Traditional-Minded Crystal Cruises Introduces Flexible Dining

[LauraS]

Check out this news item from Cruise Critic:

 

Traditional-Minded Crystal Cruises Introduces Flexible Dining

[wripro]

This is a joke to me. Flexible dining to me means that I can choose what I want to do when I want. Not having to decide months in advance and book online what time I want to eat on a certain date and with whom. How do I know now when and where I'll want to eat? Crystal is just doing this as a marketing gimmick to try and compete with true open seating luxury lines.

[ActiveTraveler]

This is a joke to me. Flexible dining to me means that I can choose what I want to do when I want. Not having to decide months in advance and book online what time I want to eat on a certain date and with whom. How do I know now when and where I'll want to eat? Crystal is just doing this as a marketing gimmick to try and compete with true open seating luxury lines.

 

Crystal clearly explains on its website most passengers prefer traditional dining over an open-seating, anytime method. If you want anytime dining without making reservations, eat breakfast or lunch there. You also can dress casual in the MDR before supper time (meaning a blouse and slacks or cocktail dress). Crystal emphasizes sea days so you would have plenty of chances to do that on a long cruise. If you are like me and always love Italian food, you will want to make reservations at Prego anyway.

[haikou]

One of the highlights of my trip on crystal this past March was getting together with cmy tablemates every night and see how their day was as well asthe general cameraderie.One fellow did leave our table because he thought another gentlemen tobe a bit hard totake but I found everyone to be pleasant.I did request a table of all singles and I am so glad I did!

[flag fan]

One of the highlights of my trip on crystal this past March was getting together with cmy tablemates every night and see how their day was as well asthe general cameraderie.One fellow did leave our table because he thought another gentlemen tobe a bit hard totake but I found everyone to be pleasant.I did request a table of all singles and I am so glad I did!

 

I didn't know one could request a table of single travelers. I travel solo, so I will take advantage of that the next time I sail Crystal. I also enjoy sharing the cruise with set tablemates, but I think allowing flexibility is a good thing so Crystal's new approach is a good idea.

[PennyAgain]

After having a really bad experience with assigned table mates, we will take our chances with flex dining.

 

Or we will book an open dining ship.

[haikou]

I have been on 3 crystal segments so far and with only one exception, have enjoyed the company of everyone I have met ,I am going with my sister on my first of the 2 back to backs in December but have still requested a table of singles. Occasionally the table was not full when people would go to Prego or the sushi place( I hate seafood so I do not even remember the name of it LOL),but that was ok too. I will be curious to see if the flexible dining disrupts the dining experience of those who choose to sit at their scheduled seating...If you are traveling as a couple you can always request a table for just 2 and not worry about tablemates.

[PennyAgain]

We were told on Crystal that we didn't have enough cruises on our record to 'qualify' for a table for 2. In lieu of that we were given the opportunity to dine more often in the speciality restaurants and used room service.

[wripro]

Pennyagain,

 

Are you serious? You have to qualify for a table for two? I thought one did that by paying the fare.

[Keith1010]

Wripro, both Crystal ships have a vast number of 2 person tables througout the Main Dining Room as well as a nice number of 4, 6, and 8 person tables with a couple even larger. The number of 2 person tables is actually much greater not just in raw numbers but as a percentage of all tables than any other luxury cruise line we have sailed on. They are also nicely located by the windows along the length of both sides of the dining room and also in several other very nice spots.

 

As such the Maitre d' is usually able to accomodate the requests of the guests. Once in a while this might not be possible if demand for a particular size table is greater than the supply. It doesn't happen often but can happen when the occupancy of the ship is fairly high. The key is to get the request in sooner rather than later at the time of the booking.

 

This is no different and somewhat analagous to getting a specialty restaurant reservation in one of the specialty restaurants on some of the cruise lines you are very similar with such as Silversea and Seabourn. There is a finite number of tables at those speclalty restaurants and the key to getting one is to make a reservation sooner rather than later.

 

Just like the other luxury lines this doesn't happen very often and usually if someones request cannot be fulfilled it is because the ship is at or close to capacity.

 

The earlier the booking the better chance to secure the desired size table.

 

Keith

[Travelcat2]

Keith, while I understand much of what you are saying, a guest on other luxury cruise lines would never be told that they did not have enough cruises to have a table for two.

 

On another subject, Crystal passengers may prefer traditional dining -- this is their choice. However, on all other luxury lines, you have the option of dining with the same people every night if you wish -- it is not a problem. We also sit in an area where we have the same servers each night.

