Keith1010

Pat, I had read somewhere that either here or in Lisbon or both they weren't using Sofitel but not sure if that is correct. I would have the agency followup with Crystal to find out who they are using. Are you using the pre cruise hotel? Also just a thought but I think it might be a good idea to have the agency contact the hotel to arrange for a vehicle. Best to you and Ray. Keith

Patty very well said. Unfortunately there are things that Genting did that will never be told. I will be challenge on that but I do not give a rats xxx. What they did in the USA would hopefully have been investigated by the DOJ but that was not possible. Genting milked Crystal including those of us who had money down with them. It is despicable. Thankfully, Crystal is coming back with 80/% of the crew returning or as some say a lot-, many, most even though a few never would believe that. Just as a few can't accept what Genting did. So it goes. Same people who said the ships were too old to be bought. That they were worth more as scrap. Well again they were wrong. Can't wait to sail again on these ships and with the wonderful crew and many friends we have made over the years plus new people from this board and another board who we haven't yet sailed with. Cheers.

It's great to see so many people who have booked the 2023 and 2024 cruises. I look forward to hearing from others who have booked one or more of these cruises. Keith

In case the video doesn't start at the beginning hopefully it will this time. https://www.instagram.com/stories/crystalcruises/3133878938102093158/ Keith

This is a cute video on Instagram from Crystal Cruises with Captain Birger Vorland and Cruise Director Rick Spath and and Hotel Director Hubert Buelacher You need be a member of Instagram or possibly face book to view it. https://instagram.com/stories/crystalcruises/3133880133422089795?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Keith

Not our typical daily breakfast on board Crystal but on a birthday why not. Just means an extra 36 hours in the Fitness Center over 2 days. LOL. Keith brate.

Just a reminder that the thread would never have gotten so long if not for some bringing up other lines providing inclusive laundry which is not what the original poster asked. The answer was provided in the first two responses. Keith

Does this mean you will have to wash clothes more often?

Yes sometimes if you don't want to do a job just mess it up. I used to say at home where is the kitchen, or the laundry room or how do you turn the oven on? This got me out of certain things at least when I worked outside the home, On a serious note, we were on a cruise line years ago that had no self service guest laundry. We sent out two of Anne Marie's tops; one red and one white. The red one came back from the ships laundry pink and the white one shrunk. This is an example of why we don't send wash out. Things happen. On lines such as Cunard, SS and Seabourn when we sailed each one we brought enough clothes so we didn't have to deal with doing the wash and for my workout shirts they can be cleaned in the bathtub if necessary as they do not require a dryer afterwards. There is a saying that some like to make a mountain out of a mole hill and some of the complaining on this thread proves that point. Travel teaches us how good most of us have it. Most people who I know do not complain about doing their laundry themselves on the ship. I only met one couple in all of our cruises who complained and this was years ago because he told me on Regent their wash is done. I asked him on Regent did you have all of this enrichment that I know you love? He said no. I said well Crystal could offset the additional costs for doing guest washes by having less enrichment and selling those rooms. I asked which did he vote for. The answer was simple. He said keep the enrichment as it is. I heard a lot more complaints about pillow chocolates when the were no longer provided I ever have about the laundry. At the same time some things that people on the board think are a big deal are just not something I hear about when we sail. Keith

I am enclosing the deck plan for Symphony. Crystal Symphony Ship Brochure-1.pdf You will see on page 20 the Saphire Verandah suites on Deck 10 (classic) and how they line up with Deck 11 so you can figure out which ones would be good for you in terms of noise. Keith

I am waiting for someone to ask can their butler just do the laundry for them? I am sure someone has already thought about this. I will be happy to do your laundry though. It will be like college. Put all the clothes in the laundry together regardless of white or colors and see what comes out.

