Never again Aqua!

[2theship]

A number of people have remarked that they switched back and forth between Blu and MDR. How do you do that? Does booking an Aqua cabin also allow you to go to Select Dining whenever you want?

 

I've heard various versions that involve speaking with the Blu maitre d' or making a reservation in the MDR. Not knowing any better, we simply went to the select dining entrance and were seated. They swiped our card, just like they do in Blu. I suppose it might depend on how busy they are on a given night.

[ghstudio]

I've heard various versions that involve speaking with the Blu maitre d' or making a reservation in the MDR. Not knowing any better, we simply went to the select dining entrance and were seated. They swiped our card, just like they do in Blu. I suppose it might depend on how busy they are on a given night.

 

I've never had my card swiped in the MDR or Blu, unless I purchased a beverage.

 

The safest/easiest way to know what the staff on each ship wants you to do is to ask the maitre d' in Blu on the first night what you need to do if you would like to dine in the MDR. We have always been told "just go to select dining"...but on some ships, there are apparently some control freaks who insist you see them and they, personally, will arrange for you to dine in the MDR. My advice...it's no big deal either way...just go with the flow.

[mpace58]

We got mixed signals on Blu/MDR. One person said you could go back and forth between the two. Another told us once we went into the MDR we could not get back into Blu. Since my DW liked Blu so much I just went along and would eat something else later.

 

Personally I don't think Blu and/or the Persian Gardens are enough to lure me back to AQ again. We are going to stick to CC.

 

YMMV

[ghstudio]

We got mixed signals on Blu/MDR. One person said you could go back and forth between the two. Another told us once we went into the MDR we could not get back into Blu. Since my DW liked Blu so much I just went along and would eat something else later.

 

Personally I don't think Blu and/or the Persian Gardens are enough to lure me back to AQ again. We are going to stick to CC.

 

YMMV

 

Did someone on the ship tell you that once you go to the MDR, you couldn't go back or was that from some Travel agent/friend/etc???

[skylight]

We were in AQUA for 2 cruises and went to MDR no trouble they just seated us and we did Blu and MDR. Not a word was said in either place. No one seemed to care.

[mpace58]

Did someone on the ship tell you that once you go to the MDR, you couldn't go back or was that from some Travel agent/friend/etc???

It was our waiter in Blu that told me I couldn't return to Blu after going to the MDR. Needless to say, I didn't want to chance it.

[ghstudio]

It was our waiter in Blu that told me I couldn't return to Blu after going to the MDR. Needless to say, I didn't want to chance it.

 

Too bad that happened....he was, of course, completely wrong. You would have had no problem at all switching back and forth....it's done all the time.

[Bakersboy]

It was our waiter in Blu that told me I couldn't return to Blu after going to the MDR. Needless to say, I didn't want to chance it.

 

If you have a blue Aqua Class sea pass, you will always be allowed in Blu.

[CruisingChick]

The theaters and public spaces didn't seem to be over crowded and we never had a problem getting a seat in the buffet or Aqua Spa area.

 

Don't worry about it being over crowded.

 

We sailed Summit this past October and let me tell you the theater did seem more crowded than in the past. I remember not having to worry about getting to the theater until about 5 minutes prior to the show starting.

 

We also had the same problem on our Silhouette cruise last March. We would have to get to the Theater 15 minutes prior in order to get a seat.

 

Also our favorite place - The Martini Bar is now VERY crowded. They've taken it and put it in a hallway. This was one of our favorite places on the M Class Ships.

 

The buffet on sea days was very crowded. There were plenty of times we could not get a seat right away, or tables were still dirty. This was most likely caused by the fact that it was a Canada/New England cruise and you really could not use the outside areas to eat and no one was by the pool, but still the ship should be able to accommodate all their guests no matter what the itinerary is.

 

If we weren't Elite and didn't get the perks we actually might try another line. Actually we might try another line anyway since we are not crazy about the S Class ships and they have almost ruined the M Class ships - JUST OUR OPINION.

