Did Specialty Restaurants Price's Go Up?

[Alsmez]

I'll be interested to see if the price of the packages goes up as well. DH and I were planning to do the ultimate specialty package on our cruise in January, but if the price goes up we may spend the money on an upgrade to AQ instead to see if Blu is good enough that we don't desire specialty dining.

[BEAV]

In January 2001 we paid $1000 p/p for an inside cabin on Millie to the Caribbean for 7 days. And it cost $20-$25 back then to dine in the Olympic Restaurant.

 

In January 2013 you could get a balcony for $699-ish on most any 7-day Celebrity cruise, be it a M-class or S-class ship.

 

So while the cost to dine in Olympic/Murano's has doubled in 12 years, I'm $600 ahead of the game in 2013 than I was in 2001 when it comes to comparing cabin prices. That $600 will go a long way towards paying an increase in alternative restaurant fees. Not to mention that's comparing a balcony today from an inside 12 years ago.

 

To those who think $45 in Murano's is the straw the broke the camel's back, do you give a second thought to feeding a slot machine in the casino an extra $5 than you did the last time you were there? And do you not even blink an eye if a shore excursion cost you $80 last year, but $85 this year for the same excursion, or a $5 increase in a spa spa treatment over the last voyage? Where are all the threads talking about those types of increases! ;)

 

We all have our price points, budgets, etc. And there is no right or wrong answer/conclusion to how much one should spend to dine in an alternative restaurant.

[dinosaurdem]

I'll be interested to see if the price of the packages goes up as well. DH and I were planning to do the ultimate specialty package on our cruise in January, but if the price goes up we may spend the money on an upgrade to AQ instead to see if Blu is good enough that we don't desire specialty dining.

 

If the primary issue is food, rather than ambience or exclusivity, it's not.

[dinosaurdem]

I agree....the food is absolutely nothing special..... Its cutely served....but nothing special in my opinion......

Amen.

[Alsmez]

If the primary issue is food, rather than ambience or exclusivity, it's not.

 

The primary issue is most definitely food. The photos I've seen of Blu's cuisine don't look any better than what's served in the MDR, but you can't discern flavor from a photo. Unfortunately, there's no way, other than booking AQ, to find out for ourselves whether the food is really worthwhile. Frustrating. We've decided to continue watching the prices for our cruise and the price of the Ultimate Specialty Package, and make our decision a bit closer to sailing.

[Brad1185]

We can certainly afford the extra $5 per person. But it seems like for each increase in price there has been a slight decrease in quality. I would say the first time we went to Ocean Liners on the Connie several years ago when it was $20 or $25, it was probably the best experience we've had in a specialty restaurant and hasn't been matched since. The service and food was absolutely amazing and there was a harpist playing too. I haven't seen a musician in any of the restaurants for a couple of years now. In our experience that $20/$25 meal was far better than the last few times we've dined in specialty restaurants that cost increasingly more.

 

YMMD of course.

 

That's what we think a decrease in quality with a price increase. We gave up any speciality dining on the last increase.

[believer33323]

In January 2001 we paid $1000 p/p for an inside cabin on Millie to the Caribbean for 7 days. And it cost $20-$25 back then to dine in the Olympic Restaurant.

 

In January 2013 you could get a balcony for $699-ish on most any 7-day Celebrity cruise, be it a M-class or S-class ship.

 

So while the cost to dine in Olympic/Murano's has doubled in 12 years, I'm $600 ahead of the game in 2013 than I was in 2001 when it comes to comparing cabin prices. That $600 will go a long way towards paying an increase in alternative restaurant fees. Not to mention that's comparing a balcony today from an inside 12 years ago.

 

To those who think $45 in Murano's is the straw the broke the camel's back, do you give a second thought to feeding a slot machine in the casino an extra $5 than you did the last time you were there? And do you not even blink an eye if a shore excursion cost you $80 last year, but $85 this year for the same excursion, or a $5 increase in a spa spa treatment over the last voyage? Where are all the threads talking about those types of increases! ;)

 

We all have our price points, budgets, etc. And there is no right or wrong answer/conclusion to how much one should spend to dine in an alternative restaurant.

 

Very well said!!!

 

I look at it this way. My DW and I have enjoyed the specialty restaurants in the past (well most of them). That said, I believe that the price should reflect the offset of the free food they save from one not eating at the MDR and one eating at the Specialty restaurants. $45.00pp is high for even for your typical restaurants on the outside. If you figure the savings they have on you not eating in the MDR, it's all or mostly profit. Our next cruise in March we are not planning on any Specialty restaurants. We made this decision a while back before any price increase was announced.

We will spend our money on one of the restaurants on one of the Islands instead.

