Stickman1990

Day 9 - Cruising the Pacific to Tonga Just a quick update today as I realised I really didn’t take too many photos yesterday as we relaxed around the ship I should report it was a tough trivia session yesterday and we were well done the pack with 9 correct - the top score was 13 While there were many lectures and activities on board we just relaxed in the Palm Court I did attend a meet up for the Crystal Society Family FB and Cruise Critic groups and met some fellow cruisers and some discussion on how they were finding being back onboard We dined in Waterside and had another lovely meal then it was off to the show - Icons in Concert which is a fast moving rock and pop show highlighting artists like Elvis, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and features some great guitar solos. We’ve enjoyed the show since it debuted back in 2018 and it’s evolved with content - we like the heavy rock content which has been reduced over the years Tonight is interesting - we go to sleep on Sunday night and wake on Tuesday morning - for us there is no 26 February as we cross the International Date Line - no time change - just the change of day And the good news is it’s another sea day for us to enjoy on Tuesday Some of the photos uploaded today Fish tacos in Waterside and Icons Concert

27 February (there was no 26th!) Waterside lunch Waterside Lunch 27 February.pdf Waterside dinner Waterside Dinner 27 February.pdf Reflections - the download is broken at the moment so I’ll post it later)

I haven’t received anything in the last few days either - I do t think anything’s been sent out - I’ve certainly never received something daily - more like once a week or so If you don’t receive anything in the next week or so then try resubscribing on the website I am surprised as to the high level of regular Crystal cruisers not receiving these mailings so there’s definitely been an issue

You know where we are….and ask my wife as she’ll give you another opinion We did a 3 weeks on her last September and loved it - things that are important to us like ambience and physical attributes, dining and service were amongst the best we’ve experienced. Entertainment has some room for important but is fine and some of the guest entertainers and speakers are the same as on other luxury lines The Explorer lounge (similar to Palm Court) is a nice spot to while away the days at sea and the coffees good in Crema cafe For those who like pools and hot tubs or even just sitting poolside there are several around the ship - both indoor and outdoor We are booked for 26 days on her next year and will be happy to return

Dwight - are we still on for 4.30pm today in Palm Court? Just so you are aware Rick, the Cruise Director, has also organised a meetup for Crystal FB members at 5pm in Palm Court Port side this evening so I dare say both groups will probably merge

Day 8 - Rarotonga, Cook Islands then sailing to Tonga Today was our first visit to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Of course as New Zealanders we’ve met many Cook Islanders as both nations have close links even to the extent that they use NZ currency Unfortunately a storm decided to descend on the island in the morning as we went ashore for a look around - we wanted to do early as everything closes at noon on Saturdays. Although we had our trusty Crystal umbrellas we got wet and the ground at the local market turned into mini rivers in many parts. Nevertheless Kerry scored a new bag which she is very chuffed about We returned to the ship by tender, dried out and went to Tastes for lunch. I designed a pizza with my favourite toppings and Kerry had potsticker dumplings - David our friend had a huge Reuben sandwich and Ricki the ever popular Chicken Chinois salad - the area we sat in is served by two restaurants - Tastes and the Trident grill so there’s plenty of dining options During the afternoon we commenced the global Rumikub tournament with Ricki and David who I’m sure are Rumikub sharks as after we taught them the rules quickly proceeded to beat us regularly 😂 We had thought of attending a movie, but after a minute or two in the theatre we realised we’d seen the Liam Neeson movie before We dined in Waterside and were looked after by Leo, Barbara, Narola and Mila - what a great team they have in this restaurant and the chefs are turning out great dishes. I think on many lines this restaurant would be billed as a specialty restaurant with limited availability and potentially even an up charge - neither of which apply on Crystal. I’ve attached the photos of dishes and the menu I then went to the show which was a comedian - John Wing - he was ok but not as much to my tastes as some we’ve enjoyed in the past Then it was time for the White Night party where most guests chose to dress in white (it’s optional) and three acts from Crystal performed before the dancing began - the dance pair of Luca & Balint - boy can they move, Nadia on Violin who played a stirring rendition of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song and then Karin Kovacova who is the resident singer onboard One thing we did enjoy during the day was chatting to some of the crew, they are a great asset and part of the secret sauce that makes this cruise line special. We were delighted to learn Maria our cabin attendant is to get married to her fiancée who also works on board this year - she is lovely and has a very wise head. Coincidentally our last cabin attendant was from the same country, Romania, as Maria and had also married her fiancé during the shutdown - they both continue to work on Serenity. They both love being at sea and manage to secure roles which let them spent sometime together. We enjoyed hearing that Roland our butler had discovered a great curry house ashore on Rarotonga and enjoyed a meal there - I was able to give him a recommendation that Santosh one of the waiters had given me for an Indian restaurant in Auckland - there’s a wealth of knowledge around So another great day enjoying all the many and varied activities - tomorrows a sea day and we get an extras hour with clocks turned back Once again only limited photos as it’s just not accepting a lot of the uploads Ben though they’re normal photo files - and yet it’s uploaded a large videos today Tendering in Scallops Crab cake Luca & Balint IMG_8683.mov IMG_8686.mov IMG_8687.mov

