travelberlin

At this cruise on Pursuit I have been enjoying good wines in the included wines. The reds I like are Argentinian wines from Mendoza. San Felipe (Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz). There is also a good Pinotage from South Africa. The whites I have liked are a German Riesling, a Sauvignon blanc from Uruguay and a Chilean Chardonnay. Ivi

Thank you. It is not very clear yet for me so excuse me for asking for clarification. In other cruise lines several times, we as guests, get two categories in the invoice: one called NFC (non commissionable fee) and another called “Taxes and port fees”. Now which ones of those are the “Destination fees” that the new Crystal is listing and who gets them? The ports get them in addition to the port fees? Ivi

Yes I have been told that too. This is also what used to happen in the previous world cruises and one of the reasons we had to book 3 years in advance 😔 Ivi

I have forgot to tell you. As long as you are in South America, the weather will be nice. After 3 or 4 days of crossing the Atlantic you will experience colder weather in Europe. Ivi

For your itinerary it will be warm and nice 😊 Ivi

It is difficult to say if you are going to have Tango dancers or workshops on your cruise. This varies and although enjoyable, does not have the quality of the shows in Buenos Aires. If this is important for you book a tango show in Buenos Aires and if Azamara offers one on board, it will be something additional. Ivi

I have done Cape Town to Montecarlo some years ago on the now bankrupt Crystal Cruises. It was quite interesting. I am not sure if there are the same ports. We were in Walwis Bay, Luderitz, Ghana, Santa Helena, Cape Verde and then the Canary Islands. I have enjoyed it. Ivi

With which ship are you going to cruise? I think the Pursuit is not going to do the same itinerary again this year?. Currently is a 17 days going South from Buenos Aires. Ivi

Shore excursions with Azamara are very expensive. They use providers in ports, which also serve other cruise lines. This means the quality of their offerings are the same that other cruise lines offer, but the prices are more expensive. There was a post in these boards referring to the higher overheads from Azamara excursions. Unless you have a very specific excursion you wish to book, that due the time involved might be a problem returning to the ship, I would recommend you book private excursions or get together with people from your roll call. Ivi

In German this is called Doppelmoral 🧐 but if we mention it, very soon someone will post how tiring this is to hear, how people shall move on, how those posts shall stop, how for sure we might find another cruise line to please us, etc, etc, etc. Ivi

Good Catch Ivi

Thanks for this suggestion. Ivi

I have to add that those cabins probably did not sell before for World Cruises. Where are the guest entertainers going to be now ? Are there going to be hosts for dancing? I remember those cabins were occupied by the entertainers and hosts. Ivi

Well actually there was never a mystery quoting solo cabins with the old Crystal. The new Crystal has a solo supplement even for those forward cabins called single cabins. The “zero solo supplement “ is non true. There is one. But it seams to be acceptable. Ivi

Thank you. A per person price in a double occupancy cabin on deck 7 (non single) was quoted as US 64.000 per person in a midship cabin. It is then not a zero supplement for the solo cabins but an acceptable one according to my opinion. Only if those cabins were midship 😉. The location will put me off for the time being… Looking forward to reading reviews when the ships start to sail. Ivi

I have completely underestimated the beauty of the Beagle Channel. Here is another Glacier called Glaciar Italia Ivi

Could you please let me know how much is the complete solo price for the WC 24 from Miami to Miami? I know how much it is the price per person on deck 7 for that WC. I will be able to compare. Ivi

Thank you. And how much will be the price per person for a cabin in the same deck in those cabins which are available for doble occupancy? I guess comparing the per person price on all no solo cabins in deck seven with the price of the solo cabin which is just for one person, will show us if there is a solo supplement or not. Ivi

One question is this solo US 100 the price per person in double occupancy? Does it means no solo supplement at all? I have read that there was a solo supplement even for those less desirable cabins which started at 25% only I can’t find that info. Ivi

US 500 as OBC per cabin (two people on that cabin) or US 250 in case just a solo booking does not seem a much to me 🧐 I wonder how prices for excursions will be. Is this company going to include the specialty restaurants in the price or do they come at an extra cost? Ivi

I am not really a sweet tooth but I have to say the sweets on the Pursuit during this cruise are excellent imo 😋. Ivi

How do you know what is the new Crystal experience? Didn’t you just post in another thread that this new Crystal and the other Crystal we knew, are two different companies?. I fail to understand how people are arguing about the excellent experience of the new company if it does not have sailed once 🧐 Ivi

Mediocre company? I never cruise with a mediocre company 😁 All my cruises have been amazing with friendly and efficient crew, good food and personalized services.And how good the new Crystal will be only God knows… By the way, we have cruised with Crystal on the Pacific Ocean and nothing was “pacific” on certain days. They have even sealed cabins on the 7th floor putting shutters or something similar due to rough seas. We have even experienced rough seas on the Mediterranean which can be very temperamental. But we all have options and it is good so. Ivi

For us (in this case two of us and not just me cruising solo), the World Cruise is interesting. Not the WC 2024 because of previous commitments and because we would not go on a WC with a company which do not know. Remember this is a new company which does not have anything to do with the Crystal we knew and we have sailed a full WC and had booked a second one for 2022, which never happened? Please those going on the WC 2024 give us kindly a review of your impressions. Not just the positive things please. Ivi

I agree that Crystal is signaling that they do not want solo travelers. I disagree that those cabins being allocated for solo cruises are great. Lets just mention the forward location. Those of us who like to cruise know that one of the 3 most important things when picking a cabin are “location, location and location”. Right now I am on a ship in this wonderful itinerary which includes Beagle Channel and Magellan Strait. Last night we had very rough seas coming out of the Beagle Channel and on a part of the Drake passage. My cabin, midship Was a perfect place to stay on this rough seas. I do not wish to imagine what it would have been on a cabin forward 😳. I could do without a balcony if necessary, but it would have to be midship. And because of that I would have to pay for two passengers? I mean either forward for about 25% solo deal or midship for 100%? My cabin now with balcony, midship, came with a 25% solo deal and this in one of the most appreciated itineraries for cruising. Not a Miami to Barbados cruise, where solo discounts and lower cruise prices are normal. Ivi