 

It sounds as if Crystal's "Flexible Dining" does not match up to what other lux lines have been offering for years. IMO, this seems to be a pattern with Crystal -- they want to be different than other luxury lines (which is certainly their right). If Crystal is filling their ships with these "different" policies -- more power to them.

[Keith1010]

Keith, while I understand much of what you are saying, a guest on other luxury cruise lines would never be told that they did not have enough cruises to have a table for two.

 

On another subject, Crystal passengers may prefer traditional dining -- this is their choice. However, on all other luxury lines, you have the option of dining with the same people every night if you wish -- it is not a problem. We also sit in an area where we have the same servers each night.

 

It sounds as if Crystal's "Flexible Dining" does not match up to what other lux lines have been offering for years. IMO, this seems to be a pattern with Crystal -- they want to be different than other luxury lines (which is certainly their right). If Crystal is filling their ships with these "different" policies -- more power to them.

 

I don't want to get into what was said and purposely left that alone because that did not involve me. I certainly have not run into that including on our first Crystal Cruise where we got the precise table size we requested and have many friends who on their first Crystal cruise got a table for two. As I mentioned, the best way to ensure that ones choice is met is to book early.

 

Now, as to flexible dining it is not intended to match what some of the other lines offer because it is not technically posslble for them to do so. However, rather than do nothing and realizing they have come up with the best solution possible which is similar to what is available in speciatly restaurants on Crystal and also on each the luxury ships. And that is to allow people to make reservations at the time that they would like in the main dining room. Now, there will be a finite number of tables and like the specialty restaurants they will be filled on a first come first basis. Once this begins as soon as the guest makes their final payment they will be able to make the reservations for the main dining room.

 

And the ability to sit with the same people is not the only reason why people sail with Crystal as I am sure that having gratutities included and wine/alchohol included is not the only reason why people sail with Regent.

For the vast majority of people when they sail mainly on one cruise line there is likely a number of reasons for that.

 

I believe you have only sailed on Regent. I have the benefit of having sailed on Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea. Actually they all have similarities and they all have differences. I am happy that there are differences because we don't all like the same things. If we did, we would do all the same things, buy the same cars, watch the same movies, read the same books, vote for the same person, listen to the same music, and this would be a very boring world. Thank goodness for diversity.

 

I see no need to put down any luxury line, particularly one that someone has not sailed with. I would also not rush to judgement about a post as I am sure that you have seen posts on the Regent Board that is contrary to your understanding of that line.

 

I have gone out of my way never to do that because in the end the most imporant opinon as to why someone sails a particular cruise line(s) is their own.

 

Keith

[Travelcat2]

My intent was not to "put down" Crystal. Rather, it was to point out differences between Crystal and other luxury lines. A person does not have to cruise on a particular line to understand the policies. They are straightforward -- easy to understand. Although you have not cruised on Regent, you have a very good idea of the differences in policies between Crystal and Regent. It is simply a fact that Crystal currently has set seating in their main dining room. Since we do not care for set seating, we do not consider Crystal.

 

For a long time I have been aware of the superior entertainment on Crystal, the excellent service and food. It just puzzles me that you still have to sign for drinks, pay tips out of your OBC and deal with set seating in order to enjoy the excellent Crystal experience.

[Keith1010]

My intent was not to "put down" Crystal. Rather, it was to point out differences between Crystal and other luxury lines. A person does not have to cruise on a particular line to understand the policies. They are straightforward -- easy to understand. Although you have not cruised on Regent, you have a very good idea of the differences in policies between Crystal and Regent. It is simply a fact that Crystal currently has set seating in their main dining room. Since we do not care for set seating, we do not consider Crystal.

 

For a long time I have been aware of the superior entertainment on Crystal, the excellent service and food. It just puzzles me that you still have to sign for drinks, pay tips out of your OBC and deal with set seating in order to enjoy the excellent Crystal experience.

 

Most of the cruisers we know who sail with Crystal do not pay gratuitites through their OBC as they book with Travel Specialists who are part of major travel consortiums or who are with large independents who provide pre-paid gratuitites to their clients. These credits actually are passed on from Crystal to the consortiums/major independents to the clients.

 

Crystal has a very large following of guests who prefer to have fixed seating so this is not an item for them. As mentioned on previous posts, the layout of the existing ships do not does not allow for open seating. Crystal was the first luxury cruise line to introduce the specialty restaurants so for many guest they allow a good option should guests want to dine at different times or with other guests. Further, while not open seating, Crystal is introducing choice dining starting in January of 2011 which will provide more choice in the main dining room for those guests who are interested in that option.

