Crystal cruise line?

Please excuse the question: We have only sailed with Silversea and Seabourn however, we are booked on a cruise with Regent in June out of Venice for 10 days, really looking forward to that.

I have been sent an offer by a TA for Crystal cruises (South Africa) over the Christmas period which is a fantastic deal.

Can anyone please advise if Crystal compares with SS, Seabourn or Regent please? Flights WiFi and drinks are included in the package.

Thank you in advance for any replies.

Crystal's suites are significantly smaller and Regent Explorer has far more cutting edge amenities and better food, in our view. Has Crystal ended its two set dinner seatings policy? Deal-breaker for us....

Been there, done that. We've sailed quite a bit on both Crystal and Regent. Everything that JPR says is correct. Suites are most definately smaller however that has never really bothered us. It does bother some folks. Yes, there are still two seatings, but that never really bothered us either. We never felt rushed in any way. It is, however much nicer to dine when you want and with whom you want with Regent. Up until the Explorer, I would definately give the nod to Crystal for food. Presentation and imagination were way ahead of Regent imho. There is a new menu now on Regent that has greatly improved dinner. Service would be almost a dead heat, but I'd have to give the nod to Crystal. I personally like the design of the Crystal ships with a proper promenade deck. I have yet to find a bar, any bar, on any ship that can rival the Symphony's Avenue Saloon when Mark Ferris is on board. Great fun! I'd also give (on a roll here...haha!) a nod to bars in general and cocktail prep and presentation. We enjoy both lines, but for different reasons. We'll be trying out SS in a week or so....new territory for us!

Crystal's suites are significantly smaller and Regent Explorer has far more cutting edge amenities and better food, in our view. Has Crystal ended its two set dinner seatings policy? Deal-breaker for us....

I understand that "true" open seating will be on Crystal after the ship(s) are refurbished. In the meantime, it is still "open seating by reservation" (which doesn't bother some people but would definitely be a deal-breaker for us as well). I understand also that some suites will be made larger during the refurbishment. In the meantime, the suites are definitely tiny compared to other luxury lines.

P.S. Note: I have not sailed on Crystal - my comments are based on website suite dimensions as well as posters reviews.

We sail in PH or CP on Crystal. That being said we have been in a standard stateroom and the storage is great and well thought out. The service is very consistent as well as the food . Service, food and entertainment are the hallmarks of Crystal. The beds on Crystal are so comfy and the attention to every detail is looked after.

Crystal is elegant and well polished and not glitzy. SS we did not like and we are trying Seabourn next year for the first time. We had five sailing on Regent because our friends like the line but this was eight years ago and we said to ourselves never again.

Crystal dining by reservation which TC really does not understand is that we can step inside the MDR anytime between 6PM and 9PM. Specialty restaurants need a reservations which one can book online.

Entertainment is vastly better on Crystal in addition to late night entertainment in the Avenue Saloon. The Bistro for snacks is open until 11PM if you are hungry or they will come by on silver trays with gourmet sandwiches to the venues that are open late.

You need to decide for yourself.

I can only comment about Silversea, Seabourn and Crystal and not Regent.

First piece of advice. If you have an opportunity to try a new cruise line try it. If both Regent and Crystal fits in your budge then do both.

In the end only you will know what works for you.

Crystal pluses:

Enrichment. No one that we have sailed compares to what they offer. In short on a sea day 50+ activities including three lectures, lots of classes, (golf, bridge, casino, computer, iPhoto, and the list goes on and on).

Entertainment. A very diverse set of entertainers and the on board entertainers are the best we have ever seen across all the lines we have sailed.

Public Room. Lots of venues both inside and outside the ship.

Fitness Center. It is open 7x24. Very few lines do that.

Shore Excursions. Not included but the offerings are very extensive.

Service. The best we have ever experienced. Lots of attention to the little details.

Cuisine. Well like many things it comes down to opinion but the dining room offers two menus. One features a traditional/European menus and the other menu features a more modern menu. You can mix and match. Silk Road Specialty restaurant or as some call it Nobu. Yes, based on Nobu and it is amazing. Prego Italian Restaurant.

