vistaman

11 hours ago, ronrick1943 said:

First of all, is it entertainment?  Over on the Nova and Spirit it was pretty bad...........

on the Dawn in April as well  

my goodness  - no understanding of luxury cruising ???

i do suggest he is going on a few luxurious cruises -  maybe he can go and discover on some other cruise lines in the  "luxurious" segment where pax do not have to pay for  a special gin , 9 € , a VSOP cognac 10€ or a malt whisky Macallan 12  :18 € 

that there is fresh orange juice on other cruise lines even on Mein  Schiff with a small extra 

that there are honest wine prices on Hapag Lloyd, Silversea and Regent while his are starred and nightclub ones

that the complimentary wines are one of the weakest in the segment

that quantity is not going over quality

that on luxury lines a double cover must be put on the table 

that calling a very big suite "penthouse " is false marketing 

that on luxury cruises canapes are served  ( ok some are bad ) 

that serving the same cold cuts and cheeses every day is not luxurious ( go and see Hapag Lloyd )

that guests are expecting decent mineral waters on that level

that a lot of - meanwhile downgraded - bubbles is not synonym for luxury 

that his chefs must read over a few classic recipes 

that serving soft ice for diner is not done 

in Greek ancient mythology there are the 12 works of Hercules , so I did collect some 12 mistakes by Explora 

if you do have a chain of steak houses , but suddenly want to start the high gastronomy without a background??? 

I paid far too much money in Arts  ( a RC but when they opened it could not have the name Ritz c)

I stayed also in The palace  ( old Ritz )  , great service but too expensive ,  the Meridien  and years ago in Avenida palace. 

I am not so crazy of Barcelona,  one night before a cruise is enough 

last time I stayed at Eurostars  where smaller cruise ships are docking... 

1 minute ago, Sdancer said:

As a minimum!

and I forgot the restaurant manager ... 

they do announce 2 pm but for "groups" it is earlier 😃

1 hour ago, Keith1010 said:

They are providing information including entertainers and enrichment lecturers, but not as extensive as before in terms of some of the positions shown. With that said I don't believe other lines publish what they do.  To find it, go to the itinerary of the voyage, click on ship overview and scroll down.  This link will take you to an example of what is provided.

 

https://www.crystalcruises.com/cruises/none-cse-011-240505?menu=ship_overview

 

Keith

 

 

IMHO C should add captain , hotel director and CD

I did 4 cruises on the Splendor and 1 on the Grandeur , somewhat afraid to book the Navigator for a Caribbean cruise .  

On 4/27/2024 at 11:40 PM, ak1004 said:

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

If chasing down teaspoons was among the worst things from the 9 page letter, then I'm not really worried about Oceania future.

 

btw, on our 2 SS cruise we had to "chase down" Perrier, cappuccino and sometimes even plain water many times. Would never cross my mind to call it a bad cruise, but I guess it's matter of attitude. 

I went to buy Perrier and Italian sod🤪as ashore when I was on the Dawn 

1 hour ago, RetiredOnVacation said:

In the Grill on SS, you're likely cooking your own steak at your seat on the hot lava rock, so it's down to you how that's done, although the accompanyments are more basic than chef prepared and plated meals. It's more casual and home bbq, so maybe not so comparable to more formal RSSC Prime 7?

that is true  - it is more a "fun" experience 

21 hours ago, Emdee said:

SSea food mediocre at best. Regent has better offerings in Compass Rose and has a yes mentality compared to SSeas No mentality.

sSea  Hotel Director told me on my first SSea cruise that SSea didn’t need new passengers as they had plenty of regulars! Regent Hotel Director chatted with my DD on the Explorer where she said the food was disappointing and the next day we were introduced to the F&B manager by the Head sommelier ( who she had established a rapport with due to her love of specialty champagnes) and notes were taken on our suggestions.

The result was we haven’t booked any Classic SSea cruises but have stayed with their Expeditions where the ports are the thing and have several Regent cruises booked.

One evening I was asking for a grilled tomato , as a side dishfor lamb chops. Reaction was if was asking for a 3 double caviar -  ok i got it  but the tomato was maybe in the grill for 30 seconds

- ice cold inside ...for such a simple item ???

my filet steak on the Dawn in the Grill was not so special , it was a thick piece of meat OK , but I had better meat on other cruise lines.  

48 minutes ago, Emdee said:

Yes I noticed that too. Besides Regent has wonderful suites. 
The same regulars beat me up when I criticized their beloved SSea.
My only beef about Regent is the beef quality. But otherwise my go to are Regent and Crystal. Crystal food and service consistently amazing and Regent new itineraries are good.

In 2015 I moved from Regent to Crystal because of different itineraries and then with Covid and Crystal demise traveled on the three other luxury cruises. 

very curious about new Crystal ! 

Just now, A Tucson Guy said:

You can ask for 2 or more portions of caviar on SS.

I am a single and not so greedy - caviar you must taste it  not eat 

only want to mention the change in generosity . 

1 hour ago, drron29 said:

Unfortunately not as many of them. In fact on this cruise for the first segment very few from the USA so we had a Canadian couple instead. They were very good.

In the past there has been a European or two on the team we are in.

last  year on celebrity I broke a question standing with no correct reply for nearly 6 months 

CD was not so happy -  

1 hour ago, Emdee said:

SSea food mediocre at best. Regent has better offerings in Compass Rose and has a yes mentality compared to SSeas No mentality.

sSea  Hotel Director told me on my first SSea cruise that SSea didn’t need new passengers as they had plenty of regulars! Regent Hotel Director chatted with my DD on the Explorer where she said the food was disappointing and the next day we were introduced to the F&B manager by the Head sommelier ( who she had established a rapport with due to her love of specialty champagnes) and notes were taken on our suggestions.

