Texas Tillie

I'd be so jealous if I weren't going to be onboard in a week and will have my chance as it is one of my favorites. And, a shout out to Ryndam for telling me about the soup they serve with the Asian Buffet. Can't guess how many times I never knew about it. Now I know!! 😃 Patty

Crystal still has the band that plays for production shows and headline entertainers. That band sometimes plays in the Cove with dancing, not on every cruise. It's the every night dancing where there's now the duo. At one time Crystal had the show band and a sextet, those days are gone for good. However, there are many more butlers!! 😮 Patty

Hadn't paid attention that all the restaurants didn't open until 6:30 PM. Will be interested to see if that continues throughout the cruise. Patty

Also, as an FYI, taxis have a fixed rate based on zones from the airport. I believe the hotels near the cruise terminal will be $41 Canadian which is about $30 US.

Trivia on Crystal is at 12:05 PM, directly after the captain's noon report, on all sea days. I've also experienced it in the afternoon when the ship departs a port relatively early, but that depends, Waiting for Tracie to chime in as she is the expert on all things trivia. Patty

Yes, Keith, I believe that's a case of pay me now or pay me later!😁 Patty

The new Crystal brought back many things from the old Crystal, but not everything. The birtday breakfast is no longer available. It started as a tie-in with Crystal's birthday, was it the 25th? I had it 2, possibly 3 times, and always thought it was over done and actually not all that great. Others felt differently. Patty

There’s a current thread on the Silversea board about “service” animals on the ships. 😱

If the lots are half empty all the time, it's gouging. If the lots are mostly full, it's supply and demand.

Even with old Crystal, when they changed the Crystal Society program, the old program became immediately void. The 25th milestone in the old program was a free 7 day cruise in a balcony (or 7 free days prorated to a longer cruise). The new program was something like $3,000 off any cruise. By that time 7 days in a balcony cost more than $3,000. I know several people who had "banked" that milestone and lost out. Lesson, use any and all milestones as soon as earned. Patty

That's just a concept drawing. Nothing has been settled yet with respect to the design of the new ship except that it will have certain elements. How those elements will be designed into a cruise ship is yet to be determined. Patty

The answer is, yes, except for high end wines and spirits available for purchase. It made me think, where is the answer on the website? I found the answer on this page https://crystalcruises.com/about. It might be in other places on the website. Patty

And the duos are more and more the offering on the large mass market ships. Patty

Based on what I've read, the ship has not been designed yet. That is just a "concept" drawing with the announcement. So, no one knows, but time will tell. Patty

That was fake news. The casino will be where the bridge lounge is located.

No, this thread is about much more than a bottle of wine. Its about giving an example of how the luxury experience once offered by Silversea has been seriously degraded.

Let me get this straight, on Symphony the casino will be in the former bridge lounge and the bridge lounge will be in the location of the old casino. On Serenity the casino will be in the location of the bridge lounge and the bridge lounge will share space with the library. On the Serenity are they going to knock out the wall between the library and what was called the studio to combine the library and the bridge lounge? All to be revealed, I guess. Patty

This is an old thread from last summer. Please consider reposting this on one of the threads about current cruises. Patty

This is one of the river boats formerly sailing for Crystal Cruises before the old company went into bankruptcy. I sailed on the Crystal Bach which is identical to the Debussy. My understanding is the boat looks very similar to what it did under Crystal and Riverside is operating it to the same standards. The Bach was beautiful and the food was outstanding so you should be in for a treat.

They should have filmed back in the day when good looking Dr. Rael was the ship's doctor! 😁 Patty

I don't believe they said the 2026 itineraries are out yet. What they said that have been released are the 2024 and 2025 cruises that needed to have itineraries changed. Now, I believe they said the end of June for the 2026 itineraries and that is approaching, but it's not here yet. 😮 Patty

We all have to decide where our priorities and pocketbook allign. I'm glad you are satisfied with what Silversea offers.

Are you aware that many of the "small" cabins were combined and the guest capacity lowered when Manfredi (former Silversea owner) brought the ships out of bankruptcy? Yes, the ships are old and everything else on Crystal is superior to what is now being offered on Silversea - service, food, entertainment, enrichment, etc.

Crystal website shows they were to arrive at San Diego at noon today for an overnight. Patty

And there seem to be enough people who don't mind tying up their money way in advance, That alone would keep me away, but if you can get it, do it.