OK, two things that Crystal gets pinged on.

Size of the rooms. Standard rooms are smaller then compared to any other luxury line. If you like to spend a lot of time in your room that is a downside. We found that on Silversea we spent a lot of time in our room because there wasn't a lot to do. On Crystal there is a lot to do so even though we get a larger room we don't spend a lot of time there.

Open Dining. Right now Crystal doesn't have true open dining. It will begin on Symphony though by the time you will board it so no need to discuss this one any further. You will be able to come and go as you please just like on Regent, Silversea and Seabourn.

I do have a favorite cruise line but am a believer that when the opportunity is there to try another one which is what we have done. That way you can decide for yourself.

Just as you are trying Regent in June for the very first time I hope you will give Crystal a try later in the year as well.

I do a thread on the Crystal Board for first time Crystal Cruisers. If you book a Crystal Cruise I recommend reading it.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=52398325&postcount=4

Keep in mind it is based on the current dining which is not open dining but as I mentioned by the time your cruise on Symphony would take place you would have open dining.

I also wanted to mention that the itinerary that you are looking at is superb. I've sailed it a few time and most recently stopped at most of these ports in 2015.

Once again, try as many cruise lines as you can.

Then you can figure out which one(s) work best for you.

Good luck.

Keith

We've done one Crystal Symphony cruise. 180 days on Regent. 15 on Silversea. I'd amen Mudhen's comments and add a couple of other observations. Our Symphony cruise was full and we definitely noticed a sense of crowding we've never experienced on Regent or Silversea. There were actually chair hogs in the Colonnade. That happens on the pool deck on all the lines. But I've never seen it happen in the Observation Lounge on Regent or Silversea. And the theatre on Symphony stinks. 400 seats for 936 passengers says it all. We loved our Crystal cruise anyway. But small cabins and assigned dining is a deal breaker for us.

fudge: Did you post under some other name over on the roll call for your cruise, or perhaps you simply didn't feel like engaging over there? We've been cruising Regent for just over a decade (only line we've been on). We enjoy it tremendously and hope you will too.

There are far more knowledgeable folks who have already posted, but my wife and I have done a Mediterranean cruise on both the Serenity and the Seven Seas Explorer, and felt that our Regent cruise was far superior. We thought Regent's food was better prepared and presented, and the specialty restaurants far more interesting. We also did not like the fact that on Crystal we were only allowed one complimentary dinner in each specialty restaurant. We were charged for subsequent meals.

We felt that was cheap and particularly unbefitting of a luxury cruise line.

We don't really care about cabin size either, but we loved the design of our Concierge suite on the Explorer with the bed facing the window, and the appointments were far more luxurious, with the ship being as new as it is. Our standard Crystal Veranda cabin was not anything special.

Also, for us, the production shows on the Serenity were not as good as the Explorer. The individual acts on the Serenity--a mind reader, a female singer, a Billy Joel impersonator, and a husband and wife dance team, we felt were equivalent to what you'd find on virtually any cruise line. To be fair, Regent's acts were about the same, with the exceptions being our cruise director's one man show (he sang), and the final night crew talent show, both of which were unexpected and spectacular.

Also, the included excursions on Regent were a huge positive for us.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I can only comment about Silversea, Seabourn and Crystal and not Regent.

 

First piece of advice. If you have an opportunity to try a new cruise line try it. If both Regent and Crystal fits in your budge then do both.

 

In the end only you will know what works for you.

 

Crystal pluses:

 

Enrichment. No one that we have sailed compares to what they offer. In short on a sea day 50+ activities including three lectures, lots of classes, (golf, bridge, casino, computer, iPhoto, and the list goes on and on).

 

Entertainment. A very diverse set of entertainers and the on board entertainers are the best we have ever seen across all the lines we have sailed.

 

Public Room. Lots of venues both inside and outside the ship.

 

Fitness Center. It is open 7x24. Very few lines do that.

 

Shore Excursions. Not included but the offerings are very extensive.

 

Service. The best we have ever experienced. Lots of attention to the little details.

