CityGrrl

Jamie! I'm loving this! Would it be possible for you to post the drinks menu .pdf you mentioned? Or any of the new revised drinks menus? Thank you so much for bringing us along.

Did anyone make it to Pearl Island? Were you satisfied? Thrilled? Disappointed? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Ah, great question. I'm sailing Fantastica. I've seen some MSC room service menus online, and it does look like the offerings are meant as a snack or light meal. It sounds like the pizza is probably the strongest choice, post beeakfast.

Thank you! It helps a lot!

Hi! I'm a first time MSC cruiser, and will have a balcony to enjoy this trip. What are some of your favorite room service meals? Do they feel like meals or snacks? And, a few specific questions (I searched first, but didn't see answers 🙂) Has anybody asked for a large carafe of coffee and a large carafe of hot milk with the free breakfast? (I like to read while drinking several cups of coffee in the morning.) How big are the room service pizzas? Has anybody taken their margaritas from "Hola Tacos" back to their cabin? I sometimes enjoy a second margarita after dinner, but it takes me forever to drink it. Would prefer not to rush! Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

They are included when you order them at meals or at a bar (or at least they were included last spring). If you take them from your mini-bar (if you have one) they are NOT included). On our sailing, taking food and drink away from the venue where it was served was discouraged. But not discouraged to the point where anybody stopped me if I walked away from my table with water or a cocktail or a latte after served. Your mileage may vary.

Good question! The beauty of the Crystal is that it is small, so very easy to explore and find your own nirvana. I'm afraid I don't have much advice about on-board entertainment, I mostly cruise for natural beauty, history and the delight of having someone else do all the cooking and cleaning. 🙂 Tips: (just my two cents) bring a E/F to American Standard adapter if you need another outlet. I used this one that also has a couple of USB ports: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079RW9WWC?th=1 the espressos (including americanos and lattes) were delicious and always far superior to the coffee, and are available in the buffet, the dining room and most bars, and are included in the fare (at least at the time we sailed). The Food in the dining room was wonderful. (The buffet a little less so.) If you ask nicely, you can get yourself established at a table by the windows and enjoy the view and sometimes sunsets with your dinner. Establishing yourself in one spot also helps the waitstaff get to know your preferences. I thought the service was excellent! The aft bar is a great place to hang out outdoors. And ouzo in Greece tastes better than Ouzo in the States. 🙂 Large bottles of sparkling water are a rare commodity. Make friends with a bartender who can help you find them on the ship ("try the buffet bar today!"). They're great for taking back to your room and rehydrating after a fun night! We did have a refrigerator in our balcony room. Not sure which rooms get them. The minibar contents were not included in our fare. Get your beverages and treats from the bars and buffet. If you like quiet, the Lounge at the top of the ship is usually deserted in the morning and early afternoon. Great place to read, write, watch the world go by, grab a coffee at the Helios bar on Deck Nine, and head upstairs to enjoy some quiet!

I'm just seeing this question, months later. The time on Santorini does feel short. I think we were able to get onto a tender around 2p and took a tender back around midnight. I was a bit of a contrarian when it comes to Santorini. I knew several ships were in port, so, even though I've never seen it, and I know it would have been stunning, we skipped Oia. I knew that it wouldn't be as fun for me to explore if we were shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of people trying to enjoy the sunset. Instead, my hubby and I headed the other direction, to go to Santo Winery https://santowines.gr/ in Pyrgos. The Sunset was stunning, and we had a beautiful wine tasting and dinner, soaking up the beauty of the caldera. We were crazy enough to walk up the stairs (it was mid-May and the sun was already blazing!), but then took a cab to and from the winery, and the funicular down, back to the tenders. The reality of that volcanic island and it's extreme terrain hits you immediately as you sail into the harbor, and it is stunning! If Oia is your main reason for visiting the Greek Islands, I'm not sure cruising is the idea way to visit. But if you have seen Oia before, or could enjoy it in a crowd or could enjoy the beauty of the Caldera from another vantage point, then why not!

I'm so sorry I didn't respond to your Covid Test question! I don't seem to be getting notified when folks respond to my posts. I hope you found a test and had a great cruise! For others, this is where we got our (Rapid) test: https://goo.gl/maps/LccTzcCbNGs5UriB9. The pharmacist was very knowledgeable about the test type and paperwork necessary for a cruise vs a flight.

