PaulMCO

Just a note. Sometimes the tides and winds can make docking an issue. We missed one day in Kobe this March 18th cruise.

The only issues were that many that were coded moderate were actually strenuous. And there were some errors -- like restaurant had steep stairs - but in reality yes but also had an elevator.

actually not -- larger also Building on its last Allura-class ship in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000gt vessels with capacity for 1,400 passengers each in 2027 and 2029. Sisters Vista and 2025's Allura are currently Oceania's largest ships, measuring 67,000gt with capacity for 1,200 passengers.

Real Luxury -- either of the 4 Seasons properties near the Imperial Palace. I also like the Tokyo Station Hotel -- iconic near part of the old station property. Good location for all site seeing and transport

If you want to sit at the best table/waitress in Compass Rose -- ask for Table 4 and Joan.. Tell her Mr. Paul and Mama Mindy said hello 🙂

@BWIVince welcome back... Which cruise are you doing in two plus months?? I received the survey twice and answered differently. First that it made a difference and would not cruise Crystal without one. It was more in depth than if you went through the other forks. Likely they are doing an RFP or are evaluating an RFP and doing a cost/benefit analysis. Just off Regent, and Encore had a casino that was very compact. They had enough tables to handle Black Jack, poker, dice, plus two rows of slots. Generally crowded, as there was a large group of Taiwanese who felt at home there 🙂

I will jump... SS does not require payment for its premium (added cost) excursions. They are posted to your account once on board. Seabourn does require prepayment, but will refund (without cancelling) those cruises against both non refundable and refundable OBC.

There is a whole thread about their excursions... My post #43 explains my feelings.

Currently on Explorer. The decor is very subjective, but agree it has an "old" dark feel compared to Splendor, which is light and airy. Ship is well maintained. Staff is great, food has been good and consistent-- only exception has been Chartreuse, where the food and service disappoints. Even Sete Mare which we did not like on Splendor has been excellent. Love Compass Rose, only Crystal does this better. Much better than SS or Seabourn. Room is OK, we are in a PH on deck 8. Bed is comfortable, lots of closet space, supersized shower (no tub). Room attendant has been super. Butler has been mehh. Biggest issue is destination services and the excursions, this is an issue for both Regent and Oceania and it is a driven corporate issue. We did the pre-cruise, Vibrant Tokyo. Was very well organized, which is amazing for the contractor (Destinations Asia), handling 11 buses and 300 passengers so well. Time to see Shanghai.. We were first here in 1980.

but your claim, if greater than the allowed amount of $4,450, still must go through the court so it is segmented to X payment priority, and X payment as unsecured.

Would not recommend the Hilton, if doing it on your own -- many better places in Tokyo. Imagine 900 rooms including groups from Regent and Oceania descending for breakfast to catch their 9:30am tour, you will find a line that extends to the concierge desk. We did it only because of the included pre cruise If doing it on your own, stay near the palace -- 4 seasons, or less costly Tokyo Station which is my favorite. Quirky design, in the heart of Tokyo near the palace, transportation hub of the station. If you want a quiet part of Tokyo, the Intercontinental was my business choice because it is in the Embassy district, not far from American Embassy.

Because on other cruise lines -- like SS, Crystal and Seabourn, the destination staff have gone on many of these or sends minders (from other departments) who go on these tours and provide a detailed report, unlike Regent or Oceania. Our last cruise on SS we had the destination manager on our tour, because she had not done this particular one and wanted to evaluate it. Regent seems to have lots of outdated information in their excursions (example was our Caribbean/Amazon cruise), where we were supposed to visit a butterfly zoo, which was destroyed 3 years earlier by a hurricane. Our current cruise on Explorer most of the Japan ports, have changes to strenuous levels from 2 to 3 and lots of notes as to number of steps. One tour we did in Koichi, was a 2 and forgot to mention the 50 steps without handrail to visit the temple. Another warned of steep ladder stairs for the temple and same for the restaurant. Yet you need not go to the top of the temple, and the restaurant had steep stairs (not a ladder), but also had an Elevator. Late changes to levels are particularly bad with Regent, since everything is wait-listed -- so if you want a less stressful tour you are out of luck, if if you try to change on the afternoon of boarding.

