gwesq

36 minutes ago, drew69 said:

Why not just check luggage?

The idea is to AVOID checking, schlepping luggage, from one airport to a hotel & then to another airport, and then to a hotel & then to a ship.  

We've shipped our luggage to various ports in Europe without any issues.   BUT we're hearing horror stories about shipping to Greece - but none are from people who don't ship to meet a cruise, and all are saying "just take a carryon."  With several formal nights, and 3 weeks at sea & on land, a arryon will just not work.

One shipping company said they cannot guarantee on tome delivery in Greece due to Customs, while another company said their Customs people have no problems and they do guarantee on time delivery.

ANyone here have recent experience shipping to Greece, and how did it go? 

I heard from someone on the ship now that the ship will dock at Fusina.   Our tickets merely say the ship will be at the Venice Cruise terminal, so no information about which terminal to check in, nor does it say the ship will not be at the Venice terminal.  I do see from cruise schedules that MSC will have a ship (2,000 people) that day as well.  

3 minutes ago, mapleleaves said:

which cruiseline ?  If you're being directed to the Venice Cruise Terminal you will probably check in there, but then will be bused or ferried to your ship.

 

It would be so much easier to just get to the ship on our own, but I'm trying to find out if that is possible.  I guess I'm a stickler for words, in that they say the SHIP is LOCATED at the Venice Terminal, so they should mean what they say.  Trying to determine how much time to leave to get through all that and get on the ship around noon. Crystal.  

Our cruise tickets very clearly state that the ship will be "located at Venezia Terminal Passengeri."   It then says we are permitted to embark between 12 and 3.  As written, sounds like the ship is right there  (i.e. " SHIP will be located at" ).  I don't believe that is possible though since cruise ships are not allowed there!

How does the boarding process work?  Can I just get a taxi on my own from Piazzale ROma (staying close by) straight to Fusina or Marghera or whatever port the ship is at, and check in & board there?   Or must I check in at the Terminal in Venice & then get on a bus to the ship?  Cruise line not giving much information.  ANyone experience this recently?

4 hours ago, TRIPACIAN said:

As long as Louie sings at the sail away who cares.

That's been my "earworm" for the past 2 days!

7 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

I'll be wearing my Cap but outdoors.

 

We Yankee Fans stick together.

 

And yes bags are packed. Raady to go.  Can't wait.

 

Keith

 

Well, I do have a large collection of Phillies caps - but I'll have to get a Rays cap for this cruise!  🙂  

20 hours ago, Leejnd4 said:

Some more than others! 😝

 

 

 But I imagine if someone walked into Waterside wearing a stained wife-beater and a Yankees cap over his mullet, he might be advised to change before being seated.

Well, with regard to the Yankees cap, someone may have to have a word with John Joseph!  🙂     

22 hours ago, Cruise-y said:

Ok, but.... “Billy Joel tribute show featuring xxxxx” and “Elton John tribute show featuring xxxxx” sound like solo artists, not full productions. And no offense, but neither of those tired artists are ringing my bells. And do we still need computer classes? I guess I’m totally in the minority here.

Billy Joel and Elton John ARE solo performers. Why would these be a production show?  They're both great shows that many enjoy more than once. 

2 hours ago, gwesq said:

TOday should be the day we can log in and choose excursions, etc.  There is a Log In link now. SO I tried to log in.  Got a message that my email is not recognized.    Yet I've received many emails from New Crystal at the email.  

Never mind - got in - have to register from scratch

Excited that the tour descriptions are now showing and able to reserve.   BUT - the Preview of the tours do not necessarily match the description.   For example, on this tour, the preview talks of discovering the Picasso Museum and the Cathedral.   Sounds like a visit is in order there.   Nope.  Just a pass by.   Not much "discovering" that way.   THis is just one example I've noticed so far.    Here's what's on the site: 

Preview:  

Got It!  I assumed my prior account was carried over - it's not.

So signed up, but now the descriptions of the tours that I was able to see before I signed up are no longer there on the sign up page.  It shows what tours I can sign up for, but with only a 1 or 2 sentence overview. Previously, there was a longer more detailed description.

I did reserve Umi!  🙂  

TOday should be the day we can log in and choose excursions, etc.  There is a Log In link now. SO I tried to log in.  Got a message that my email is not recognized.    Yet I've received many emails from New Crystal at the email.  

