Louis Cristal - just returned!

[Marylandlion]

I just returned home after sailing on the Louis Cristal from Istanbul to Athens. I would have posted on the ship review, but the ship is not listed on the drop down. So I am posting my review in the hopes it can help someone.:)

 

The seven nights on the Louis Cruises Cristal Greek Isles Cruise is a fast paced but rewarding venture.

Forget sleeping in; too much to see – I tell everyone that they can sleep when they get home! But, it is worth it. We saw so much. I had done a lot of research before we left and even had booked some private excursions. Great memories, great pictures, and fine introduction to the many fantastic treasures of the Greek Isles and Ephesus. If you are not in pretty good shape or cannot walk well, this might not be the cruise for you. In addition, we went in July so it was very hot, but we always had water with us and stayed very hydrated.

Embarkation was a dream. Really, some other lines should take note. I do have to say that the Cristal is a small ship. If you are expecting the 4 star ships with the rock climbing walls and huge pools, reconsider. On the positive, we easily found our way around the ship and since there were fewer people, the crew seemed to know us and we them.

Our cabin was very noisy with engine noise. Our friend’s cabin (right next door) was fine. I blame myself for not saying anything sooner, but I did not think it would affect our sleeping- we had very full days. We had unpacked and were in port in Istanbul the first night, so did not notice the noise until day 2. I worried that they would have to move us and really did not want the hassle. On the last night, the mirror came loose from the wall, not a lot, but enough to rattle with the engine. When I called for assistance, gentleman from room service came and told me that it was from the engine and asked me ‘what do you suggest I do?’ several times. I finally suggested that he leave and we put in ear plugs.

Oksana was our cabin stewardess and was a JOY! The cabin was kept clean and neat; clean towels, turn down, and cute towel animals. And the ship seemed very well staffed; constant cleaning and plenty of service help. Cabins are not spacious, but they are functional. Bathroom is fine and the vacuum toilet works well with decent water pressure in the shower.

I cannot comment on many of the programs of the ship. I stopped in a short time to see one of the shows, but I was not impressed enough to stay. I did hear from members of the group that the staff show was very cute.

I am not a real foodie, so I don’t have real issues with the food. I had a large group and they did not like the buffet for any of the meals – it tended to get a little boring. I t was the same offerings in the same place in the line. Again, not a big deal for me. The dining room was fine and the portions good. I do know there were some issues some of the group arriving at 8:20 for breakfast in the dining room and told they could not be served (dining room was opened to 8:30). I also need to say that I was also impressed by the service I received from the head waiter, Demetri. He was wonderful and was very helpful in directing me to a beach in Rhodes.

The pace was busy. The islands were wonderful and the people in Greece and Turkey could not have been nicer or more helpful. If I were to change one thing about the itinerary, it would be to bypass Crete and spend the entire day in Santorini. It was beautiful and a few hours did not allow us to visit Oia or any of the beaches.

I also had some people in the group state that they were unable to get bar service when they were sitting around the deck. Again, IMHO, I liked this. If I needed something, I just went to the bar. It was nice not having the staff constantly ask me if I needed a drink.

The Cristal is comfortable; the food and atmosphere is Greek (40% of the crew has to be Greek to fly under the flag). The ship is really just transportation from one interesting site to another. The individual excursions are expensive, about 55 Euros per person. Many you can do on your own with a little research (use Cruise Critic) some you can do on your own or hire a private tour. We did this for Ephesus and had an exceptional guide.

Forget the drink package; just limit your drinks or take your own. There are duty free shops in many of the ports.

And there is a great feature from Louis Cruises on this itinerary. You can cruise, get off and stay in one or more of the ports for a few days and get on a later ship or fly out. Many people did this.

You cannot, it seems, book directly with Louis Cruises. We went through Gate One and it worked seamlessly.

[wantocruisemore]

Thanks for the review. I was researching trying to find a line that touches on all the Greek Islands I want to go back to plus will go to Instanbul.

 

Please tell me more about how a hop on/hop off works. You book your cabin like a regular cruise ship, right? How does that work? Do you have ot pay for 2 or more cruises?

 

Also, I noticed a lack of balcony rooms and the ones that did seemed to have small ones. We used our balcony alot on our Med cruise earlier this month. How do the rooms compare?

 

Also, any knowlegde of how the line might deal with special diets? DD requires gluten-free.

[Marylandlion]

It was my first experience with the concept.