For us it is still about itinerary more than anything. Some lines are better than others and with more ships, likely we’ll find something we like on Seabourn, Regent, SS rather than Crystal or Explora. But it’s nice to have choices and you can see we are spread among them all for 2024 and 2025.

Then again, I am currently on Regent, and Regent beats them both. Newer ships, no TAs or bloggers, a culture of yes we can, French milled bread, a decent complementary wine list, varying menus ( even the Italian specialty varies), great Illy coffee, good enrichment speakers, caviar Sundays, brunches, and stateroom block parties, Only negative has been the included excursions and most cruise lines have issues here. Next sailing is Crystal in June.

You have to remember the tight deadline they gave consumers. Most of the insurance, and credit cards claims were not settled by the time the deadline was reached. Therefore there are thousands of duplicate claims that had to get settled. We had 4 claims two were later settled by cc and insurance and two were not. That still generated 4 motions to the court. Two denying, one partial approval and one fully being insecured. We received our check. The only question is what happens to cruises with FMC bond protection, which will be answered after all money is dispersed. Of course the longer these lawyers continue the process the more fees they earn.

They are stating you will get $4,450 as a priority 1, payment. That us the maximum anyone will get under Florida law. What is left (unsecured) will likely be pennies on the dollar. Interesting that they are still going through claims and making filings with the court and that all priority 1 claims have not yet been reviewed.

That may be the current HQ response, but that was the exact excuse that Crystal made for not restoring the old area as a casino by the former leader Mr. Jack.

Another issue is of course finding a company to run a Casino operation. I have not seen anything in the trades that announces an award. Plus it is not so simple to plop a table and slot machines on the floor. There is the space, electrical, cooling, and most important surveillance and a small room for monitoring the gaming. This was ripped out when Genting (or their creditors) cleaned out the old casinos.

Maybe Explora Journeys will hire her. They could use some marketing and they could pay her overpriced salary by not giving away free cruises to those annoying bloggers and travel agents.

Casino or no casino. Just received this survey. My impression is that Crystal is still undecided as whether they will install casinos. specific to this are questions Does having a casino influence your desire to cruise Crystal. If a casino was available would you cruise Crystal. How much would you use a casino look for this in your email.

I highly doubt that in a case of insolvency. It is not that anyone owes you money. What was owed was from an entity that no longer exists. Normally in a case like this the liquidator would wait until ALL claims are judged before distributing the remains. I credit ABC and the court and providing a priority group payment of partial assets and their skill at getting blood from insurancr companies for the wrong on the management of Crystal. one or 6 claims your priority payment cannot be more than $2,225 pp.

Interesting article on a lightly used 787 worth more as a parts hangar queen... https://simpleflying.com/boeing-787-ex-vip-scrapped-parts-roswell/

HD's on cruise ships don't take a poo without HQ's approval. This could be a test to see the objection level. Obviously with that other board shutting down comments (it takes 100) in only a few hours, then doing it again when it was restarted and now onto the third, there is alot of negative feeling.

We were on a Explora 1 in January, with a disembarkation in Bridgetown. Similar issue, we had a transfer arranged by Explora Journeys and it did improve some what. Still a late departure because of congestion, same packed bus to the immigration terminal, passport line, then customs line. Since we had a transfer booked, the taxi was there and did not have to lug our stuff to the exit. Things were really bad also because of two other big (>2000 passenger) ships were also doing the same. . Never going to do that again. Surprisingly we embarked in Miami at noon and that port experience was unusually excellent. From taxi to our stateroom in under 20 minutes

We were on Explora I in January and speeds were generally in the 130mbs range with the ship of 500 passengers. Variation was a low of 50 and a high of 180. The easiest thing a cruise line can do to ensure "fairness" is to throttle the speeds per account to 4 to 7.