Welcome @ccguestrelations - it’s great to have you onboard to help support the community

25 February Reflections Reflections 25 February 2024.pdf Waterside Lunch Waterside Lunch 25 February.pdf Waterside Dinner Waterside Dinner 25 February.pdf

While ticketed there is no additional charge for them - it’s purely to manage the limited number of seats at each show Once in the show you can sit in any seat - they’re not pre-assigned

Emails from Crystal Quick and simple question on Crystal emails you are or aren’t receiving Crystal’s asked me to try and establish are we all getting the regular emails from them with news and announcements - and yes, even promotion of cruises? There was a glitch that unfortunately messed up the mailing list, they believe they’ve fixed it but want to confirm that So if you did subscribe to receiving mailings and you’re not getting anything (trust me you’d know if you were as there’s been probably 3 in the last week I think) then can you just post here so they know it’s still an issue - no need to post your email address - and maybe go onto www.crystalcruises.com and resubscribe

It was definitely gutted back to bare metal - phew I thought I was losing it for a minute

Yes I knew my memory wasn’t failing me - I’ve seen or posted pictures of it during the refurbishment that confirm that

24 February Waterside is closed for lunch Waterside Dinner menu Waterside Dinner 24 February.pdf

Sailing to Rarotonga, Cook Islands on Crystal Serenity Our first sea day, something that Crystal excels at with so many things to do, or not do and just relax Pre breakfast activity was laundry which I do onboard - they have great facilities and it wasn’t busy so I spread out across a couple of machines. Even better our suite comes with free pressing so no ironing for me to do First I enjoyed the Morning Show that Cruise Director Rick Spath puts together for the inhouse TV network and part of that are some trivia questions with Crystal merchandise giveaways - I started well with the correct answer for the first question of this segment. It was a gimme really - What’s the city outside Greece that has the largest Greek population? That’s easy for an Aussie - Melbourne of course I stopped by the front desk and was surprised to see Andreea who had been our room attendant back in 2020 behind the desk - she has been promoted to resception and it’s great to see crew moving up the chain. Both her and her new husband work on the ship Then it was time for Trivia which is very popular and draws a big crowd to the Palm Court - our team came in third with 11 points which will go to our cumulative score for the segment. The winning teams got 13 correct I had lunch in Waterside and enjoyed a Niçoise salad and enjoyed chatting with some fellow guests about our cruising experiences My wife meanwhile had gone to the spa to have her toenails painted in the Aurora spa - she’s very happy with the result We hung out in Palm Court for much of the afternoon - I even caught a nap 💤 on one of the lovely big sofas but woke in time for afternoon tea fortunately After changing into my suit as it was formal night I returned to the Palm Court for the Captains reception where he presents his officers - these affairs are attended by fewer than they were - perhaps now that it’s all inclusive people aren’t wooed by the offer of a free drink 😉 We had dinner with friends in Umi Uma the Nobu restaurant onboard and devoured a wide range of dishes including copious quantities of sashimi and sushi - the service team who looked after us were excellent - thanks to Hanika and Jay - now I wasn’t sure on the spelling of Hanikas name so I just googled it and that tells me the meaning is “Swan, a graceful woman” - and that is spot on - it was great to have a Japanese server in a Japanese restaurant - although you were missed Sheila After dinner I went to the closing songs of the show which was Christina Andreas from Broadway and she and her husband put on a great show Then with great restraint and a little tiredness setting in I retired early For those interested in tips I came across a few today: 1 - Crystal Society Awards - I discovered that on achieving a milestone that has a dollar amount as the benefit you can opt to either take it as a On Board Credit, or apply it as a discount towards a future cruise or take it in the case of my award as a category upgrade on a 12 night or less cruise - so it’s not only great that Crystal recognises our previous sailing history but does offer alternates to use awards - thanks to Daniele Puma one of the onboard booking consultants for filling me in on that 2 - Do Not Disturb - I certainly didn’t know but if that is on in your suite then the door bell won’t work - handy but a trap for young players if you think you’re going to ask your partner to let you in late at night and do not disturb is on 3 - Included wines - I’ve included an indicative list of the current included wines available in the photos today - there’s plenty to choose from Once again photos won’t load - they’re loading fine on other social media - so you won’t get to enjoy them I’m afraid

