cruisr

3 hours ago, ryndam said:

Tastes for lunch today. Dumplings, sangria, Blue Moon and onion rings!

 

Rob

Eclectic! Bon appetite 

8 hours ago, uktog said:

There’s not been a fresh catch since Miami so that item is work in progress 

 

Weve got the influencer/ photographer’s today. Personally I’m very comfy in my pool seat and won’t be moving but I have to say the suit the male model is wearing looks ridiculous and certainly wouldn’t encourage me to book but I’m probably not their target 

I showed this to my DH and asked who their target market is?  I told him I have no idea but based on the outfit the model is wearing, it is not us, or probably most of the people on the current cruise LOL.  That is one ugly choice of clothing.

That is too bad as there is a big push to get tourists back to Maui.  

Thank you for your reply @DTO  I appreciate it.

I have friends going on Crystal for their anniversary.  My DH and I would like to send them shipboard credit as an anniversary gift.  If they are not able to use it all would the balance not used be able to be refunded to them as cash?

I seem to remember OC did that but not sure about NC

I liked the ports you visit while starting in the Northeast and heading south clockwise.

Came from Scotland over to the NE of Iceland and proceeded to REK with IIRC 5 stops  before docking.  Did the west coast from REK this summer and whilst nice not as scenic for me.

Thank you both.

Apologies in advance if this has been answered.  Are they all recently refurbished or are there some that date back to 2018 refurb IIRC?

I know two influencers and they told me that they never report anything negative as they want the gravy train to continue.  I do not base any decisions on influencers.  Nor do I believe everything they say.  It’s a “business” with a marketing plan to continue the “business”

I trust reports on here more than influencers.  Of course there is also confirmation bias.  if someone loved Crystal they more than likely support 100% an “influencer” that supports Crystal and raves about it.

It does say that they got things for free.  Like a cruise in a Sapphire Suite?  And they were in a refurbished suite to boot.

It really saddens me that the OP has not come back to post.  Cannot blame him.  There are some boards that I don’t participate in as if you are perceived to not approve of everything your opinion is questioned.

We haven’t deposited yet and if some people on here are typical of the guest demographics and psychographics Explora may not be the cruise for us.

1 hour ago, quesam said:

Which cruise?  I’ve just started searching for a solo cruise and I’m wondering which cruises have the lowest solo charge and more importantly is Explora a good experience for solos. I love Oceania for the amount of solos on board and the activities for meeting others but always paying double gets old. 

 

 

Its the 6 night cruise in January from Miami to Cartegena.  

When Crystal NEVER got back to my TA about single fare promotion going on now (nobody in reservations knew anything about it, told they would call back, never did, no return call from her sales manager) my 2 GFs and I have booked 3 suites on EJ.  My TA forwarded this to me today and it is a positive sign,  BTW, only a 15% single supplement.

I stopped going to TK after my 8th cruise since it became part of Seabourn.  Boring, repetive and inconsistent.  My last two cruises on Encore I didn’t even bother afterbtwo previous less than stellar experiences.  I welcome a new experience and the menus look fabulous.

16 hours ago, May B said:

You mean the email came before the res. agents had access to the special fares? It’s now four days later. Has that been remedied?

Nope and myself and two friends I convinced to come with me have booked on Explora with a 15% single supplement.  Res agents my TA spoke to said they would reach out to her and they haven’t.  Radio silence from sales department also.  
 

Given the load factors one would think they would want to get bodies in beds and changing the SS on these sailings means they do but wow lousy follow through

I know that the onboard product is not reflective of what shoreside is and I am thankful for that.  Reservations still has no idea what the new promotion for singles in Aquamarine nd Sapphire suites is.  In addition when you click on the voyages that this promo is applicable to you get BOTH the cancelled Panama Canal cruises and the new 7 day itineraries, right below each other!  Do they not have anybody proof anything?  If I did not know how wonderful OC could be and from what I am reading NC is I would avoid a company that puts out incorrect itineraries and don’t know their own itineraries or promotions.