 

We get a very nice amount of on board credit for Crystal to cover wine/spirits for those who want to use their open credit for that. And for those who enjoy wine/spirits the benefit of this approach is that they can select the wine/spirits that they want and they are not limited to the wine that they prefer rather than just having what is included in the cruise fare. I happen to think this is a nice approach and it works very well. I was just on the ship for 115 days and my on board credits easily covered any wine consumption and my wife and I were able to enjoy very nice wine that is the kind that is not included on luxury cruise lines where wine is included. I do not sit here saying why does x luxury line serve $10.00 bottles of wine. I could easily say how can a luxury cruise line serve such inexpensive wine. It is what it is. On top of this Crystal has a loyal following of passengers who are not big drinkers who would prefer that the wine is not included as part of the cruise fare. Either way, many people prefer what I call "choice" where they can use their on board credit to enhance their cruise in the manner that works best for them.

 

Again, thank goodness for choice. Because in the end what counts the most is our own preference(s)

 

For us, Crystal provides an outstanding luxury product. At the same time we know there are some other good luxury products out there and we have cruised on some of them.

 

And it is fine that there are differences between luxury products since we are all different. Certainly, there are differencesb between other luxury products.

 

Keith

[Jaffa]

Keith,

 

Crystal is not the only Lux line that offers OBC, they all do.

Crystal is the only Lux line that you have to pay "somehow" for your alcohol as extra.

This is just a Crystal thing.

 

Anybody can spend their OBC on premium booze, l know, because l do when the mood takes me.

At least on all the other Lux lines, for the same rates as crystal charges, your alcohol is included. So to have to pay again with your OBC just to get an alcoholic drink seems a bit absurd to me or at the very least a bad case of price gouging.

 

 

Only wine snobs think a $100 bottle of wine is better than a $10.00 bottle, ie price means better quality .

Quality wine is about the ingredients, production and care and not price related.

Wine prices are more about availability and awards not quality.

 

I often have had some quite amazing $10.00 bottles wine, and l love the fact that both Silversea and Seabourn are very adept at sourcing excellent base wines regardless of price.

 

What l care about the most is that it is a good quality tasting wine full stop.

I don't care less how much the cruise line payed for it.

 

Most of the other Crystal cruisers that l know, say they only put up with the set dinning situation because they like the other elements of the Crystal experience, especially the lectures/entertainment and education/enrichment outlets on-board.

Their one and only biggest gripe is the set dinning, and occasionally the cabin sizes.

Cabin size was probably my main gripe apart from some bad set dinning experiences.

But you already know about those.

 

I just find that you get so much more value for your money on the other Luxury lines than what you get on Crystal.

 

If Crystal was cheaper than the other Luxury products on the market because they don't include alcohol and herd you into the dinning room with total strangers then l could understand your logic.

But they are not.

 

Of course l am entitled to my opinion.

[Keith1010]

Keith,

 

Crystal is not the only Lux line that offers OBC, they all do.

Crystal is the only Lux line that you have to pay "somehow" for your alcohol as extra.

This is just a Crystal thing.

 

Anybody can spend their OBC on premium booze, l know, because l do when the mood takes me.

At least on all the other Lux lines, for the same rates as crystal charges, your alcohol is included. So to have to pay again with your OBC just to get an alcoholic drink seems a bit absurd to me or at the very least a bad case of price gouging.

 

 

Only wine snobs think a $100 bottle of wine is better than a $10.00 bottle, ie price means better quality .

Quality wine is about the ingredients, production and care and not price related.

Wine prices are more about availability and awards not quality.

 

I often have had some quite amazing $10.00 bottles wine, and l love the fact that both Silversea and Seabourn are very adept at sourcing excellent base wines regardless of price.

 

What l care about the most is that it is a good quality tasting wine full stop.

I don't care less how much the cruise line payed for it.

 

Most of the other Crystal cruisers that l know, say they only put up with the set dinning situation because they like the other elements of the Crystal experience, especially the lectures/entertainment and education/enrichment outlets on-board.

Their one and only biggest gripe is the set dinning, and occasionally the cabin sizes.

Cabin size was probably my main gripe apart from some bad set dinning experiences.

But you already know about those.

 

I just find that you get so much more value for your money on the other Luxury lines than what you get on Crystal.

 

If Crystal was cheaper than the other Luxury products on the market because they don't include alcohol and herd you into the dinning room with total strangers then l could understand your logic.

But they are not.

 

Of course l am entitled to my opinion.

 

You are entitled to your opinion and I hope I am as well.

