thosby

Thank you, Rob, for your very informative communications. We boarded Serenity yesterday, and your insights and the conversations you triggered have been a real asset in understanding the New Crystal and preparing for this cruise.

The only actual information in the Press Statement is the indication that there is a “potential need . . . to cancel voyages that transit the Red Sea”. Really? Those not living under a rock already know that. The rest is blather, but they can’t be faulted for that, because the circumstances are out of their control and, in important aspects, unknowable to them. The rumors posted here, from guests on both ships, seem at least to agree on hearsay that new itineraries will be revealed on or about Feb. 2. If so, we’ll know a lot more at that point and, given “the evolving dynamics”, so will Crystal. Meanwhile, Crystal staff is coping with the current world situation on top of managing the recovery from the pandemic and a change of ownership, so it might be argued that they deserve everyone’s patience and thanks, since they’re focused on their guests having a wonderful experience in spite of all the tumult.

Pre-Covid, we took a B2B. Milestone earned on Segment 2 was a shipboard credit. We used that shipboard credit on Segment 3. Just trying to figure out whether we can expect a similar regime next year.

Let's say you're on a WC. Does each segment count as a cruise for purposes of reaching milestones? If you reach a milestone which (under 2019 program rules) awards a credit, can that credit be used on the following segment?

We are grateful for the thoughts and observations offered in reply to our query. We thus expect to use three arrows in our quiver for tipping purposes. First are the included gratuities that are billed to our shipboard account for each segment. Second are the opportunities to provide additional amounts, via the front desk and also billed to our account, to individuals we can identify who have consistently provided service over a given segment that warrants such a gesture. Third are the many individual instances of service from people who, even if fleetingly engaged in one-off interactions, are deserving of our gratitude for making the Crystal experience so enjoyable and memorable. (In our opinion, those many individuals and their exceptional service are very much at the heart of what makes Crystal the memorable experience that it is.) In those many individual cases, we will consider that a cash gratuity, then and there, is an appropriate expression of our gratitude. The responses here confirm that such cash tipping will not be misconstrued or considered in a bad light, which is reassuring, and we are grateful for that.

Seeking insight from seasoned Crystal or cruisers in similar all-inclusive programs, concerning cash tips. Are cash tips considered passé or a faux pas when given in the here and now as a service is rendered? Is such tipping common?

Boatie makes some excellent points about how exciting Crystal's return is. But on the issue of class, it can be argued that the people in Crystal Penthouse ARE second-class citizens – as are all of us guests on Crystal. The first-class citizens (if one were to assign class based on access to afloat accommodations and perks) are the owners of mega-yachts who have the wherewithal to buy the boat and pay for crew and expenses on a sustained basis. People who can afford to do that are not Crystal guests, to be sure. We who are fortunate enough to cruise Crystal get to emulate that first-class lifestyle from time to time, and we have had wonderful experiences doing that. But for each of us, the cruise does end, because we are all guests. As to one small detail, for what it’s worth, we Thosbies have never thought of the wonderful people we meet aboard Crystal as competing with us for dinner reservations. We’re all in the same boat, as it were, in regard to the vicissitudes of cruising. If dining where and when we want is among our biggest worries, it is a measure of how fortunate we are to be Crystal’s guests.

Very grateful for this post. What a wonderful day indeed.

While shopping in Singapore, one of our favorite cities, we encountered this wonderful reminder of experiences with Crystal over the years. As it happens, our next visit to this city will be next year aboard Crystal, so this is a very good omen.

Could someone please post (or beam me) links to the webinar and/or Q&As? It would be very helpful, as this forum has always been, in the run-up to our first post-pandemic cruise. We are very excited, but the slow drip of info suggests we have knowledge gaps we need to fill in, if possible. Thank you to whomever can help with this. Thosby

Dear Wife and I always enjoyed the casino onboard Crystal. We would have preferred that it resume operation, and maybe someday it will. However, as we start counting the weeks before our first cruise in three years, we don’t see the casino as crucial to a happy experience. For us, Crystal was not a restaurant at sea or a zillion-star hotel or a floating casino. It was an Idea, and we think The Idea will reveal itself again once we resume interacting with Serenity, its staff, and other guests in February. There will probably be some warts, hopefully some improvements as well. But we think The Idea will survive Covid-19 and the economy and possible overreach by previous owners. It is a strange feeling to hold a reservation for a cruise, whose shipboard offerings are somewhat vague, as are the shore excursions and other amenities, and whose quality standards are yet to be observed. However, it is exciting to contemplate how a substantial travel company like A&K will meet guests’ expectations, especially those of OC cruisers, by taking The Idea and bringing it to life again in NC. We are looking forward to it, and we don’t think the casino will make a difference to the overall experience. Anyway, there are lots of casinos around, and only one Crystal – again.