SwankPooch

Immerse in numerous artworks posted on corridors of suites and various venues on the ship.

How would I be able to access your videos? Thanks in advance!

I absolutely concur to the comments of 2SailingNomads.  The officers and clientele are more congenial as compared to Crystal.  

You will be able to book TK Grill prior to sailing.  You can also request to be put on the waiting list for TK Grill with customer service personnel .

Enjoy your upcoming cruise !

I intend to postpone my Holiday Cruise to 2022 instead of requesting a refund.

What a coincidence that I met a couple who also experienced Seabourn for the first time after being a loyal customer of Crystal for years and finally decided to drop Crystal for good. They love the ambiance of the Ovation, the genuine attentiveness of the crew, the congenial nature of fellow cruisers, among all other things.

It is worthwhile to spend your vacation on whatever you feel at ease and enjoyable. Everybody has a different perspective in life.

By the way, after a lapse of absence on Crystal, I received a voucher for a large discount.  I did not voice my complaint to Crystal, but I did not even bother to return either.

15 hours ago, alwaysonaship said:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=676326

I am appalled at Crystal's response to your honest review.  We are entitled to our own opinions.  Instead of endeavoring to improve its standard, it is reciprocating by banning your presence.  Just a wild guess - buttering Crystal up may earn you a credit!

Onboard future cruise booking with Crystal was my norm , the only exception was my last cruise.  Delighted that this finally offered me a chance to emerge and discover comparable cruise lines.  I am so accustomed to Crystal to the point of immutable and obstinate. 

I encountered an issue with Seabourn on my third cruise, but it was swiftly resolved with the guest manager, who had an office adjacent to the Square.  If any issue is not within her scope, she will be in direct contact with the Seattle office for instructions.

I totally concur with your comments.  Other than raspberries, blueberries were also invisible until guests requested it from the employee who was serving bagels and breads.

I tried Crystal twice after the Chinese took over.  I admitted that the quality had gone downhill, even the World Cruise.  

Guests were bundled into various clans and were critical. 

Some 'unpaid' guests were so impolite and would even venture ahead of paid guests on shuttles and tenders.  By the way, they were not lecturers.

16 hours ago, alwaysonaship said:

We love Seabourn and they are our cruise line of choice. On the other hand Crystal is the only cruise we actually left during the trip  the end of January.

 

What we like about Seabourn, nice size cabins even entry level...walk in closet, decent bathroom. Love the size of the ships and especially find the people very friendly and approachable. The food is okay, but we prefer to eat in the Colonnade over the main restaurant. The service is very friendly and the food is fine. The main restaurant is too noisy and we found the service to be lacking.

 

Crystal was just fine under the previous owner, and we could really tell a difference now that it is owned by the Chinese company. First, the cabins (we were in a Cat B) was so small it was almost unbearable to be in there. You should not have to pay even more for a penthouse (which is not that big) to have adequate space. There are no walk in closets, no shower (a tub that is almost impossible to get into Due to the high sides) the “sofa” was so small, and was in terrible condition that we ask twice to have it replaced. The second request was firmer and that took care of it. As far as the food goes, it was terrible. First of all the sodium level made me question if it were pre-made. They hide the raspberries on the buffet. I had heard that and decided to do a test..when I ask the man at the fruit area at the buffet for raspberries he said to go ask the guy two places down and he would get me some. Yes they were hidden under the counter. However more than anything the passengers were the most unfriendly group we have ever encounter in 55 cruises. They didn’t speak to anyone but their little group, never said hello, or even smiled..

 

‘’that was our last cruise before covid and it was our worst. I hope it wasn’t our last.

I used to travel exclusively with Crystal and had accumulated 39 cruises.  Ever since I tried out Seabourn 2 years ago, I have never returned to Crystal.

Seabourn offers more genuine and attentive service.  The ships are smaller and can't offer protean choices of specialty restaurants.  On the Ovation, the specialty restaurants include Grill by Thomas Keller and sushi venue.  There are lots of artwork on the Ovation for admiration during leisure.

The majority of the officers are simpatico and mingle with the guests.