 

Cuisine. Well like many things it comes down to opinion but the dining room offers two menus. One features a traditional/European menus and the other menu features a more modern menu. You can mix and match. Silk Road Specialty restaurant or as some call it Nobu. Yes, based on Nobu and it is amazing. Prego Italian Restaurant.

 

OK, two things that Crystal gets pinged on.

 

Size of the rooms. Standard rooms are smaller then compared to any other luxury line. If you like to spend a lot of time in your room that is a downside. We found that on Silversea we spent a lot of time in our room because there wasn't a lot to do. On Crystal there is a lot to do so even though we get a larger room we don't spend a lot of time there.

 

Open Dining. Right now Crystal doesn't have true open dining. It will begin on Symphony though by the time you will board it so no need to discuss this one any further. You will be able to come and go as you please just like on Regent, Silversea and Seabourn.

 

I do have a favorite cruise line but am a believer that when the opportunity is there to try another one which is what we have done. That way you can decide for yourself.

 

Just as you are trying Regent in June for the very first time I hope you will give Crystal a try later in the year as well.

 

I do a thread on the Crystal Board for first time Crystal Cruisers. If you book a Crystal Cruise I recommend reading it.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=52398325&postcount=4

 

Keep in mind it is based on the current dining which is not open dining but as I mentioned by the time your cruise on Symphony would take place you would have open dining.

 

I also wanted to mention that the itinerary that you are looking at is superb. I've sailed it a few time and most recently stopped at most of these ports in 2015.

 

Once again, try as many cruise lines as you can.

 

Then you can figure out which one(s) work best for you.

 

Good luck.

 

Keith

I have to echo Keith's comments. We use DBR and that is almost like open seating. For just the two of us we can go anytime to dine a larger table may have to wait but so do people in open dining. Well in a few months Symphony will have open dining and a casual restaurant in addition to the fabulous Silk Road and Prego. More suites will be in place which will lower the passenger capacity. Next year the Serenity will be going through the changes. Crystal ships never look worn. The service is the best of all the lines we have sailed. Seabourn is up for next year for a trial run.

Funny, we have sailes Crystal 27 times and on full cruises we have never felt crowded anywhere.

As Keith mentioned you can choose out of 50 activities during the day running into the evening. You can't do them all..LOL.

Tours are ALWAYS accompanied with a crew member and are top quality. We do our own but have been on many Crystal tours in the past.

Crystal still remains the most awarded cruise line.

We had an interest in the Explorer but that was a fleeting thought after reading reviews from others not just one personal outstanding review.

Miles

A lot of good points made, but I'd have to argue with the notion that dining by reservation is the same as open seating. It is not. You do need a reservation--you can't wander in when you want--and if you want to eat with others, you have to pre-arrange that.

What I like about true open seating is that you can go when it suits you that night, and can make impromptu arrangements to eat with people, or just take people pot luck and see who you get. That's the fun of dining on Regent, and I really felt its lack on Crystal.

A lot of good points made' date=' but I'd have to argue with the notion that dining by reservation is the same as open seating. It is not. You do need a reservation--you can't wander in when you want--and if you want to eat with others, you have to pre-arrange that.

 

What I like about true open seating is that you can go when it suits you that night, and can make impromptu arrangements to eat with people, or just take people pot luck and see who you get. That's the fun of dining on Regent, and I really felt its lack on Crystal.[/quote']

 

+1 - you said it well and this is what most luxury cruisers that try Crystal feel!

 

Keith, I think that you know that I respect your opinion, however, I must disagree with some of what you posted. First (and most important), not everyone can spend the amount of $$$ that a luxury cruise costs just to try it out. The decision of which luxury cruise line to take is an important one.

 

It took us a long time before we tried Silversea as we do not have money to waste. We did like Silversea but not as much as we like Regent. We have not tried Crystal for reasons that have already been mentioned. I understand that Crystal has the best entertainment of any luxury cruise line but this is not a reason that we would select it. For us, suite size is most important followed by food and service.

