Suite Psgr - Problem dining in BLU

[sjh422]

We just sailed in a suite on the Millennium to Alaska. We had read the web site guidelines for suite pasgrs dining in Blu and understood that Aqua class psgrs had priority and that our dining there was subject to tables being available.

 

We went to Blu on our first night, saw that there were no people in line waiting and that there were only a few people seated in the dining room. When we advised that we were in a suite, the maitre D became belligerent and said that we must make reservations and could only dine from 5:30 to 6:15 and after 8:30 pm. We reiterated what we had read on the web site and he said HE was the one who made the rules for Blu. he did seat us but said the next time we would have to make reservations, so the next night we called BLU at 5pm to make reservations and no one was there. We then called guest relations and told them we had to make reservations at BLU but they could not locate anyone either. From that point on we just showed up at 5:30-6:00 pm and were seated by the Maitre D who maintained the same belligerent attitude.

 

Very disappointed and mentioned this on our cruise survey form. Anyone else had a similar experience??

[miched]

There must be different rules for reservations for those in suites. Every time I have been in AQ we were not able to make reservations. We were told to come when we are ready.

 

 

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[wwcruisers]

We just sailed in a suite on the Millennium to Alaska. We had read the web site guidelines for suite pasgrs dining in Blu and understood that Aqua class psgrs had priority and that our dining there was subject to tables being available.

 

We went to Blu on our first night, saw that there were no people in line waiting and that there were only a few people seated in the dining room. When we advised that we were in a suite, the maitre D became belligerent and said that we must make reservations and could only dine from 5:30 to 6:15 and after 8:30 pm. We reiterated what we had read on the web site and he said HE was the one who made the rules for Blu. he did seat us but said the next time we would have to make reservations, so the next night we called BLU at 5pm to make reservations and no one was there. We then called guest relations and told them we had to make reservations at BLU but they could not locate anyone either. From that point on we just showed up at 5:30-6:00 pm and were seated by the Maitre D who maintained the same belligerent attitude.

 

Very disappointed and mentioned this on our cruise survey form. Anyone else had a similar experience??

 

Just curious -- but what did the maitre d say when you told him that you (and the GR desk) had called Blu for reservations, and nobody answered? Did he offer an alternate phone number, or specify a time to call for reservations? :confused:

BTW -- We've never encountered a belligerent maitre d on X -- but, we did on our last RC cruise (a specialty restaurant manager, actually). I insisted on getting his card, and made sure to spell his name correctly in my post-cruise letter to Corporate -- and, we did get results.

[ghstudio]

I'm not sure it should be called a reservation...but I can understand the maitre d wanting a request so he can plan. Blu is not walk up whenever you want for suite guests. Every cruise is different in aqua and the maitre d has to be sure they can accomodate the aqua guests. Once they learn dining patterns, then it's easier to know when suite guests can be seated. If you think dining patterns are generally the same, try sailing with a number of Brits and then sail with a large group of spaniards.....very different dining times.

 

I don't have a great deal of sympathy for suite guests who don't like the way they are treated in blu. Blu try's to accomodate you....and on some cruises it works better than others.

[cruisestitch]

Sometimes the Butler assigned to a suite can arrange such things. Next time try bringing him into the process and maybe the outcome will be better.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

A simple solution to the problem would be to convert a small number of suites on all ships to AQ suites and decrease the number of standard AQ cabins proportionately. Then those who desire a suite AND dining in BLU are accommodated. Also would mean more revenue from AQ suite sales :D

[orchestrapal]

A simple solution to the problem would be to convert a small number of suites on all ships to AQ suites and decrease the number of standard AQ cabins proportionately. Then those who desire a suite AND dining in BLU are accommodated. Also would mean more revenue from AQ suite sales :D

 

Being that we always travel in suites I have never understood that the upper suites PH and RS are not just designated Aqua.

Friends just returned from a cruise on X and were in a PH suite and son and DIL in a Sky. They were told that they would always be accommodated in Blu while their children might not if it was busy. Turned out they ate there 7 out of 10 nights and three specialty but their children could only eat in Blu 4 times.

X should get the state what the rules really are. :(

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Being that we always travel in suites I have never understood that the upper suites PH and RS are not just designated Aqua.

Friends just returned from a cruise on X and were in a PH suite and son and DIL in a Sky. They were told that they would always be accommodated in Blu while their children might not if it was busy. Turned out they ate there 7 out of 10 nights and three specialty but their children could only eat in Blu 4 times.

