Doesn't really matter to us. We aren't serious gamblers but it was a fun way to pass a little time on a rainy day or while waiting for a show. Taking out the casinos does leave a huge empty space though, I wonder how creative NC will be - all one big space or divide it up? TBD.
Is that really a restaurant or dining venue? The term implies there are multiple places for dinner when in fact there aren't so many as some are limited or come with a hefty price tag (Vintage Room).
https://www.crystalcruises.com/press/crystal-exceptional-at-sea
Those 9 restaurants would be Waterside, Bistro, Tastes, Market Place, Osteria, Vintage Room, Grill, Scoops, Room service. Anyone see a bit of misleading here?
If I were a first time Crystal guest, expecting such a variety of places for dinner, NINE restaurants, I would be sorely disappointed!
We signed up on the web site for updates, have received zero. Not blaming OC, surely NC can do better than ignore people who sign up for their newsletters and updates - unless there are none!
To comment on your second issue first - there never were any ATMs on Crystal - you could cash a check at the front desk or you could withdraw $200 or $300 per day in cash at the casino and it would be charged to your onboard account. Since there doesn't seem to be a casino in the plan, that shoots that opportunity. Will they still cash a personal check? Dunno.
On your first point - we aren't big gamblers but do enjoy the casino after a late show. As it looks now, all there is to do after a show is to go somewhere and drink. Unless there is entertainment of some sort (other than the lone piano in the Cove), that leaves the Avenue. Might it be so crowded that no one else can squeeze in? Oh yeah, there's the disco, but we're way too old for that! Dinner, a show (maybe) then off to the suite to read....heck, we can do that at home for a lot less $$$!