[gizvic]

I would think you are ok. They usually start the new price as of a

certain date. I booked a while ago for my upcoming cruise too and it

is paid in full. I would not expect to be charged an additional 5.00.

 

Thank you! :)

[Gran2five]

I may be mistaken, but I believe Murano's came out on the S-Class ships in 2008 on Solstice, so you must have eaten somewhere else back in 2007. Contrary to what you have heard, they do have a cheese cart -- at least they did this past November on Equinox.

 

I think the MDR is excellent -- Blu even better, but my opinion the Bistro is overrated.

 

Oops, sorry I meant to say Speciality Restaurant - started with Infinity in 2002 on way to Hawaii. But we were in Murano on Century on a TA in 2007. Happy if the cheese course is still offered, basically as it gives us a chance to try out different cheeses. Still think Celebrity should hold the price at $40. The MDR food is good and we can't wait to enjoy again.

 

I hope your mistaken about Bistro, we're going to try it for lunch on embarkation day.

[Wine-O]

Just checked my reservation for this Oct/Nov and reflects the following prices:

 

Tuscan Grill - $35

4 dinners in specialty restaurant - $125

5 dinners in specialty restaurant - $139

Qusine - $45

Lawn Club - $40

Murano - $45

Alcove on Port day - $99

Alcove on Sea day - $149

[Journey11]

Just checked my reservation for this Oct/Nov and reflects the following prices:

 

Tuscan Grill - $35

4 dinners in specialty restaurant - $125

5 dinners in specialty restaurant - $139

Qusine - $45

Lawn Club - $40

Murano - $45

Alcove on Port day - $99

Alcove on Sea day - $149

 

Thanks for that update.

[GeorgesGal]

Glad I pre-booked Murano already for my upcoming cruise! But, I doubt I will book any more in that venue nor Qzine with the increases. I thought $40. was too high already,but read so many good reviews..... .

 

Donna

[constantcruiser]

We too have found it difficult to get reservations at specialty restaurants at prime times. In fact on a recent cruise, we tried for 3 days to get a dinner reservation at any time and were always told they were completely booked. We happened to mention our disappointment to the Captain's Club Hostess at the Elite Happy Hour, and she managed to get a reservation for us the following night (after we had been told there were no tables available all evening). Imagine our surprise when we arrived and found only 3 tables occupied! When we left the restaurant 2+ hours later, it was still less than half full.

 

Could it be part of X's marketing strategy to purposely make it challenging to get reservations for specialty restaurants? Hoping passengers will assume, "If it's sold out, it must be good. Now I absolutely MUST be one of the select few who gets in...no matter how much I have to pay!"

[junglejane]

Just checked my reservation for this Oct/Nov and reflects the following prices:

 

Tuscan Grill - $35

4 dinners in specialty restaurant - $125

5 dinners in specialty restaurant - $139

Qusine - $45

Lawn Club - $40

Murano - $45

Alcove on Port day - $99

Alcove on Sea day - $149

 

We leave this Sunday, March 10, and when I log into my reservation it shows these same prices.

[waterbug123]

we tried for 3 days to get a dinner reservation at any time and were always told they were completely booked.... the Captain's Club Hostess...managed to get a reservation for us the following night....Imagine our surprise when we arrived and found only 3 tables occupied!

 

On Izumi on Oasis, we tried to get a rez for 6 or 8 of us for a particular time, I think it was 7-ish. We were told no, they had nothing available. We went anyway, hoping maybe they'd have a no show. Well we got there and it was completely empty. We sat and were there for several hours. They entire time I think only one or two other tables came in. By the time we left only one of those parties was still there. Still baffled as to why they told us they had nothing available, when the reality was they had practically nothing booked!

[Arubamoose]

We've done many cruises without ever setting foot in a for pay restaurant.

 

Now we sometimes do one or two a cruise - depending on the circumstances and cruise line.

 

Our last one was on the Allure and we ate in 150 CP. We split the wine pairing. Cost was $115. It was quite nice and the wines and split pours were well worth the $35 additional. We also did tapas with the family at Vintage's - only because we had a boat load of BOGO glass of wine coupons between the four of us. We sampled quite a number of higher end wines ($30+per glass). The tapas were incidental and only a few bucks a plate - it didn't bother me.

 

When we did the Solstice we sampled each one and were not that impressed. We were on the fence about Murano and the Tuscan Grill and now - I don't think we will partake. Will do Qsine with a group of fellow CC'ers only because it is a novelty and I am a big Top Chef Fan.

 

It's not the $5. It's the principal.

[Wine-O]

We leave this Sunday, March 10, and when I log into my reservation it shows these same prices.

 

I guess if you didn't pre-purchase, you now will have to pay the new prices.