Quoting myself from another post: I was onboard the Celestyal Crystal a week ago, and I can't stop talking about how much I loved the experience. I understand your concern. They had to cancel some sailings during Covid. I was super nervous that our sailing might be cancelled (we were the second sailing of our itinerary in 2022). There are technical upgrades they are working on that were launched too soon (the online platform isn't operational yet, and it made me nervous to keep seeing ”comimg soon!" when I tried to log into an online booking experience. And the app doesn't really work when you're onboard). However, once you're onboard, you are in good hands. The crew members were uniquely warm and friendly: it's the difference between employees and hosts. The food In the main dining room was outstanding! The one time there was a hiccup (bitter green pepper for the stuffed peppers) our servers were quick to remedy the issue. I live in New York City, I'm used to great service and great food, and I loved the Crystal. Our cabin stewards were professional, warm, friendly thorough and great hosts. The bottom line with Celestyal is value. You visit several insanely beautiful islands, you unpack once. You eat well. You drink without worrying about the bill. Your bed is comfy. Your room (and the ship) is impeccably clean. I suggest a balcony, so you can enjoy the show of sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and islands floating by. While onboard, you're treated like cherished family by the lovely staff. Go. You'll remember the journey in Technicolor for the rest of your life!

We sailed on the Crystal last week (week before last?). Although the online booking system isn't working, the cruise itself is was a joy. Worth every bit of pre-cruise "are we actually going to be able to sail?" nerves. Yes, you're sailing. Be prepared to get your Covid test in Athens (10 euro per person seemed the norm near Plaka). And then be ready to be taken care of in beautiful style for a week. It was a memorable vacation!

On Celestyal Crystal, we enjoyed an embarkation cocktail, as well as drinks while docked at other ports.

We are just off the Celestyal Crystal and we loved the whole experience. I've traveled with both RCL and Celebrity, and for my priorities and to my taste, this was the cruise for me. The itinerary can't be beat at the price. And the staff! They are so wonderful and welcoming! As if they were your doting hosts, genuinely wishing you a wonderful vacation. The food was delicious, and the choices were varied and satisfying. I regret not photographing the menus! There are fish options almost every meal for those trying to keep it healthy. There are burgers for the kids (or adults suffering "choice burnout" from all the variety!) And there are lots of cruise ship "standard" choices. (My husband enjoyed his roast beef, I loved my chicken Kiev). Everything was plated beautifully. Oh! Every evening there is a "Blue Zone" selection for the healthy-minded that is based on traditional island cuisine. A few things to know: The ship is older. It reminds me of the Celebrity Summit before the update in 2019. So expect dated interiors. If that is important to you, the Crystal isn't for you. That said, the ship is impeccably neat and CLEAN. Truly well cared for. The pool is tiny. The hot tub is in the middle of the best outdoor (aft) bar, so be comfortable with that if you really need a dip on board. As far as activities, I can't really speak to the onboard activities, because every day you arrive at a new island, waiting to be explored, and that is what we did. The on-shore time is generous! I did see a line dancing group by the pool, having a fabulous time. The activities director leading was very charming. I also know there are also Greek dancing and "Greek phrases for travellers" classes. There was a wine tasting event for a modest charge for some fun (not fancy) wines. There is a disco. We were too exhausted from dashing all over the Ah-maz-ing islands to stay up that late! There is a show every evening, a combo of song, dance, quick costume changes and acrobatics, performed by an in-house troop. Keep your expectations modest here. It's a small ship, so no icecapades. And these hard working and talented performers are delivering 6 (7?) different-themed shows a week. The acrobatics are suitably hair-raising: lots of partner work on ropes and rings and silks, and you're praying noone drops! So, in summary, if you're a destination focused traveller, who likes to be warmly hosted by staff, and loves good and generous food (and drink! - there's a nice list of included beverages including morning lattes, some name brand liquors, soft drinks, juices, mineral water, and very palatable house wines) and doesn't need water slides or icecapades, and think a bit of older decor can be charming: GO! I repeat, GO! (And say "hi" to Amaury and Nelson and Kidd in the dining room for me. Those guys are the best!)

Is everyone in the USA getting this message? I'd like to be able to take a look at my booking online. The message has been up for about a month now. 🤔