

1 hour ago, marieps said:

Tami, may I ask what ship you're on?  If E class, there will be no "window tables" from which to chose as Blu is in an interior (inferior)  location.  None the less, you'll have a great time, and don't forget about breakfast.  It's one of the MANY benefits of the Blu experience.

We will be on the Reflection. I will be sure to check out their breakfast, thanks!

 

26 minutes ago, mrgabriel said:

 

We've found it to be busy around 7 pm every day. On days when you've been in a port, it can be very busy about 90 minutes after the ship leaves port - especially if it's a later departure. It seems like a lot of people get back onboard then have a shower and go out.

 

They will do their best to put you at a seat in your server's section. Blu is small enough that if you wind up in another section, your server will usually come by to say hello.  

So we should try to get there a little before 7? 
 

24 minutes ago, mrgabriel said:

Depending on the ship, you may or may not be able to get all main dining room items in Blu. This comes down to logistics. On some of the ships, the main dining room is not really close so for the servers to have to run to the main kitchen can be difficult to manage. 

 

Do you know if it’s possible on the Reflection? 
 

20 minutes ago, mrgabriel said:

It's been our experience that we don't always get a window table even if we're the first people there. Sometimes there has been an open table at the window and we're seated one row in. And if your server's window tables are all full you may wind up elsewhere.

 

Just managing expectations 🙂 For us, a table anywhere in Blu (or Luminae!) is a treat. 

 

I’m with you. I don’t really care where we sit, although I’d prefer not being right on top of another group. 

[AstoriaPreppy]

2 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

This will be my first time cruising with my two friends, so I don't know when they will want to eat.  I doubt we will get there when they open though.  Typically on land, we don't eat early. 

 

TBH, a lot of AquaClass diners tend to eat early. We're in our 30s/40s and never had issues getting a table for two (usually near the windows) going for dinner at 8 or 8:30. Also, you should ask your friends what time they like to eat so there's no surprises onboard. 

 

13 minutes ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

Do you know if it’s possible on the Reflection? 

 

From my experience, you can absolutely order off the MDR menu in Blu on Solstice-class ships (like Reflection). Escargot as an app every day!

[Mike45LC]

I guess that the average diner takes about 90 minutes to order and finish the meal.  Assuming that Blu opens at 5:30, the first rush of diners will be leaving around 7:00 p.m.  Tables that these early diners vacate should be available for the second seating at 7:15 to 7:30. 

 

My wife prefers to dine around 6:30 p.m., but this is not a good time, because all the tables are still full with the crowd from the opening rush.  

 

[Silent Penguin]

8 hours ago, NC State said:

Thank you for asking, we will also be on our first Celebrity cruise in 9 days!  

I hope you have a great time!  We just took our first Celebrity cruise  last month. It was a big change after several cruises on family-focused fun ships.   Aqua Class  was sold out last time,  so we're pretty excited about trying it this time.   

Edited December 13, 2022 by Silent Penguin

[Silent Penguin]

On 12/11/2022 at 4:17 PM, NCteacherlovescruising said:

My friends and I decided to upgrade to AquaClass, since the price difference isn't much for our sailing anymore.  (We were in CC)  We had reservations every night in the MDR, which I canceled.  Will we need reservations for Blue or is it pretty easy to just walk in and get a table?  

Thanks for asking about this.  . There's a lot of helpful information in this thread.

[DallasCruiseCouple]

On 12/11/2022 at 7:51 PM, keesar said:

We always cruise in Blu and we do not get the same waiter every night.  A lot may depend on the maitre'.

That was the case on Edge. We ate at different times based on the show schedule and the evening activities. They have so much to do on the Edge that the entire night gets filled pretty quick with dinner, show, silent disco, martini bar show and the amazing singers in the Grand Atrium!

[kwokpot]

2 hours ago, DallasCruiseCouple said:

Who is the dining Director? We met the Hotel Manager on Edge (Danuta) but I would hate to bother her to look at menu's. I believe the people selling specialty dining on level 5 have each MDR menu. It might be easier to do that versus tracking down a Dining Director (which I think is different for every restaurant).

You do realize the nightly menus are on the phone app?

[DallasCruiseCouple]

3 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

You do realize the nightly menus are on the phone app?

I do realize that the app  is quirky and it was having trouble on the ship. Even our debarkation was a mess because the app did not work correctly. So, we never needed to see the menu since we enjoyed Blu. 🙂 For other people that don't want to use the app or if it doesn't work correctly then going to the guys on level 5 should help you to see the menus. Plus you pass them every day on the way to Oceanview!

[marieps]

1 hour ago, DallasCruiseCouple said:

I do realize that the app  is quirky and it was having trouble on the ship. Even our debarkation was a mess because the app did not work correctly. So, we never needed to see the menu since we enjoyed Blu. 🙂 For other people that don't want to use the app or if it doesn't work correctly then going to the guys on level 5 should help you to see the menus. Plus you pass them every day on the way to Oceanview!

On our last cruise a diner asked for both the MDR menu and the regular menu each night.  It was not an issue.  Blu on Reflex Deck 5 is close enough to the main galley to get your escargot and French onion soup piping hot.

 

We're talking a lot about Blu, but do not forget your unlimited access to the Persian Garden.  You can enjoy a steam, the cold room, an herbal sauna and of course the heated ceramic loungers.   Only AQ guests get unlimited access.  It's a nice benefit.

[Mike45LC]

6 minutes ago, marieps said:

.We're talking a lot about Blu, but do not forget your unlimited access to the Persian Garden.  You can enjoy a steam, the cold room, an herbal sauna and of course the heated ceramic loungers.   Only AQ guests get unlimited access.  It's a nice benefit.