[BamaD]

We were told to check in with select dining where we were very welcomed.... however, they did have a little difficulty finding us a table that particular night. It all worked out fine but we did end up with a funky, empty, 8-top by the kitchen doo:(r!

[4774Papa]

We have recently booked our first Celebrity cruise (we usually cruise on Oceania). We're in Aqua class, cabin 9058. Is this a mistake? If the cabin is noisy and the balcony is cramped, it isn't too late to switch. Please advise! We booked Aqua class because we heard the food was good, but good food isn't worth a noisy room.

We are in 9060 on Infinity for 13 May British Isles cruise. I understand that our cabin is under a small building on the pool deck and quiet.

[4774Papa]

We find that in the MDR, they really don't season anything and while it's very rare I used salt or pepper on the table, I found myself using it fairly often. Blu on the other hand does season their dishes and they are flavorful...it's one of the big differences we found. The one area where blu just shined over the MDR is in the quiet....you can actually talk to your table mate or even the folks at the next table in a normal voice. There is also far less clatter/commotion of busboys, food coming out for tables of 8 and so on. If the food were the same, I would book Aqua just for the quiet dinner atmosphere.

Do they add much salt to the food in BLU? We don't like salt in our food. Sometimes the MDR does add too much.

[ghstudio]

Do they add much salt to the food in BLU? We don't like salt in our food. Sometimes the MDR does add too much.

 

This is highly ship/chef dependent. On our B2B on the Millennium earlier this year the food was very salty, yet on previous trips on the eclipse and equinox, the food wasn't salty at all.

 

I suspect that their recipes must say "season to taste" and that varies. Sadly, I mentioned the salt issue to the head chef on the Millennium, but nothing at all changed.

[ceba]

are there less issues with the Aqua class on deck 11 on the M class ships?

[highrisesea]

We just got off the Summit to Bermuda. We were in Aqua Class cabin 9100. While we didn't have any real issues with noise, the balcony was very very small. One side of the balcony was barely wide enough for the chair to sit sideways and along with a small table and another chair, there really wasn't any room to move. I'd say we had less than half the balcony space we had on Aqua Class on the Soltice. And on Solstice we had foot stools! Also, the overhang was HUGE! I also agree with many of the comments about Blu. For the most part, the food was fanstastic and the service was great, but the tables really are toooo close for comfort. We often felt as though we were intruding on our neighbors conversations. Definately not the venue for a romantic dinner, lol. However, if you do happen to arrive when they are not crowded you can pretty much choose your own table. That being said, we also chose to eat in the MDR on two occasions, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Never found an issue with crowding on the ship. Always space at the martini bar, never a problem finding a table at the buffet. Went swimming in the T-pool during dinner hour and we had the place to ourselves :D. My only disappointment was the size of the casino . . . TINY and the lack of more traditional slot machines. All in all, I loved the Summit and would not hesitate to sail her again.

 

On another note, we also did not receive our invitation for the connections party :confused: Maybe next time.

At least the brochure clearly states that cabin 9100 on the Summit has a smaller veranda. For that reason I avoided that cabin.

[travelberlin]

I does ruin the panoramic views that used to be available in the past. When we entered the Panama Canal, we were able to have a 270 degree view from these windows. And again when we entered the Stockholm Archipelago, we could see on both sides of the ship as it passed through narrow channels during the approach early on a cold and drizzly morning. Can't do that any more from there. :(

I certainly agree. I do not think that the Millenium ships became any better after the Solsticitation. Shade!

[pris993]

Infinity has taken the worst balcony cabins and added two perks and charge more.

Our cabin on deck 9 was terrible.Constant noise day and night above us.It sounded like a herd of cattle at times and scraping chairs other times.

The two perks were the Persian Gardens which was always packed and Blu which was a very squished tiny restaurant.No private area.Your table is 12 inches from another table.The food presentation was nice but was not worth the inconvenience of never knowing who was going to be sitting so very close.Usually very nice cruisers but sometimes not so nice cruisers.Too chancy for me.Prefer more space for an enjoyable dinning experience.