Great news! Just as it was before the Pandemic, Guests sailing on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony will be able to submit a request to have visitors on-board. Requests need to be submitted at least seven days prior to the visit. You cannot have visitors on debarkation day. There will be charges for Afternoon Tea, lunch or dinner at Waterside, lunch at Marketplace or the Trident Grill, and dinner at Umi Uma but they can't sit at the Sushi Bar, or Osteria D'Ovidio. Tastes wasn't listed so not sure. Up to four guests per suite per day. I would get with your TA about this or with Crystal if you booked directly with them if you want to have a visitors(s) come aboard. Keith

The classic suites and the what was the Seabrreeze ones are not getting a redesign. They will get new bedspreads, touchups and I believe new towels as you noted. Everything else will be the same. All of the Aquamarine suites on deck 10 are the classic ones so they have a tub. Any of the others ones are not. Keith

Phyllis, I have some initial answers but the person is going back to get an update on them to be sure they are current. It may take a few days but I should be able to find out. Keith

So true. Back before I used to to do the laundry we would think through best times/days which still was no big deal. But that was even before the other couple of passenger count reductions excluding the newest one. Today it's easy/peasy for me. With fewer guest it become even easier. I have always been thankful for the laundry rooms on board all the Crystal vessels and that even included former Mozart and Endeavor. The only other ship I can remember where we could do the wash was on the Grand Princess. When I say we could I am taking about practicality of doing it. On QM2 I looked for the room and it was hard to find and I believe I had to go down a few decks and it there were far fewer machines so we said forget it. On SS where we sailed Shadow and Spirit I think the rooms were tiny closets with tiny machines so we said forget it. And we did Seabourn but on the triplets which don't exist anymore as they are part of Windstar and too tiny again so we said forget it. My experience is every cruise line has some amenities or attributes more unique to them. So I never say to myself well x line has this why don't you. It is what it is. They all choose to spend money in various ways. We are so fortunate to be able to sail on luxury lines and we pinch ourselves each time we sail. So we are happy to do the laundry. It sure beats the days of Spartacus when they had to be the engine for the ship. Keith

From one of the Bahama cruises we took in 2021. Keith

It varies by cruise as it always has. We really have no idea how cruises are sailing. For example, I inquired about an itinerary for a specific category where the website said ask for a quote. The answer was you could get a guaranty. This likely means for the moment most if not all rooms are booked. It won’t be long till we know. Keith

LeeAnne, Once you decide which itinerary you plan to go with, I am happy to share with you some of the tour guides we used. We like to change it up each time we visit the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean is an example of one of the areas of the world that we always enjoy revisiting because there is so much to do and see. Take Rome and the surrounding areas. We could spend years there exploring the city and the areas outside of Rome. We've done just that for years. And you can't beat the food including the fruit and vegetables and the pasta. LOL but it is so true. Keith

John, I am happy to post this for you. CrystalSociety2019.pdf We should all recognize this is always subject to change but this is the current milestone program based on what Crystal advised use a few weeks ago. When I am on board, I will be sure to confirm all of this for you and for our fellow Cruise Critic members. Best to you. Keith

Well. I called them because people asked a month ago if Crystal knew how many milestones people completed. And I posted the answer before it was confirmed on the Webinar. Secondly I added that the milestone program is based on 2019 which was not answered. And finally, this is CC so if one wants to post things they can. And the original question was asked of me. So it goes. Next.

Please keep the posts coming. It's great to hear what cruises you all have booked and any additional ones you are thinking about. It is so very exciting. We can't wait to sail again with Crystal. Keith

You are very welcome. Best to you. Keith

You are so right. The only time I heard about this issue was from one couple. Like most issues it is a nit. Happy Cruising. Keith

HI John, They do know precisely what cruises you have completed. And for whatever reason is you are unsure of how many you have taken you can call Crystal and they can look it up for you. They did for me a couple of months ago. What they do not know is whether or not you have used previous milestones so they will provide you with milestone awards based on future cruises. As of today the Crystal Society Milestone program is based on the program as of 2019. If you need to refer to this I might be able to find the 2019 program for you. Best to you. Keith

LeAnn that is why I asked. I would want to do the Amalfi Coast with an overnight so you could make it an all day tour. Do it privately. Enjoy a two hour lunch. Stop wherever you decide. We have done it twice and will do it again. It is amazing. So that is a plus. I would still look at the ease and cost of flights. I love Barcelona and Rome. So much to do and explore. And from Rome you can see places outside of the city too. The good news is you have two wonderful cruises and you can’t go wrong. I hope we sail with you sometime. Keith