Keith1010

World Cruise hasn't been posted. Give it time. Keith

Looks like a great cruise. Keith

A new chapter and a new beginning for Crystal. In seven months since Crystal Cruises was purchased today marks a major milestone of the cruise line so many of us have enjoyed. Our beloved line is now known as Crystal and has a new website, with new itineraries and changes to both ships. I realize there will be questions over the coming days as some have raised them already. I am sure in-time there will be answers to those questions. If you have a TA, I would get the questions to them and if you are dealing with Crystal directly flag the questions to them. While some of them might be answered easily, some might take time to get the answer. I suspect if we wanted everything answered day 1 it might have been another month or more before all of this would be unveiled to us. I am reminded that it has only been seven months since Crystal was purchased and a company was not purchased since there were no people employed at the time other than a small skeleton crew on board each ship who were not technically part of Crystal. Two ships were purchased, a name and some information which came with the name. It all had to be created essentially from scratch. They had to slowly hire personnel and even today I am sure many more will be need to be hired, develop plans for the ships and the company including the refurbishment of the ships, itineraries, offering and the like. I suspect the task at hand was far greater than any of us can imagine. As they say, "they've come along way baby." In time, all of the answers will be there from your TA's and Crystal. In time, any omissions on the site will be corrected. In time, the ships will sail. In time, for those wishing to return to Crystal it will happen. If or when frustration sets in, IMHO we need to think back to eight months ago when there was lots of sadness with many not knowing if Crystal would ever set sail again in any form or shape or for that matter each vessel. So, I sit back and say today like some key days since Crystal was bought was another major milestone and new chapter in the reemergence of our favorite Cruise Line with the best crew in the industry and a beloved history. I look forward to the days ahead as we learn more and the day, in which, many of us return to Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony to create new memories which will last a lifetime. Bags are packed. Can't wait. Ready to go. Cheers Keith

Thank you Brian. Maybe let's wait for some sunny days. LOL. Keith

Brian I have on very small request. Could you pretty please send some nice weather here? Thank you, Keith

Have I said I am excited? This is truly an understatement. What we are most excited about is seeing our Crystal extended family; both the amazing crew and our cruising friends. Bags are packed (Not Locked Yet, LOL), Ready to go., Can't wait. And while we live through another freeze at home I look forward to warmer weather and being at sea on our favorite vessels and favorite cruise line. Keith

One of the many things I enjoy about cruising is gazing at the sea. I love its beauty and at time tranquility. Sometimes, my mind wanders and I think to the days of the explorers who sailed unchartered waters, making discoveries and expanding the reach of countries around the world. Keith

The good news is many of our friends say as I do. Bags are packed. Ready to go. There are some who don't realize the meaning of this. But most people do and that is what counts. Bags packed. Ready to go. Can't wait

Bags are packed and ready to go.

Very special. Keith

We look forward to seeing these two darling sisters and the extraordinary crew who collectively make cruising the best it can be. We miss you. Bags are packed. Ready to go. Like so many of you......Can’t wait. Keith

Glad you found your large suitcase. 😃 Just look it when you check it in. 🤣 LOL. Keith

I’m just excited. Speculation will be over soon. On a related note crew are always needed during dry docks. Bags are packed. Ready to go. Keith.

The good news is with booking beginning on February 1 we will all know lots more very soon. So stay tuned. As to the analogy of Crystal and the Cowboys as a sports fan IMHO nothing analogous. When I think of Crystal the Cowboys just don't come to mind. And when I think of Cowboys, Crystal doesn't come to mind. When I think of Crystal I do think of some other products but let's save that for another time. I am very excited. Why anyone would laugh about that is beyond me. I would think for those of us who are happy people would just be happy that someone is happy. Happy....Happy......Happy...... And yes bags are packed. Ready to go. Keith

