Frequently Asked Questions

[trlagt]

I recall all cruises did. You never had to wonder. If there is  a formula now for which cruises, why can’t they share the info so one can decide whether to book or not.  Sea days vs port days? What?

[Shorex]

Yes, all Crystal cruises past had bridge instructors/directors onboard. The bridge team would be staying on for multiple cruises, some with more sea days than others. On port intensive cruises there may have been zero or one organized bridge lesson/game.

 

Years ago, Silversea had organized bridge on every cruise, even 7 day cruises with one or zero sea days. Currently there is a threshold number of sea days for organized bridge, the threshold may be flexible depending on other factors.

[bitob]

I am a bridge addict and I seek cruises where bridge is offered which is one of the reasons cruises with a large number of sea days appeals to me. I have never been on any cruise that had acbl sanctioned bridge if there were no sea days where games could be played (cruisers are off the ship sightseeing -- it's hard enough getting enough tables when folks cannot leave the ship) - including Crystal.  Just recently I was on a b2b on regent.  The first half was 12 nights with 1 sea day.  No formal bridge program. The second leg was a transatlantic with 10 sea days -- full ACBL bridge program.  In my experience this is standard across all cruise lines that offer ACBL sanctioned bridge on board -- and there are only a handful.

[May B]

19 hours ago, trlagt said:

all cruises in the past had directors and organized bridge.  Now they are saying some.  More rooms are used for dance hosts.  Bridge usually requires only one stateroom.

I agree 100%.

 

I think if the ships were quite heavily booked, the dance hosts were asked to share. I guess if they said no, they had to debark. Or wait for a no-show!

[May B]

1 hour ago, bitob said:

I am a bridge addict and I seek cruises where bridge is offered which is one of the reasons cruises with a large number of sea days appeals to me. I have never been on any cruise that had acbl sanctioned bridge if there were no sea days where games could be played (cruisers are off the ship sightseeing -- it's hard enough getting enough tables when folks cannot leave the ship) - including Crystal.  Just recently I was on a b2b on regent.  The first half was 12 nights with 1 sea day.  No formal bridge program. The second leg was a transatlantic with 10 sea days -- full ACBL bridge program.  In my experience this is standard across all cruise lines that offer ACBL sanctioned bridge on board -- and there are only a handful.

I don’t know what happened before I cruised on Crystal, but after I found out about the page that listed all entertainers and enrichment, I always looked to see who was posted as the bridge instructor/director. While more times than not, I didn’t know them, they were always listed, in advance of the cruise. 

[gwesq]

31 minutes ago, May B said:

I don’t know what happened before I cruised on Crystal, but after I found out about the page that listed all entertainers and enrichment, I always looked to see who was posted as the bridge instructor/director. While more times than not, I didn’t know them, they were always listed, in advance of the cruise. 

Miss the page showing entertainers/enrichment a lot - I don't thnik any other cruise line does this.  

 

[bitob]

I will add that the bridge instructors on crystal were generally better than on other lines I sail. They all come out of 2 agencies but somehow crystal had the cream of the crop

[May B]

24 minutes ago, bitob said:

I will add that the bridge instructors on crystal were generally better than on other lines I sail. They all come out of 2 agencies but somehow crystal had the cream of the crop

I was just thinking back to the bridge people whose names I recognized. Several are Platinum or Grand LMs. One I played on a team with, and another was my partner when I first realized I needed glasses. I put my Ace of ♠️s in with my ♣️s!

 

That having been said, on our one and only Oceania, Steve Smolen was doing the bridge. It was a very port intensive Mediterranean but I still convinced Mr B we should play one day so I could meet him. I believe that was our first every bridge on a cruise ship.

[bitob]

It is rare to have a top ranked player as bridge director. On the last crystal cruise I had booked that was cancelled a bridge star whose name I cannot recall was scheduled to be the director. I was excited about that. Alas 
I always research the director. Some are well credentialed. Others are not. 

[Mr Luxury]

1 hour ago, bitob said:

It is rare to have a top ranked player as bridge director. On the last crystal cruise I had booked that was cancelled a bridge star whose name I cannot recall was scheduled to be the director. I was excited about that. Alas 
I always research the director. Some are well credentialed. Others are not. 

A bit like the guests then.😁

[May B]

8 hours ago, bitob said:

It is rare to have a top ranked player as bridge director. On the last crystal cruise I had booked that was cancelled a bridge star whose name I cannot recall was scheduled to be the director. I was excited about that. Alas 
I always research the director. Some are well credentialed. Others are not. 

I always did the same, even though I didn’t plan to play in the game. I was just curious!

 

I’m trying to remember a bridge star who might’ve been scheduled to direct. Was it David and Lisa? Their son works with Larry Cohen now on the Regionals at Sea. 

[bitob]

15 minutes ago, May B said:

I always did the same, even though I didn’t plan to play in the game. I was just curious!

 

I’m trying to remember a bridge star who might’ve been scheduled to direct. Was it David and Lisa? Their son works with Larry Cohen now on the Regionals at Sea. 

You are thinking of the berkowitz family. No. Wasn’t them. They only do the Cohen bridge cruises.  I will seArch my emails. I have the name because I asked billy Miller about him 

[bitob]

It was Jeff schuett

grand life master

i think it was 2 legs of the wc I was booked on

[May B]

18 minutes ago, bitob said:

It was Jeff schuett

grand life master

i think it was 2 legs of the wc I was booked on

I think he and Ginny did a few world cruises. Or perhaps just some segments.

 

 

[bitob]

17 minutes ago, May B said:

I think he and Ginny did a few world cruises. Or perhaps just some segments.