 

We picked up the ship in Istanbull after staying in a hotel for a couple of nights. We embarked at 6:00 - no line -priceless! ;)We were told to be at the muster drill along with any other passengers that embarked there. This was repeated several times during our cruise. We saw people embark and disemark. We left the ship in Athens and spent 2 nights there. I think the easiest way to do it is to pick up the boat in a port after staying for a few nights and leaving the boat where you want to fly out of (IMHO).

As for balconies, I don't think there are any.

Food seem to be pretty easy and the staff was able to adjust for me. Making friends withe the head waiter and maitre de - also priceless.:)

[wantocruisemore]

I noticed that Instanbul is the first stop? And then the cruise normally ends in Athens? Did you end up with the full 7 nights? I guess I'm still confused how you work it with cabins.

 

Actually what you did sounds like a possibility for us. I love Athens but the rest of my family does not. They would love to spend more time in Instanbul.

 

What was your itinerary? You mentioned Crete, Athens, Instanbul and Santorini. The ship I looked at is a 7 nts and also goes to Crete, Mykonos Patmos and Rhodes.

 

Actually the line sounds alot like the one I did 30 years ago, only I did a 4 nt cruise.

 

I also noticed the prices seem very high on their website, but you can't book directly with them? Any discounts through agencies?

 

Can you take wine/water/soda on board or purchase in port and not have them taken when you get back on board?

 

Sorry for so many questions but it sounds like this would be perfect for us next May/June.

[Essiesmom]

You can check out the Cristal schedule here:

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruise-ship-cristal.html

It looks like you can do 3/4/7 day cruises sometimes, others only 7 days. EM

[Marylandlion]

additional night in Istanbul while in port. The passengers that came in on the ship got in about 3PM and hustled to the markets since they are closed on Sundays. We got on the ship around 6 after full day. We took the tram back to the city center early the next morning and very easily got into the sight that we had missed or were just too crowded and then took a ferry up the Bospherous. We left that night for Mykonos and got in that afternoon. The ship left early evening for Patmos. We arrived in Patmos very early 6:30AM and had until 10:30 before leaving for Kusadasi. I had arranged for a private tour for our group. The guide met us right off the ship and we were on our way before the buses left. It was a full day but 8 in an air conditioned van with a private guide was great and less then the ship excursion. We left port at 8:30. The next morning we arrived in Rhodes at 7AM. We had time to tour the Old Town before it got to hot. I was on Elli Beach before 12. It was one of my best days. After the hectic pace, it was nice to have some time sitting in the sun looking at the water. The others (not beach people :confused:) had lunch in the Old Town and stayed cool in a museum. The next morning we were in Agios Nikolaes Crete. IMHO, I would have cut this island out of the itinerary and gone to Santorini (just in case anyone from Louis is reading the posts). Crete is a cute island, but I would have liked a full day in Santorini. We arrived in Athens on Friday morning and were off the ship by 7:30 AM. So we were on the ship 6 nights. Our group stayed at the Astor Hotel for 2 nights.

As for beverages, I took my diet coke on board (maybe ½ a case). I like my dc in the morning for breakfast:p. Many of us also brought wine boxes from the states. In addition, we were buying wine in the islands and alcohol from duty free stores and no one said anything to us.

We loved the trip. In fact, I am planning on taking another group next year since it was so easy. The people could not have been nicer. The ship is not 4 star, but it was perfect for us. The pace is a little hectic, but you can do as much or as little as you want. I thought many of the ports were very easy to DIY.

I worked with Gate one travel. Air was expensive, but I thought the rest was reasonable.

[marco]

We did this (or similar) trip 2 yrs ago through Gate 1. We did 2 nights in a hotel in Istanbul (where cruise started), the 7 day cruise and then a 5 day land tour of Greece (cruise ended there). Ours was priced all inclusive (transAtlantic air/cruise/land in Turkey and Greece. We thought it a VERY good deal. Ship sailed in the evening out of Istanbul, so we had 3 days in Istanbul. The ship is the former NCL "Leeward". Older, but not "old". Smallish, which was wonderful assome of the islands you must tender and everyone was off in minutes. On some bigger ships I remember waiting in a lounge with a "number" for over an hour waiting for our tender number to be called. Food was good, entertainment "OK" keeping in mind there are several nationalities of passengers on board, so most entertainment had to be pretty much "dialouge free". Many Greek islands are in pretty close proximity to each other and we did 2islands a day on some days. The itinerary and sites are the most important part of this trip, not the ship.

