Single Traveller on Celebrity – Blu left me Blue!

This week I would like to thank one of my clients for allowing me to use her story regarding a recent experience that she had on Celebrity Cruises. As per her wishes I will not be using her real name but she knows who she is, I think we agreed on ‘mad cat woman’ haha

Anyway, ‘Julie’ is a very professional single woman and likes to cruise. This summer after many previous cruises  with the likes of P&O and Norwegian cruise lines, ‘Julie’ decided she wanted to do something a bit different and booked for a trip on The Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Cruise. When booking ‘Julie’ decided to book into Aqua Class for her cabin with Celebrity a cruise line she hadn’t used before but had heard great things about. This was a once in a life time trip and she decided to have that luxury travel experience that Celebrity promised.

If you don’t know what Celebrity Aqua Class includes, they offer cabins in prime locations with a variety of additional extras including a separate restaurant Blu. However, they do not have single cabins for single travellers so ‘Julie’ paid a hefty supplement for single occupancy.

‘Julie’ overall, had a great time, she experienced the Rocky Mountaineer first and a few nights in Vancouver prior to sailing Alaska. As a very sociable person ‘Julie’ is not shy in meeting new people and fast makes friends on her travels. From past experiences she always enjoys meeting new people at dinner and as a single traveller prefers to eat with others than alone.

Blue is a dining experience for Aqua class guests only and sits separate from the main dining room, although you can eat in the main dining room you are encouraged to utilise Blu. Of course you have also paid for this privilege of eating in your own dining room so why downgrade to the main dining room?

‘Julie’s’ bad taste experience with the Blu restaurant staff started on the 2nd evening, as I mentioned before, she did not wish to dine alone. On entering the restaurant the hostess welcomed ‘Julie’ but was surprised with her request to sit with other guests and advised this was not their procedure in Blu.  ‘Julie’ was eventually seated at a table for 6 on her own but was joined by two lady guest travelling together. ‘Julie’ raised the issue with the guest relations team on board whom advised that they tend not to seat solo guests at occupied tables even if there is space, it is not a standard practice in their restaurant. However, they would speak to the Maitre d’ regarding this rule so that ‘Julie’ could indeed enjoy what she had paid for. After changing to ‘anytime’ dining in the main resturant to be able to eat with other guests, Guest relations then advised ‘Julie’  to go back to Blu as they had now spoken with the Maitre d’. The following evening ‘Julie’ went back to Blu and requested again with the same hostess to be seated with other diners. Again ‘Julie’ was met with the same response that this was not their seating procedure for single guests. ‘Julie’ informed the hostess that she had taken the issue up with Guest relations, the hostess reluctantly asked other guests if ‘Julie’ could join them, which infuriated ‘Julie’ further, as why should they be asked when their was space at their table? ‘Julie’ felt the attitude of the hostess towards her as a single traveller and requesting not to dine alone was not handled in a professional manner and further more on other occasions, the same hostess seated guests arriving after ‘Julie’ before they had seated her. Was she being penalised for being on her own?

‘Julie’ asked to speak with the Maitre d’ after dinner one evening about the way she had been treated and was left waiting until the dinning room was empty yet he still made no attempt to come and speak with ‘Julie’

As you can imagine, this experience has left a very bad taste in ‘Julie’s’ mouth and even speaking with Guest Relations on board seemed to not help. Once she returned ‘Julie’ did file a complaint with celebrity, she had paid for a service that in the end she felt reluctant to use because of the way she was treated.

I am pleased to say that although Celebrity may not have answered as ‘Julie’ wished with regards to the way the hostess acted and lack of attention from the Maitre d’ in resolving this issue on board, she has reached a suitable claim with Celebrity but has decided not to cruise with them again, which is a shame.

But will Celebrity learn from this or continue to treat single guests in their finer dining establishments in the same way? I really hope they take note of ‘Julie’s’ complaint as they have lost a great client.

Have you had a similar experience travelling alone? Do you think Blu should change their policy and allow guests to mix if they wish like the main dining rooms offer?

Dawn

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