Funatabi

So the 18% is for gratuity, then that's great. I am glad it's going to the crew.

Aaaah, Cruise Suzy, thanks for the heads up. I can imagine a lot of people question the amount charged. Hummm, nothing ever seems to be what it is, like a straight %% discount across the board. (Instead of discount on price but not tax.) Oh well, such is the situation.

As the OP, I thank you all for the good suggestions. I learn something new every day. I can see the points for buying once on board, so that is the plan.

Mariner Society members who qualify can receive discounts on Sommelier Suite wine packages. When booking these packages online before the cruise, I don't see any discount applied to the packages when I am ready to check out. Maybe the discount is reflected at the time of payment? I am curious to know when and how the discount is applied? (Should I instead purchase on board in person, rather than online?)

On my PC and phone I can loggin to my HAL account, see my bookings and account details, and checkin. A week or so ago, I was able to book shore excursions without any issue. However, now when I click on "Book Shore Excursions", I get redirected to a blank screen. I can make dining reservations and book beverage packages. The shore excursions never load. On the URL line at the top, there is a box for an app called "Seconday Flow" (Not "Secondary with an "r"". It was suggested that I install and open it. I did that, and still nothing good happens. Now all is get is: " ERROR 412 Sorry, we ran into an issue with our system. We will have things fixed as soon as possible, please check back later." I hope things "get fixed" before I go on my cruise. Anyone else experiencing similar issues?

From my limited experience on the OC, you could join the solo table(s) at Waterside every night at 6pm. No reservations necessary. Just be there on time at 6pm. If you arrive late, the others will have already ordered and started. If there are too many solos for one table at 6pm, another table will be added. In addition, "solos nights" in the specialty restaurants were organized and announced before hand. You need to advise if you plan to join the solos at the speciality restaurants.

Thanks for your concern, Keith. Maybe you and other experts here can figure out my situation. I need to contact my TA again for sure. Something is not jiving and maybe it's taking my TA a while to get it straightend through Crystal. Here are the rough figures. There are 2 of us sharing one suite. Each EI credit is worth roughly $12,000. I was told that I could use 2 credits. Cruise 1 full fare for 2 is $14,000. OC credit applied was $9,000 (not $12,000). Minus other discounts too. Cruise 2: full fare for 2 is $7,400 (OC credit applied was $3,800 (not $12,000). Minus other discounts too. In both cases, I was told that the $5,000 out of pocket expense that I had to pay was a "deposit" to hold the bookings. After the total fare was adjusted minus the EI, the deposit would be refunded totally or partially depending on the amount of the final fare. From my perspective, the OC credits are way below what I was awarded and I don't know why. I was wondering if others here have experienced a simular situation with their EI credits and what was the result.

Thanks for the feedback. Please bear with me, but what are "destination fees"? I assume port charges? I did pay a certain amount. I asked if my payment was for port charges, but never received a reply. However, there are no "port charges" listed as expenses on the invoice.

I am glad that you are whole, Keith. It good to hear that there are cruisers here who have gotten what was "promised". Unfortunately, I certainly don't feel the same way, as I write. I will continue to pursue why my EI credits are not near the amounts I was advised by NC.

Thanks, Keith. I will be contacting them, as you suggested. I know that Moeker has my claim.

I booked what are considered 2 cruises using 2 of my 5 EIs. So what do I see on the invoices when they were sent to me the other day, but a bunch of other discounts bundled with a paultry portion of the "old Crystal credit", which I assume is the EI amounts. Originally I was told that if any cruise is less than the EI amount, I would not have to pay out of pocket. For one cruise the "old Crystal credit" is around 3/4 of what I was supposed to get. The other is 1/4th. In the end, I was told by my TA in June to pay $$$$ to hold the reservation as a deposit, being told that the EI credits would be deducted when final payment is due and the depost would be refunded. So I waited to see what the deal was. Since I heard no more, I asked my TA to check what the ????? So far no reply from TA. Silence. I have not received a penny from the bankruptcy settlement. I paid my OC cruise by cash, so no credit cards involved for refunds. What are others finiding about the EI creidts? (Happy?) (Satisfied?) (Getting what you were told?) (Keep trying to get the amount reconciled?) (Scam???) (Switch and bait to get people to book?)

