MDR vs. BLU

[Lost in Italy]

Considering booking Aqua Class on upcoming Constellation cruise.  We enjoy late fixed time dinner in MDR. IF we choose Aqua, can we choose/book fixed late dining in the MDR and still enjoy Blu when we choose? 
 

 

[the penguins]

18 minutes ago, Lost in Italy said:

Considering booking Aqua Class on upcoming Constellation cruise.  We enjoy late fixed time dinner in MDR. IF we choose Aqua, can we choose/book fixed late dining in the MDR and still enjoy Blu when we choose? 
 

 

No. Aqua comes with dining in Blu. 

[keesar]

1 hour ago, Lost in Italy said:

Considering booking Aqua Class on upcoming Constellation cruise.  We enjoy late fixed time dinner in MDR. IF we choose Aqua, can we choose/book fixed late dining in the MDR and still enjoy Blu when we choose? 
 

 

Blu will be your assigned dining room.  If you want to have a meal in the MDR, speak to the maitre d' and arrangements will be made for that evening.

[Cruise a holic]

We have done both.  Not fans of Blu.  IMO not worth additional cost.  If not in a suite, I suggest booking a well located balcony cabin with cabins above and below, midship and the money saved book a few dinners in the special restaurants.

[Bobo2009]

On our last cruise (Reflection) we ate in the MDR every night. On the first evening we were reminded that BLU was available and when we said we wanted to use the MDR it was not a problem

[Miaminice]

Blu is our main reason to always book Aqua.
Not because we think the food is that much better, but because we like the more personal service and less rushed ambiance. Especially breakfast is a treat. You can come to Blu any time you like and you can get your prefered service team if you let them know. IMHO Blu is much nicer than the MDR - especially the unrefurbished one of Constellation.

As Aqua guests you can also dine at the MDR any time you want - but in the Select Dining section, not in the fixed seating part.

[cbfb]

1 hour ago, Bobo2009 said:

On our last cruise (Reflection) we ate in the MDR every night. On the first evening we were reminded that BLU was available and when we said we wanted to use the MDR it was not a problem

I’m honestly just curious as to why on the S class ship you would book AC and not eat in Blu? 

[mahasamatman]

3 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

money saved book a few dinners in the special restaurants.

 

Or don't bother with the high-priced low-quality specialty restaurants and spend your money on something with value.

[LB_NJ]

I have sailed Constellation a few times.  Last time a few weeks ago, in Aqua

 

I have sailed in both Aqua (dining in Blu) and regular cabins (dining in MDR).

 

Food is very subjective. Personally, we prefer dining in Blu because we think the food is better.

On Constellation they were handing out both Blu and MDR menus in case you wanted something from the MDR.  There is an overlap on some items.  Also, depending on timing there can be a 30 to 45 minute wait to get seated in Blu on Constellation.

 

Therefore in general we would prefer Aqua over regular cabins EXCEPT that on Constellation most of the Aqua cabins are on deck 9.  

This is under a very LARGE overhang with struts.  Having sailed on deck 9 I consider these obstructed view cabins. 

Not sure I would book a cabin on deck 9 ever again.

 

If you want to sail in Aqua on Constellation, consider deck 11.

[jelayne]

We prefer Blu over either the MDR or Luminae, but food aside a plus for Aqua on the M class ships is that the cabin itself is about 20 sq ft larger.

[hcat]

we  also prefer BLU to Luminae or MDR.( 1 or the 4).  have not been on  M class recently

[S18278C]

We also prefer Blu to Luminae or MDR. If the retreat is cost prohibitive, it's always Aqua class for the dining alone.

[Oville]

Blu, much nicer experience.

[Cruise a holic]

22 hours ago, mahasamatman said:

 

Or don't bother with the high-priced low-quality specialty restaurants and spend your money on something with value.

We book suites and still enjoy dinners at specialty restaurants.  We find the food, ambience and service is of great value imo

[At Sea At Peace]

On 2/14/2024 at 7:30 AM, Miaminice said:

Blu is our main reason to always book Aqua.

Not because we think the food is that much better, but because we like the more personal service and less rushed ambiance. Especially breakfast is a treat. You can come to Blu any time you like and you can get your prefered service team if you let them know. IMHO Blu is much nicer than the MDR - especially the unrefurbished one of Constellation.