 

 

Yes. Ginny his wife. Maybe they’ll be back on nc

[ChatKat in Ca.]

We took Bridge Lessons on a Atlantic Crossing on Regent (2007 I think).  They had an Audrey Grant program once in a while.  Classes were in the Steakhouse.

 

We cruised Oceania and they had Party Bridge and on another Crossing we did they had an ACBL instructor and Party Bridge. 

 

We moved to Crystal and every sailing had an ACBL instructor and the dedicated Bridge Room.  Our last cruise was on Regent and they had some duplicate play and an Instructor and a Bridge Sailing.  Our friends onboard did the program.  My husband is a Silver Life Master now.

 

It would be disappointing to him if there was no Bridge Program.

 

 

[Keith1010]

3 hours ago, May B said:

I think he and Ginny did a few world cruises. Or perhaps just some segments.

 

 

They have done many full World Cruises.  I know they were on for the Full 2007 World Cruise and most if not all of the World Cruises we were on.  

 

Keith

[bitob]

One "fly in the ointment" with respect to the bridge program is what happened with the two agencies who provided the ACBL certified directors when Crystal went under.  At the time there were only 2 agencies who could provide ACBL sanctioned games.  I have heard a rumor that there might now only be one agency left.  Were they owed money?  Were they stiffed?  I cannot imagine it is a fortune.  Easily remedied if the NC is willng to pay that debt to get the bridge program back.  YES -- I know they don't have responsibility for the debt.

[ggo85]

All of the unknowns are the reason that we're waiting to book until we hear back from those who have cruised the "new" Crystal.

 

I'm very curious about the smoking policy.  I respect the right of those who choose to smoke as long as it doesn't interfere with my right to breathe smoke-free air.

 

Surprised about no casino.  I always thought that was one of the bigger money-makers on a cruise ship.  I don't like gambling enough for that to be a deal-breaker, but I will miss the opportunity to play a roll of quarters on occasion.  So a minor negative for me.

 

Also surprised re no ATM.  I rarely used one (hated the $6 fee on principle) but it was handy if I was headed into port and didn't want to start my visit searching for an ATM.  Also handy if I ran low on cash and wanted extra for tipping.  Again, not a huge negative but not a plus.

 

For me the keys will be:  (1) Are the butlers as good as before?  We've had butlers on several lines and hands down the ones on C were the best.  (2) Do they have the unique and exceptional shore excursions? Some of the very best I've taken were on C.  Costly but worth every penny.  (3) Do they have the enrichment and entertainment that differentiated them from the other luxury lines? (4) Will we see the personalized service in which the crew remembered you (in a good way, hopefully) when you sailed with them again?

 

Only time and experience will answer these questions.  The current itineraries didn't excite us and the prices are high.  If others come back and say it's worth the money (even if there are differences b/t old and new C), then we're a go.  If not, we'll stick with the other lines we've used in the past 15 months.

[Mr Luxury]

29 minutes ago, ggo85 said:

All of the unknowns are the reason that we're waiting to book until we hear back from those who have cruised the "new" Crystal.

 

I'm very curious about the smoking policy.  I respect the right of those who choose to smoke as long as it doesn't interfere with my right to breathe smoke-free air.

 

Surprised about no casino.  I always thought that was one of the bigger money-makers on a cruise ship.  I don't like gambling enough for that to be a deal-breaker, but I will miss the opportunity to play a roll of quarters on occasion.  So a minor negative for me.

 

Also surprised re no ATM.  I rarely used one (hated the $6 fee on principle) but it was handy if I was headed into port and didn't want to start my visit searching for an ATM.  Also handy if I ran low on cash and wanted extra for tipping.  Again, not a huge negative but not a plus.

 

For me the keys will be:  (1) Are the butlers as good as before?  We've had butlers on several lines and hands down the ones on C were the best.  (2) Do they have the unique and exceptional shore excursions? Some of the very best I've taken were on C.  Costly but worth every penny.  (3) Do they have the enrichment and entertainment that differentiated them from the other luxury lines? (4) Will we see the personalized service in which the crew remembered you (in a good way, hopefully) when you sailed with them again?

 

Only time and experience will answer these questions.  The current itineraries didn't excite us and the prices are high.  If others come back and say it's worth the money (even if there are differences b/t old and new C), then we're a go.  If not, we'll stick with the other lines we've used in the past 15 months.

Sensible decision.

[Txcotn]

54 minutes ago, ggo85 said:

 

....

Surprised about no casino.  I always thought that was one of the bigger money-makers on a cruise ship.  I don't like gambling enough for that to be a deal-breaker, but I will miss the opportunity to play a roll of quarters on occasion.  So a minor negative for me.

 

Also surprised re no ATM.  I rarely used one (hated the $6 fee on principle) but it was handy if I was headed into port and didn't want to start my visit searching for an ATM.  Also handy if I ran low on cash and wanted extra for tipping.  Again, not a huge negative but not a plus.

 

 

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 $$$!

[Keith1010]

There was an ATM for sure on Serenity and if on Serenity i would assume Symphony.  I took this photo in November of 2021 as someone asked if there was one on Serenity.

 

 

Keith

[Txcotn]

We were on WC 2020 and never saw such a thing!

[TER777]

43 minutes ago, suzeluvscruz said:

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 $$$!

Ballroom dancing to live music! And live music in the Palm Court till?

[Mr Luxury]

31 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

There was an ATM for sure on Serenity and if on Serenity i would assume Symphony.  I took this photo in November of 2021 as someone asked if there was one on Serenity.

 

 

Keith

I suppose that was the only way to get money out of Genting Resorts World in the end.