During the first few hours on port days, the cruise director and another officer are at the gangway greeting the guests.

The main dining room is open seating, you can always request a table for two.  Similar to Crystal, you may want to order your favorite dishes with 24 hours' advance notice.  If you are single, there will be a hosted table for you nightly, even during overnights, if you prefer.

The single supplement is customarily 75 %, which is the same as Crystal's PH.

Kudos to Handre for his promotion from Sheila!  He is so dedicated and I will definitely miss him.  He is the best CD that I have ever experienced.  All the best to Handre!

Anne and Simon,

I really appreciate your help. Thanks again.

Sheila

Hello Anne,

Is the Opera building within walking distance from Burj Khalifa?  If not, any other places worth visiting other than the Opera building in the vicinity?

Yes.  It offers complimentary transfer to/from airport or port which is much appreciated, as my flight arrives around midnight.   I am a bit worried, as this is the first time that I declined the hotel arrangements offered by the cruise line. I am trying to do a comprehensive research prior to departure.

Thanks again for your valuable information.

Sheila

Oops!  The hotel inside Burj Khalifa should be Armani Hotel instead.

Thanks so much for your response, Anne.  

I am actually looking for the HOHO bus closest to Wadi Wadi Water park and Burj Al Arab.  If Burj offers a group tour of the city, then I don't have to deal with the HOHO bus.

You live in a premier location with a fountain view. Congratulations!  I will look into Thiptara.

My research on the web indicates that Emirates Hotel is located inside Burj Khalifa, with various restaurants offer a fountain view.

I intend to have a general tour of the city on one day, spend another day in Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.  What is your recommendation for the third day?  I will embark on the fourth day on a Middle East Cruise.

Thanks again.

Sheila

Hello Anne,

I will be traveling solo to Dubai for 4 nights prior to embarkation.  I am thinking of using HOHO for a day and then take taxi to specific sightseeing places.  Notice that there are 2 kinds of HOHO, Big Bus and City Sightseeing. Would you please tell me which one is closest to Burj Al Arab?

As for viewing the fountain show in the evening, which restaurant would you recommend for a spectacular view?  Does the dining in Emirates Hotel offer a view?

Thanks!

I enjoy watching your video.  Thanks.

Thanks a bundle, Russ.  I will check into this.

I will be staying in Dhabi for a couple of days prior to hopping on your reversed itinerary.  Would you be able to provide me information in regards to booking your Abu Dhabi tour?  Thanks.

I will be looking forward to your blog.  I was not at ease for the first few days on the ship, as I was a total stranger in an entirely new environment.  After getting settled down, I really love it, so much so I will board in a few months.  What really impress me is the fact that the officers don't just retain the supervisory role, they actually work to set up an example for their subordinates.  I was shocked that a female officer from the guest relations department put luggage in my room on embarkation day.  During overnight in Bordeaux, there were several hosted tables in the Restaurant.  Handre and another officer were 'stationed' during the first couple of hours at every port to greet the guests.  

The excursion manager in Seabourn was not purely interested in selling one of its products.  He gave tips and maps on how to venture a destination on our own.  in all of my ship excursions, Seabourn did not fill the tour bus to full capacity.  It limit the capacity to less than 30 passengers on each tour bus.

I have been a regular cruiser with Crystal since 2001.  Ever since the changeover of ownership, I took a cruise to the British Isles and a World Cruise.  On my last cruise, I gave up prebooking a future cruise, as I intend to try out the competitors for the first time. I have to admit that Crystal excels in entertainment.  The food in the Restaurant is so much better than the Crystal dining room. The menu in Silk Road is more creative than the sushi restaurant in Ovation.  Even though I was an amateur in the first 3 segments of the inaugural season of Ovation, I genuinely felt that the officers and the crew work seamlessly to elicit the best experience to the customers.  

I 

Personally, I consider Seabourn several notches above Crystal.

Looking forward to your upcoming posts.  Thanks.

I was a newbie on the first three segments on the Ovation and it definitely surpassed my expectations. Seabourn will be my favorite cruise line from now on.

Thanks Laylam.