I would not choose Aqua even if it was cheaper than a regular balcony.

The movie theatre has also been changed into more cabins.Crowded ship now.

This is only my perspective.

Will have to choose our next cruise carefully.Not the Infinity.

 

Sounds like you have learned the hard way, like most of us have at one time or another to check what is above or below your cabin, the kind of noise you experienced is typical of cabins below the pool deck or buffet.

 

Aqua class is over rated in my book. We have done on the Eclipse. We were not impressed with BLU. Consequently we have booked a 1B balcony on our next Mediterranean cruise on the Silhoutte. The money we save on the cabin we can use on board for a speciality restrauant or ashore. All the cabins are the same. We are elite with celebrate. Think some of the PR is just hype.

[hcat]

We have consistenly enjoyed AQ staterooms on the S class ships.. including our carefully picked cabins in various locations (can't always get the hump with big balcony), also BLU, PG and other amenitites...

 

our experience is that when they change things around on existing ships it is not to the customers' advantage...we would take CC over AQ on M class ships--if that comes with the larger cabin (unless those went to AQ); but if not then the regular balcony would seem to be a better choice......but only if we had to take M class for a particular itin.

 

on S class they changed some things on the newer ones & sticking more cabins in...Sihouette is OK but Reflection sounds too crowded in the areas we like to hang out in......

[just_looking]

are there less issues with the Aqua class on deck 11 on the M class ships?

 

None that I'm aware of. We were on deck 11 AQ on the Summit last month and loved it. Great location, great cabin (these cabins are almost brand new). We're on the Millennium next month, again, deck 11 AQ. Can't wait.

[ceba]

None that I'm aware of. We were on deck 11 AQ on the Summit last month and loved it. Great location, great cabin (these cabins are almost brand new). We're on the Millennium next month, again, deck 11 AQ. Can't wait.

 

 

mind if I ask if there is any particular location on 11 that you like?? I thought by the diagrams that the aft staterooms could be noisy being open to the deck below.

[phoenix_dream]

maybe it's me, but on our last three cruises (two on S class, one on Summit) I found the ships to be quite a bit more crowded than in previous years. On Summit, I think this was due to two factors - more cabins added, and many large Puerto Rican families (holiday time cruise out of SJU). In the 'olden days' once a ship reached a certain capacity they stopped selling cabins of more than two passengers at a time. It seems to me now that they will sell, sell, sell no matter what the total passenger count is. Add that to additional cabins and IMHO you can feel the difference. It is not horrible of course or I would no longer cruise with them, but I definitely think overcrowding/overselling is the current trend and the difference is noticeable to me. Am I alone in thinking this?

[ceba]

dulicate

[just_looking]

mind if I ask if there is any particular location on 11 that you like?? I thought by the diagrams that the aft staterooms could be noisy being open to the deck below.

 

We were about halfway down the hall and had no noise at all. As far as the aft cabins - I met couples in two of those cabins - they LOVED them and didn't complain about noise or smoke from the bar. (We spent some time at the bar, and it was really a low-key environment; not a loud party any time we were there). I know I've seen threads about it here, maybe you can find them in a search.

[ceba]

Thanks! I went ahead and booked 1116 which should be real close to where you were.

[Spender Nui]

As passengers who previously loved the M-class ships, we have not been on them post solsticization. Now we are almost afraid to try, wondering how the addition of all those new cabins has impacted the space/passenger ratio, such as the crowding in the buffet areas and seat availability in the theater.

 

We already heard that they partially ruined the wonderful panoramic views from the sky lounge at the front of deck 11 by blocking off one side.

 

I shudder at the thought of even more people now packed together jostling for space at the railings on the public decks and helipad for scenic viewing at special attractions.

Guess that provides one more reason to have a private balcony.

 

Ths M class ships have been our favorites since they started sailing. We've siled them 18 times. The last 2 after solsticization. Everything you are concerned about is true. We don't plan on sailing them again.

 

They've gone from comfortable ships to overcrowded. The purported new amenities don't begin to make up for what's been lost.