New Crystal - the Good, the Bad and the Indifferent

[Roel94]

On 2/24/2023 at 5:36 AM, Roland4 said:

We are on Silver Moon at the moment, and the staff are great, Unfortunately, the dress code is archaic, six sea days this segment and every one of them is Formal or Informal, and they are militant about enforcing it. The other issue is the very relaxed smoking policy, starting with "Smoking on the balcony is discouraged." Say what??

 

As much as we like the ship, this will likely be a "one and done" with Silversea for us.

Welll, they would get rhe clothes I own..mostly dresses. Know people on the Muse and loving it.

[AtA]

4 hours ago, suzeluvscruz said:

Hotels and restaurants and bars do it all the time.

The difference is in a hotel or restaurant, a guest can go outside and smoke. If the whole ship was non-smoking, where could a smoker go? Now having said that, I personally would prefer if the whole ship were non-smoking too.

[Stickman1990]

7 minutes ago, AtA said:

I find this amusing considering you said you haven't cruised on Crystal in over 10 years.

No different from others who haven’t cruises on Silversea for many years but who still post as if their experience is relevant - it happens….

[Shorex]

Considering that the first Crystal cruise sails in just over four months, all the ambiguity over the smoking policy will be soon resolved. Fait accompli. A done deal. Some will like the policy, some won't. Just like every other detail that is yet to be revealed.

[FlyerTalker]

If the smoking policy is THAT critical to you, there is a simple answer.

 

Don't book anything until you have a definite answer to your own personal needs.

 

As Shorex mentions above, all will be revealed in a short while.  If you can't wait - well, IMO that says a lot.

 

For most of us, we are booking on faith.  Some are doing it with expectations that they will walk aboard and it will be like nothing has changed in the re-establishment of the brand.  I feel that most are doing it with some expectation that Anderson and Manfredi are going to provide a quality product, but that it won't be the exact same copy of the past.  And that we are OK with a bit of "pig in a poke", given the players that are involved.

 

Complaining here won't make the policy miraculously appear overnight.  And no matter what it turns out to be, it won't be what some people want.  But then, as someone often says, choice is good.  So make your own and be done with it.

 

 

[Keith1010]

Yes, I expect the policy to be available soon and we do have five months before the first sailing of July 31.

 

There have been several questions I have asked and often the answers provided say this is the policy Crystal had or it is obvious that it is the case.

 

The answer that I was provided does note that indoor smoking is only in the Connoisseur Room. While using the words several outdoor locations that is how it was with old Crystal with one side of the outdoor pool deck smoking, smoking on the back of the guest decks where the round tables and lounge chairs were situated, on one side of the Promenade Deck although without ashtrays I rarely saw this in our last years of sailing including on all the cruises we were on in 2021 and on the outdoor sports deck.  To me that fits with the comment I received.

 

I suspect we will know for sure soon as this and other information gets added to the website.

 

In the meantime, I will share what I received as I've asked for more specificity.

 

On a related note the last information I provided on SS smoking on one of the new ships came directly fro a friend who sails SS often, considers it their go to cruise line although they have sailed extensively on other lines and from his experience last year on one of the newer SS vessels.  Smoke from cigarette smoking was a big problem as it could be smelled in the fitness center and as a result they will sail SS but not on the newer ships.  

 

Keith 

 

[History&Wine]

We are making the same points, so this will be my last post on the topic of smoking.

 

I am not new to Crystal.  I have been on board for 250+ days. I am familiar with the old smoking policies pre 2015 (smoking permitted in the Cove, Saloon, etc.) and the ones that replaced those. 

I was booked on the 2022 World Cruise which did not sail.  Looking at the 2024 world Cruise it is similar so I was one of the first to book.  I knew the solo cabins would sell out quickly.  So I booked on faith. 

Yes, I am booking on faith...we all are.  I expect the food and entertainment to be top notch.  I have faith.  Casino?  We don't know, and Crystal needs time to finalize that.  Asian restaurant?  Ditto.  I have faith New Crystal will figure it out.

 

Smoking policies?  Crystal does not need time to finalize that.   As I stated in a prior post, waiting until Crystal sails to discover the policy would be costly.  Yes, being able to breathe smoke free air is that important, at least to me.  I just need to know so that I can plan my trip or move on to other options. 

 

Choice is good. 

[AtA]

On 2/24/2023 at 11:05 PM, Stickman1990 said:

No different from others who haven’t cruises on Silversea for many years but who still post as if their experience is relevant - it happens….

If that's directed at me, I was on SS in September and would put it second to last of the ship's I'd go on again.

[Psoque]

I'm not even trying to judge new Crystal in respect to their yet to be determined/revealed smoking policy.  I am just a bit disappointed in the way the the questions regarding this was answered.  She should have just said "it is currently being determined."  That should have been the best answer.  The answer she gave was a very bad answer, in my opinion.

[ak1004]

The old Crystal used to have theme cruises, like Broadway. We were actually booked on one of them.

 

Does anyone have any indication or knowledge if the new Crystal will have something similar?

[Txcotn]

10 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

The old Crystal used to have theme cruises, like Broadway. We were actually booked on one of them.

 

Does anyone have any indication or knowledge if the new Crystal will have something similar?

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[braxx20]

On 3/1/2023 at 8:48 PM, suzeluvscruz said:

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I spoke to Crystal rep the other day and they WILL be doing them. We were on several "Jazz" (Tommy Dorsey) or Dance cruises  and cancelled out of the last one with the shutdown.

[ivyleaguegent]

On 2/17/2023 at 2:18 PM, Camillus112 said:

 

Mr. Luxury, I'll see you at the dance floor!