Never heard one word from Moeker yet about anything. Neither letter nor email.

Here is just the tip of what Crystal sent to me about the Panama transit cruises in Dec. (In the first part I rant. In the second part I explain what was told to me today by my TA) From Crystal: ---------------------------------------- "Dear Valued Guest and Travel Partners, RE: Mr ....... Thank you and your client for choosing Crystal for their upcoming voyage. For operational reasons, we have made the decision to change our Panama Canal winter deployment for the below sailings. To compensate for this, we would like to propose several alternatives: (Details of 3 alternatives omitted here) With Gratitude, Crystal Guest Relations" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 3 alternatives were: (1) stay with what we are planning, (2) choose other canal transit cruises early next year, or (3) go on an LA to NYC cruise via canal in late 2024. Verbiage about onboard credit, same fare, etc. was mentioned, but NO mention or offer of a refund. Furthermore, no explanation of the reason for this change. Only "operational reasons". WHAT STUPIDITY and poor marketing and customer relations! If anyone at Crystal had a brain, they would have been honest and explained that the reason is the water crisis at the Panama Canal. (I had to do my own homework to find this out.) Plus, on this notice, the revised itinerary dates were a total MESS! What was supposed to be 2 cruises: MIA/Puerto Caldera and Puerto Caldera/MIA for a total of 21 days, was shown as either 14 days or 28 days. Couldn't make sense of what Crystal was offering. After reading this garbage message that made no sense, I was extremely upset, having made plane and hotel reservations to make the Dec. 2 departure. If Crystal is reading here, KNOW what you are doing, and what the solutions are, BEFORE you start announcing changes due to "operational reasons". Don't only advise customers that you are changing the itinerary but also advise the reason why and what the new itinerary is. You left us in the dark and very upset. Like, "Huh? what?". So, today I got a notice from my TA that the dept date and return to MIA dates are the same as the original canal transit dates. (Dec. 2/Dec. 23) So I can and will go, as scheduled. The itinerary, as mentioned in another thread, is Mia/San Juan, San Juan/San Juan, and San Juan to Mia. Lots and lots of Caribbean ports, many I haven't visited, so not a total loss. Plus I will be on a cruise. While I am really disappointed about this, I understand the situation. I am more disappointed for my travel partner who has never transited the Panama Canal. Also, I am disappointed that Crystal wasn't more open about the reason and I am disappointed that Crystal made this announcement prematurely BEFORE they had a clue as to what the new schedule/itinerary was. Very amaturish. That said, I am glad Crystal at least figured out what to do, finally. Too bad from a customer-relations standpoint they ruffled a lot of feathers before they did. I am still looking forward to cruising again, albeit not what I had originally planned.

I don't know the "fine print" definition of what Crystal calls B2B. All I know is that MIA/Puerto Caldera and Puerto Caldera/MIA are considered 2 different cruises, with 2 different "cruise numbers", so I could use 2 credits. I too was surprised. The condition is "different cruise numbers". So what might look like B2B to us, might not be so according to Crystal.

OK, here I go. I am booked on the MIA/Puerto Caldera Dec 2 Panama Canal cruise, and return Puerto Caldera/MIA on the return sailing Dec. 13. This itinerary perfectly fits time wise, before I go on another line's world cruise that starts in Jan. BUT, the biggest bonus to me, is that this itinerary counts as 2 separate cruises. This means that I can use 2 of my 5 exceptional incentives in 2023. Whooopie. And then figure out how to use the remaining 3. If all goes well this will be my 2nd time on "Crystal". The first time was a fiasco caused by the bad taste left by "that bankruptcy". But, I am willing to try again. Why not. If I am on a cruise, I am happy.