 

To be fair, you are well known on Crystal due to your many cruises (as we are on Regent) and, although we may think that it does not affect the service, in my heart of hearts, I know that it does. As wonderful as the service on Crystal might be, it could not match what we receive on Regent (and I believe that the same could be said for you if you were to try Regent). I feel that many crew members are our extended family. It takes time for these relationships to develop and it is something that we wish to sustain.

 

The bottom line for us is that the reasons that we chose not to sail on Seabourn or Crystal 13 years ago may have changed but it is too late for us to change our minds (nor do we want to). As we approach Titanium status on Regent, there is no reason to try any other cruise line. However, if money is no object, your suggestion to try other Crystal in addition to Regent is probably a good one.

A lot of good points made' date=' but I'd have to argue with the notion that dining by reservation is the same as open seating. It is not. You do need a reservation--you can't wander in when you want--and if you want to eat with others, you have to pre-arrange that.

 

What I like about true open seating is that you can go when it suits you that night, and can make impromptu arrangements to eat with people, or just take people pot luck and see who you get. That's the fun of dining on Regent, and I really felt its lack on Crystal.[/quote']

 

Well we have been doing DBR for a table of two and just walk in anytime between 6:15 and 9PM. My DBR reservations for January on the first segment of the world cruise is confirmed. We have never had an issue as the MDR is never full because of alternative dining.

... Well in a few months Symphony will have open dining and a casual restaurant in addition to the fabulous Silk Road and Prego. More suites will be in place which will lower the passenger capacity. Next year the Serenity will be going through the changes. Crystal ships never look worn.

Are you the same orange-shirted gentleman who wrote this?

For right now Crystal is still stagnant even with these small changes. Our last cruise recently was wonderful but did I see a wow factor...No. it was just a normal good Crystal cruise that I have experienced for 26 years. Many things on Crystal technically are dinosaurs in passenger amenities.

...

 

We still love the crew and service but it seems like every dry dock they are just putting lipstick on a aging pig.

+1 - you said it well and this is what most luxury cruisers that try Crystal feel!

 

Keith, I think that you know that I respect your opinion, however, I must disagree with some of what you posted. First (and most important), not everyone can spend the amount of $$$ that a luxury cruise costs just to try it out. The decision of which luxury cruise line to take is an important one.

 

It took us a long time before we tried Silversea as we do not have money to waste. We did like Silversea but not as much as we like Regent. We have not tried Crystal for reasons that have already been mentioned. I understand that Crystal has the best entertainment of any luxury cruise line but this is not a reason that we would select it. For us, suite size is most important followed by food and service.

 

To be fair, you are well known on Crystal due to your many cruises (as we are on Regent) and, although we may think that it does not affect the service, in my heart of hearts, I know that it does. As wonderful as the service on Crystal might be, it could not match what we receive on Regent (and I believe that the same could be said for you if you were to try Regent). I feel that many crew members are our extended family. It takes time for these relationships to develop and it is something that we wish to sustain.

 

The bottom line for us is that the reasons that we chose not to sail on Seabourn or Crystal 13 years ago may have changed but it is too late for us to change our minds (nor do we want to). As we approach Titanium status on Regent, there is no reason to try any other cruise line. However, if money is no object, your suggestion to try other Crystal in addition to Regent is probably a good one.

We have decent so called status on Crystal but we will try Seabourn and then I can say we have done them all. I may have elite status with an airline that does not make me strictly loyal to them. And I don't always go to our favorite restaurant all the time or eat the same thing. Food for thought.

Miles

We have decent so called status on Crystal but we will try Seabourn and then I can say we have done them all.

Not on the Seabourn Collision, I hope?

Actually, those special "relationships" we perceive we enjoy on luxury lines are PURCHASED. A whole new population of "special relationships" begin anew the moment we step off the ship at the end of a cruise. Lets be real!

Actually, those special "relationships" we perceive we enjoy on luxury lines are PURCHASED. A whole new population of "special relationships" begin anew the moment we step off the ship at the end of a cruise. Lets be real!

+1. Agree.

Are you the same orange-shirted gentleman who wrote this?