[T. Advisor King]

Thanks for posting your review. I sailed with Louis (on the Aquamarine) last year. Having just got back from the Carnival Magic, I'm reminded of how much I enjoyed the Louis Cruise experience last year.

 

I've sailed Carnival more than any other line, but I still think Louis does a better job in terms of the product and value for money. Our itinerary last year saw us see six ports in a four night cruise. That said, I agree with you that I would have given up Crete to have spent the full day on Santorini.

 

Their "kids cruise free" deal was excellent, since my daughter was just under the 16-year cut off at the time (and my son was 12). It was a bit of a squish in one cabin, but for four nights it was fine.

 

But as you say, the pace is busy and you're on the cruise not for the rock walls, "hairy chest contest" or Vegas-style show. You're there to enjoy the open sea when you're sailing and mainly for the ports.

 

I loved their international atmosphere, I disagree with the advice on the drink package. I rarely buy drinks on cruises, but I thought the Louis package deal was so fair, it was hard to say no. And I agree with you about not being constantly pestered to buy more drinks. You can't have it both ways and I think Louis strikes the balance well, which means sometimes you have to get up off your deck chair and walk to the bar.

 

We "did it ourselves" at five of the six ports. The only one where we purchased the excursion was Kusadasi/Ephesus. I wasn't sure what to expect in Turkey and didn't want any unwelcome surprises.

 

Your posting says you can't book on-line. Was that just referring to the "hop-on, hop-off" aspect? We booked our cruise on-line, so maybe that's all you meant.

[carterandroxanne]

We are planning on this cruise for next April/May. What cabin did you choose? We are trying to decide on inside or outside and the best deck.

[T. Advisor King]

We are planning on this cruise for next April/May. What cabin did you choose? We are trying to decide on inside or outside and the best deck.

 

I think your question was aimed at MDLion, but since you're a first-time poster, I'll throw in my two cents worth.

 

Inside vs. outside is a persona choice, which almost always comes down to economics. I don't think anyone who chooses an inside cabin would ever refuse an upgrade to an outside one. Some swear by inside cabins on the basis that they spend almost no time in it. Those who like outside cabins (or balconies on those ships with them) will say that it adds to the whole experience and really makes you enjoy your time in your cabin more.

 

From an economics standpoint, if we're travelling to Europe, then the difference between inside and outside is so immaterial to the total cost of the trip that we would always pick outside. Same thing when travelling from where we live to, say a Caribbean cruise.

 

I can see why your opinion would be different if you live in Miami and could take a cruise in an inside cabin for half the cost of an outside cabin. But if you're paying for airlines and hotel, then the difference may be less than 10% -- maybe less than 5%.

 

Deck is mainly a matter of choice, but also economics. Generally the higher decks cost more. Partly that is because they often have larger windows and may be further away from engine noise. Part of it is entirely intangible (better views, or just the idea that higher is better). It is never a bad idea to check deck plans to see whether you're right under the dance floor or right above the show theater. But I can't remember ever having a cabin where I was affected by noise and we rarely put our mind to the location.

 

The other factors to consider are proximity to dining areas and the pool decks. This is more an issue on the larger moster ships. Probably less of an issue on a Louis ship.

[carterandroxanne]

Thanks for the response! We have decided on an outside cabin on the higher deck.

[zam123]

Thanks for the review. We go beginning of Sept. Picking up the ship in Istanbul, not Athens, as we have several days in Istanbul. I am not looking for big ship amenities, entertainment, gambling, etc. just nice accommodations and decent food. You are right, this is about the port experience. We did book 3 ship excursions and we will venture out on our own for the rest. We booked late, so had no choice of cabin selection. We are on Deck 4, outside cabin, but in the VERY back of the ship. Since this is what was left, I am assuming it is not the most desirable location, but I don't know why. Engine noise? Rocking motion? Any idea why the back is not great? I cannot change anything, but it would be good to know what to expect!

Also, you mention that the ship personnel is helpful in giving you info about places to see on land, other than the excursions. Do they have a concierge equivalent that will guide you and give you info or do you just ask around? Since we have a lot of time on Mykonos, I would love to see one of the beaches but don't know how close they are to where the port is. I have tried researching, but am still not clear as to how far away the best beaches are. We will probably stay and have dinner on the island, not the ship, so if you have any restaurant suggestions, I'd love to hear them. thanks again.