X should get the state what the rules really are. :(

 

I agree that CS and above should have the option to dine in BLU every night if they desire. However some suite passengers may prefer the MDR for any number of reasons. Perhaps when these suite passengers book they could state their preference - BLU or MDR (early, late, select). Combine this with a small number of SS converted to AS and I think we'd have the ideal solution to suit just about everyone.

[drarill]

I'm not sure it should be called a reservation...but I can understand the maitre d wanting a request so he can plan. Blu is not walk up whenever you want for suite guests. Every cruise is different in aqua and the maitre d has to be sure they can accomodate the aqua guests. Once they learn dining patterns, then it's easier to know when suite guests can be seated. If you think dining patterns are generally the same, try sailing with a number of Brits and then sail with a large group of spaniards.....very different dining times.

 

I don't have a great deal of sympathy for suite guests who don't like the way they are treated in blu. Blu try's to accomodate you....and on some cruises it works better than others.

 

So true!!!!

[Project_gal]

Being that we always travel in suites I have never understood that the upper suites PH and RS are not just designated Aqua.

 

Agreed. Even if PH and RS guest can eat in Blu fairly easily, it just seems to me that the complimentary bottled water and other Aqua perks should also be made available to these guests. The new Aqua Suites, may satisfy those who usually select a Sky suite, they are not really an alternative to the larger suites.

 

Sue

[iSailor]

A simple solution to the problem would be to convert a small number of suites on all ships to AQ suites and decrease the number of standard AQ cabins proportionately. Then those who desire a suite AND dining in BLU are accommodated. Also would mean more revenue from AQ suite sales :D

 

Another way to do is convert a small section to accomodate suite guests.:p

[ghstudio]

Another way to do is convert a small section to accomodate suite guests.:p

 

This would shrink the number of seats available for aqua guests and that creates a problem where you don't want a problem. Blu is not for Aqua and above...it's a separate class that pays to have it's own dining room.

[Jane2357]

I'm not sure it should be called a reservation...but I can understand the maitre d wanting a request so he can plan. Blu is not walk up whenever you want for suite guests. Every cruise is different in aqua and the maitre d has to be sure they can accomodate the aqua guests. Once they learn dining patterns, then it's easier to know when suite guests can be seated. If you think dining patterns are generally the same, try sailing with a number of Brits and then sail with a large group of spaniards.....very different dining times.

I don't have a great deal of sympathy for suite guests who don't like the way they are treated in blu. Blu try's to accomodate you....and on some cruises it works better than others.[/quote]

 

My take on this - I believe the OP gets that it is on a "space available" basis for suite guests - but what I'm not getting is your statement about how they were treated. No one is asking for sympathy but NO maître d should ever be rude to any passenger, period. If they cannot be seated due to space - fine - it should be handled politely. If they show up every day at the time that the maître d told them then they should be welcomed with the same attitude as any other guest - aqua or not.

I fully intend to check Blu out for the 1st time on my Eclipse cruise and will stop by early on to inquire when we might be able to be seated. I'll be prepared to be flexible about a day and time - I won't be prepared to accept a bad attitude. :eek:

[Jade13]

We then called guest relations and told them we had to make reservations at BLU but they could not locate anyone either. From that point on we just showed up at 5:30-6:00 pm and were seated by the Maitre D who maintained the same belligerent attitude.

 

Very disappointed and mentioned this on our cruise survey form. Anyone else had a similar experience??

 

On our Silhouette transatlantic in December the times were the same for Suite passengers and they were charged.

 

You didn't say whether you had to pay the $5.00 per person fee?

[nursebob]

This would shrink the number of seats available for aqua guests and that creates a problem where you don't want a problem. Blu is not for Aqua and above...it's a separate class that pays to have it's own dining room.

 

Are you talking class sections for dining? We always stay in the PH or no lower than a RS. I feel we can eat in any resturant there is with no problem. The problem comes in in the lower class suite under the RS that can take advantage of Blu, yes they get a butler and some amenities but not like the PH or RS. There is a distinction in suites, many people say we booked a suite and it could be the Sky Suite sorry thats not a suite. I can also say that when ever we cruise they will deliver what ever food we want that is not even on the menu. So how classy is Blu?? So if you choose to stay in a 200 sf room and think you are getting all this special treatment guess again.

[uktog]

Sometimes the Butler assigned to a suite can arrange such things. Next time try bringing him into the process and maybe the outcome will be better.

 

Butler actually has no sway in Blu. We were in a Royal Suite on Equinox and it could not be arranged for any night on a 14 night trip even though we ate around 2030. Now whether the MD was being difficult or what I do not know, the butler was certainly able to achieve things elsewhere so we do not hold him accountable.

