Texas Tillie

But, they did have a much better product for less, my vote, you'll find others who agree and some who don't. Crystal's food was better. The service was better. The enrichment and entertainment was much, much better. My opinion - yours is different. I think this horse is sufficiently been beaten to death. Moving on..........

Assume you are aware that they are taking many of those "smaller cabins" and making larger cabins and therefore lowering the guest capacity substantially. Just one vote, but I was on Silversea in Dec. and the cabin was the ONLY place where Silversea was "better" than the old Crystal. Yes, we have to wait and see about the new Crystal.

Maybe a few don't care about covering expenses, but if they want Crystal to be around in 3 years, they'd better.

The new Crystal has increased their fares substantially since the fares that had been posted for 2020 for similar itineraries. Since then we have had inflation and Crystal is reducing capacity on the ships. We don't know the principals commitment, for sure, but it seems that they are covering increased expenses with the new posted fares. I'm encouraged as there are any number of execs involved with the new Crystal with years of cruise knowledge. I certainly wouldn't let the financial situation with Crystal stop me from booking the cruises they have already announced. I think they have the start up covered. Now, where they will be in 5 years........

I am quite aware. I was answering the post just before mine that said there was free laundry in the big suites. 🤪🙄🤓 Patty

You were on Crystal just once, I believe, and before all inclusive and many other changes. The food got better after your cruise, the enrichment was about the same, the entertainment offerings got better. That being said, that's the old Crystal. We won't know about the new Crystal until they start sailing. I'm encouraged as new things are being announced. Just today I read that the Ambassador Hosts will be back. There's no question that the website and the reservation agents are a work in progress.

Silversea has free laundry for all passengers who have sailed over 100 days with them. That’s good because the “laundry room” is one stacked washer and dryer in a closet per floor. Patty

Think the problem is the definition of influencer. I don't think of sites like that as an influencer. I always thought that influencer referred to people like the Kardashians and worse. 🤓😱☺️ Patty

Guess that's an attempt to attract the younger crowd. I'm not in the TikTok generation, but all I can say is what I have seen of "influencers" other places on the internet, all they do is influence me to want to hurl!! Patty

This is the second time you've posted that Crystal is not all inclusive. I'll ask again, what isn't Crystal offering that Silversea offers on the port to port. The size of cabins or the itineraries or the age of the ships have nothing to do with being all inclusive. FYI - I was on the Muse for almost 3 weeks in December and there was nothing that equaled the old Crystal except the cabin, which was "better". Yes, that's one person's opinion. Now, will the new Crystal equal or exceed the old Crystal, time will tell.

No, Crystal isn't offering the door to door like Silversea, but what do you think they aren't offering that would align with Silversea's port to port?

Don't you claim to be a lawyer? I'm not, don't even play one on TV, but am aware that noncompete employment contracts are very difficult to enforce. Looks like Silversea might be a little afraid of the competition from Crystal.

See post #199 from me on this thread. I can guarandamntee you (yes, I'm from Texas and that's a word here) that if things aren't up to snuff, you'll hear it from me. Not sure about your observations. What's it been, ten years since you've been on Crystal? Think that takes us back to NYK. Lots of water under the bridge since then. Patty

Houston metropolitan area population 7.2 million people, Cincinnati metro population 2.2 million. Those other 5 million people are on the road between the airport and the cruiseport. I'm being sarcastic. When people say 2 1/2 hours it's because there has been a nasty wreck in an area where there's road construction I 45, aka the Gulf Freeway, the road into Galveston, was started in 1954 and has been under construction somewhere between downtown Houston and Galveston Island every minute since then. Generally, I'd allocate an hour and a half and hope for the best.

No, these are people who LOVED (past tense) the former Crystal. If the food is mediocre and uninspired or the entertainment is lacking or there's very little enrichment or the excursions are expensive and they put 45 passengers on each coach or any other number of issues, you'll hear unbiased reviews loud and clear. Patty

I'm not as concerned that the details of enrichment, entertainment, etc., are not available yet. It does bother me that being able to tell which cabin is what iteration and what that cabin's fare will be for a specific cruise is still not available on the website. Patty

Know you weren't directing the question to me. ☺️ Wondering myself how long it's going to take to get all this stuff fixed?? Patty

The deck plans have not been corrected to show the various levels within a category. Remember how the regular cabins on the old Crystal were A1, A2, A3; B1, B2, B3 - based on location with the fares higher for the ones and the twos higher than the threes. Patty

It is my understanding that the ones near the front stairs/elevators are a little less than the ones near the middle stairs/elevators. Have they updated the deck plans to show which cabins are which category? This is what my TA understood from the Crystal agent, a week ago Monday. Of course, we all know that not everyone is getting the same answer to the same question. Patty

Yes, didn't book until day 6 after they started taking bookings and I had to get the most expensive "double" on Deck 7. In 7075, so a good location. The flights on United for business are $1,600 LESS than what I'd booked for 2020! Got all that money refunded as planes weren't going anywhere in June, 2020. Patty

I had a similar cruise booked on the Symphony in 2020. It was 2 days longer and almost 50% less expensive, so this one better be good! 😱 Patty

The price listed for the single cabins is the price you will pay. Be aware that with a limited number of single cabins, all might be already booked for specific cruises. Patty

That would be disappointing, but I'm afraid you might be right. Patty

Know it wasn't 2007 as my first Crystal cruise was Nov., 2007 and it was still Jade Garden then. Patty

What year did the concept change from Jade Garden to Silk Road on the Symphony? Patty