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The alternative is to dead-head, sans any passengers on this repositioning voyage. Or roll-the-dice and go empty, again, through the Suez Canal. For anyone looking for a 3-week, warm weather get-away with lots of sea days (any many Crystal cruisers seem to bemoan the dearth of consecutive sea days on recently scheduled NC voyages), this is an opportunity for a very leisurely cruise at a very competitive per-diem (combined b2b Barcelona-Cape Town). With a Xmas eve arrival in Cape Town! I hope there's a financial break-even point achieved on this voyage. Rob

Well, hallelujah. Perhaps the accountants finally took a closer look at the expense and disruption that would occur with the previous concept. Until it changes again....😆🤔 Rob

Well, if we're going down memory lane, and sorta hijacking Ivi's thread, here are some vintage pics of Symphony's original Caesar's casino. Rob

Thank you Keith, for the message from the CEO. It will be interesting to see how this lays out on Serenity. Unless some of the "Studio" space adjacent to the current library is incorporated as part of the new bridge room, the size of the current library is not as large as the current bridge room, assuming it is the intent not to reduce the number of bridge tables in the relocated soon-to-be former library. This decision also partly explains why there all those empty bookcases that are currently in the "lounge". The bookshelves have already been installed during the refurbishment last year. Rob

Should be a classy, albeit expensive/higher-roller operation, if the betting criteria/protocol mimics or follows the betting minimums in the original Casino de Monte-Carlo. Rob

We tried to book this exact b2b itinerary on OC. NYC-Quebec-Ft. Lauderdale. We were told “no”. Boarding in NYC and disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale not allowed as there was no designated “foreign port” between the two. We ultimately spent a week in NYC prior to flying to Montreal to join the ship in Quebec City to Ft. Lauderdale. Rob

From today's Seatrade Cruise News. Not quite certain if this is any relevance or not. I'm not familiar enough with the workings of third-party hospitality representatives to understand the implications of this announcement. Rob https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/marketing/crystal-appoints-nordic-region-general-sales-agent

Rafael Derksen is currently onboard as cruise director.

Very nice, Ivi. Thank you for posting. I'm guessing that this feast was held in a non-US property, or a special/private function. Too many guests handling food with their hands, no serving utensils, no sneeze guards. Would never pass US health regulators. Appreciate the thought. It is a nice spread, none-the-less. Rob

We were onboard Serenity for 30+ days earlier this year. Ballroom dancing was scheduled both pre-dinner and post-show in the Palm Court, except when weather conditions necessitated a safety move to a more stable, lower deck location (either Stardust or Atrium/Cove). We would often frequent the Palm Court after the show to listen to the duo playing there. With very rare exceptions, there were generally more dance hosts, servers and staff in the Palm Court post-show than ballroom dancers. This dynamic may change, depending on the demographics and interests of the pax on any particular sailing. Rob

This is the menu from January 2024. We enjoyed both tortellini preparations. If they are still on the menu, they can be ordered as the main course, rather than the smaller starter-sized portion. We were underwhelmed with the balance of the menu. We very much enjoyed all other dinner venues. Rob Osteria.pdf

This was just posted on this thread:

We're just enjoying the party as long as it lasts. When we walked off Symphony in Singapore in February 2020, we never expected that we would ever be back onboard any Crystal ship ever again. Glad to have sailed again since December 2023. Glad we were made financially whole through this entire 4-year+ drama. We'll ride the Crystal waves till the ships, whether they be existing, proposed, repurposed, new or imagined, ain't no more. 🛳️🚢🚢🛳️ Rob

And the reverse is true when the ships sail in warmer climates. Corridors and stairways receive an abundance of unconditioned, hot and humid outside air until all shell openings are closed and the ship is again underway. Rob

Always appreciate your perspective, Vince. Thank you. Rob

We fall into your category-of-speculation. We're just not booking anything more than 6-12 months (max.) in advance. Most of 2025, and certainly 2026 travel opportunities, are not even on our radar, for any destination, venue or operator. As an aside, we're waiting to see what the revised 2025 WC itinerary looks like, after Rio. Holding off on plans for early 2025, depending on the revised itinerary. Rob

Milestone OBC update: After almost a month of back-and-forth communication between our TA and the appropriate Crystal representative(s), our milestone OBC's have finally been applied to our upcoming cruise later this year. NC acknowledged our status from OC and the OBC's are now posted to our invoice/account. Rob

On Serenity January & February this year. Pool water is salt water, not heated from whatever body of water sailing. Pool temp will approximate the temp of the surrounding sea water. No issues with the temperature of the water or the functionality of either of the two hot tubs. Rob

The Serenity is a true Panamax vessel. And a very tight fit. These photos are from our transit in January 2024. Rob

Re: pax count. Friends currently onboard guesstimate 250+/- pax. Additional pax are scheduled to leave the ship in Cape Town. Their guess is about 200-225 +/- after Cape Town. Rob

Not booked with the current itinerary. Will evaluate once a revised itinerary post-Rio is confirmed and becomes available for bookings. Rob

And this is where the oft-repeated "choice is good" comes in. We find every alternative routing opportunity after Rio more appealing than the currently scheduled itinerary. We have no interest in the circle-South America cruise from FL or LA to Rio. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. Rob

Thank you, Dwight. We agree with your assessment, too. My only other observation would be to consider a stop in FL or NYC or San Juan or somewhere else on the US East Coast, prior to the eastbound TA crossing. Hopefully a decision will be announced sooner, rather than later. Rob

I do not know what the current protocol may be for late arriving tours, but in addition what May B has noted about a limited food service in the Crystal Cove, in the past there would be an assortment of sandwiches, soup, fruits and cheeses awaiting us in our cabin when we returned from late arriving Crystal-sponsored tours. We never requested that unsolicited room service, it was just there upon our return. Rob

🤪🥴🤩😂🤣 We are sailing with unexpected $$ in our account. No idea that the EI was not in concert with additional accrued milestone benefits fare reductions. The appropriate Crystal representative responded quickly and clearly. Final point to my initial post, and subsequent follow-up post: milestone benefit fare reductions cannot be deducted from the fare if the fare was already reduced by use of the EI certificate, or any other marketing fare promotion/reduction. Peace. Out. See y’all onboard. 😁 Rob