 

Based on this experience, as we prefer the food and ambience of Blu and could not do 14 nights of Specialities, coupled with the fact we have to pay for bottled water in a suite, we have been in Aqua our last two Celebrity cruises. We have found we still had the space we needed and we did not really miss the butler and we can have an extra cruise a year on the savings :)

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Butler actually has no sway in Blu. We were in a Royal Suite on Equinox and it could not be arranged for any night on a 14 night trip even though we ate around 2030. Now whether the MD was being difficult or what I do not know, the butler was certainly able to achieve things elsewhere so we do not hold him accountable.

 

Based on this experience, as we prefer the food and ambience of Blu and could not do 14 nights of Specialities, coupled with the fact we have to pay for bottled water in a suite, we have been in Aqua our last two Celebrity cruises. We have found we still had the space we needed and we did not really miss the butler and we can have an extra cruise a year on the savings :)

 

What's sad about your story is that you were forced into a lower grade of accommodation just so you could dine in BLU. One would think X's management would work harder to retain high value customers regardless of dining. There is a solution, now why they choose not to avail themselves fleet wide is a mystery beyond my pay grade! Lol

[Cruise a holic]

We just sailed in a suite on the Millennium to Alaska. We had read the web site guidelines for suite pasgrs dining in Blu and understood that Aqua class psgrs had priority and that our dining there was subject to tables being available.

 

We went to Blu on our first night, saw that there were no people in line waiting and that there were only a few people seated in the dining room. When we advised that we were in a suite, the maitre D became belligerent and said that we must make reservations and could only dine from 5:30 to 6:15 and after 8:30 pm. We reiterated what we had read on the web site and he said HE was the one who made the rules for Blu. he did seat us but said the next time we would have to make reservations, so the next night we called BLU at 5pm to make reservations and no one was there. We then called guest relations and told them we had to make reservations at BLU but they could not locate anyone either. From that point on we just showed up at 5:30-6:00 pm and were seated by the Maitre D who maintained the same belligerent attitude.

 

Very disappointed and mentioned this on our cruise survey form. Anyone else had a similar experience??

 

 

Never had any problems being seated and the staff was always kind. We have been in Celebrity Suites as well as Sky Suites. I would have made a complaint about the attitude of the maitre 'd. I believe it was just that individual person. Not too late to write a letter to corporate.

[nursebob]

What's sad about your story is that you were forced into a lower grade of accommodation just so you could dine in BLU. One would think X's management would work harder to retain high value customers regardless of dining. There is a solution, now why they choose not to avail themselves fleet wide is a mystery beyond my pay grade! Lol

 

I agree there should be, remember the thread on the differant classes on ships?

That is one reason we like NCL we have a private area but still full run of the ship it is the best of both worlds. Some of this may depend on the host that is on that ship all you need to do is contact him/her also.

[uktog]

What's sad about your story is that you were forced into a lower grade of accommodation just so you could dine in BLU. One would think X's management would work harder to retain high value customers regardless of dining. There is a solution, now why they choose not to avail themselves fleet wide is a mystery beyond my pay grade! Lol

 

I see where you are coming from.

 

At the time, we were rather miffed and could have walked away from Celebrity altogether, however post cruise we were contact by Lesley at the Captains Club desk in the UK re our feedback and she was so helpful we felt able not to cancel our remaining bookings. In the end, it has done us a favour as we are getting an extra cruise a year on the savings

[ghstudio]

I agree the attitude was bad...but the physical size of blu accommodates the number of passengers in aqua cabins....not aqua cabins and suites. That was a design decision...and if celebrity added all suite passengers, blu would be over crowded with long(er) waits for tables. Unless they increase the size of the room physically, they can't just say ... All suite guests are welcome anytime. So like it or not, the very top suite guests are apparently welcome, but other suite guests are space available....and it will most certainly stay that way until they decide to change the walls inside the ship...and the kitchens as well...or they create a few aqua class suites, likely at a higher price than current suites. They may well do this and probably not reduce the aqua cabins which will create more waiting for tables in blu....and once more celebrity will decrease service to increase revenue....today's trend.