Does anyone know what hotel Crystal is using in Marseille?

OR - recommendations for a hotel?  We'll only be spending one night there precruise, training in from Paris.  

43 minutes ago, NanJ0508 said:

From the Regent email: "

• Check availability online – this will show you flight options from your departure city. If the lowest business class fare does not show available, it is not likely available within our contracts.
• Note any options that are your preferred schedule and routing - including the pricing of each of those flights."

 

What site are they referring to? Their site? We have a cruise booked in December and I do not see a place on our account where we can check flights that Regent has within their contracts. Am I not understanding their instructions? Or is this just for intercontinental flights (ours departs from Miami)?

I'm not understanding it either.   "If the lowest business class fare does not show available"  is the part that I find confusing.   The sites I am aware of show the fares available - how am I to know if there WAS a lower fare that is no longer available, thus not showing?  

13 minutes ago, FLcruiser2011 said:

Now if Crystal only could find some non-Genting way of operating a casino.

When I was a kid, I used to have a small roulette wheel that we played with.  Bring one of them, a few decks of cards, and some change, and VOILA - your own casino!   😃  😋

15 hours ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

 

 

 As my cruising is going to be just for R and R for the next little while,  Explora may be a better fit based on their marketing.

Interesting how we all take different messages from marketing (I guess that's why there are focus groups).  I have just the opposite view of Explora - while I did at first think of it as a luxurious, relaxing ship, once I looked at the excursions & read more about how they describe all their various ports, it seemed to me it is more like a luxurious, fairly large, Expedition ship.  Seems to be geared towards vigorous activities, which not all that much for the sedentary cruiser.  It feels as though they are gearing towards the 30's - 40's high-end cruisers.  We shall see, once the reports start coming in.  

31 minutes ago, May B said:

I don’t know what happened before I cruised on Crystal, but after I found out about the page that listed all entertainers and enrichment, I always looked to see who was posted as the bridge instructor/director. While more times than not, I didn’t know them, they were always listed, in advance of the cruise. 

Miss the page showing entertainers/enrichment a lot - I don't thnik any other cruise line does this.  

Just now, suzeluvscruz said:

Surely you’ve seen the plaque of 100+ society members on each ship? On Symphony it’s just across from A Propos next to the railing. I don’t remember where it is on Serenity. There were more and more names added each year, sadly many have gone to that perfect cruise ship in the sky. 

That's the point - so many of them are no longer cruising, and the list is pretty small.

On 3/7/2023 at 6:52 PM, TER777 said:

A friend called Crystal today and was told NC will provide unlimited complimentary visits for those with 100+ cruises. 

I wonder if there was either a misunderstanding or someone misspoke, and they meant 100 nights, not 100 cruises?  100 cruises is ridiculous - how many people are there who currently cruise that have that many?   

52 minutes ago, audobon_tx said:

How about a "Seaborne Square" equivalent?

That's what I'm thinking, but some of what is done in Palm Court is done elsewhere on Crystal. 

8 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

Pretty important difference - probably the most important one I think 

No - that extra space is nice to have, but at that price differential, there needs to be something more in the way of perks.  One bag of laundry doesn't do the job.  

Very disappointing that what used to be called Penthouses are NOT entitled to unlimited Specialty restaurants, or ordering from menu in cabin, as PH's used to be.  Even if not Aquamarines, at least Sapphires should be entitled.   

SO if I wear a baseball cap with a logo of an actual baseball team, who will decide if that is offensive, as it may in fact be offensive to someone who "hates" my team  (E.g.  A Boston fan would think a Yankee logo is offensive  🙂   )?    If someone wears a T-shirt with a statement on it that relates to something that could be construed as political, will that shirt be deemed offensive. This "rule" is so ambiguous that it will not be enforced.  

6 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I think it's a Safari thing, not a Mac thing.  I just searched Jan. 2025 cruises.  Using Safari I get a pop-up window but can't scroll down to see itinerary details (can scroll down to see cabins).  Using Firefox, scrolling works for everything.  [It may also be an artifact of security settings.  I keep Safari set very tight.  That protects me, but it does break some websites.  Then I switch to Firefox, and if that doesn't work I take a big risk and try Chrome – since I don't trust Google to protect me anyway, I keep those security settings loose so it works almost everywhere...]

I am using Chrome, but I also tried it on Safari and had the same issue.