MsCrystalina

HI!

Due to begin the British Isles on Regal Tuesday the 13TH.  Wondering about the weather if anyone on board now. Taking a rain slicker and expect shorts not optimal for most the ports. . It has been about 20 years since did that itinerary on Princess and so looking forward to the changes on board and land! Ship sounds fantastic! 

I have been on 7 on many cruises, both ships. No issues with noise, traffic nor ship movement. I am going on Symphony in 12/2024 due to the itinerary and value to me for the Emirates-Mumbai segment. I refuse to pay double for the other categories as a solo on Crystal. There are several luxury options out there who treat solos very nice- better than C ever did- and offer more bang for the buck in my opinion!  Dining choices, caviar, butler, included excursions and more.

First time on Regent in the fall . For the included air, I did not care for any of the routes or the brands they presented to me, so asked for the credit and booked on my own.  Have always done this but thought perhaps it would be palatable this time!   Same with the hotels- as single reject the offers  booked with the cruise line and book on own for much less. 

The zero % single supplement worked out for me. As a former Crystal client, I have no plans to return to them until hear some feedback from other than their cheerleaders.  They are not starting out right IMHO as solo supplements are 100 percent for cabins with exception of a few on deck 7 without a balcony.  Very pleased with Silversea and have 2 coming soon on   Regent and Silversea.  Crystal has nothing comparable to the multiple dining venues, included excursions and new generously sized staterooms (even entry-level).

Wow- there really are no palatable alternatives to the casino space. Possibilities of catering to bridge playing or sales promotions- and no casino- just adds to my reasons to delay any voyages on Crystal!

Goofy- recommended fabrics and colors of jeans??   Elegant shorts for daytime and tailored  shorts in the evening??      Will wear what have always worn!

As far as I know and have learned from quotes- all solos are twice the price except for the 'designated solo cabins " on 7.  Just a 215 sqft cabin with a veranda is 100% supplement.   Perhaps will change when realize are losing solo clients to specials offered on newer luxury ships. 

I regret that there will not be a casino on new Crystal.   I like to play for a bit and my friends do also.

IMHO- prefer the casino over the dance hosts!   Perhaps a new lounge area as the cove is so limited in seats.  La Dolce Vita on Silversea is a very nice multi-purpose lounge with bar to sit and read, hold trivia, meet people and entertainment later in the night.   

I will be on my first Regent cruise in September. I plan to wear cocktail dresses most nights.  Dressing up is fun for me.   Don't ever want to wear my homey clothes on lovely cruises!

I fly Delta from Atlanta non-stop, if possible, to Europe.  However, they are not listing some options

on site and appear to be attempting to send everyone thru AMS and too many code shares with KLM or older KLM planes with nothing like Delta One.

I had my bags fail to meet me on the only 2 KLM shared flights with stops in AMS have taken.

Avoid KLM and AMS!!    I will fly anywhere to transfer except AMS-  both times had plenty of time to load the bags. Can't say anything good about AMS.

I am booked on Regent for Copenhagen to London in Sept and have found flights I want so will pay deviation fee if necessary. 

For eastern Med/middle east- highly recommend Turkish Airlines- nonstop from ATL and Istanbul's new airport is great- shopping, lounges.  Business class was much better than Delta One - comfort, food, service.

Booked on Nova for mid-October.   Hope all is on schedule for August.   Beautiful renderings of the glass walls- views from everywhere!

Year ago when Downton Abbey was to have the season finale, Crystal arranged it to be shown on the cabin TVs.  I think it started as a passenger from UK had the video and a special request was sent to the UK broadcasters to allow it.

To wcsdkqh- you are so right!    looks like every one of Delta flights- to and from Capetown- even if change Atlanta as origin- go to AMS and use KLM!!   Any out of way 2 nonstops with a layover to get there would be better than that!

I am considering my first Regent cruise and find the included airfare to be a plus for Capetown . However, after reading this thread feel a bit anxious.  Have flown Delta to J-burg nonstop then 

 SA to CPT in past.

Does Regent use KLM to ship one to AMS-and onward- absolutely horrid history with them- bags delayed on both flights in past, on one half of river cruise!   

I don't think Silversea has any reason whatsoever to be concerned about Crystal.  I have sailed with Crystal for about 10 years and 17 cruises.  It took me thru Asia, Africa, South Pacific and the MId-East.  along with less far cruises.   I just loved it- with 25 to 30 percent solo supplements and found it affordable with excellent service.  Other than the solo discount nothing was done for solo travelers - I don't care for dance hosts and don't eat at 6pm to be at a "solo group table".  There were few gatherings for solo cruisers.  They only have 2 ships.

I will be on my second Silversea later this year.  The solo activities, spacious staterooms and variety of dining were outstanding.  It was a bit more expensive than the old Crystal.   

The new Crystal has designated forward, window cabins on deck 7 for solo occupancy.  The bathtubs  have been removed.   Those rooms are reasonably priced in some instances but actually high for the limited space.   I just checked what a balcony room (215 sp ft +) would cost me for a Caribbean holiday and it was a ridiculous $11,999.00.   Also, the itineraries released thus far are not interesting and have very few ports.  

At present Crystal has nothing to entice me to sign on.  There are newer ships with more amenities and great food, service and itineraries to experience!!  That said there are those who cannot wait to get on-which are but a small number in the scheme of things!

Even the more expensive veranda suite ( ? aquamarine) does not even have a walk-in closet.   

PaulMCO-     Yes indeed! I didn't want to spread the news.  My TA told me about it and have been 

studying the Regent options past 2 days!! On SS in Oct/Nov but have found some great itineraries at zero

supplement - air included and large staterooms with or without a veranda before or after Oct!!!

With no response from the Crystal person regarding cost of a solo in a veranda for the holiday Caribbean cruise, I called my TA.  It is 11,999-    unacceptable to me for that itinerary.

She did reassure me that the window cabins on 7 have been renovated.    I think will put that amount toward a more interesting itinerary on a newer larger balcony stateroom on another line. 

Perhaps things such as price and itinerary will improve with time!

I sent a request for a holiday Serenity quote.  Had a phone message left from a personable male 2 days later.    Left a message on his vm as sorry to have missed the call and repeated the questions I wanted answered.    Three days now and no callback nor even an email.    I thought I could save my TA being on hold for hours as is happening to all.      Will recheck their web site when hell freezes over to see if anything meaningful has been added.     

They are about 25- 30 inches in height and are not obstructive unless one is lying on the veranda floor. 

My favorite cabins as veranda deeper and quieter location!  

I am a past solo WC segmenter.   I chose cabins on 7 with a window several times.   Those rooms on the old 7 were solidly sold out and it appeared to me that most were world cruisers- solo and couples.    Historically they were first to fill up on the WC journeys.    On the non-world cruises (such as Caribbean) I was aware of

the star dance couple having cabins on 7.   Same for cabins on 5 on Symphony in pre-covid times.

History & Wine- thanks for the WC info!

The entry level balcony on Silversea was 40 square feet larger than the Aquamarine suite and had same features plus a full tub.  When their single supplement is 25 percent there are several voyages I can get for less than the 7 th floor forward rooms allotted to we misfits!

it is not on the site.

I have had a suite on 5 and I was not aware of any obstructions while on the balcony. I did not spend a whole lot of time on it but was able to sun and take pictures of the sea and ports. Of course, the higher one is the wider and further the view.