Keith1010

Happy St. Patrick's Day. The board seems quiet today and this must mean people are at the bars celebrating or resting up for a late evening. Keith

Ready for some Umi Uma. Well, maybe a lot of Umi Uma. Keith

Claudia, my pleasure as I know it is very important to your DH. Keith

The e-mail I received was from Crystal Cruises. I didn't get one from Cruise Critic. This from the Crystal e-mail. Keith

I hope so too. My guess is it will because if you are Nobu you want it to return as well.

Ivi, it was first called Silk Road and then Umi Uma. Mostly different menus but we found a few similarities. Chardonnay was the same in the USA. Keith

Another reminder that many things from Old Crystal continue. Not all but many. We loved Nobu from the first time we experienced it on Serenity in 2005 and then when it was added to Symphony. Although they had Umi Uma on Endeavor it was not Nobu and we knew that right away. From their Chardonnay to the food and to the service it is an amazing dining venue. Keith

A couple of photos from our last visit to Marseille with Crystal which will be the embark port for the startup of new Crystal. Keith

Oh well. Wish the prior postings weren't purged but so it goes. We will move forward and create new experiences and memories. Bags are packed. Ready to go. Can't wait. It will be great.

This includes the Captain and one of the Hotel Directors. In addition to the wonderful crew and amenities for us it was a perfect size river vessel. The only negative on its size is it limits its itinerary. Keith

Not sure why it reversed but both ships are having all their work done there otter than anything required in a traditional dry dock which will come closer to their sailings. Keith

We have utilized A&K for several Private Tours. While Individual tours were pricey we found them to be some of the best tours we have taken with highly knowledgeable tour guides and professional drivers. Keith

Not a surprise. As I mentioned earlier there are many cases where a ship is fully booked but rooms open up with cancellations. Same happens on flights, hotels and restaurants. And yes despite some pushback the first voyage was fully booked but cancellations occurred. I have sources too. In this case simply multiple friends who requested a rooms and at the time nothing open. When room opened up they booked.

There was an ATM for sure on Serenity and if on Serenity i would assume Symphony. I took this photo in November of 2021 as someone asked if there was one on Serenity. Keith

On this day nine years ago, we were In Singapore on-board Crystal Serenity during World Cruise 2014. We were on the deck to watch the arrival of Crystal Symphony. Later in the day we were able to visit Symphony. It did feel like the movie Groundhog Day as we had to go through passport control and port security twice before we could board Symphony and twice before we could return to Serenity. Despite this, we were thrilled to visit Symphony. At that point our last Symphony cruise was 2011 with a visit to Alaska. We visited with both Captains who were together, Food & Beverage Manager Norbert who assisted on Serenity a few weeks earlier until a new F&B came on-board, and I remember visited with Micah who was Concierge at the time and several Lido Deck stewards. Back on Serenity we saw some members of Symphony on board such as Paolo, Scott Peterson, Mario who back then was Maitre d’ swinging between the two ships. It was our first time with both ships in port at the same time. Another time we were on Serenity sailing Miami to Los Angeles while Symphony was sailing Los Angeles to Miami and both ships anchored for a little while which was very special as well. And in 2008 we were sailing Milford Sound on one of those unique sunny days when we rendezvoused with Asuka II, former Crystal Harmony which we sailed on our first Crystal cruise and years later while in port in Auckland, Asuka II was there as well and the last time we saw her we were in Sydney in 2019. There is something very special seeing the three ships which comprised original Crystal Cruises and the good news is we can still sail two of the three on-board the new Crystal. Bags packed………Ready to go………..Can’t wait……………. Cheers

LOL. 🤫 In all seriousness, most people in the industry do sail other lines. Smart to do that for a number of reasons. And very wise across most areas of hospitality services if not most industries IMHO.

They have done many full World Cruises. I know they were on for the Full 2007 World Cruise and most if not all of the World Cruises we were on. Keith

We actually don't agree on the issue that it was fully booked at one point. As to today, I haven't heard from anyone who tried to book so I won't comment on today's availability unless you tried to book today and can share your actual experience. What time tells you is that bookings change up until the cruise begins. That is the case on every cruise I have ever been on including NWP and WC 2015 when things changes up until the last minute, That is reality.

Great to hear that. When you try to book and nothing is available it doesn't mater what a reliable source has to say. Nothing is static so if something is sold out and one or more people cancel then there is availability. If this has never happened you are very lucky. But it does happen across flights, hotels, cruise lines, tours and a multitude of things.

Simple. A good friend of mine tried to book Serenity. When they tried no rooms were available. They didn't just ask about any category. At the time they asked if anything was available. I take them my friend at their word.

No first sailing was sold out and not by category but people do cancel. I know some who did and moved bookings to other cruises. It happens. It happened on NWP and WC 2015 and happens all the time.

Yes there was a report on it. Google is your friend. You just have to work hard to find it. I found it before he purchased the two ships this gave me confidence back in the day when I said I am hopeful.

I know you are a very seasoned cruiser. As such, you probably know that there are times a ship is fully booked. Even a hotel. Even an aircraft. It is booked. No room. Then people cancel. Then there is availability. Then people can book. Does this happen? Yes. Does this mean you are mislead? No. It happens. And Crystal never said they were fully booked. My advice to everyone is whether it is a hotel, flight, cruise line, sporting event,, clothing, or anything just keep checking because if one one or more people cancel you might be able to book it or for merchandise purchase it.

No one has been mislead. And who really cares. People broke cruises and sometimes they are fully booked but this changes if people cancel. I feel like we are back in Junior High School with some of the comments. But so it goes. Read post 11. Keith

Do the research before just saying. Manfredi did sail on a Crystal vessel and was very impressed. We were too. And the rest is history. By he way on Serenity the list of major milestones was displayed on Deck 6 and not by a restroom. On Endeavor although they really mess up on the list it was not near a restroom either. I do have a list because I took photos of those who have 100+ sailings. For me it brings some tears to men eyes as at least 30 of those listed are not with us anymore. Keith