Celebrity Select dining is starting in September on the Equinox - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

gkm · 08-27-2009, 12:17 PM

Celebrity will be starting their new Celebrity Select dining on the Equinox starting in September. It will be rolled out fleet wide between January and March of 2010.

The article states:

“Celebrity Select” will be introduced on the Equinox in September, according to a spokesperson for Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Select is the line’s version of open seating and will be rolled out to the rest of the fleet between January and March 2010.

The spokesperson said that on the Solstice-class of ships up to 400 guests chose to dine in the alternative restaurants each night, which frees up “extra” seats in the main dining room, allowing flexibility and no lines of people waiting to be seated.

Commented Jacques van Staden, vice president of culinary operations for Celebrity. “We may be the last cruise line to offer open seating, but we want to offer the best such system.

“Passengers have had some problems with open seating on other ships. For example, a couple may want to dine alone, but when they arrive in the dining room they may be told they can only be seated at a table with other guests. That’s really not open seating. So starting this fall we will offer our guests an option. If a couple wants to dine alone at 7:30, we will let them know if that’s possible. If not, the guests can choose to dine with other passengers or select another time.”

Here's a link to the article: 8/25/09 - Celebrity Select

Garry

Char · 08-27-2009, 12:23 PM

Thanks, Garry!

It is a sign of the times, I suppose. I'm sure Celebrity has taken all the experiences from the other lines and found what works and what doesn't, so this will be a happy new arrangement.

gkm · 08-27-2009, 01:04 PM

I'm delighted Char. We did My Time Dining on RCCL and really liked it. On our Equinox transatlantic in November, the late dining isn't until 8:45 and the early dining is at 6:15--one too late and one two early. I'm hoping we'll be able to give it a try.

Garry

Char · 08-27-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkm

I'm delighted Char. We did My Time Dining on RCCL and really liked it. On our Equinox transatlantic in November, the late dining isn't until 8:45 and the early dining is at 6:15--one too late and one two early. I'm hoping we'll be able to give it a try.

Garry

Excellent! You can give us a first hand report. They should have it down to a science by then.

LuLu · 08-27-2009, 07:44 PM

GREAT!

Thanks for posting this, Garry!

reggierail · 08-28-2009, 01:24 AM

Will it really be any different? I guess we will find out soon.

FinelyCruising · 08-28-2009, 08:28 PM

Garry Thanks!

After reading this I think I might have misunderstood what I thought it would be. I know you enjoyed this option on RCCL, but what I think I am reading here is that if there is an open place in the MDR that one may be seated as a result of that place being unused that evening.

I have been known to make things up as I go along because that's how I want them to be, and I think I might be guilty of that now since my read on this is that there will not be a segregated area for guests who wish to dine at an alternate time, but that it will be more of an ad hoc come and see if someone is not here tonight having dinner when you stop by.

Now I'm dissappointed.

earl_m · 08-29-2009, 06:59 PM

Thanks for posting that article, sounds good but I am still not a fan of
of any time dining. I like the fix time where i can dine with the same people each night,