Texas Tillie

12 hours ago, Lesley Nager said:

We are taking it from Seward to Anchorage. There will s no rush for us to get to the airport because our flight isn’t until almost Midnight. I just expected a premium experience like the Goldstar regular train. Especially since we paid extra to take it vs the bus. I do get car sick so probably better experience for me. 

I've not been on that potion of the railroad in Alaska, have just been between Talkeetna and Denali, but I'd think you might get more "car sick" on the train as it rocks a lot. Also, I was assigned to a bench that faces the back of the train, which makes it worse. 

36 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

And some may have wanted to go to St Helena, Namibia and South Africa.

 

 

Many world cruisers do it every year and they are getting most of those this year, as a surprise! All things considered, changing itinerary before the cruise starts seems like the better "route".

Patty

9 minutes ago, dawntrdr said:

On the issue of the importance of retaining Silversea's reputation, the RCI Annual Report (SEC 10K) was sent out this week containing this information:  the total "goodwill" of RCI (including Silversea, Crystal, TUI, Hapag Lloyd, and the enormous RCCL cruise ship fleet) is valued by them at $809 Million.  The portion of that which is attributable just to Silversea (whose entire passenger capacity could fit in one RCCL megaship) is $509 million.  This overbalance makes it a "critical audit matter" requiring special notice by the auditors.

I think you should have typed Celebrity, rather than Crystal!!🤪☺️🙃

9 minutes ago, TRIPACIAN said:

That may be a premature observation.

Could be, but I doubt that they would already be asking passengers about alternative itineraries if it wasn't a distinct possibility. They've already been stung with Middle Eastern problems. Doubt that they want to go through that again. Time will tell.

10 minutes ago, emckeeve said:

Which ship?  We are booked for a segment on the Serenity.  Mobassa Kenya to Mumbai India.

Crystal's World Cruise is always on the Serenity. It's highly unlikely your cruise will happen as booked.

14 minutes ago, Robroy said:

Ii would have thought the scenery would be lovely and the opportunity to get up and walk around would be worthwhile. The only downside I saw was the late arrival to the ship. Wondering if it would be worth taking the bus instead to have an earlier arrival and similar scenery....has anyone done a switch from train to bus?

 

Cheers,

Rob

I'm on the May 16 Nova Alaska southbound. I've done the coach with other cruise lines twice. Have been on the Alaska Railroad before but not on the Anchorage to Seward route. My travel agent asked if I wanted to pay extra for the train and I said no. Part of the time the train tracks and the road are parallel to each other. I couldn't see doing the train for extra money as I don't think the scenery is all that different. Just my opinion.

The important take away from your post was that it took you 75 minutes to get from the port to IAH early SUNDAY morning. Everyone considering flight times from IAH on week days, don't book a too early flight.

This is what's listed on the Crystal website

https://crystalcruises.com/cruises/none-csy-014-241014?menu=land_experiences&ldm=pre-post-hotels

I liked the Hotel 1898, but that was 13 years ago, so have no idea what it's like these days.

Patty

Thanks, Keith, for the explanation about the OBC for "lesser" milestones vs a cash incentive for "significant" milestones. I was almost positive my memory was correct about the significant milestones. I'm 99.44% sure I didn't use the $300 on #45, but agree that new Crystal has no way of knowing that. I'll let my travel agent know tomorrow to just "let it be"!!

Patty

17 minutes ago, May B said:

My recollection is “this summer”.

The last day of summer, 2024, is September 21. 😄

Patty

Just checked my old Crystal catalogs. The 2016-2017 Worldwide Atlas (name on cover) was the last one I have that includes the Crystal Society awards. It lists the 50th award as a free cruise up to 12 days. So, the change to $5,000 applied to a cruise as that reward happened sometime after the 2016-2017 Atlas was published. I still think another change they made was that rewards could not be used until after earned, not simultaneously to being earned. 

2 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

I thi k you’re going to be disappointed. Given you qualified for the 45th under old Crystal I can see why you won’t get it under new Crystal

 

That’s consistent with everything they’ve said about the loyalty recognition as they don’t know if you claimed that 45th award onboard the 45th cruise on old Crystal)

I am not 100% sure, but have a memory at in the old, old Crystal you could claim an award on the cruise where you earned it, but sometime before the old Crystal went kaput, you couldn't claim it until after you earned it. I think it happened when they changed the program from giving free cruises to giving discounts (like the $5000 for the 50th). I'm not going to be all that disappointed for losing out on $300. 

I can say that the left hand doesn't know what the right had is doing with respect to the Crystal Society Program. I'm trying to get a $300 on board credit and my travel agent will be going into week 3 of getting an answer on it. All agree that I had 45 cruises with the old Crystal, the 45th being the LAST Symphony cruise with old Crystal. After 45 you are entitled to a $300 on board credit. I now have done 3 cruises with new Crystal, actually just 2 cruises, but one was 16 days, so it counts as 2. After my B2B in July, I will have done 50. Wonder what it will take to get the $5,000 off the next cruise I book after then??

