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Focused1

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  • Posts

    440
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About Me

  • Location
    Raleigh, NC & Washington State
  • Interests
    travel
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Silversea and Regent
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    europe

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Cool Cruiser (2/15)

  1. I was under ship mandated quarantine and not allowed to leave my cabin until disembarkation.
  2. Just a few comments on this recent cruise as it was disrupted on the third day having acquired COVID and quarantined to my cabin for the remainder of the cruise. Therefore, my comments are limited to the experience I had the first two days including my visit on the third day to the medical clinic. This was our first Crystal cruise having sailed many times with Regent, Silversea, and Seabourn. We anxiously looked forward to the trip to celebrate a milestone anniversary and booked a Sapphire Suite on Deck 9. We were pleased with the eagerness to serve attitude of the crew members. It was obvious that they were trying very hard to provide the best service possible. The ship, in general, is beautiful, tastefully renovated and well maintained. With 1/2 capacity (around 325 passengers), nothing was crowded, providing a very comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. We were mostly pleased with the Sapphire suite except for the very small closet and the opaque glass door off the entry foyer that opened into the bathroom. (If one was using the facility, anyone entering the suite could actually see their silhouette.) What were the designers thinking? Our butler, Prince, was an old Crystal employee who returned, and was excellent and attentive. Our cabin stewards were also outstanding. We dined in the Italian restaurant and Waterside the first and second nights, respectively. Both were very good. However, experience with the Spa was substandard at best. That is, none of the pre booked appointments appeared in their system plus their published prices were higher by $10 or more than what was posted on the Crystal website. Reception Spa staff seemed confused and unable to resolve the simplest of problems including the scheduling of appointments. The one service I did receive was incomplete. ( All things considered, it didn’t matter because my subsequent illness precluded me from attending the remainder of my appointments. ) Also, experience with the medical clinic was an issue. On the third day of the cruise, I visited the clinic feeling unwell. I thought it might be COVID but the ship doctor insisted that there was NO COVID on the ship. He prescribed antibiotics and said I would feel better the next day. However, my condition worsened two days later and I was finally tested positive for COVID and quarantined for the remainder of the cruise. It was too late to begin any antiviral treatment. Needless to say, this was an unfortunate event and I was quite ill for the remainder of the cruise but well taken care of by our butler and cabin stewards (for which I am deeply grateful).
  3. And Sylvia Plath said pretty much the same thing and we know what happened to her. I prefer Somerset Maugham’s outlook: “It's a funny thing about life: if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” – W. Somerset Maugham
  4. Was just referring to the fact that one can check their booking on the Crystal website to accurately determine how many days until sailing. But, then realized the poster was referring to the second leg of the trip so my comment wasn’t relevant to the question (assuming only the first departure date shows on the website).
  5. Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.
  6. Just read an interview article about avid Crystal fan, Keith and his family, on the Crystal website. Beautiful family, Keith!
  7. We are booked on the Serenity August 30 to September 8, 2023 Reykjavik to Reykjavik cruise. It is our first Crystal Cruise having previously sailed with Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking, Uniworld, and a number of the other larger lines.
  8. Thank you, Keith. You are always so helpful to posters. I was not aware of this website.
  9. We just booked the Serenity for the Reykjavík to Reykjavik cruise on August 30. I am not seeing the ship listed on the Cruisemapper website for either its departure or return date at this port. Is this something one should expect given the ship is still under renovation and is not officially sailing? Just a bit concerned.
  10. Haven’t seen his name mentioned in any of the postings over the past few months. Just wondering as we thought he was a great CD when we cruised with him on Regent.
  11. Have been enjoying your beautifully written travelogue.
  12. https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/10/politics/us-to-end-pre-departure-testing-requirement/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1lGJg5piZ_GeAgYNiD8Oy8dbtp7dYPVbXRmKmckz6fXfcuGECXAflinwg
  13. Yes, I have received a rather large rebate (choice of rebate or OBC). Not much to spend OBC on a river cruise.
  14. Does anyone know if John Barron (formerly CD with Regent) is back with Seabourn?
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