Aqualina Wine Paring Beware

[ronbetty2001]

We just completed our April 26th cruise on the Quest roundtrip to Rome Italy. First I would like to say that it was a wonderful cruise. The ship, the crew, and the ports everything was perfect. We traveled with the best set of passengers ever, made friends we hope to keep for years to come. But, there is always a but I guess, there was one thing I must point out.

I had set up the dinner in the Aqualina restaurant for a special night for the four of us traveling together. My wife and I had done the Wine Paring (wine is served with every course, wine matching the menu) on the Summit a few years ago and it was such a wonderful experience that we wanted to do it again. The cost $60.00 per person with a limited menu with only two choices, same as on the Summit.

The differences:

The Summit gave us 2 waiters who never left the table, who interacted with us, escorted the ladies to the restroom etc. The Quest had two waiters working up to 3 to 4 tables, no personal attention. Must admit waiters were good, but over worked.

The Summit had a wine somilar (can't spell it) who explained all the wine choices to us and let us have a second glass if we liked one. The Quest gave us a so called wine steward (who was just training) who really didn’t know anything about the wine being served. If you asked for a little more wine we were told they’d have to charge for the extra glass.

The Summit food was in deed special, it tasted better and of higher quality then the dinning room. The Quest there appeared to be no difference in food or quality just a smaller dining room.

In all it was NOT an experience just a dinner in a smaller dining room with some wine thrown in. I know that the Quest is a smaller ship and if they can not match the style of the larger ship they should remove this type of dinner from their menu listings as it is NOT up to pare with the Summit. Or they should lower the cost to be more in line with what it really is.

I had one of the restaurant staff ask me later about my dinner and I told them about this and they said to please let the company know as they felt the same way about the Wine Paring Experience Dinner. So I was out $240.00 for the four of us and VERY, VERY Disappointed. If you have had the Wine Paring on Celebrity you know what I am talking about. If you have not tried it, please do, it is an experience I’m sure you'll remember for a long time. Just DO NOT do it on the Quest for it is not worth it. It fact I had reservations in Prime C for another night and instead just went to the main dinning room that night as I felt it was more fun and the food just as good in the so called Specialty Dinning room.. I will be writing to Celebrity soon about this.

[cruiseyguy]

ronbetty-Unfortunately, your wine pairing experience on Quest is typical of most wine pairings in restaurants and your Summit experience was the exception. There have been several articles recently in wine and food publications about wine pairings becoming a cliche and an opportunity for restaurants to "unload" inferior wines. Treasure your memories from the Summit experience but don't count on duplicating it elsewhere. Trust your own judgement and order a bottle of wine you think you would like, not one the restaurant wants you to drink.

[Wirral]

We did the wine pairing on Constellation and it was so brilliant we did it again on the second week of our voyage. Just as brilliant second time around. Yes I did get escorted to the toilet and felt like royalty. Service was wonderful and worth every cent and more. Shame it will not be the same on Quest.

Pat

[swigso]

We did the wine pairing on Constellation and it was so brilliant we did it again on the second week of our voyage. Just as brilliant second time around. Yes I did get escorted to the toilet and felt like royalty. Service was wonderful and worth every cent and more. Shame it will not be the same on Quest.

Pat

We have dined in the Normandie each time we have sailed on the Summit and I must say that the service and attention during dinner there was probably the best we have ever experienced at sea.

However Having sailed on the Quest I agree with the OP, whilst Prime C and Aquilina are very nice they are not really Speciality Restaurants as on the M class ships.

The Normandie on the Summit is exceptional and I think that those of us who have eaten in these restaurants on the M class have been spoiled by the experience, and will find it hard to have anything match it at sea.

I am looking forward to the Solstice to compare .

[emcee207]

The specialty restaurants on the M class boats, Ocean Liners, Normandie, etc are trying to emulate a 5 star dining experience. To me, they are fantastic although a little too long and drawn out of a dining experience, IMHO.

I think Azamara is trying something a little different here. Aqualina is more seafood orientated and Prime C a steakhouse. Actually I loved Prime C and it's hightops but didn't really care for Aqualina.

If you look at the specialty restaurants on the upcoming Celebrity Solstice, which we'll be on in February with Ron and Betty (although they don't know it yet;)) you'll see many more restaurants of this type. There is an Asian and Italian restaurant etc.

Different strokes etc.........

Luigi

[Andy]

Hi Everyone !

 

I cannot comment on the Wine Pairings, as I have not tried them on Azamara.

 

I also feel that Azamara is not trying to copy Celebrity's Specialty Dining, and are trying to do something a little different, and certainly less formal than what you would see in one of the Celebrity Specialty Dining venues. We like the style on both Azamara and Celebrity, but keep in mind, they are different experiences.

 

We Dined in both Aqualina and Prime C, and thought they were wonderful. I'm not sure when I am sailing on Azamara again, but I know I will have several meals in Aqualina and Prime C. I highly recommend them !

[Hlitner]

When we were on the Journey in March-April, we dined in Aqualina 7 times on our 18 day cruise (also dined in Prime C twice). We thought the food and service in Aqualina was as good as anything we have ever experienced on any ship (and we have been on more than 50 different ships) and considering the token $5 pp charge, it was a steal. One evening we did the wine pairing with 2 other couples (1 of these couples did this twice) and it was a lot of fun. However, we did not think that the wine selections justified the cost, but it was so much fun nobody whined (or should I saw wined). We heard rumors on the Journey that Aqualina on the Quest was not up to the same quality (this came from 2 couples who had been on the Quest and also from a crew member familiar with both ships).

 

Hank