24 February Reflections Reflections 24 February 2024.pdf

Come to think about it I think you’re right - it’s been too many coffee laces for me in the last year or two. But I’m pretty sure they actually gutted the bistros and did a complete rebuild (could be wrong though)

Here’s a link to the Beefbar corporate website https://beefbar.com

Just in from Crystal - a new dining concept to be located where Tastes currently is Crystals announcement below Exciting new announcement just in time for South Beach Wine & Food Festival! Crystal Announces Exclusive Collaboration With Global Restaurant Brand Beefbar New Offering Will Add To The Exceptional Food & Beverage Program Onboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony MIAMI (Feb. 23, 2024) – Today, Crystal is thrilled to announce an unprecedented collaboration that sets a new standard in culinary excellence on the high seas with world-renowned restaurant, Beefbar. In a groundbreaking move, Crystal will be the first cruise line to offer the Beefbar concept at sea when it debuts this summer. Beefbar, born in Monte-Carlo, is the brainchild of visionary restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi and has more than 20 locations around the world in some of the most iconic cities such as Mykonos, Paris, Milan, St. Barth, Hong Kong and more. The brand will soon be debuting in the United States with its first location set to open in New York City this spring. However, during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival® this evening at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach & Fontainebleau Las Vegas present Wine Spectator’s ‘Best of the Best’ sponsored by Crystal, visitors will have the first opportunity to sample the cuisine. Known for its exquisite selection of prime cuts and innovative culinary creations, Beefbar will perfectly complement Crystal’s dedication to delivering unparalleled dining experiences to its guests. "We are thrilled to embark on this culinary journey with Beefbar,” said Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, “As the first cruise line to offer Beefbar exclusively, we are bringing an extraordinary dining experience to our guests, aligning our brands with a shared commitment to excellence. Riccardo is a visionary and a friend, and it is with this vision and values that Crystal is dedicated to once again elevating the standards of culinary excellence." Guests can anticipate savoring a delectable Beefbar menu during both lunch and dinner service, which will feature a variety of items including vegetarian and vegan options as well as specialty cocktails. The favorite signature dishes of Tastes will continue to be served at Beefbar. With a focus on quality, innovation and an unwavering commitment to culinary excellence, this collaboration is poised to redefine the standards of dining aboard cruise ships. "We are delighted to bring the Beefbar experience to Crystal,” said Giraudi. “This collaboration signifies a merging of two brands dedicated to delivering exceptional dining experiences. We look forward to captivating the palates of Crystal’s guests with our unique culinary offerings."

Were on Serenity at the moment - it’s great - basically what old Crystal was with some tweaks eg new Italian restaurant and many more larger suites (but less overall capacity) The entertainment and enrichment programme is top notch Having said that we’re definitely returning to Explora as well as we really enjoyed our time on her - and the dining is superb