I will see both of you on the dance floor!

[ivyleaguegent]

On 2/17/2023 at 2:19 PM, Keith1010 said:

First step is book a Crystal cruise.  If you don't do that no need to get your shoes ready.

 

You are spending too much time here not to book the cruise.

 

We have a saying in the USA.

 

Just do it.

As we have done!!

[Camillus112]

3 hours ago, ivyleaguegent said:

As we have done!!

 

I'm standing with Mr. Luxury, dance shoes shined and ready, hoping for a short wait...

[Cruiselover51]

Very good! Nobu is back on Symphony & Serenity!

welcome !

Edited March 28, 2023 by Cruiselover51

[Cruiselover51]

I meant Restaurant NOBU.  Oups!

Edited March 28, 2023 by Cruiselover51

[Keith1010]

16 minutes ago, Cruiselover51 said:

I meant Restaurant NOBU.  Oups!

aka Umi Uma.  😀

 

Keith

[allinthesameboat]

Amen, Claudia! Great points made re single cabins and ho-hum itineraries.

I think it's a good idea to wait and see if Crystal comes up with some more exciting itineraries. I, too, was not impressed so far. I did file a claim hoping to recover the $8,000 Crystal owes me. I found it curious that the letter Keith posted included Moecker & Assoc.mentioning that they would likely be ready to to reimburse those passengers with claims sometime this summer. It may be a good idea to wait before applying for a credit with Crystal as per their Exceptional Initiative. I would rather have the cash in my pocket.

I heard that Windstar also got rid of casinos. What's up with that!

[Stickman1990]

15 minutes ago, allinthesameboat said:

It may be a good idea to wait before applying for a credit with Crystal as per their Exceptional Initiative. I would rather have the cash in my pocket.

How much are you expecting? 

I think we can be pretty sure the payout to unsecured creditors (if there is any funds left are secured creditors are paid out) is going to be a partial payment only - pennies on the dollar….

 

My suggestion would be take the Exceptional offer if it can work for you as it at least provides something - of course you have to book a “new Crystal” cruise to benefit  

[Embowaf]

2 hours ago, allinthesameboat said:

Amen, Claudia! Great points made re single cabins and ho-hum itineraries.

I think it's a good idea to wait and see if Crystal comes up with some more exciting itineraries. I, too, was not impressed so far. I did file a claim hoping to recover the $8,000 Crystal owes me. I found it curious that the letter Keith posted included Moecker & Assoc.mentioning that they would likely be ready to to reimburse those passengers with claims sometime this summer. It may be a good idea to wait before applying for a credit with Crystal as per their Exceptional Initiative. I would rather have the cash in my pocket.

I heard that Windstar also got rid of casinos. What's up with that!

Pretty unlikely, imo, that you're going to get much from Moecker.

New Crystal may not have all the information, but I suspect they have a decent idea of what will happen there. They do obviously know what they paid for the non-ship components of the old company (the ships were not owned by Crystal itself), as in the trademarks, passenger lists, data, possibly some inventory on the ships (lots of wine?) depending on how that shook out.

If they suspected most people would be made close to whole, around the time they were reopening up sailing, I don't think they'd be doing this initiative, as that would go a long way to mending the wounds that this is targeting.

[travelberlin]

11 hours ago, allinthesameboat said:

Amen, Claudia! Great points made re single cabins and ho-hum itineraries.

I think it's a good idea to wait and see if Crystal comes up with some more exciting itineraries. I, too, was not impressed so far. I did file a claim hoping to recover the $8,000 Crystal owes me. I found it curious that the letter Keith posted included Moecker & Assoc.mentioning that they would likely be ready to to reimburse those passengers with claims sometime this summer. It may be a good idea to wait before applying for a credit with Crystal as per their Exceptional Initiative. I would rather have the cash in my pocket.

I heard that Windstar also got rid of casinos. What's up with that!

The same as you we will prefer to receive first whatever money Moecker and associates will return to us as part of the legal process. We have applied for the NC initiative but not booked yet. We understand that this applying does not mean that we are renouncing to our refunds from Moecker.

Ivi

[PaulMCO]

15 hours ago, allinthesameboat said:

Amen, Claudia! Great points made re single cabins and ho-hum itineraries.

I think it's a good idea to wait and see if Crystal comes up with some more exciting itineraries. I, too, was not impressed so far. I did file a claim hoping to recover the $8,000 Crystal owes me. I found it curious that the letter Keith posted included Moecker & Assoc.mentioning that they would likely be ready to to reimburse those passengers with claims sometime this summer. It may be a good idea to wait before applying for a credit with Crystal as per their Exceptional Initiative. I would rather have the cash in my pocket.

I heard that Windstar also got rid of casinos. What's up with that!

 

Unfortunately you cannot wait until 'summer"   The initiative expires 1 June 2023.

 

$8,000 LOL -- the most you can expect is $2,225 as a priority claimant.

 

Unless you have a claim that had an embarkation from Miami, you will not receive more.  Those MIA (literally) cruises had extra insurance of a TBD amount, as part of a posted bond that ABC will administer at the end of the process.

Edited March 29, 2023 by PaulMCO

[wearesiamese]

I just received an email from Crystal regarding "5 iconic cruises of 2023",. I guess we know which of the sailingsare not selling well for 2023.I wonder if there are others?

 

 

[bitob]

1 hour ago, wearesiamese said:

I just received an email from Crystal regarding "5 iconic cruises of 2023",. I guess we know which of the sailingsare not selling well for 2023.I wonder if there are others?

 

 

Many are not selling.  They lost a huge number of Crystal loyalists who lost money.