ak1004

We usually booked our own flights, most of the time with points. However, when we were looking on Med cruise for 2024, the bus class upgrade was priced at $2,800 CAD. If you add the air credit of $1,150 CAD, the total price is less than $4,000 CAD. Those prices don't exist anymore, typical trip from Toronto to Europe is now over $5k CAD with any decent airline, and prices in 2024 might be even higher. So my booking with them, I lock at lower price, and if what they offer me is not suitable in terms of connection or airline, I can always remove the air part and book my own. Sounds like a risk free option. Am I missing something? This is the first time in 15 years we booked flights through the cruise line.

Yes, but those larger cabins (AQUAMARINE) are still almost the same size as SS entry level cabins. And while entry level 215 sqft OV on Crystal are priced around 20% more than 305 sqft OV on SS, the AQUAMARINE are almost 50% more expensive than veranda on SS. As for who was better - yes, you are just another vote. But if this was really the case, that means that Crystal had a better product and charged 20% less for it. Doesn't really make sense. The market would decide very quickly that Crystal needs to adjust their prices upwards.

You might be right about ego project, I don't really know all the details, but the truth is that the ships are still old and the cabins are still small. So the new Crystal has to be better than SS in all other areas to compensate. They need better entertainment, better food and better service. One area that we already know they will not be better is the unlimited black caviar (we know Crystal will be charging for it based on some posts on the Crystal board). Yes, this is just a small part of the equation, and many people couldn't care less, but still. This is considered one of the symbols of true luxury. Every person is just one vote, and the future will tell. Personally I don't care much about the cabin size, so if the new Crystal proves that it can provide a better overall experience than SS (and/or SB), I will be on board. Right now still waiting.

On our last SS cruise we travelled with our friends. Four very successful, highly intelligent, highly educated couples, all with University degree, some with Master degree. As far as you can imagine from "yokels". Guess what? All of them took their jackets off during dinner. It's just not very convenient to have your jacket on when you eat. Those people travel the world to enjoy themselves. They know exactly who they are and what they are, and they really couldn't care less if other people consider them "yokels". Personally, what people think about me is really the least of my worries. Life is short. Enjoy your travels and enjoy life, and don't judge the book by its cover.

And laughing at everyone who considers them yokels..

well, according to this definition, Steve Jobs was a yokel. So we’re many other people who changed the world. Personally I will always respect the dress code and dress respectfully. But if some people judge me by my clothes, it actually makes them yokels, not me..

You are absolutely right about 2020 fares. But I was referring to pre Covid fares. I just checked few bookings we had that we booked in 2019 and the fares now ar around 60% higher for comparable itineraries. I would love Crystal to stay around. I just cannot justify their current prices. Per Covid they were 20-25% cheaper than SS and SB. Not because they wanted to be, but because they needed to compensate for older ships and smaller cabins. Now they are 20% more expensive. Even if the new Crystal is as good as the old one, I still don’t see justification for those prices from the customer point of view.

Removing a jacket doesn’t make a person less sophisticated. But paying too much attention to clothes does.

Well, inflation wasn't 60% from 2020.. and their customers don't really care that they need to "cover expenses".

From my experience, the dress code is much stricter on this board than on the board of the ship.. my estimate would be that at least 50% of men remove their jackets during dinner, and nobody seems to care too much. Personally I could never understand why some people care so much what other people wear..

To give another example, we looked at 10 nights Med cruise. Crystal prices start at $6,900 CAD (excursions and flights extra). SS has few cruises around $6,500 CAD (P2P or D2D less air credit). SS price includes excursions and cabins over 300 sqft. SB has similar cruises around $5,500-6,000 CAD (excursions not included), newer ships and larger cabins. Also SS and SB have a lot of promotions - we booked a similar 10 nights cruise at $6,700 CAD D2D, including flights. SS and SB have unlimited black caviar. For me the choice is pretty obvious at this point.

Yes, everyone has an opinion. Our opinion is that SS has better cabins, more dining options and newer ships and Crystal had better entertainment and activities. Everything else was comparable.

For us, Oceania Riviera/Marina with 1,200 passengers is still a good size. Never felt more crowded than Sliver Spirit.

Our TA provides rebates which we prefer. Sure we can use the OBC (shops, spa, select excursions etc) but to me they are not as valuable as OBC on Oceania for example. We used our OBC for a massage (a complete waste of money), La dame (worth every dollar) and last day excursion with airport transfer (this one is valuable only if you book P2P and don't have transfers included).

Isn't it the same with airlines? I never paid for any of my business class flights with Air Canada or Star Alliance, all flights booked with points. I must annoy a lot of people who paid a full price for those flights..

Crystal was purchased in June 2022, and first sailing is in July 2023. That's more than a year in advance.

The old Crystal was the best for sea days due to enrichment and entertainment. For itineraries, there are better options at lower prices. If you are in port most days for most of the day, activities and entertainment are less important. SB has excellent itineraries in the Med for 20% less even when comparing he entry level cabins which are much larger on SB.

On board discount on Crystal was 2.5% if I remember correctly? The other line has 5% for past cruisesr plus 5% on board discount, but the first 5% is on selected cruises only. But they also have an extra 5% discount on all cruises once you pass certain number of nights, so potentially you can get a 15% discount on certain cruises booked on board.

I completely agree. To me, all luxury lines provide comparable experience. No line is more special than others. Crystal was very strong in entertainment and enrichment (doesn't mean the new Crystal will be the same). SS has better itineraries (in my opinion). Other lines have their strong areas as well. To me, the ship is a floating hotel to see the world, but some people on Crystal board actually complained that there are not enough sea days (maybe they are not aware that you don't have to leave the ship while in port?) To me, the crew are service providers and not family. If the same crew member serves me a black caviar twice a day for two weeks, and after two weeks still doesn't remember my name, I couldn't care less. I will still enjoy my caviar. If on Crystal they remember my name after 2 days but I have to pay to my caviar.. you get the point. Mercedes is not better than BMW, and BWM is not better than Audi.

The call the ship "home away from home" and the crew "the extended family"..

The first cruise we booked the OBC was given by the SS consultant. But the other two, I have no idea where did they come from. Are you saying that yours are perks of the credit card? Are they specifically mentioned in the credit card T&C? We have a premium credit card, but I don’t think this is one of the perks of our card. not comparing..just curious.. we will find how to use it.. but it’s good to know if this is a permanent perk.

Hello all, We booked our first SS cruise a year ago and got $300 OBC per person from the SS consultant (transferred to TA later). Now did two more bookings and got the same on both. Our friends booked too and got the same. Is it a common practice to get this on all sailings? I know it's not from our TA since she provides a direct rebate.

All other sailings are $500 a night for the cheapest cabin. It’s reasonable to assume this one is the same.

This Istanbul-Venice - https://www.crystalcruises.com/cruises/none-csy-007-230908 It shows $3,500 for 7 nights for OV cabin, not veranda (veranda is $3,700). That's $500 per night, in line with other sailings. Have not seen any lower for any European sailing.

We share a very similar sentiment. The Lisbon to Southampton itinerary is amazing. We were booked on a very similar sailing for September 2022 (11 nights) .. Our OV cabin was $3,300 USD.. We would love to re book it, but unfortunately it is $5,600 now (with 1 night less)..