The result was we haven’t booked any Classic SSea cruises but have stayed with their Expeditions where the ports are the thing and have several Regent cruises booked.

yes but some regulars on SS are not accepting it anymore -  the downfal !

my very upmarket Champagne was heavily mistreated  on the Dawn in La Terrazza -  a sommelier was supposed to serve 120 guests  ??? - the head sommelier was knowing her duty , as was the sommelier in Salt and in La Dame  

on Regent I can eat a Dover Sole in Compass Rose  , in Prime 7 and in Chartreuse , on SS only in La Dame  - during my week in the Med there really was no special fish at all ...

I had a far more "luxurious" feeling on Regent as on SS despite the Pommery bubbles ( for how long ?? ) and the caviar  ( portions reduced last year it was a full small jar - now a tea spoon )

On 4/17/2024 at 11:03 AM, Marstan79 said:

Just disembarked from a Silversea cruise where the food was mediocre to bad. Have been sailing on SS but looking for alternatives. How does Regent compare to SS, particularly in the food and wine arena? TIA

had same experience on the Dawn !!! 

23 hours ago, drron29 said:

We wander the room listening to accents. The ideal team is for a mixture of countries and if possible ages. Most people attending do so as couples. With us being Australian we look out for a couple from the UK and a couple from the USA plus whoever else is available.

and an European as well -

On 3/14/2024 at 8:17 AM, bitob said:

Paul mco has been on both lines

Maybe he will post

 

 

i will be on the Symphony early June  -  will report

was on the silver Dawn 7 days  : was 4th time in 16 months  

transformation was of such a kind  that i did cancel another week an no more SS

I am not acquainted at all with a bankrupcy in the US ,  in Belgium it was already complicated...

My experiences on the Dawn last month were of such a kind that I decided to cancel my booked cruise for November and that I will close the door with Silversea. Too many items were not ok and for sure not luxurious at all. Ranging from poor wine service on various occasions  ( special +200$ bottles ) , unpleasant buffets , and in general dowgraded F&B operations. 

Friendliness and a lot of drinks are not synonym for 5 starred cruising.  

I think the availibility of¨Pommery bubbles   can also have a silent ending as well...soon ? 

On 4/15/2024 at 2:56 PM, machotspur said:

 

We were on Silver Dawn last month and like you added a 1 page simple letter to the mid cruise questionaire, clearly stating that it was in lieu of the small mid cruise card. 

Usually one is contacted one or two days after submitting the mid cruise comments. On this occasion we heard nothing so I pointed this out to the Hotel Director. She advised that onboard management wouldn't be responding as it is a 'rule' that any letters handed in are referred to 'shore side' for response - a response that we never forthcoming.  Sad, but predictable.

 

 

I had the same experience , and she avoided contact with the passengers as much as possible. 

1 hour ago, Keith1010 said:

Maybe this will help.

 

I have used all of my credits totaling 10 sub-credits. I got the e-mail too.

 

I believe it went to everyone who had submitted requests for the Exceptional Initiative program.

 

They way it is supposed to work is there was a point in time that Crystal would start to reconcile with Moecker to find out any money you got. So let's say you were owed $20,000.  You had five sub credits each worth $4,000.00. You used one.  You got back $2,225.00.  They would reduce the amount of remains sub-credits by $2,225.00. Now I don't know if they take $2,225.00 and spread it evenly amongst your four unused sub-credits or take it off one. My guess is spread it evenly.

 

So ,yes you could have gotten money back from Moecker but if your outstanding money that you were owed when Crystal went bankrupt was greater than $2,225.00 you are still eligible to get some money off your cruise fare as part of the exceptional initiative assuming you previously applied for the program by the timeframe that was published.

 

Keith 

Is some additional money  due to be expected from the assignee ?  Later the  river cruise ships were sold as well ?  

On 4/18/2024 at 6:32 AM, KJB416 said:

Rough number is 300+ for the next cruise 

 

our cruise supposedly had half travel agents out of the 500+ passengers, not sure how accurate that is, but seems definitely possible. 

 

The ship is full in a good way; second dinner reservations are not something we tried for. 

some of those TA usually are abusing the free drinks especially the bubbles  !!

On 4/17/2024 at 1:48 AM, saminina said:

Stickman, I enjoy reading your posts and we travel with same companies (mostly). 

Yes, I missed seeing the outdoor equipment.  Or, maybe not as I was on that deck once.

Even missed that bar until very late.

 

I can drink the included wine for a few days.  After that, it's my own brought on board.  Cannot afford their offerings.

 

Guess who you are reminding of with your first paragraph?

 

Anyway, back on Explora in a few weeks.

 

 

 

 

Well on Regent the special wines are very reasonable and the choice of complimentary wines is very elaborated - same on SS with reasonable prices especially for Champagnes and Italian white.  After 2 days on Explora  i refused to drink the complimentary wines and went to buy some extra bottles in Southampton aside those I brought already from home🤑

Just now, Keith1010 said:

They still offer Vintage Room Lunches on most of the cruises as they did before and if they do a few on a cruise (long cruise) sometimes in addition to one with Champagne they might offer one with wine tastings too.

 

Keith

 my cruise is only 7 days ... last time before covid on OC it was cancelled - only 3 pax were willing to assist