As Aqua guests you can also dine at the MDR any time you want - but in the Select Dining section, not in the fixed seating part.

 

Agree with overall assessment.

 

Question? On the Edge Class, with the 4-MDR by theme, is there such a thing as Select Dining and Fixed Seating Dining?  For a B2B this upcoming December we are not in BLU and have 6PM 'Early' assigned; the "options for Select and Late" were "greyed out?"

[Cruise till you drop]

On 2/14/2024 at 6:16 AM, Cruise a holic said:

We have done both.  Not fans of Blu.  IMO not worth additional cost.  If not in a suite, I suggest booking a well located balcony cabin with cabins above and below, midship and the money saved book a few dinners in the special restaurants.

Interesting you say that because we cruised with a group of 8 and one of the couples were in Aqua Class but dined the entire cruise in MDR.  They tried Blu one night and said they couldn’t find anything they cared to eat on Blu menu, got up and went to the MDR to join us.

[Cruise till you drop]

14 minutes ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

Agree with overall assessment.

 

Question? On the Edge Class, with the 4-MDR by theme, is there such a thing as Select Dining and Fixed Seating Dining?  For a B2B this upcoming December we are not in BLU and have 6PM 'Early' assigned; the "options for Select and Late" were "greyed out?"

E class ships (incl Edge) does not have fixed dining and you need to either pre book a dining time for each night or show up as a wait list.

 

Unfortunately Celebrity system allows you to select Early, Late or Select but it’s all Select

[RichYak]

On 2/14/2024 at 7:53 AM, cbfb said:

I’m honestly just curious as to why on the S class ship you would book AC and not eat in Blu? 

The same question occurred to me.

Edited February 15 by RichYak

[bizeemom4]

We hated Blu on Apex. There is NO view and it's very loud. We spent most of our 9-night cruise trying all the other free dining options. The maitre'd gave us a very hard sell on how great Blu is and turned himself inside out trying to please us on the one night we came back for dinner. They really take it personally when you don't dine in Blu if you're AC.

Edited February 15 by bizeemom4

[At Sea At Peace]

22 minutes ago, Cruise till you drop said:

E class ships (incl Edge) does not have fixed dining and you need to either pre book a dining time for each night or show up as a wait list.

 

Unfortunately Celebrity system allows you to select Early, Late or Select but it’s all Select

 

Thanks.  So Ascent in December 2024 with Early 6PM stated on our confirmation, it really is Select walk-in at that time; it is not an "all being served and having to dine at the same time?" We arrive, are seated, and servers etc. start for us?

[Miaminice]

47 minutes ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

Agree with overall assessment.

 

Question? On the Edge Class, with the 4-MDR by theme, is there such a thing as Select Dining and Fixed Seating Dining?  For a B2B this upcoming December we are not in BLU and have 6PM 'Early' assigned; the "options for Select and Late" were "greyed out?"

No, my experience is that E-Class has no fixed dining times... although still a part of their IT system.

[LB_NJ]

Fyi, while we loved dining in Blu on Constellation (the fillet was wonderful) the service is relatively slow.  You will be there awhile.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, bizeemom4 said:

They really take it personally when you don't dine in Blu if you're AC.

Most likely financially too. My understanding is that the wait staff portion of your automatic gratuities go to wherever you dine.

[Cruiscs]

On 2/14/2024 at 4:05 PM, mahasamatman said:

 

Or don't bother with the high-priced low-quality specialty restaurants and spend your money on something with value.

Haha. If the $ restaurants is low - quality how about the MDR? Guess your are not fan of Celebrity so Why bother to post on this board? 

Edited February 15 by Cruiscs

[Miaminice]

1 hour ago, bizeemom4 said:

We hated Blu on Apex. There is NO view and it's very loud. We spent most of our 9-night cruise trying all the other free dining options. The maitre'd gave us a very hard sell on how great Blu is and turned himself inside out trying to please us on the one night we came back for dinner. They really take it personally when you don't dine in Blu if you're AC.

 

Since the question was about Constellation, your dislike of Blu on Apex does not really relate to the topic and shouldn´t unsettle the OP. 
That being said, we enjoyed Blu on 4 cruises on Apex. We go for service and food and not for the view. When we go to dinner it´s dark anyway. The noise in Blu is relative - since it´s always more quiet than any MDR, I can live with it.