Yes, I still stand by what I said. We are remodeling our home but it is still lipstick on a pig and it will look great I hope when we are finished. The same goes for dry docks most ships look great but they will age.

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to reply, very useful information there. Of course we are used to SS and Seabourn suites and everything else they provide. We are really looking forward to sailing with Regent we have booked on advise a concierge suit.

POSS, no I have not posted in the roll call will have a look thanks.

fudge, have a great time on your Regent Cruise.

I just wanted to close out with a couple of comments.

I agree. Dining by reservation which Crystal offers is not a true replacement for open dining. It was just an attempt to try to offer something beyond traditional dining. However, to me it is a moot issue because the voyage that Fudge was talking about (which I looked up) is on Crystal Symphony after its dry dock. At that point Crystal will offer open dining as the other cruise lines do.

I am a believer that when the opportunity is there its often good to try other cruise lines. While there is no question that our go to Cruise Line is Crystal with all things being equal, my wife and I continue to sail from time to time with other cruise lines if the itinerary is what drives the decision. This is why we have sailed with Seabourn, Silversea and even on the QM2 in the Queens Grill as the driver for that one was to cross back to the USA from Europe. By doing this it does provide a nice opportunity to try other cruise lines. I believe by doing so it might reenforce that one still prefers their go to line or they might discover that there is another cruise line that they like as much as the go to one if not better of they might just decide the line is good or maybe they don't like it so much. You never know unless you try. As to the costs, sure I would not throw away money just to sail another line. What I was doing my best to say is that if an itinerary is important to you or if the timing of the cruise necessitates sailing another cruise line I look at this as an opportunity. Even some itineraries in my opinion work better on certain size ships so that can be a driver. Some to me work better on smaller ships and others on larger ships.

Finally, as to service. Yes if you sail a cruise ship often and get to know the crew you will enjoy the familiarity of that. But that is not what I am talking about when it comes to overall service. I am judging service on other areas that go well beyond that.

Anyway, I continue to believe that in the end the only opinion that matters is our very own and which cruise line(s) will someone like no one will know except for that person. It's funny but if someone used to ask me for a recommendation for a hotel, a restaurant, a cruise line or even a tech product I used to say this one I like. Now I take that a step further. I explain why I like it but I quickly say while I like it for these reason you might not. Remember even if one explains why they like it and it sounds good the reality is we all have different takes. I might say I like it because the ship is a medium size ship but someone else might see it as large or even small.

At some point for us I have no doubt we will take a Regent cruise as well and that decision will also be driven by itinerary. There are also a couple of other cruise lines I want to sail. We had a Regent cruise booked but unfortunately due to a family issue we had to cancel it a few years ago.

Happy Cruising everyone.

Keith

Well we have been doing DBR for a table of two and just walk in anytime between 6:15 and 9PM. My DBR reservations for January on the first segment of the world cruise is confirmed. We have never had an issue as the MDR is never full because of alternative dining.

This is probably an important distinction for people considering Crystal and for whom the dining arrangements matter. From what I saw, DBR does seem to be pretty flexible for two. I usually sail with a friend, and we both like to dine with groups of people. DBR really doesn't work for dining with a group, other than the same group (at the same time) every night.

Usually two -four is not a problem. We don't like larger tables on any line as it is difficult to carry on conversations and the service can really lag as people order different items that others may not and you are waiting for your courses or their courses. Also, we don't order multiple courses and do not like dining for 2:30hrs. Some people do but not us. With four people the service is seamless.

Miles

Interesting that service can "lag" if there are more than 4 people. Not putting Crystal down on this - just think that it nice to know that this can be an issue on all luxury cruise lines.

Also, I understand that there will soon be "true" open seating on the Symphony. Does this also mean that there will be larger suites as indicated in an earlier post? And, since this will reduce the capacity of the ship, what will the new capacity be?

You can find all this information just released on the CC Crystal board if you are interested. Open seating, added PH suites, new dining venues, unlimited internet and much more.

Or here.

http://www.crystalcruises.com/docs/default-source/email-documents/crystal-symphony-serenity-reimagined-interactive.pdf

Miles