ctjon

It does seem more formal on formal nights than the old Crystal was at the end. That and additional extra for special restaurants doesn't make me happy about new Crystal but I guess neither are major issues but does indicate a direction

A suggestion - we don't usually use the Crystal hotel program but have booked separately at the same hotel. Depending upon what city/port have also booked the Crystal transport to the dock. We have been treated the same at the hotel as the booked through Crystal folks with help from the Crystal desk, luggage transport. Sure it doesn't always work but has worked for us several times.

Not forgiving anyone but normal today is getting inexperienced agents and taking a long time to get results - no matter what the industry.

Wonder how many on this board sailed on Harmony - we did. A few years ago it was still sailing under different name/different company As I remember Symphony was a huge leap up from Harmony

I know people have not liked saying this but TIME WILL TELL

And what management is willing to pay for food supplies, etc.

Just read a story in CT newspaper - Paul McCartney is giving a concert at Yale - crashed to ticket system. They haven't lost their appeal

I'm sure it took a while to hire the staff and estimate what the refurbishment was needed and how long it would take.

Not certain yet as has been said in other threads. The space is still there but they may not have finished negotiating with a vendor to run the casinos

There was a tv show at least earlier this year that had the old Ed Sullivan shows on it - it was great to see that band perform which was the beginning of the US fame.

Since I live in the Portland, ME area I'd love to see Crystal stop in Maine. I normally go down to the dock and greet passengers and crew when they disembark. It isn't a big port and that time of year is usually pretty full

I think a lot of people would want an East Coast trip - only do Quebec cause they have to do non-US stops. Also, as I said on another thread some ports in Canada and US maybe entirely booked since Crystal was late in the booking they couldn't get space.

I'm sure there are destinations (ports) that are fully booked a year or two in advance or with very few available dates. Certainly, a challenge for a cruise line that is just starting up again and trying to provide people both short term and long term opportunities. Could also account for a lot of sea days on some trips.

It also might mean that AMEX and Crystal haven't started or finished discussion about being included.

another thread has a lot on this - apparently the fee is included in the published fare

I wonder on any cruise, in the past, what percent of the crew was new?

If I remember correctly is access from cooking locations to food supplies, food trash areas, etc that are on the lower/ non passenger areas of the ship When dining rooms and kitchens are they have that access without having to transport the stuff in passenger areas putting cooking/ eating in other areas would require disturbing passengers by moving stuff in their areas.

Crystal going to get a Roll Call thread again on this Cruise Critic site?

Since many of window cabins look out onto the walk around deck I can't imagine how they would convert those to balcony cabins and the walk around deck is a much loved design element it would be a real loss if they got rid of that for veranda's

We used to do only veranda - but last couple we did window staterooms. Our intent when we cruise is to spend as little time as possible in stateroom so we don't need the fancy stuff - but that is us. Also, depends upon where you are cruising. If you can see a lot of scenery you probably want a veranda. If your cruise is crossing the north Atlantic in fall - you probably won't be out there much anyway.

I find it interesting - for what we pay for cruises - even not in penthouse cabins - compared to that what is 500 to get the benefits you will. If it all falls apart sure it could be another 500 lost but the benefits are worth the risk to many of us

I sort of expect that itineraries would be released when the 500 program ended. That would make logical, to me, sense. Looking forward to Monday now

Off topic but - hopefully the new Crystal will do a better job on stuff on web site. A friend let me know today that on the Crystalcruises web site if the message about cruise coming back under the pictures of the ships it says they will begin cruising again next year - my friend said I thought they were going to resume this year. From what we've all heard and read it is this year so they need to fix their web site text. The old Crystal wasn't good on keeping their web site accurate etc.

The ships have been docked for almost 5 months I wonder if that long a docking causes problems for equipment, steel etc. I'm sure they are maintaining them as best as can.

A couple of issues that Crystal will face the longer the wait: People are doing cruises on other lines and enjoying them from posting here and elsewhere - so now they know they have a choice. Second people who cruise probably have made their 2023 plans and some 2024 plans and when Crystal opens will they change plans or?? Hopefully, we'll all know soon