Worth it to get drinks at specialty restaurants but not eat?

[weirtdnr]

Hi all,

 

My fiance and I are going on the Apex sailing leaving from Fort Lauderdale on Dec 23. We are staying in Aqua class and I've read that Blu can get busy/filled and require a wait for dinner at times. I was wondering if it's possible (and worth it) to go get some drinks around the ship at the specialty restaurants. I saw they have some special cocktails and I assume there are some exclusive wines/beers at some, so we figured going to those to kill time might not be a bad idea. Thoughts?

 

Also, any advice in general for this sailing is welcome! I went on the Celebrity Equinox back in 2017, but it seems a bunch of things have changed in the past 5 years.

 

Thanks in advance!

[SbbquilterUT]

There is a bar just outside of Eden restaurant - music playing and watching sunset in that space was so nice and it is close to Blu.  I do not recall a bar in either Fine Cut or Raw on 5.  

[George C]

I don’t think blu will be a issue , there is a really nice bar very close to blu , Eden which many times have live music and has a great ocean view . Specialty restaurants really don’t have special drinks.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Except for the bar at Eden, which is above the restaurant and not part of it, the Specialty restaurants don't have bars. If you go to dinner at one you can order a drink and it will most likely come from a nearby bar.  If you see something on a menu that you want to try see if you can order it from a bar.

[Peteymil]

I haven’t had to wait for a table in Blu in a very long time and then it was only 10 minutes. 

[weirtdnr]

Awesome thanks so much for the advice, everyone! That's super helpful. This is our first time doing Aqua class and we're very excited for the perks.

[ETHTrader]

It's been challenging to get reservations at specialty restaurants on Edge class ships (Apex, Beyond) in the past month even for the suite guests. Your cruise being in the week of Xmas, my guess is that reservations will be hard to come by and I don't think they will let you occupy a table just for specialty drinks (without dinner reservation)

Edited December 15, 2022 by ETHTrader

[LGW59]

39 minutes ago, ETHTrader said:

It's been challenging to get reservations at specialty restaurants on Edge class ships (Apex, Beyond) in the past month even for the suite guests. Your cruise being in the week of Xmas, my guess is that reservations will be hard to come by and I don't think they will let you occupy a table just for specialty drinks (without dinner reservation)

Nor should they, esp when there are so many wonderful non-restaurant locations to get a drink

[cruisestitch]

45 minutes ago, ETHTrader said:

It's been challenging to get reservations at specialty restaurants on Edge class ships (Apex, Beyond) in the past month even for the suite guests. Your cruise being in the week of Xmas, my guess is that reservations will be hard to come by and I don't think they will let you occupy a table just for specialty drinks (without dinner reservation)

Correct.  You cannot just go in for a drink.  They are dining venues.  With steep cover charges.

[miched]

I asked if I could order a drink and not dine in Sushi and was told that it is a restaurant and not a bar.   Denied.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Edited December 16, 2022 by miched

[Cruise a holic]

22 hours ago, weirtdnr said:

Awesome thanks so much for the advice, everyone! That's super helpful. This is our first time doing Aqua class and we're very excited for the perks.

I would suggest that you consider a few dinners in the Specialty restaurants.  You will be glad you did!

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

21 hours ago, ETHTrader said:

It's been challenging to get reservations at specialty restaurants on Edge class ships (Apex, Beyond) in the past month even for the suite guests. Your cruise being in the week of Xmas, my guess is that reservations will be hard to come by and I don't think they will let you occupy a table just for specialty drinks (without dinner reservation)

 

And if they did, I'd expect them to NOT waive the specialty restaurant cover charge and to charge them for drinks just as if they were dining in the restaurant.

[PRH]

I wonder if it’s possible to order the specialty drink in Blu if you knew the name and restaurant?  We’ve had sommeliers go out of their way to make something happen.  The worst that could happen is”no.”

[LGW59]

1 minute ago, PRH said:

I wonder if it’s possible to order the specialty drink in Blu if you knew the name and restaurant?  We’ve had sommeliers go out of their way to make something happen.  The worst that could happen is”no.”

I suppose they could if they had the ingredients readily available.  But just because they can/will go out of their way to please a guest, I'd not make then run all over the ship to find a bar with the ingredients when I could easily get the drink later after dinner.  Easy for me to say as I do not drink LOL.

[DMS1]

On the Apex last June, a group of 4 met in the Raw on 4, around 6 pm, we had some of their specialty drinks and ordered a few appetizers, the food was a la carte. Drinks on the card.

The restaurant was not busy at that time and we were welcomed there. And the food/drinks were yummy.