[T. Advisor King]

Thanks for the review. We go beginning of Sept. Picking up the ship in Istanbul, not Athens, as we have several days in Istanbul. I am not looking for big ship amenities, entertainment, gambling, etc. just nice accommodations and decent food. You are right, this is about the port experience. We did book 3 ship excursions and we will venture out on our own for the rest. We booked late, so had no choice of cabin selection. We are on Deck 4, outside cabin, but in the VERY back of the ship. Since this is what was left, I am assuming it is not the most desirable location, but I don't know why. Engine noise? Rocking motion? Any idea why the back is not great? I cannot change anything, but it would be good to know what to expect!

Also, you mention that the ship personnel is helpful in giving you info about places to see on land, other than the excursions. Do they have a concierge equivalent that will guide you and give you info or do you just ask around? Since we have a lot of time on Mykonos, I would love to see one of the beaches but don't know how close they are to where the port is. I have tried researching, but am still not clear as to how far away the best beaches are. We will probably stay and have dinner on the island, not the ship, so if you have any restaurant suggestions, I'd love to hear them. thanks again.

 

Different people have different cabin preference. Some prefer to be close to certain things (e.g. pool or dining room). Some like to be near the elevators, some like to be away from the elevators. Some prefer to be mid-ship to minimize rocking motion. Some will study deck plans to make sure they're not above the dance floor or below the buffet tables. Engine noise could be an issue, but you never know. On some ships, the aft-view cabins are among the most expensive.

 

If you want to find a beach on Mykonos outside the main town, then I can't help. You should definitely check out the Ports of Call boards and look up Greece. The boards aren't well organized, but the Greece portion is narrow enough that it won't be too much of a struggle. It would be nice if you could index threads to a particular port or group of ports, or if they would further subdivide the country-specific boards into narrower port boards.

 

When we arrived at the port at Mykonos, we took a 10-minute bus ride into the main town and walked around. We arrived on our day of sailing, so we were only there a few hours. There were picturesque beaches, but nothing spectacular from a pure sand-beach perspective. I assume there are other beaches away from the main town.

[zam123]

Just returned from the Greece and Turkey cruise discussed previously and we thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband and I went with our two adult daughters. We spent 4 1/2 days on our own in Istanbul first, then joined the cruise in Istanbul. Two days is NOT enough time in such a fabulous city. I understand that there were passengers getting on and off at different ports. Would be worth looking into, as I don't know if you can stay on an island and get back on later.

The ship is quite nice and our outside premium cabin was a decent size with a very large window, deck 4. Both cabins were at the very back of the ship however, and it is noisy and you get the smell of diesel oil. So book further forward if possible. Otherwise, very smooth sailing. The boat is small enough that you pull up to the dock on most islands, instead of having to always take a tender. So getting on and off was pretty quick.

 

We are not cruise people, so to speak, as we enjoy eating on the islands to get the feel of the place. We stayed on land on both Mykonos and Santorini to eat...well worth it. The food on the ship was OK, but nothing fantastic. Having said that, it was fresh and we always found something to eat. Just not as good as the food on land in each location.

 

The staff is wonderful-very helpful and friendly. The ship is extremely clean and our cabins were serviced several times a day. We did not bother with evening shows or the casino, so I cannot rate those. The "formal" nights were not so formal. My husband brought a suit, but many men did not, and he could have gotten by with just a sports jacket. As first time cruisers, we did not know what to expect.

Electricity is both 110 and 220 and hair dryers are provided, so there are no problems there, and you can charge appliances easily. I recommend you bring at least one adapter plug, but no converter is needed.

 

We took several excursions. They are rather hectic, and we had arranged at least one private tour in Ephesus. It was a sin to have only an afternoon on Santorini. The two days when you dock at two islands (Patmos and Rhodes and Crete and Santorini) are terribly rushed and you feel like you have barely had a chance to get on the island and you have to return to the ship. That would be my only complaint. Santorini in particular was hectic, as we got there late afternoon, took the bus to Oia (well worth the trip for the view) then fought the crowds to see the views. DO take the excursion to Oia-it is way out on the island but has fantastic views.

 

We found the Turkish people to be extraordinarily friendly-perhaps even more than the Greeks.

 

I would recommend the Louis Cristal, especially if you are interested in the land portion of your trip, rather than the ship itself. By the way, I did use the spa and got a great massage.

