travelberlin

Have a nice cruise Keith and Anne Marie. I am interested on your impressions for lunch now that the MDR is closed on port days. Which ports of call are you visiting? Have you been there before? Are you planning any excursion? Ivi

There are other threads about the MTD and most of the posters there are telling from long queues and waiting times even if one has a reservation. Apparently on this thread, some people have never had any negative experience with MTD. Good for them. In my case previous COVID, I also never had a negative impression of MTD, but apparently the organization of this option has changed and it is not anymore what it used to be. I am not willing to risk, so I have changed my previously booked MTD for early seating dining. The times suit me better. And once a table has been allocated, no need to wait on lines.

Good that you had a nice cruise and the weather was good. I am reading from cruise ships cancelling/changing their original itineraries because of bad weather in Florida and the Caribbean. I wonder how the currently Serenity sailing is doing 🤔 Ivi

You are encouraged to make reservations in advance. I would recommend you search in this forum the experiences of fellow cruisers with my time dining. I had originally my time dining for my cruise but I have changed it for early sitting after reading the reviews.

I am not really sure how the awards are given, but we have cruised with Oceania and were very satisfied. Last cruise with them was a 35 days cruise and the food was very good. The menu kept a good variety and we have always enjoyed our meals. The specialty restaurants were excellent, specially the Asian one. Having said so, and judging from the opinions of the guests who have already sailed with Crystal, I guess Crystal will be the winner in the category best dining for the year 2024. Ivi

Great stories Keith👍 I am sure all of us have lots of them to tell. Even though at the moment they create stress and anxiety, later on they make good memories. And we always learn something new… it is a wonderful world indeed🤗 Ivi

Thanks Keith. I will be fine in Miami. You are right that things can happen. I remember that in January this year I traveled to Buenos Aires to take my Azamara cruise to the Beagle Channel and other beautiful places. On embarkation day, I requested a taxi at my hotel at 12.00 to get to the port at around 12.30. The taxi never came. The hotel was helpless. I went out of the hotel to look for a taxi myself with my luggage. Taxis refused to drive to the port. The reason? There was a meeting of South American politicians at the Sheraton hotel in Buenos Aires which is near the port, and people were demonstrating against that meeting. I have walked to the port dragging my luggage! And besides that, I had difficulties finding my small Azamara ship, who was hiding behind several MSC ships 😂 . I was able to embark at 15.30. It was an adventure ☺️. Ivi

Did you pay for the Paxlovid?

After my TA had a look at my bookings, it turned out to be that I would have to pay more than US 5000 per booking to be able to benefit from this offer 😲. Well not hard to decide what to do right? Ivi

Yeah, depending of the size of the ship 😉. The 9th one could be the Royal Clipper, or Seabourn or Windstar 🤭

For my sailing there will be 8 😔

Is this good? Does it mean that having so many ships there on the same day will not be that bad? Ivi

Hi, long time no see… Do you know why your November cruise has been cancelled? I will be on the previous sailing from Quebec to Fort Lauderdale. I am also joining the Serenity for a segment of the WC 2025 but not for the first leg. Ivi

Ah Ok Keith. This is the list you have already posted at the beginning of this thread then. Thank you for the clarification. Ivi

Thank you. It does not say from which Terminal, but I think this will not be a problem to find the ship. I do not recall very much the port of Miami. Ivi

But it does not seem to apply for entry level double cabins…

I have just received this list from Cruise Critic. Crystal is not there. But I am sure it will make it next year. https://www.cruisecritic.com/editors-picks/ocean/?source=58226&lid=ff5q2ovkj7wo&crm_source=58226&crm_pos=us&crm_cid=e431f3ea-86b5-42fc-a4db-ffe186910d8a&crm_rid=wcjFeIgB4ZnXyT5mk0Ob&crm_cname=12.16.23 US Editors Picks Dedicated

I see your point Vince. Unfortunately, solo passengers are often encountering restrictions. And there is always a financial argument behind it. But even if it is not new, this does not make it fair. No need to repeat the arguments behind. Now, since I travel solo many times, I see new developments for solos which are really hard to accept. For example in Spain several restaurants, specially on those touristic places like Barcelona, are not accepting solo guests anymore. I belong to another forum of solo travelers in which they are telling their experiences of being refused to be served because a solo is occupying a table which could be given to two people. This is affecting not only travelers but solo locals as well. Now in Europe this is discrimination. It falls under European laws and it should not happen. But restaurants are avoiding to be demanded just pretending to be fully booked if a solo wants to dine there. The restaurants are empty but solos are refused service 😔. I will be in Barcelona next year at the end of a cruise. We will see what I encounter. This only happened once to me In Beijing about 35 years ago, when I went on my own to China. China was still not very open to the west and tourists were few. I wanted to eat a Peking duck, and the restaurant refused to serve me saying this was a meal for at least 4 people. I have said no problem, you bring me for 4 people 🤭. It was most enjoyable and the friendly Chinese personal of course later on prepared a bag for me to take to my hotel. Ivi

I have looked at my 3 bookings for 2024. All of them have had considerable price increases, so that even if cancel and rebooking were possible, the final price is not attractive. Despite that, the US 250 administration fee is kind of penalizing those who have booked early imho. And the offer indeed does not apply for solo cruisers. Didn’t just Crystal received a recognition as „best for solo cruisers“? Ivi

Also new bookings only and cancel and rebook not allowed.

I was hoping the solo supplement to be the same as before, and the upgrade to be in the location of the cabin. I mean instead of receiving those cabins forward at least to move to midship ☺️. Ivi

I have not seen anything excluding solos from the offer 🤔

I was reading the comments on another social media about this, and many people would agree with you. The same as you I also have several cruises booked with Crystal. Three alone for 2024.

Crystal cruises

Improve the quality of food and bring back the classic menu