I love it! Keith

Have I mentioned sometime before that our bags are packed? Just say'n. Keith

I agree with Rob. I would wait to see what those plans look like. Keith

Last year I was hopeful that Crystal vessels would be purchased and would sail again as part of Crystal Cruises. While al the vessels weren't purchased, thank fully the two darling sisters were; Serenity and Symphony. Most recently, I said stay tuned. And yesterday, many of us received the teaser e-mail about booking opening up starting February 1 for those with open bookings. Oh I know, some thought things should happen quicker because that is what we are used to. When you consider there was no longer a company to purchase and what was purchased was a name, two vessels and whatever else came with it and no employees and here we are around seven months later and bookings will open soon, I think is amazing. In the seven months they have had to start hiring key people, agree on plans for the ships including the cost to overhaul them, schedule the work, develop itineraries, pricing, decide on many other things I am sure about what will be offered and a zillion other things not to mention whatever back office work is needed, finding space for newly hired employees to me it is amazing. Will everything be perfect? I doubt it but even seasoned companies make errors. I am very excited about the return. We will start to get a glimpse as we see pricing, itineraries and whatever else will be shared with us and then we'll know more when the ship sail. Seeing a nice combination of former returning personnel in key spots coupled with some with backgrounds others than Crystal I think is brilliant. And with each passing day learning and hearing from former crew who plan to return adds to the excitement. Crystal always evolved both in terms of the offerings, the ships, the amenities and the personnel at sea and at land and I always found that exciting. I am so excited for the next chapter of the new Crystal to be told and just like a great book I look forward to each and every chapter. It began with hope. It continues with excitement. And I look forward to those roll calls and all the things which go along with the excitement of an upcoming cruise. Bags are packed. Ready to go. Can't wait for the party to start. I hope some of you feel the same way. Keith

The subject of the thread is a bit confusing to me. February 13 is when Crystal Society members who didn't do an open booking can begin booking the itineraries which will be released soon. Those who did an open booking can book as soon as February 1. For some reason a few people who are Crystal Society members got e-mails saying February 20 and that is an error. Keith

A couple of photos from this day in prior years sailing Crystal. On this day on 10 cruises since 2007 we were sailing either Central or South America, Hawaii or on our way west to Pacific Ocean Islands. Keith

I hear you. What I will say is on land they have a mix of former Crystal people and some from other places including Silversea. I think on the ships you will certainly see many from Crystal at all levels senior and a slew of other officers and crew from Crystal plus others from outside. The former Crystal crew and their importance is recognized. Will everything be like it was? No and I am glad. Hopefully it will be a mix of what was great about Crystal and enhancements to other areas. Time will tell. Bags are packed and I'm ready to go. Enjoy your cruise and safe travels. Keith

For quite awhile I have heard from many of the crew who say they are returning. Oh the word "many" I need to be careful with my wording. But the reality is I have. Most I hear from are returning. Of course some are not. By the time Crystal sails again it will be 19 months since then. If it had been sailing x number would not be returning. In fact, when Crystal restarted July of 2021 some had decided not to return and a couple of them who we saw in July decided not to return for their next contract. With that said, It is pretty incredible to me the number of crew who have indicated they want to come back. That says a lot for their belief in the new company, and the things that are key to them including those who they work with and the guests they know. By the way a number of crew members are now on board or returning very shortly. Anther good sign. No matter precisely how many return IMHO having a large core of former crew on-board will have lots of benefits including knowing the Crystal culture and helping guide new crew who have not previously worked for Crystal. Anyway, there is a saying time will tell. It will. Keith

Why don't you wait and see. Many ,most, whatever, later. What I do know is many of the crew who I have checked with want to come back. Nothing in life is a guarantee. Even old Crystal didn't have everyone come back and some years less returned than other years. However, there was always a large core group. My sense is when Crystal returns there will be a lot of former crew on board and to me that is good news. There is no question that all the position both in terms of quantity and roles can't remain the same. Less rooms means less crew. And certainly roles may change. They alway have though and with a say 18 or more months since the last sailing and new ownership certainly we might see more role changes. Some have sailed longer than myself but when I look at our first Crystal guess list from 2002 there are several positions that haven't existed in many years (videographer, assistant F&B, an assistant cruise director on all sailings, etc., etc., At the same time some positions evolved in responsibilities such as those who worked the Lido Deck. And there were new positions created but to do the changes they had to pretty much utilize the same number of crew to make it all work. I look forward to a blend of the old Crystal with the new Crystal. Then again, Crystal always evolved and was very much different than our first sailing. However, key areas were not and that was the quality and attentiveness of the crew and their approach to the guests. To me the biggest unknown is what the value of the stock market is by mid-year. Bags packed. Keith

MOST Oh and I don't need laundry. Pressing is fine.

We are getting closer. By the way lots of crew will be back. That is fact. Can’t wait. Bags are packed. Ready to go. Keith