The OP specifically asked about Blu, not about Aqua Class in general.  So of course, most of the replies were about Blu.

[kwokpot]

Just now, kwokpot said:

This is an extremely precise process because even one mistake or wrong day booked can ruin a cruise, you have to be perfect with your time of dinner booking, just the right day away from MDR and just the proper speciality dinning for thst set time/day, it's a massive operation which to an expert cruiser stretches the dollar of the trip to the ultimate level.

I'm an expert cruiser (101 cruises, Elite+ Celebrity; Diamond+ Royal; Diamond Carnival; Platinum NCL ) and if I'm interpreting your screen name correctly also a comped casino cruiser sailing exclusively on comped casino cruises for at least the last 10 years, so I know what I'm talking about. 

[marieps]

1 hour ago, Mike45LC said:

The OP specifically asked about Blu, not about Aqua Class in general.  So of course, most of the replies were about Blu.

Indeed, but as she is clearly new to AQ if may be to her benefit to be reminded of her PG access.

[kwokpot]

11 minutes ago, Mike45LC said:

Living in Las Vegas, we have been offered free cruises by MGM, Station Casinos and other casino groups every year for many years.  We are also invited by both Princess and Celebrity.  We often do not find the offers worth accepting, because the upgrade costs are often too high and/or the ship/itinerary selections are not great for us.  And there is only so much time we can take off from work -- I need to keep earning lots of money to keep paying for all of the gaming (and cruise upgrades)!

 

But I find nothing strange or unbelievable about KwokPot's assertions.  

 

We're not picky when it comes to cabins. Having said that last year was the first time we sailed in Retreat class comped (having never sailed in a suite on a cruiseship on any cruiseline) and we were definitely spoiled! If you live in Vegas then you certainly know that there's LOTS & lots of people that make use of the whole gambling comps system. 

[radarcruiser]

We’ve done Aqua Class on several cruises and have always had great experiences in Blu.  We are going on a longer cruise on Infinity next month and are in Aqua.  Found out we have some long lost friends going on the same cruise, but they are not in Aqua.  What are the chances we could drag them along with us a night or two to BLU, with an appropriate “accommodation” donated to the Maitre’d, of course?

[Northern Aurora]

6 hours ago, radarcruiser said:

We’ve done Aqua Class on several cruises and have always had great experiences in Blu.  We are going on a longer cruise on Infinity next month and are in Aqua.  Found out we have some long lost friends going on the same cruise, but they are not in Aqua.  What are the chances we could drag them along with us a night or two to BLU, with an appropriate “accommodation” donated to the Maitre’d, of course?

 

Celebrity is actually very strict about non Aqua passengers joining Aqua passengers in Blu.  Luminae has set prices for non-suite passengers joining Suite passengers in Luminae, but not so for Blu.  An "accommodation" donated to the Blu Maitre'd will  get you nowhere.

[marieps]

7 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

Celebrity is actually very strict about non Aqua passengers joining Aqua passengers in Blu.  Luminae has set prices for non-suite passengers joining Suite passengers in Luminae, but not so for Blu.  An "accommodation" donated to the Blu Maitre'd will  get you nowhere.

I didn't know a non-suite guest could pay to dine in Luminae.  How much is it?  We're in the Retreat next week and should we meet a couple who'd like to dine with us It would be an option.

[RedIguana]

On 12/11/2022 at 4:58 PM, miched said:

Having a table for 2 is one of the reasons we like AQ.  When dining in a land based restaurant does any ever request sitting with other diners?

It is quite common when out for teppanyaki. So about 6 times a year for me. They usually try and fill up all seats.

[CruiserFromMaine]

We really like Aqua class for dining in Blu. The food is very good and is the service. You can ask to get the same server each night and that can probably be arranged with the Maitre D. The wine service is very good too. 
 

We haven’t sailed on Edge class though, only S class and one on Summit in Aqua class. We were in a suite pre-Revolution on Equinox and while Luminae was excellent the upcharge from Aqua to a suite doesn’t seem worth it. Maybe post-Revolution we’d feel differently. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

Some Blu datapoints based on my recent experiences; disclaimer, things can change at any time

- Overall operations vary by ship

- You can always order off the MDR for “timeless classics”, greatly varies with ordering the rotating items with generally the S-class being restrictive

- During dinner server it’s rare that you’ll be dealing with the actual M’D as they’ll be making rounds speaking to customers; usually the assistant M’D is manning the host stand

- Opening operations vary, on the Millie, dinner service starts at 530pm but they open the doors at 5pm…From 5-530 they’ll usually take orders and provide water and bread until 530…This wasn’t the case on the Solstice

- M-Class can get busy quick, if you want 630-730, you’ll probably need to wait

 

[NCteacherlovescruising]

3 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Some Blu datapoints based on my recent experiences; disclaimer, things can change at any time

- Overall operations vary by ship

- You can always order off the MDR for “timeless classics”, greatly varies with ordering the rotating items with generally the S-class being restrictive

- During dinner server it’s rare that you’ll be dealing with the actual M’D as they’ll be making rounds speaking to customers; usually the assistant M’D is manning the host stand

- Opening operations vary, on the Millie, dinner service starts at 530pm but they open the doors at 5pm…From 5-530 they’ll usually take orders and provide water and bread until 530…This wasn’t the case on the Solstice

- M-Class can get busy quick, if you want 630-730, you’ll probably need to wait

 

We'll be on the Reflection, so S-class.  What do you mean about it being restrictive?  

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 minute ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

We'll be on the Reflection, so S-class.  What do you mean about it being restrictive?  

As the bullet stated…

 

Can order the MDR timeless classics.  Might not able to order the MDR rotating items.  If you really want to know, you should go ask in a reflection rollcall