thebenz

Having brand new rooms is not discrimination but having solo rooms forward in the ship and not scattered in different areas or decks is discrimination. The part of the ship with the most movement and noise is where the solo staterooms are. If a solo cruiser wants to cruise in another part of the ship, for example midship, they need to pay the solo supplement. The double staterooms with a verandah has much reduced storage space and if you want more, you need to pay for a suite or take a clothes rack or live out of a suitcase. It’s great to know Keith that you have stayed in a double verandah stateroom in the past, however, would you stay in one now with less space for storage? This isn’t whinging, this is stating a fact. Storage space is reduced. It seems that the new Crystal wants to people traveling together to stay in a suite in order to be comfortable which is more expensive or stay in a room now built for one. Marketing or discrimination? I love travelling on Crystal and I think its good to be objective and not covering it all sweetly.

The new rooms maybe beautiful but the storage space has been considerably reduced which is the point of my post. Previously, the combination desk, bar and drawers added more space to the storage area as well as the larger wardrobe. Even if you do a few segments with two people sharing a double verandah stateroom, there is no room to hang clothes and people will be living out of their suitcases, let alone on a world cruise, where different seasons need to be taken into account. Why should people have to reduce space in their room and have clothes hanging for all to see because the wardrobe space and drawer space has been considerably reduced. When the room is cleaned and vacuumed your room stewardess would need to negotiate the clothes rack, which could put that crew member at risk of an injury. All to relocate a fridge and bar set up. Crystal is discriminating. A solo traveller stay in a room without a single supplement but this room is forward, which is not the best room position in a ship. The noise from the waves while at sea doesn’t bode well for a good nights sleep.in these rooms. More movement as well. If two people travel together and want to stay in a double verandah room, as they are advertised for two, there is only enough storage space for one. I like dressing up for formal nights and generally like looking nice for a cruise and with two people in a room, clothing will be stored in the suitcase under the bed as storage space has been reduced. I’m happy the rooms look nice, but it doesn’t seem like much thought has gone into the storage space. With due respect Keith, I really don’t think you should be giving your opinion on these rooms as you don’t travel in them. I’m not flying half way around the world with a clothes rack, so I can have extra hanging space in my room that is advertised for two! The wardrobe space looks more like a broom cupboard. Would you fit all your clothes that you take on a cruise as a couple into this wardrobe and the drawer space?

I feel the new Crystal is discriminating against solo travellers or those who travel as a pair and chose a double verandah stateroom (as these are sold as rooms for two). If two people travel together and would like to book a verandah double stateroom as it is sold as a room for two, the storage space has been considerably reduced and now has only enough storage for one person. Someone suggested getting a clothing rack to take on board, Why go on a holiday and have to take extra storage space as two people will be sharing a room sold as a double room but only enough storage for one? That’s extra luggage to get on the plane as well. Unless you can cruise Crystal in many of the new suites which have the storage space for two, you cruise in a room built for a solo. Why have the solo rooms forward, where there is more noise and movement of the ship? If you travel solo and want a verandah, you must pay a solo supplement, even though the room storage has been reduced considerably even for a solo traveller cruising for many segments. I would like to know if the new room safe in the double staterooms with a verandah is big enough to fit an iPad? From a photo, I don’t think it could. I loved cruising Crystal in a verandah stateroom with lots of storage space, including small shelves where items could be placed so as not to slide onto the floor in rough seas. It seems the new owners don’t value solo cruisers or two people who travel together but can’t afford a suite, well. That was the beauty of the old Crystal and what a shame that this hasn’t been carried through with the new Crystal.

Where will the fridge and the cupboard with glasses etc be located? There was fantastic drawer space under the desk and small shelves on the side of the mirror. When there are two people sailing in this stateroom, the drawer space is needed, especially if you are doing back to backs. Will there be cupboard space in the bathroom? I have said before, maybe they expect that a suitcase under the bed suffices for storage space in these staterooms, or perhaps, underwear needs to be hung in the wardrobe.

I’m a Generation Xer and I have cruised many times with Crystal since 2005 and my parents cruised Crystal since the line started. I’ve sailed with my mother and I have wonderful memories of all our Crystal cruises especially as my Grandfather was a Master Mariner and mum would tell me stories of her growing up on her fathers ship and she would compare the formalities of cruising then to cruising now. I was one of the youngest passengers on the ships in 2005 and some of the other passengers thought I was part of the crew. I have loved cruising with Crystal at my age and my mother has enjoyed seeing me get the cruise bug. I hope I can be fortunate to keep cruising with Crystal. It doesn’t matter what generation you are from, you will find something that you will like to do, see, eat and drink on a Crystal cruise and you’ll never want to leave!