[martell55]

hi at last i have some one who has been on the louis cristal, your report was very interesting i am going from Athens to the places you have mentioned, going with a singles group, so can please myself to be with them or not. thanks again for interesting and informative report

I just returned home after sailing on the Louis Cristal from Istanbul to Athens. I would have posted on the ship review, but the ship is not listed on the drop down. So I am posting my review in the hopes it can help someone.:)

 

The seven nights on the Louis Cruises Cristal Greek Isles Cruise is a fast paced but rewarding venture.

 

Forget sleeping in; too much to see – I tell everyone that they can sleep when they get home! But, it is worth it. We saw so much. I had done a lot of research before we left and even had booked some private excursions. Great memories, great pictures, and fine introduction to the many fantastic treasures of the Greek Isles and Ephesus. If you are not in pretty good shape or cannot walk well, this might not be the cruise for you. In addition, we went in July so it was very hot, but we always had water with us and stayed very hydrated.

 

Embarkation was a dream. Really, some other lines should take note. I do have to say that the Cristal is a small ship. If you are expecting the 4 star ships with the rock climbing walls and huge pools, reconsider. On the positive, we easily found our way around the ship and since there were fewer people, the crew seemed to know us and we them.

Our cabin was very noisy with engine noise. Our friend’s cabin (right next door) was fine. I blame myself for not saying anything sooner, but I did not think it would affect our sleeping- we had very full days. We had unpacked and were in port in Istanbul the first night, so did not notice the noise until day 2. I worried that they would have to move us and really did not want the hassle. On the last night, the mirror came loose from the wall, not a lot, but enough to rattle with the engine. When I called for assistance, gentleman from room service came and told me that it was from the engine and asked me ‘what do you suggest I do?’ several times. I finally suggested that he leave and we put in ear plugs.

Oksana was our cabin stewardess and was a JOY! The cabin was kept clean and neat; clean towels, turn down, and cute towel animals. And the ship seemed very well staffed; constant cleaning and plenty of service help. Cabins are not spacious, but they are functional. Bathroom is fine and the vacuum toilet works well with decent water pressure in the shower.

I cannot comment on many of the programs of the ship. I stopped in a short time to see one of the shows, but I was not impressed enough to stay. I did hear from members of the group that the staff show was very cute.

I am not a real foodie, so I don’t have real issues with the food. I had a large group and they did not like the buffet for any of the meals – it tended to get a little boring. I t was the same offerings in the same place in the line. Again, not a big deal for me. The dining room was fine and the portions good. I do know there were some issues some of the group arriving at 8:20 for breakfast in the dining room and told they could not be served (dining room was opened to 8:30). I also need to say that I was also impressed by the service I received from the head waiter, Demetri. He was wonderful and was very helpful in directing me to a beach in Rhodes.

The pace was busy. The islands were wonderful and the people in Greece and Turkey could not have been nicer or more helpful. If I were to change one thing about the itinerary, it would be to bypass Crete and spend the entire day in Santorini. It was beautiful and a few hours did not allow us to visit Oia or any of the beaches.

I also had some people in the group state that they were unable to get bar service when they were sitting around the deck. Again, IMHO, I liked this. If I needed something, I just went to the bar. It was nice not having the staff constantly ask me if I needed a drink.

The Cristal is comfortable; the food and atmosphere is Greek (40% of the crew has to be Greek to fly under the flag). The ship is really just transportation from one interesting site to another. The individual excursions are expensive, about 55 Euros per person. Many you can do on your own with a little research (use Cruise Critic) some you can do on your own or hire a private tour. We did this for Ephesus and had an exceptional guide.

Forget the drink package; just limit your drinks or take your own. There are duty free shops in many of the ports.

And there is a great feature from Louis Cruises on this itinerary. You can cruise, get off and stay in one or more of the ports for a few days and get on a later ship or fly out. Many people did this.

You cannot, it seems, book directly with Louis Cruises. We went through Gate One and it worked seamlessly.

[martell55]

We are planning on this cruise for next April/May. What cabin did you choose? We are trying to decide on inside or outside and the best deck.

hi i am on the louis cristol greece/turkey on 27th april my cabin is inside, but have bben on P & O outside so hope this will be ok, as i only sleep in the cabin haha.

[blindrid]

One thing that Louis normally does not promote is their all inclusive drink packages. It's not a traditional cruise with drinks available in the buffet area virtually all hours. They charge you for every drink (I believe even at dinner), ice tea, you name it.

 

We did all inclusive and it worked well for us, alcohol included from 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM.