@rafinmdI would love to sail with you some day.  I loved following your journey on two of my favorite ships.  I got a kick out of seeing what ice cream you were chosing for the evening.  LOL. We would probably be ships passing in the night whilst onboard as DH and I usually go to sleep around 3:00am and awaken about 11:00am. I am sure we could find a time period in between LOL.  I wish you many years of good health and good sailing.  

Well my TA forwarded me an email she received from Crystal about special single fares on select sailings for Aquamarine and Sapphire and two phone calls to Crystal and she still can’t get fare information.  She wants to be able to book online but that still hasn’t happened.  She is calling back tomorrow 

1 hour ago, Psoque said:

I think it would be very helpful if people can identify any discount/OBC programs with their official names.  I believe the OBC through American Express Platinum Card or Centurion Card is called American Express Cruise Privileges Program.  I have never used it so far, but this only works when booked with a travel agency that uses American Express Travel platform to book cruises.

Not true,  All agents can get the CPP benefits for their clients and do not have to book through Amex Platform.  Consortium members of Virtuoso, Ensemble, Travel Leaders, etc are able to get the CPP benefit and they do not use any Amex booking platform.  The CPP works for all travel agencies in the US who book cruises with the cruiselines that offer the CPP.  In the past the TAs called in to American Express Agency Services desk to give clients Platinum/Centurion card number to an Amex rep who would then give a tracking number that TA called into cruiseline and the $300.00 or $500.00 was pur on their account.  The different cruiselines handle singles differently as to how much you get.  I usually get the full amount as I usually pay a hefty single if my husband doesn’t go. As mentioned above it is not combinable with certain promotions nor s it combinable with consortium benefits such as a tour, another OBC, etc.

Now, all travel agents have to do is register online with the Amex agency services desk and the same process takes place only the TAs don’t speak with a rep and they get the tracking number electronically which they call into the cruiseline.

I was just told by a Seabourn reservation agent that the person referred will not receive the shipboard credit until their 2nd cruise.  She said its a recent change.  That does not sound right.  Anybody hear this?  I am referring two new suites (5 people) to Seabourn.  I know I get the referee credit on my next cruise but it makes no sense my referred friends don’t get it on their first cruise.

Greenland is less touristy, obviously, and scenery is different.  I loved the town of Nuuk though most Seabourn cruises don’t go there.  Sadly we could not do PC Sound as the weather was too foggy and too much pack ice.  I do like Iceland though and have been three times.  Some of the scenery in Iceland is incredible and best done by land.

I would not hesitate going back to either.

Bananas, Baileys and coconut cream mixed with crushed ice in a blender.  Add dark rum for more of a kick.

BBCs are the best frozen drink.  I first had one on Seabourn 26 years ago and alwys get them now.

11 hours ago, doglover214 said:

Amex told me that in order to get OBC, you must use American Express Travel to book. 
That was never the case before, but she said it’s the new policy. 

Absolutely 100% not true.  The Amex Travel reps always say this and it is not true.  As recently as last week, I have had the $300.00 onboard credit applied via my TA.  Your TA has a dedicated online Amex site that they access and they give Amex your Platinum/Centurion number, name of cardholder, cruise line, cabin and fare.  Once entered and submitted your TA gets a tracking number which they call in to the cruiseline and have that number added to your reservation.  Do NOT believe what Amex agents tell you as they want the booking themselves. 

6 minutes ago, Yankeeclipper1 said:

Keith,

 

What I was sent so far show two cruises turned into 3.  Extra days (from what I understand) come into play if you choose future Panama Canal cruises that are all 16 - 14 days.  You can get those for the same price as you already paid - does not work for me.  All I would like - since the new cruises are not in anyway reflective at all of what I bought is a refund that will allow me to choose when and where I will book - so far that full refund (without a penalty) is elusive. 

 

Wow, that is a big change they are forcing you to accept or be penalized.  So sorry about this.  Not good.  I can see why they don’t want to refund you without a penalty as if others feel as you do, and as I would, they will be sailing with a very low occupancy on these new itineraries. The itineraries are no way comparable