Papeete & Sailing en route to Rarotonga We were in port for most of the day but we decided to stay on board and relax visiting some of our favourite spots around the ship and catching up with many of our friends on board Breakfast was in Marketplace, a traditional buffet style with lots of different selections on offer, we also dined with our friend Jean who is one of the knitting ladies we’ve met on earlier cruises - it was great to catch-up with her We spent time up in Palm Court and my wife got her knitting into action and of course met and chatted with a fellow knitter. While the formal knitting get together is tomorrow it doesn’t take long for the knitters to find each other. It is great that Crystal continue to include a knitting instructor on the World Cruise segments although I know the ladies would still meet to knit and chat even if there wasn’t a formal programme Then we found our way to the Bistro for coffee where we met our good friends who were trying to do some work before we decided to interrupt them for a chat. Probably a good time to mention the internet service on board - so far so good - it’s fast enough at around 6Mbps down and 2Mbps up and so far I’ve been able browse and post ok but it’s certainly not the fastest we’ve experienced at sea - fingers crossed that it continues to deliver as we cross the Pacific Yes I know this is turning into one of those what did he eat next then posts but trust me we did restrain ourselves to little and often snacking. So for lunch we went to Tastes which is a lovely semi outdoor venue with lots of light and sun flooding in below a glass cover (a long time ago it was a pool area but that was removed and the dining area added) - caesar salad and shrimps for me and Mexican quesadillas for my wife with a side of potsticker dumplings to share We then enjoyed some time in our suite and just read and relaxed. I’ve haven’t included pictures of our room which is spacious and well appointed - we’re in a classic Aquamarine on deck 10 and happy to answer any questions about it if you have any We popped in for afternoon tea in Palm Court and sampled some of the treats on offer We dined at the Italian specialty restaurant, Osteria d’ Ovidio with friends who are doing the full world cruise and enjoyed a leisurely 3 hour dinner. This is a new restaurant onboard so we enjoyed trying different dishes and were not disappointed with any of them After dinner I went to the show which was Crystal in Motion, an introductory show featuring the resident entertainers, band and ensemble - there’s a lot of entertainment talent on Crystal and it’s top quality - we look forward to their upcoming shows. I don’t think it’s too early to call it on this area - in my view they are the best of all the resident entertainment we’ve experienced on the other 5 luxury cruise lines. Unfortunately Crystal have decided to stop the preshow drinks service in the theatre but rest assured no one will find a lack of drinks around the ship I had a nightcap in the Avenue and discovered yet another friend from previous cruises and caught up with her travels over the last few years I’m still struggling with getting pictures to post on here so it’s a bit random what uploads. It’s weird as I’m able to post them on other social media without issue

The Drinks menu in Palm Court - it’s representative of what’s onboard but there will be other drinks available in some of the other bars that may not be on the list and the wine list is only a sample - there is a much wider selection available with meals I think this is worthy of a dedicated post

No that’s the requirements now although I’m told given the numbers on board that it’s easy enough to get a table there in the evening

23 February Reflections Reflections 23 February 2024.pdf Waterside Waterside Lunch 23 February.pdf Waterside Dinner - Formal Night 23 February.pdf All Day Dining (Room Service) Room Service - All Day.pdf

It was totally gutted back to bare metal so it’s all new and therefore redecorated - main impact was the serving area / bar was pushed back to be flat across the back giving a little more usable space for seating

I hope you’ll enjoy my comments and photos from onboard Crystal Serenity over the next few weeks as we cruise from Papeete to Auckland Yesterday was embarkation day for us and I was keen to board after 4 years absence from Crystal. During that time we’ve sailed Explora Journeys, Regent, Silversea and even Viking - so I think we’ve got some good recent comparison points but more on that in later posts We had the easiest processing ever - no waiting or lines, and only the normal security checks before boarding. Lots of familiar faces among the crew that greeted us. Our room was ready so we got settled in then looked around the ship. Very familiar and many things have not changed but there has been some refurbishment of areas like the bistro which I’ll touch on our the next few weeks We dined for lunch in Waterside and then joined our friends at the Grill before heading up to our favourite lounge, the Palm Court. I also stopped by the library and caught up with Liezel the librarian and picked up our tickets for the magic show We got settled into our suite and put everything away and met our Butler, Roland from Goa and suite attendants, Maria & Mangkung - lovely and willing to ensure our stay on board was perfect Then it was off to the Cove for drinks and catching up with other guests and crew we know. We eventually made it to Waterside for dinner where Leo has noted us affectionately as “those Aussies” - and there were so many other familiar faces including the great sommelier Mila who has let me know about some of the new wines on board including a new Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from Greywacke Vineyards, so we tried that and it was very nice with the Ahi Tuna and then Mahi Mahi fish courses I chose After dinner we caught the end of the local Tahitian performers show and then I headed to the Avenue where an excellent entertainer, Neal Fullerton was playing the piano and guitar. It’s the first time I’ve seen him but I can see he’s going to be a lot of fun - and he tried to please on every request, even managing a few rifts on the guitar from Stairway to Heaven for me. After a quick checkin in Pulse the nightclub which was dead - I was the only guest but it gave me a chance to chat with Rob the DJ, I headed off to get some rest Photos aren’t uploading at the moment but I’ll try and add some later on