[whereintheworld]

I found that there was not much time to drink as the ship was often at port and we were off sightseeing most of the day. I ordered a bottle of local wine (from Santorini I think) a dry white (maybe semillon or sav blanc) which was very pleasant and cost $23. The waiter put my name on it, and returned it to the table the next night. I tried a different local wine each couple of days. One waiter noticed me dining in another area at lunch and came over to ask if I would like him to bring my wine from the other deck. Very nice and observant of him!

[blindrid]

We had 401 transactions on our all inclusive - it also included bottle water. There was plenty of time to drink :).

[juanitastravels]

Hi everyone, thank you for your posts - they are all very, very helpful as we have a group of 6 of us doing a similar itinerary in September. I do have a couple of questions:

1. How formal are the formal nights - should we bring long dresses & ties for the men?

2. How much does the all-inclusive drink package cost? Do both in the cabin need to buy it? We have used them on cruises in the past and it has been well worth it.

3. How do you privately arrange the excursions. We have done quite a bit of research and know what we want to see/do at each port & we do plan on taking an excursion at every one of them. I just didn't know how you would go about finding a private tour guide.

Thanks for your help.

[The Sea Bear]

I thank all the contributors to this thread for sharing their experiences. It is certainly helpful talking to people who already "have the t-shirt".

 

My wife and I are booked on the Louis Cristal (7 nights) as part of an Insight Vacations Mediterranean Fables Tour in October 2012.

 

We have never been on a cruise and are very much looking forward to it. The positive feedback I have read about the Cristal (here and other sites) is most encouraging and I have no doubt we shall enjoy it.

 

We booked this trip in August 2011 and I have done extensive research over the past 9 months, so much so that I almost feel I have done the trip already!:D

 

@juanitastravels - I will share some of the knowledge gained with particular reference to the Drinks Unlimited packages.

 

The Drinks Unlimited packages normally cost €195 for the alcoholic, and €104 for the non-alcoholic (on a 7 day cruise). Note: All persons sharing a cabin must each buy a package.

The cards can, however, be purchased prior to the cruise, directly from Louis Cruises at DISCOUNTED rates of €155 for the alcoholic, and €85 for the non-alcoholic (7 day cruise).

The card is valid between 10h00 and 02h00 daily. Apart from tea, coffee and juice AT MEALTIMES ONLY, ALL other drinks (INCLUDING tea,coffee,juice) are chargeable.

With beers, wines and drinks costing about €4-5 each, I don't think it will be difficult to get value for money from the card. The card also entitles you to buy bottled water at reduced prices. (remember to buy water before you go to bed for the next day! - card only valid from 10h00):)

 

Full details can be viewed on Louis Cruises website. (see: http://www.louiscruises.com/en/before-you-cruise/what-you-need-to-know)

 

I will keep checking this thread up until we depart and will also post my own feedback on our return.

[CretaMed88]

 

That's how she was as a ferry after the fire

[The Sea Bear]

That's how she was as a ferry after the fire

 

:confused::confused:

I am at a complete loss as to what relevance this has on the present MS Cristal, her level of comfort or anything in this thread (other than spam :().

 

That fire actually took place 22 years ago in January 1990 while docked in Sweden for reconstruction. The fire started from drops of liquid metal sparkling on flammable material. The internal sprinkler system had been turned off for the duration of the rebuild and the fire brigade could not approach the fires inside the ship due to the danger of gas bottles exploding in the heat. This resulted in that ship burning uncontrollably for three days.

 

After the fire, the remains of the Sally Albatross (I) were cut up and used as the basis of a completely new ship. The hull was also lengthened by 13 meters. In essence, it became a brand new ship, and she is usually listed as such in most sources. Her owners decided to keep the name Sally Albatross (II), which has led to some sources (and a lot of passengers) to consider the second Sally Albatross to be the same ship as the first.

 

The current ship (under different names and livery, but still in more or less the present shape) has been cruising since March 23, 1992.

 

The MS Cristal has been owned and operated by Louis Cruises Lines since May 2007.

[hhglr]

Here is some info (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Cristal)

about the ship.

We already booked for 7 days trip that departs Istanbul on June 24, expecting to share our experiences in near future.

[The Sea Bear]

We already booked for 7 days trip that departs Istanbul on June 24, expecting to share our experiences in near future.

 

Hi hhglr

 

I see you are boarding in Izmir. I assume then you will be cruising a 7 day round trip back to Izmir?

 

I will be looking forward to hearing of your experiences on your return! :)

 

Have a great trip! :cool: