skybluewaters

5 hours ago, AtA said:

Double rooms might work for a single person,but the closet space and storage space is way too small for 2 people

Would anyone who has stayed in the new double cabins care to comment on their experience regarding the closet and storage spaces?  Particularly, any tips on how best to manage the situation. 

We have a double on Serenity booked for next year and now are re-thinking our cabin selection.  Thanks.

38 minutes ago, KenzSailing said:

Now if they'd just bring back their heavenly creamed spinach

...or their turkey tetrazinni 🦃

10 minutes ago, May B said:

I also was just informed by a friend that my June 24th Serenity has had a schedule change.

Pray tell, what is the change? 

22 hours ago, May B said:

Before Crystal sends out an email, I wish they’d proof it.

That email is just atrocious.  Shame on Crystal for such shoddy communication.

I'm guessing it was written by a bot or by someone for whom English is a fourth language. 

8 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

I have to say I prefer turning the clock back and not forward.

 

Keith

 

 

 

 

Hahaha....similar to this, we will be on a cruise (non-Crystal) in another month that crosses the International Dateline twice in three days. Actually, that won't be an issue at all because who cares what day it is in the South Pacific when you're cruising?  But moving one hour forward or backward does affect sleep and your daily schedule.  

16 minutes ago, CalmSea said:

Since your booking can be cancelled without penalty before final payment, it can benefit from future sales.

Check your invoice carefully.  Cancellation penalties begin prior to the final payment date on most (all?) Seabourn cruises. 

13 minutes ago, AtA said:

If you are on any statins or heart meds, you can’t take Paxlovid.

Actually, many people can take Paxlovid with statins if they temporarily stop the statin.

And the blanket statement that you can't take Paxlovid with "any...heart meds" is incorrect.  There are scores of different heart meds, some of which can and some of which can't be taken with Paxlovid.  The major categories of heart medications that "can't be taken with Paxlovid" are anti-arrhythmics and anti-coagulants.

But, of course, everyone should discuss their particular case with their doctor.

Don't listen to me or to anyone else on CC regarding your health.

16 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Given that people are hearing different things if it was me and it is something important I would have the TA double check

My TA has triple-checked and was told by the Crystal rep that our cruise, which is 24-days long, has a penalty phase that kicks in 120 days before the cruise.  However, our invoice shows 180 days.  The Crystal rep says that she is "working with IT" to get the invoice corrected.  I'm not sure why IT needs to be involved, but so be it.  It's been nearly one month and still no correction. I know that we're dealing with a newly-formed company, but I do expect a minimal level of competence. 

Again, in my experience, Crystal's shoreside service was substandard in the old days, but the onboard experience was always outstanding.  Seems like it's the same with New Crystal. 

3 minutes ago, Roland4 said:

Actually the 180/120 thing may not be an error. Other cruiselines, Oceania and HAL come to mind, on longer voyages have cancellation penalties that kick in 30 to 60 days prior to the final payment date. We just booked 24 days on Serenity next year and the Admin Fee of $250.00 applies up to day 121!

You are correct that some other cruise lines, such as Seabourn, start assessing penalties prior to the final payment date.

But in this case, the Crystal representative agreed it was a mistake and said they would send a new invoice with the correction, but they have failed to do so. 

The original invoice stated, "All Crystal cruises may be cancelled prior to the final payment date with only an administration fee being assessed."  But having corrected the final payment date to 120 days, they have neglected to change the date at which penalties are assessed to also be 120 days. 

On the phone they agree that this is the case, but when asked to send a corrected invoice they just ignore us despite repeated contacts by our persistent TA.

There's also a garbage bin in the corner of the room, to be used for clothes that remain in the washer or dryer for over 24 hours.

2 hours ago, bayonejoe said:

Vince,

I have been trying! Too no avail.

I will talk to her today,again. Very frustrating 

 

We've also been going through this with Crystal for well over one month. 

The initial invoice said our Final Payment was due 6 months prior to the cruise. We eventually got that corrected to 4 months (120 days). 