[junglejane]

I guess if you didn't pre-purchase, you now will have to pay the new prices.

 

Yes, I wish we had had a little warning! We held off because we are trying Blu for the first time. We would like to go to Tuscan Grille one night to celebrate our DD's birthday. Her actual birthday is on March 11, which I'm assuming will be a formal night and I thought it might be good to eat in Blu that night. I guess we'll see once we get onboard.

 

By the way, Wine-O, I have to thank you for your helpful posts about cabins in Blu. I used the info you posted to (hopefully) book two side by side AQ cabins that connect via the balcony without stepping over a support beam.:)

[Wine-O]

Yes, I wish we had had a little warning! We held off because we are trying Blu for the first time. We would like to go to Tuscan Grille one night to celebrate our DD's birthday. Her actual birthday is on March 11, which I'm assuming will be a formal night and I thought it might be good to eat in Blu that night. I guess we'll see once we get onboard.

 

By the way, Wine-O, I have to thank you for your helpful posts about cabins in Blu. I used the info you posted to (hopefully) book two side by side AQ cabins that connect via the balcony without stepping over a support beam.:)

 

Yes, those cabins back aft of the hump can be a little tricky. I had to do some research myself as we wanted two of them, but the only ones available had the support beam between the two. We ended up elsewhere.

 

You do know that eating in Blu and/or the Tuscan Grill on formal nights, business casual is an acceptable dress.

[junglejane]

Yes, those cabins back aft of the hump can be a little tricky. I had to do some research myself as we wanted two of them, but the only ones available had the support beam between the two. We ended up elsewhere.

 

You do know that eating in Blu and/or the Tuscan Grill on formal nights, business casual is an acceptable dress.

 

Yes, DH plans to wear a sport coat and tie on the formal nights. The girls actually want to dress up more than DH and I probably would on our own -- which is why I'm making DH wear the tie!

[navyrotorhead]

In January 2001 we paid $1000 p/p for an inside cabin on Millie to the Caribbean for 7 days. And it cost $20-$25 back then to dine in the Olympic Restaurant.

 

In January 2013 you could get a balcony for $699-ish on most any 7-day Celebrity cruise, be it a M-class or S-class ship.

 

So while the cost to dine in Olympic/Murano's has doubled in 12 years, I'm $600 ahead of the game in 2013 than I was in 2001 when it comes to comparing cabin prices. That $600 will go a long ways. Not to mention that's comparing a balcony today from an inside 12 years ago.

 

We all have our price points, budgets, And there is no right or wrong answer to how much one should spend to dine in an alternative restaurant.

 

And if you want a REAL eye opener, Silhouette's **15 DAY** Transatlantic was/is priced at 699pp for a balcony and 549pp for an inside. :eek: :D

 

I, for one, will count my blessings, and enjoy my VERY reasonably priced cruise vacations to the fullest, and avoid the whine. (be it in the MDR or the Specialty restaurants) :):rolleyes:

[dgraham]

Just a heads up re the specialty packages. I just finished purchasing one to beat the price increases. Today, in phoning Celebrity to book my actual dates and times I was told I couldn't until I was on board, but that I had already been placed in the Tuscan on the first evening, and this couldn't be changed. I guess this is their way of ensuring their specialty restaurants were not empty on the first night. The reservation is fine with me as I like to use the Tuscan to view our departure from a port, although our departure is actually scheduled for 5 pm.

[Tony UK]

We were interested in buying a dining package, but there were so many restrictions on dates times and restaurants. We are planning a special occasion cruise so wanted to be sure of specific times and dates. There is no flexibility, and as I'm not fond of Qsine / silk harvest so I guess we'll be booking fewer nights BUT getting exactly what we want!

 

I guess you dont get a deal without giving something up!

[Mary loves to travel]

Since this is our first cruise with Celebrity, we wanted to give the MDR a chance. It really does get mostly very good reviews; while we've enjoyed the specialty restaurants from time to time on RCCL ships, we've also almost always been able to find things we really enjoy every night in the MDR. So, we are only doing 1 specialty, Qsine, because it seems different from what we might find elsewhere.

 

As far as the specialties saying they are "booked up", then people arriving and finding the restaurants less than full, I think part of the upcharge is the ambiance of a less than full restaurant. That doesn't explain a restaurant advertising full with only 1-2 tables booked, but would explain one that is "only" half-full telling people there are no more reservations available.

I don't have any inside info here, just speculating.

 

Mary

[waterbug123]

We were interested in buying a dining package, but there were so many restrictions on dates times and restaurants.

 

I have no experience with the other packages, but the "ultimate" dining package has no such restrictions that I'm aware of. We bought that on Reflection 2/2 and made reservations when/where we wanted (based on table availabilty of course)