travelberlin

My booking is Miami to Miami in January. I would have book for November this year but I am afraid of hurricane season and flight disturbance. I understand that the risk reduces in January. Ivi

You are right Keith 😃 thanks for the correction. This happens when you post before breakfast… Ivi

I find the development from the old Crystal to the new company which bought the two ships Serenity and Infinity, decided to call it Crystal again, appointed the same manager and crew, thought it was a good idea to benefit from the years of wonderful experience and forgetting the bankruptcy, interesting. The horse would be dead if the new company would have not decided to call it Crystal again. I think the discussions and opinions on cruise critic will continue as long as we remember this sad part of what happened to the old Crystal. Now, some people on cruise critic think that because they had enough of this discussion, the others should stop talking about it and give them a break. They actually demand (capital letters included) that posters shall move away and leave this forum. I find that attitude interesting also. Posters here are not to amuse others. As long as they follow the rules they can post what they wish and do not have to be told by others to stop it, or to move away. I get bored about many things that posters write or post, and even before I read their posts, I know what they are going to say about a particular subject. But who am I to tell others to stop it? Social media forums like Cruise Critic are based on respect for other opinions if we like it or not. It would be good to remember that before telling other posters what they should write or not. Best regards from the Eternal City, where I am waiting to board my ship. Ivi

We have used Jam transfers from Nice Airport to Cannes once. It worked out very well. Ivi

When we sailed in Yacht club with MSC they also asked us to personalize our preferences like the ones you are mentioning. It worked fine. Some things were missing the first days, like our champagne as preferred drink or our preferred newspaper . However the butler got everything corrected. I guess you can just tell the cabin attendant (or are we getting butlers with Explora) what you wish. Ivi

I had very lovely Azamazing evenings outside the ship. I am glad they are back. Having said so, yes, you can stay on board and some people do it. Do as you please. Main thing you enjoy yourself. Ivi

I am one of those cruisers that does not enjoy spending my time in the laundry room. We had to use the laundry during our World Cruise but for such long cruise was unavoidable. Maybe the New Crystal could offer free laundry every seven days for those loyal guests, like Azamara does. Ivi

Rome to Venice would be my favorite if it was not ending in Venice. Ships dock nowadays in Chioggia or Fusina. Both places far away from Venice. Ivi

I would like to see intensive Japan and a Mediterranean cruise including several days in Israel (I had booked that cruise with Crystal and was one of the cancelled cruises). Ivi

Since we have lost money because of Crystal going bankrupt, I was very much hesitating about booking with the new company which has appointed the same managers. Now New Crystal did something, which impressed me. This was the Exceptional Initiative. Because some inefficiencies from the side of the Assignees, the amount that Crystal defaulted me is not completely showing. It shows a lower amount. But due to the Exceptional Initiative and to the fact that my cruise is leaving from Miami, I have booked a cruise without waiting for reports and despite that I am not really getting my money back. I am a happy cruiser anyhow and if NC full fills 80% of what old Crystal was, I will remain a happy cruiser with the new company. Ivi

Looking forward to your report. From your posts in Cruise Critic, I trust you will give us honest reviews. Ivi

Not where I would like to spend any money. Ivi

That’s interesting. Than maybe the commissionable part of the cruise price is less than with other cruise lines. But definitely there is something in terms of financial motivation that is affecting travel agents. I am not a travel agent so I do not know for sure but a couple of travel agents I know mentioned to me that terms have changed with Azamara since the separation from Royal. Some are more keen on selling Celebrity than Azamara now. In relation with the waiting times, I do not find it justifiable that people have to wait long time to get something done. The “doing something else while waiting” does not make it better. It is just annoying and a sign of inefficiencies from the side of the company which makes people wait on line for so long and at the end the issue is not always solved. Ivi

Thanks for your lovely review! You describe some ports which are not common for cruisers and which I would like to visit. A friend of mine from Angola said that not only cruise ships are not welcomed (and she things this is good so) but on some cruise a passenger apparently died and they are blaming the health institution in Luanda for not reacting rapidly to avoid this situation. Anyhow, I would love to stop in Angola in a cruise ship and to dance (ok see other people dancing) Kizomba. Ivi

I only go to the white party after dinner and only to get the dessert. I have realized about it being to loud also so I try to find a place as far as possible from the loudspeakers. Ivi

I have heard that Azamara pays a low commission to travel agents. In addition, at the moment bookings are demanding and I guess travel agents don’t want to spend unnecessary time for fixing small thinks. I hope that will change soon. Ivi

This is what I found from the WHO https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/emergencies/travel-advice/yellow-fever-vaccination-requirements-country-list-2020-en.pdf

Maybe, but those companies you are mentioning do not go to South America with the exception of the Celebrity Infinity. But Azamara does and it can be easily identified. Did you read the article on the Rio Times?

The Rio Times wrote about the Pursuit in January this year. https://riotimes.online/brazil-news/rio-travel/frivolous-erotic-circles-theme-cruise-ship-from-brazil/

I did not have any idea either. In any case if it comes on the local news and word get spread more people start identifying the cruise line with that type of cruises. Ivi

I could see my booking until the last time I have logged in. Other things like loyalty, shore excursion and amount of the OBC were either missing or incorrect. After reading that some posters, who had previously seen their bookings now after log in again they do not see them anymore, I have decided that I will not log in again. I do not wish to risk loosing my booking less than a week from my cruise 🚢 Ivi

Oh yes I remember now the Supper Club. There was entertainment also. Thanks Keith. Ivi

An what is the other champagne going to be being served regularly when not on the Supper Club? Can you remind me what is the Supper Club please? Ivi

Yes. You are right, on the mean time I have found a list from the WHO. In some countries it is mandatory even if you have only been on transit in a country in which yellow fever is endemic. For example if one is on transit in Brazil (Sao Paolo, Rio…) you might be denied entry to several Caribbean countries. Ivi

Thank you for mentioning about the yellow fever vaccines. It looks like it is mandatory for several countries independently if one is a senior or not. Several countries in South America including Argentina and Brazil as well a several countries in Africa and apparently the Caribbean ( I did not find a list for the Caribbean countries though). Ivi