Lounges, Bars & Cocktails
The price of the cruise included the drinks package. An opportunity during this long journey to test numerous cocktails.
Restaurants
Blu
Linked to the Aqua Class cabin category, the Blu restaurant is only open for breakfast and dinner. The menus are advertised as more balanced and better for your health. This is quite true but there are some exceptions. There is of course the essential hamburger… but the Blu offers a vegetarian version and I admit that without knowing it, we would fall for it, because we have the impression of eating a real hamburger with meat.
I often chose Aqua Class cabins, and the Blu was a restaurant that was easy to access, with no set times and rarely a queue. This was not the case at all this time. You had to queue almost every evening and getting a table was very complicated, whether you came a little early (before 7 p.m.) or later (after 8 p.m. or even 8:30 p.m.). The person in charge of reception tended to favor certain passengers and took care of them to the detriment of others, who waited even longer at the entrance.
The crew members were well aware of this overload onboard the ship, but kept the company’s message, saying that it was important to bring in the money… but some, discreetly, confirmed that there was discontent among quite a few passengers, especially the most loyal ones.
Not sure if it had anything to do with it, but the overall level of Blu on this cruise was lower than I was used to. Including the quality of the dishes, always good, but less than my usual. The menu was reduced, even simplified, and certain dishes recurred very (too) regularly.
Main Restaurant
The main restaurant is huge, over 2 decks. I didn’t go there often, having access to the Blu, but the latter being systematically closed at midday, even on days at sea, this allowed me to test it a little, because it opened partially (only part, at upstairs) on days at sea. The lunch menu is limited, more than in the evening . These are mainly American classics (Hamburger, hot dog, sandwich or pasta) and a few dishes changing every day.
Buffet
Open morning, noon and evening, it is a very busy place which with the overload of the boat often turns into a nightmare. At mealtimes, and especially at lunchtime, it is impossible to simply find a table. Worse, some passengers who took their time were yelled at by others, urging them to leave to inherit their table. In a nutshell, the company decides to overload the boat, which creates a lot of inconvenience for their customers and leaves them to fight for the problems they themselves created. Exceptional.
The dishes offered are varied and quite good. If we compare with the buffets of previous years at Celebrity (before the pandemic), we can see a slight drop in choice, and perhaps in quality, but it is not too noticeable (much less than those Norwegian Cruise Line For example).
Spa Café
Open only a few hours during the day (in the morning, for breakfast, and at midday), you can find excellent fruit juices and detox compositions. The small dishes are light, ideal if you want to avoid the classic restaurants in the morning or at lunchtime. Juices are included in the premium drink package.
Sushi on 5
As its name suggests, it is an Asian-inspired restaurant. Paying à la carte, there are sometimes special menus. A good level.
Murano
A French-inspired, gourmet restaurant, it is probably the most popular specialty restaurant on the ship (the most expensive, too). We come back for its flambé lobster, prepared at the table, where the head waiter ignites his preparation before your eyes, guaranteeing a spectacle. And it’s incredibly good!
Tuscan Grill
The ship’s steakhouse, but not only that. Located at the back, the tables at the back of the restaurant offer an incredible view of the wake.
El Bacio
Celebrity fans’ favorite coffee shop. Fresh and succulent pastries throughout the day. Coffees available in all different ways. And a place which had the reputation of being a calm place to spend a pleasant time. Suffice to say that with such an overloaded ship, this was not the case. Long queues to be served, no free place to sit… passengers are content with takeaways, for lack of anything better.