But the revised invoice had the date for initial penalties (25%) still at 6 months (180 days) prior to the cruise. That was several weeks ago and we're still waiting for them to correct this. They say they'll respond, but they don't unless called several times, and even then they still haven't corrected this simple error. 

I remember with OC we would often say that the shoreside experience was not reflective of the onboard experience.  I sure hope that's still the case.

26 minutes ago, 2SailingNomads said:

On Ponant they require an EKG within the last 12 months to participate.

Useless.  Many people with severe, asymptomatic heart disease have a totally normal EKG.

Ponant may be trying to reassure its passengers, but a normal EKG does not rule out underlying coronary heart disease.

Thanks, Keith, for the link to the 2025 cruises. 🙏

Looking around the website, I stumbled upon this...

https://www.crystalcruises.com/story/meet-the-guests-anne-marie-and-keith-steiner

11 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

How can we know how many ships will be in the port of Miami for departures in January 2024?

Ivi

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/miami-port-40?tab=schedule&month=2024-01#schedule

5 hours ago, crickette said:

And sometimes the "upgrade for operational reasons" is a downgrade.  We were moved from a mid-ship B to a (very) forward A1 which Crystal considered an upgrade because it was a deck higher.  

How did this happen? Did you choose to accept the upgrade without knowing the exact cabin you would be receiving? 

1. What is the current passenger total on Sojourn?

2. Any Covid onboard (blocked off rooms, announcements from the captain, crew members suddenly disappearing, etc.)?

Thanks and have a great cruise!

If your itinerary states "all smart casual," then that's probably what it will be. 

If memory serves, in general, any formal night will not be on the day of embarkation or debarkation, and will only be on a sea day.  In my experience, formal night was frequently on the first sea day of a cruise, but that may or may not be the case with OC. 

I, too, have a cruise that departs in October and I received the very same email today, but for the first time. I didn't interpret it to mean that there are any new excursions, just a reminder to check out whatever currently is being offered. I doubt you're going to see any new or missing excursions. These seem to be boilerplate advertisements targeted to passengers with upcoming cruises. 

Overall, I'm not thrilled with the excursions and I'm certainly not thrilled with the prices, but for the convenience they offer I'll be going on quite a few of them.

I agree, he's a top-notch author, historian and speaker, and I would be thrilled to hear him speak.

However, just as we've all be cautioned on this board that you shouldn't book a cruise exclusively because you want to visit a single port (because it can be cancelled for a variety of reasons), I would apply this same logic to going on a cruise to hear a certain speaker.  But if you love the ship and and the itinerary, all the better!

15 hours ago, Embowaf said:

I have seen carnival and crystal guests pee and walk out without washing hands at about the same rate. At times directly into the buffet line.

Could you clarify what it is that the guests are doing directly into the buffet line?  From your first sentence, there are two possibilities.

5 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

I wonder who invented the buffet.

Warren Buffett, of course.  That's how he became rich.

(Sorry, couldn't help myself)

Your chances of getting Covid from the buffet utensils are very much less than from breathing the air.

Was this an issue specific to your cabin or was it ship-wide?

I also wonder if the problem was with the attendant and not with the water supply.

1 hour ago, Hobar said:

@SLSD

Likening to farm animals those who enjoy a casual buffet rather than a long lunch being doted upon is not kind, and judging others is an awful trait that permeates so many posts.  

Perfectly said. 

4 hours ago, kool kruiser said:

We discovered a Jade Martini on Crystal and it remains my go to in the Avenue Saloon ( Piano Bar ). Crystal has an extensive list of no-upcharge martinis but will essentially concoct your own fave, if at all possible. Incidentally, the current entertainer in the Avenue Saloon is Joel Spire, with whom a great singalong is guaranteed😀

We, too, discovered the Jade Martini on Crystal (there are various recipes, but the Crystal one was made with Absolut Vanilla vodka and Midori liqueur).

When we went on our first Seabourn cruise last year, none of the bartenders knew what it was...except for Chris in the Observation Lounge, because he was formerly on Crystal! 

Now each time we go on Seabourn we have to educate the different bartenders how to make a Jade Martini.  Several times other passengers have asked us what we were drinking and they all seemed to enjoy ordering them, also.