Treasure Hunter

In a way I’m glad that I’m new to Crystal! So no comparisons . I’m so excited to finally be going and I’m sure everything will be delightful. Just worried that I don’t know the ropes and how things work as far as sign up times. We have been on Regent ( long time ago) Oceania, Princess, RCCL with kids, Celebrity Retreat and our current favorite NCL Haven where everything is done for you. Don’t know how Crystal will compare. I’m an Aquamarine renovated suite on Symphony next September.

Please let us know how the excursions are. If you are taking any and if you could still sign up on the ship. First time Crystal cruiser and worried that we can’t sign up far in advance.

Na Na Na NaNa

I bid on and won an upgrade from a standard mini to club class on the Emerald Princess leaving September 9. I bid the max $265 pp as we really wanted it. We love the fact that we can dine whenever we want without waiting and without reservations. When I looked at the staterooms every category except inside was marked sold out for months. We bid on all categories of suites too but We really didn’t want to pay thousands and felt the mini was a nice comfortable size. As Elite we get most of the suite perks already. So it doesn’t matter if they are marked sold. The club class minis are in a great location on dolphin deck with staterooms above and below and not next to elevations ( never heard any bings in 35 Princess cruises). We saved a bundle by using the upgrade system.

Also flexibility for meals. No reservations necessary but can waltz in and be seated immediately with set waiters who know what you like. We love this perk and have just paid to upgrade to this on the Emerald to New England/ Canada in September. This way we can come back from an excursion and go down when we are ready.

Even on a nice Caribbean evening the Roof Top Grill is windy. And sometimes chilly. Dress appropriately. Eden food is great and there are tons of choices both vegetarian and not with an emphasis on seafood. We enjoyed it very much.

We took a family trip around five years ago round trip from England to Scotland, Shetland, Bergman with three Iceland ports on the much missed Pacific Princess. There were strolls involved.

Quick Scampers are no longer on my radar especially with flight delays lately, but I wish you good luck👍❤️😁

Yes. You get what you pay for. The buy one get one free! Ha! Do not be suckered into booking through the cruise line. They almost ruined our Thanksgiving a year ago with terrible flights from Atlanta to Miami that were supposed to come in a day early and were booked by them to come in after the ship left. My son and family drove overnight to get there. And they toss the ball back and forth from the cruise line and the airline. If they won’t change the flight just book your own and try to get the money back through insurance ( which I’m sure you have).

We send our big luggage out the night before and go to breakfast at the Haven restaurant super early with our overnight case. We go down with the concierge in the crew elevator and then there is usually a person with a Haven sign that cuts to the head of the line walking on the outside of the line ( walk offs). We have also after finding our luggage ( especially in New York) gotten a porter . For $10-$20 they take you right thru customs/immigration with no waiting to your transportation.

I have been on the Dawn ( not in a suite) and loved the ship. I think the combo choice will be a lot of fun. We once did a Tauck land tour of Italy and then a Mediterranean cruise on RCCL Symphony of the Seas in a Grand suite. I plan to do that with NCL in the future. We are on the Encore in February. Does anyone know why NCL stopped doing the one week out of NY for February school break? We are forced to fly to Miami at the tune of $1000 a person coach. Last year we had a two bedroom suite ( in the Haven on the Breakaway) that cost less than this scenario.

You will have better luck for sure. Yes we have been those B2B cruisers and it’s great for us, not so good for anyone else. At least we can get it for the second week. ( Have you tried a tip to the head of the Sanctuary?) just to keep an eye open in case someone cancels.

You need to board as early as possible especially if you are not Elite or in a suite. They will board before you. Run do not walk. Go directly to the Sanctuary ( people have been known to run up 17 flights). Perhaps because you want a Cabana and they are pricy you might have a chance ( warm weather cruise). There will be a line but eventually you’ll get a chance. It is so wonderful. Don’t miss the 3:30 afternoon high English tea. And you can also in addition to the spa menu get hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza from the Grill.

Thank you but our French is rusty and we haven’t driven there since 1989. So let’s hope an excursion is offered. We were supposed to do a Tauck riverboat from Paris that was canceled three times. I much prefer an ocean going vessel but I know I might not see everything on this trip.

Keith thank you. I’ve been so concerned since we have to wait to book. At least we know they can do it.

We are. Sunday through Tuesday. Hopefully the ship will arrange excursions for us. I really want to go to the D-Day Beaches. And perhaps Monets gardens.

Uh oh. I’m on the Symphony in September 2024. With only 60 days to choose, if you don’t like the prices there’s not much time to make alternate plans. The cruise we booked has two nights on the Seine in Rouen. Every other cruise we’ve ever been on (50 on many other cruise lines) has let us choose excursions six months or more before embarking. This is our first Crystal. Is this the norm? What do mean “A&K “ forgot? We only took A & K on African Safaris and found them to be professionally run.

It has nothing to do with the ship's WIFI. I used it mainly to text to my daughter at home all day long while at sea. It's what I'm used to doing.

My husband does black chinos and collared shirt , loafers

Pretty sure it’s just a massage table or two that you can arrange for use with the spa

Often the spa will send someone to the Haven in order to sign people up for treatments. They usually set up next to the concierge

My cruises were on the Getaway and Breakaway.

I’ve always reserved specialty restaurants with the pre cruise concierge and the shows in the pre boarding Haven lounge at the terminal with the asst concierge. They hand you a sheet with listings of shows, times and days while you are waiting to board and the confirmation is in your room later in the day. Unless it’s changed since February.

Yum, garlic butter and French bread

The bread on Princess ships has always been wonderful. It's that like bringing coals to New Castle?