[Gracie115]

BLU was and is a perk for AQ and allows suite guests on a space available basis, we understand this and we love BLU and most often cruise in AQ because of it....BUT because we were able to secure a RS at a reasonable rate on Equinox last year we decided to go for it and hope that we would be able to dine in Blu. The Maitre D just asked to be called ahead of time so that he could determine if they would have room when we wanted to arrive, our butler did that for us each time and we ate in Blu nearly every night and we considered ourselves fortunate. At NO point did I feel we were entitled to eat there, I recognize it is a perk for AQ guests and don't think just because I paid more or anyone pays more for a suite of any kind, be it an SS or PH, that they should be "entitled" to entry just because of that. The suites get benefits...ie..a butler...that others don't because that's a perk for suites, sorry automatic access to Blu isn't and shouldn't be...it is the PRIME perk for AQ guests and should stay that way.... Just because you spent more $$ for your stateroom does not mean you get anything you want anytime you want.....

 

The maitre'd being nasty is not acceptable though and I would certainly make that known to his superiors....on 5 sailings we've never had anything but superior service by the Blu maitre d so hope this person gets an attitude adjustment quickly IF he was as nasty as stated!!!

[ceba]

BLU was and is a perk for AQ and allows suite guests on a space available basis, we understand this and we love BLU and most often cruise in AQ because of it....BUT because we were able to secure a RS at a reasonable rate on Equinox last year we decided to go for it and hope that we would be able to dine in Blu. The Maitre D just asked to be called ahead of time so that he could determine if they would have room when we wanted to arrive, our butler did that for us each time and we ate in Blu nearly every night and we considered ourselves fortunate. At NO point did I feel we were entitled to eat there, I recognize it is a perk for AQ guests and don't think just because I paid more or anyone pays more for a suite of any kind, be it an SS or PH, that they should be "entitled" to entry just because of that. The suites get benefits...ie..a butler...that others don't because that's a perk for suites, sorry automatic access to Blu isn't and shouldn't be...it is the PRIME perk for AQ guests and should stay that way.... Just because you spent more $$ for your stateroom does not mean you get anything you want anytime you want.....

 

The maitre'd being nasty is not acceptable though and I would certainly make that known to his superiors....on 5 sailings we've never had anything but superior service by the Blu maitre d so hope this person gets an attitude adjustment quickly IF he was as nasty as stated!!!

 

I agree completely. We have yet to sail on Celebrity but will be in AQ next spring. My understanding years ago (and correct me if I'm wrong) was that when Aqua Class was created it was to add a group of staterooms with a spa flare and to offer a lowfat/healthy restaurant for them. I remember in the begining many people were turned off by the idea of lowfat/healthy and it wasn't that popular. Sound like thinks have changed.

[Ma Bell]

BLU was and is a perk for AQ and allows suite guests on a space available basis, we understand this and we love BLU and most often cruise in AQ because of it....BUT because we were able to secure a RS at a reasonable rate on Equinox last year we decided to go for it and hope that we would be able to dine in Blu. The Maitre D just asked to be called ahead of time so that he could determine if they would have room when we wanted to arrive, our butler did that for us each time and we ate in Blu nearly every night and we considered ourselves fortunate. At NO point did I feel we were entitled to eat there, I recognize it is a perk for AQ guests and don't think just because I paid more or anyone pays more for a suite of any kind, be it an SS or PH, that they should be "entitled" to entry just because of that. The suites get benefits...ie..a butler...that others don't because that's a perk for suites, sorry automatic access to Blu isn't and shouldn't be...it is the PRIME perk for AQ guests and should stay that way.... Just because you spent more $$ for your stateroom does not mean you get anything you want anytime you want.....

 

The maitre'd being nasty is not acceptable though and I would certainly make that known to his superiors....on 5 sailings we've never had anything but superior service by the Blu maitre d so hope this person gets an attitude adjustment quickly IF he was as nasty as stated!!!

 

I also agree 100% with this. Personally, I don't think the food at dinner in Blu is any better than the MDR but I do enjoy the breakfasts.

[Cruise a holic]

I also agree 100% with this. Personally, I don't think the food at dinner in Blu is any better than the MDR but I do enjoy the breakfasts.

 

While I do agree, with most that has been said- I also felt that the food in Blu wasn't that great. However, we liked the idea that it was more like a specialty restaurant and no problem getting tables for two.

 

In MDR sometimes they put the tables for two in none prime areas- near kitchen, entrance, poles, etc. In addition, perhaps because we dine early, we never had any problem getting a seat in Blu and have sailed on many Celebrity ships. Many Aqua class guest decide to dine in specialty restaurants on any given day, so they "should" have room for suite guests. It is a good idea to call ahead or have your butler reserve for you if you are in a suite.

 

However the rude negative attitude should never be tolerated.