Patty

Not sure how this should affect anyone sailing out of Galveston. There were just a few flights a day between IAH and DAL (Love Field). There are 10 plus flights every day between DAL and HOU (Hobby) which is a much better airport to use for Galveston cruises.

This is at least the second time that Southwest has pulled out of IAH.

6 hours ago, Sdancer said:

Vince, thank you for menus.

The Tastes menu and hours have changed. The Dinner is too late, from 7-9 pm, which is my ballroom dancing time. The Taste dinner at OC used to start at 6 pm or 5:30 pm. 

Disappointing :(.

Please read TER777's post. She is a dancer and is out on the floor almost always when the band is playing and the Ambassador Hosts are available for the ladies to partner on the dance floor.

Patty

7 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

 
Like I said you can’t actually reserve tables in Waterside

You can reserve tables in Umi Uma, OdO and Tastes

No, you can not reserve a table, in the strictest definition, but I was just on the Serenity in Jan - Feb, with an almost full ship, and we had the same table set up for 9 every evening after our group "leader" spoke with Leo the first day. The table was basically ours as we showed up at 7:30 every evening we were there and not at a specialty. Leo was also reminded before the nights we were going to the specialties so that the waiters did not need to set up "our" table. It certainly wouldn't hurt to speak with the maitre'd the first day and ask if this is possible.

Patty

7 hours ago, Roland4 said:

Can't say that I did, but pushing 4 two-tops together to create one would not be a problem.

Aren't there still larger round tables in the center section of Waterside? I am aware of an oval table for 12 that was set up for the first night of your current cruise.

15 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

 Guess what!?  Your cruises on OC don’t count. 

Then, why when my travel agent inquired yesterday with Crystal, was she told I have done 48 cruises? That was 45 with old Crystal and 3 with new Crystal. The 3 is one 10 day cruise and one 16 day cruise, therefor credit for 2 cruises.

Patty

3 hours ago, sea bright said:

I compared a couple of 2025 itineraries on Silversea in a  Silver Suite (our usual choice)  to the Cystal Symphony Junior Penthouse (which seems to be comparable, although smaller). Despite thd SS price increases, the Crystal Junior Penthouse is about $500 more per person per night-  if you pay in full at booking  - otherwise about $700 more pp per night.

I have friends who sail both Silversea and Crystal - the Silver Suite on Silversea and a Sapphire Suite on Crystal. The Junior Crystal Penthouse (new suites built after Manfredi bought the ships) are considered a step up.

7 minutes ago, USCAdventurer said:

i wasn't able to open any of your pictures.  but thats ok since i will on symphony in three weeks.

I can't open them either and am not computer savvy enough to know if it's me or Larry! 🤪

Patty

19 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

 

We were on the old Crystal. From what I read, the new Crystal is similar. We enjoyed the OC very much, but I find the current pricing of the NC not competitive at all. The ships are still over 25 years old, and the cabins are still small. Not a big factor for us if the price was competitive, but paying 20-25% more for a 210 sqft cabin on a 25 years old ship is just not my definition of value.

You are aware that many of the 210 sq ft cabins have been combined to make 350 to 450 sq ft cabins?? The vast number of cabins are now "suites". How do the rates compare to the new rates with the recent fare increases on the other luxury lines. 

33 minutes ago, jjs217 said:

The biggest difference is diversity of itineraries.  With only two ships, Crystal's itineraries are worn out and boring.  At least with SS you can get diversity and range.

Diversity and range with inferior food, service, enrichment, etc. Whatever floats your boat!

Vicki is one of the two Cruise Directors for the Symphony, There are also two for the Serenity. Over the course of the year it totals six months on, six months off.

Manfredi put a lot of (Royal Caribbean's) money into both ships and reduced the capacity by enlarging many suites. The food is head and shoulders above what is offered on Silversea. My experience is that there is no comparison between the Bistro on Crystal and the Arts Cafe on Silversea.

Although things have changed over the years, with many additions and some subtractions, Crystal in total is better than ever. Hoping Manfredi's money holds out so that it can stay that way.

2 hours ago, skybluewaters said:

Thanks, Keith.  That's good to know.

 

When I look at my upcoming Serenity cruise, which is 15 days (actually, it's a B2B, 8 days and 7 days), every day is listed as "Resort Casual."  I thought that there would be one formal night on the 8 day segment, right?  Does that mean I won't have to starch and press my cummerbund?

It is my understanding that an 8 day cruise is a "maybe". For example, if there's just one sea day, but it happens to fall on the last day of the cruise, they won't schedule a formal-optional for that night.

Patty

45 minutes ago, Roland4 said:

We have been told something just over 400 guests this cruise, after having only 60 guests for the previous 7 nighter after the Red Sea. The next several cruises after this one are in the 500+ range apparently. 

 

We spoke to one of the crew who was onboard for the Red Sea crossing who said it was "interesting". They were part of a convoy escorted by three US Navy ships, and there were armed guards onboard. They were not allowed on any outside deck until they were well out on the Red Sea.

I heard from someone on board now that the guest count is 380. I've often wondered when we hear different numbers if the guest entertainers and enrichment are included in the larger number and the revenue passengers only are included in the smaller number. The larger number is important for the ambiance around the ship.

Patty