 

I never said that Crystal is the only line to offer OBC. However, it is incorrect to say that all the luxury cruise lines offer OBC and some of the ones who do, do not offer them for each and every cruise. Crystal made a decision to provide OBC for each and every cruise as part of their "As You Wish Program". They could have easily not done this and included wine/spirits instead but realizing that their customer base has different preferences they structured a program to give their guest a choice.

 

Personally I find that I get value from each of the luxury lines I have sailed with. I never go out of my way to say one is better than the other because while there are similarities between the lines there are also differences.

 

Crystal does not include wine/spirits in their cruise fare which some of the others do but they do provide a very enhanced entertainment and enrichment program (there is a cost to do this) compared to the other luxury lines. Comparing luxury lines or any cruise line is difficult because they do not spend equally on all areas of the cruise experience.

 

I am not a wine "snob". All I was saying is that there are many people who we know who want the choice. Now for some the choice is that they don't drink at all or they drink very little and do not want the alchohol/wine to be included in the cruise fare. And we also know others that prefer to order their own wine and not the wine that would be included in the cruise fare. Oh, and I do not believe they are "snobs".

 

And I never talked about the price of the bottle of the wine. There are some people who just want more diversity than the complimenatary wine that is offered. This could be a 25.00 bottle of wine. No one (certainly me) did not talk about a 100.00 bottle of wine.

 

We know many folks who do prefer the fixed dining on Crystal for a variety of reasons. And, this is also evident on the Crystal board where some polls have been posted on this.

 

You see in the end, as I have said often, there is absolutely no reason for each of the luxury cruise lines to copy one another because there is enough demand in the marketplace.

 

Now as to my wife and myself we have sailed three of the luxury lines (Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea) and we have enjoyed all of our cruises even though the experiences have been different. Yes, we do have some preferences but we can easily sail any of these lines. We welcome the diversity and as I have said often if we all had the same tastes and interests this would be a rather boring world.

 

Each of the luxury lines must be doing quite a bit right and in the case of Crystal (since this thread is about them) they must being doing qute a bit right since they are consistently rated highly by those who have sailed with them.

 

If you are happy with your choice(s) in a cruise line that is great. For those who are happy with their choice(s) I never see a reason to bash the other cruise line.

 

Like most everything in life, it's perfectly fine that we each have our own preferences without someone telling us that is wrong because this cruise line does not offer x. Makes no sense to me. Again, this is my opinion.

 

Keith

[Jaffa]

Thanks for your reply Keith,

 

1/ I never said you were a wine snob. Please read my reply again. I was simply taking your original statements one further step.

 

Quote ("I was just on the ship for 115 days and my on board credits easily covered any wine consumption and my wife and I were able to enjoy very nice wine that is the kind that is not included on luxury cruise lines where wine is included. I do not sit here saying why does x luxury line serve $10.00 bottles of wine. I could easily say how can a luxury cruise line serve such inexpensive wine. It is what it is.")

 

 

2/ So l take it that because l have personal negative opinion on Crystals value for money compared to the other Lux lines, then l am bashing them. Have l understood you correctly?

Gee whiz, l thought l presented a pretty fair observation on pricing.

 

Your Quote ("If you are happy with your choice(s) in a cruise line that is great. For those who are happy with their choice(s) I never see a reason to bash the other cruise line.")

 

My Quote's

(" At least on all the other Lux lines, for the same rates as crystal charges, your alcohol is included. So to have to pay again with your OBC just to get an alcoholic drink seems a bit absurd to me or at the very least a bad case of price gouging.")

and

("I just find that you get so much more value for your money on the other Luxury lines than what you get on Crystal.")

and

("If Crystal was cheaper than the other Luxury products on the market because they don't include alcohol and herd you into the dinning room with total strangers then l could understand your logic.")

 

Just to be clear here, l don't hate or dislike Crystal at all.

But l do think they are not very good value for money and that was the whole point of my post.

 

I am sorry you feel a little tender from what l think is balanced and constructive criticism.

How else am l supposed to disagree.

[Keith1010]

Thanks for your reply Keith,

 

1/ I never said you were a wine snob. Please read my reply again. I was simply taking your original statements one further step.

 

Quote ("I was just on the ship for 115 days and my on board credits easily covered any wine consumption and my wife and I were able to enjoy very nice wine that is the kind that is not included on luxury cruise lines where wine is included. I do not sit here saying why does x luxury line serve $10.00 bottles of wine. I could easily say how can a luxury cruise line serve such inexpensive wine. It is what it is.")

 

 

2/ So l take it that because l have personal negative opinion on Crystals value for money compared to the other Lux lines, then l am bashing them. Have l understood you correctly?

Gee whiz, l thought l presented a pretty fair observation on pricing.

 

Your Quote ("If you are happy with your choice(s) in a cruise line that is great. For those who are happy with their choice(s) I never see a reason to bash the other cruise line.")

 

My Quote's

(" At least on all the other Lux lines, for the same rates as crystal charges, your alcohol is included. So to have to pay again with your OBC just to get an alcoholic drink seems a bit absurd to me or at the very least a bad case of price gouging.")

and

("I just find that you get so much more value for your money on the other Luxury lines than what you get on Crystal.")

and

("If Crystal was cheaper than the other Luxury products on the market because they don't include alcohol and herd you into the dinning room with total strangers then l could understand your logic.")

 

Just to be clear here, l don't hate or dislike Crystal at all.

But l do think they are not very good value for money and that was the whole point of my post.

 

I am sorry you feel a little tender from what l think is balanced and constructive criticism.

How else am l supposed to disagree.

 

Jaffa, no apologies needed. I do not take any of it personally.

 

Each person needs to determine their best value for the cost of the cruise. There are amenities that Crystal provides (such as a very strong enrichment program along with very elaborate entertainment) that are not provided by some of the other luxury lines. If this is something that one prefers, then there is a lot of value to that. If this is something that someone does not place a lot of value on then there is less value to that. Conversely, if someone places a lot of value on wine then there is value there on those lines that provide it assuming the guest is fine with those wines. If the guest has very little interest in consuming wine, then there is a lot less value there.

 

Remember, value is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

It's like a wine. The most important thing I beleve about wine is that in the end it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about the wine. What's important is what you think. Same goes for art and just about anything that one can think of.

 

We all value things differently based on our own preference, likes, and dislikes.

 

I probably sound like a broken record but I see no reason for all cruise lines to offer identical products. Personally I like the fact that there is diversity out there.

 

What I am saying is that I don't fault those lines that don't offer strong enrichment programs or strong entertainment programs because they differentiate in other ways as I see no reason to fault a line that does not include drinks. In the end, each line that attracts a strong following must be doing a lot right.

 

In the end for those of us who sail on one or more luxury line we should just be happy that we have choice and we have the opportunity to experience what most people will never experience. And we should realize that not every line is the right choice for each person and not expect all lines to match all of our requirements.

 

Keith

[martinsfo]

Keith,

 

You are such a diplomat, and also quite correct. The world would be a boring place if everything was the same.

[Oceans&Rivers]

To Jaffa: In our case, wine and other alcohol as an included feature isn't even in the top three things that comes into play for us. We would enjoy cruising as you prefer, i.e. "all-inclusive" in the way that you understand it, alcohol included, and yet we have no problem with the way Crystal does it and might even prefer not paying for alcohol up front if it reduces our fare. That said, I don't need as much "enrichment" as Crystal provides, and wouldn't mind doing away with some of it if it (But I want to choose what gets sacked, natch! ;))

 

Speaking of wine and feeling "tender," mate, I can certainly understand if football fans from "down under" might require a bit of "alcoholic fortification" this week...:(

[Travelcat2]

To Jaffa: In our case, wine and other alcohol as an included feature isn't even in the top three things that comes into play for us. We would enjoy cruising as you prefer, i.e. "all-inclusive" in the way that you understand it, alcohol included, and yet we have no problem with the way Crystal does it and might even prefer not paying for alcohol up front if it reduces our fare. That said, I don't need as much "enrichment" as Crystal provides, and wouldn't mind doing away with some of it if it (But I want to choose what gets sacked, natch! ;))

 

Speaking of wine and feeling "tender," mate, I can certainly understand if football fans from "down under" might require a bit of "alcoholic fortification" this week...:(

 

When we look at Crystal cruises, we do not find their fares to be less than what we pay for all-inclusive. If you upgrade to a cabin/suite on Crystal (same size as a regular suite on Regent), you are not saving money.

[Keith1010]

When we look at Crystal cruises, we do not find their fares to be less than what we pay for all-inclusive. If you upgrade to a cabin/suite on Crystal (same size as a regular suite on Regent), you are not saving money.

 

I don't expect the fares to be different. Crystal spends much more on enrichment and entertainment than all of the other luxury cruise lines we have sailed. Many folks like us enjoy these programs. They could provide less on enrichment, entertainment and some of the other areas and include drinks. Again, just as the size of say the Seabourn triplets sets Seabourn apart areas such as enrichment which come with a cost sets Crystal apart.

 

Crystal doesn't work for everyone nor does Silversea, Seabourn, Seadream or Regent.

 

Keith