travelberlin

Ok thank you I will try it.

6 minutes ago, Scots Caz said:

There are a number of cruises (13) with 0% supplement in the next couple of months. Late booking has been the best time for reduced single supplements for some time. 

there are even a limited few where the solo price is less than half the double price - could get 2 solo cabins for less than a double.

Again, if you look at the list I have posted from Azamara webpage you see the solo supplements for the next couple of months and no where to find the supplements you are mentioning. 

This is what I see:

SOLO VOYAGERS PAY SPECIAL LOW RATES FOR SELECT VOYAGES
Exploring the world doesn’t need to be a two-person job, there is no greater self-indulgence than traveling solo.
Embrace adventure with our new Greece Intensive itineraries, taking you from the postcard-worthy villages of Santorini to
ancient remains of the Byzantine Empire in Rhodes or take the more adventurous path and explore South America.
Lisbon, Portugal
● Country-IntensiveSM Voyage
5/22/24
SAILING DATE SHIP NIGHTS VOYAGE NAME EMBARK PORT DEBARK PORT SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT
1-JUL-24 ● ONWARD 12 IRELAND INTENSIVE DUBLIN, IRELAND OSLO, NORWAY 150%
1-JUL-24 ● QUEST 13 ICELAND INTENSIVE REYKJAVIK, ICELAND EDINBURGH (LEITH), SCOTLAND 150%
6-JUL-24 ● PURSUIT 7 FRANCE INTENSIVE MONTE CARLO, MONACO BARCELONA, SPAIN 150%
13-JUL-24 ● JOURNEY 9 CROATIA INTENSIVE ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE VENICE (CHIOGGIA), ITALY 150%
22-JUL-24 JOURNEY 9 ADRIATIC WONDERS VENICE (CHIOGGIA), ITALY ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE 150%
25-JUL-24 ● PURSUIT 9 CROATIA INTENSIVE VENICE (CHIOGGIA), ITALY ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE 150%
30-JUL-24 ● ONWARD 12 ICELAND INTENSIVE COPENHAGEN, DENMARK COPENHAGEN, DENMARK 175%
31-JUL-24 ● JOURNEY 10 GREECE INTENSIVE ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE ISTANBUL, TURKEY 150%
10-AUG-24 ● JOURNEY 10 GREECE INTENSIVE ISTANBUL, TURKEY ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE 150%
18-AUG-24 PURSUIT 7 MEDITERRANEAN RIVIERAS ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY BARCELONA, SPAIN 175%
20-AUG-24 JOURNEY 11 GREECE & TURKEY ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE 175%
22-AUG-24 ONWARD 12 NORTHERN CITIES STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND 175%
23-AUG-24 ● QUEST 11 IRELAND INTENSIVE DUBLIN, IRELAND SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND 150%
3-SEP-24 ● ONWARD 10 FRANCE INTENSIVE SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND BORDEAUX, FRANCE 150%
3-SEP-24 QUEST 8 WINE & CULTURE SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND LISBON, PORTUGAL 175%
13-SEP-24 ● ONWARD 13 SPAIN INTENSIVE BORDEAUX, FRANCE BARCELONA, SPAIN 175%
21-SEP-24 JOURNEY 12 ICONIC MED ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE LISBON, PORTUGAL 175%
21-SEP-24 ● QUEST 7 FRANCE INTENSIVE BARCELONA, SPAIN NICE, FRANCE 175%
26-SEP-24 ONWARD 4 WEEKEND RIVIERAS BARCELONA, SPAIN BARCELONA, SPAIN 175%
28-SEP-24 ● QUEST 12 ITALY INTENSIVE NICE, FRANCE VENICE (CHIOGGIA), ITALY 175%
30-SEP-24 ● ONWARD 7 FRANCE INTENSIVE BARCELONA, SPAIN MONTE CARLO, MONACO 150%

I have read on another thread about a webinar in which someone from Marketing apparently mentioned offers for solo travels emphasizing that he himself and his mother travel often solo. I have got all enthusiastic and have searched for solo deals. Well…what a disappointment! The few cruises which offer a solo discount are listed only until September 2024 and the solo supplements are 150% and 175%. So I guess that Azamara is becoming less solo friendly. The solo supplements of 125% are no where to find. What a pity.

6 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

Is this new? Just while they are in France or other European countries too?

 

Patty

I other countries that belong to Europe also. My experience was that cruise lines apply  the VAT of the country in which the cruise started to sail (embarkation). It makes buying products on the ships more expensive.

Ivi

8 hours ago, TER777 said:

Yep, it’s your (Europe) law. Applies to shop purchases, spa etc too. 

Also to spa? I understood that services do not fall under this category. Just products.

This is not at Osteria unfortunately…

29 minutes ago, ryndam said:

 

Very nice, Ivi. Thank you for posting. I'm guessing that this feast was held in a non-US property, or a special/private function. Too many guests handling food with their hands, no serving utensils, no sneeze guards. Would never pass US health regulators.

 

Appreciate the thought. It is a nice spread, none-the-less.

 

Rob

The Ritz Carlton in Berlin Rob. One of the reasons I hate buffets is because money does not guarantee manieres. While my husband, me and our friends were very careful about this, there is always someone who uses his/her hands for serving themselves. This is why I am not able to find the Market Place at Crystal ships to my liking.  Fortunately today, the guy you see in the picture was serving himself oysters. No big problem for others. And Germans are as strict probably as US Americans. Being Ritz Carlton, it hat a nice British touch. The oysters were excellent by the way and the champagne Louis Roederer.🍾
 

Ivi

I agree that every body is different but I also think that if many people are giving some critical opinion, this can not be relativized as subjective. If many people are critical with the menu at a restaurant, any good management would listen and take corrective action. Not just think that those are subjective opinions.

Ivi

Today a champagne brunch at a Ritz Carlton with the music “What a wonderful World”. It reminded us how the brunch at the old Crystal used to be…

46 minutes ago, Cruise-y said:

If Manfredi wants an Italian restaurant removed from the usual Americanized standards, then that is fine. I thank him for what he has done and wish him financial success. 

Many of us are not US Americans and we are not talking about US American standards here. Osteria fails imho to deliver the  excellent Italian food that we know from Italy. I love Italian food, spend lots of vacations in Italy or in Ticino in Switzerland (I understand Manfredi comes from that region). Some food in the Osteria resembles the good Italian food but other not. 
 

I would recommend to include in the menu for example a tagliolini with fresh truffles prepared on the table with a big parmesan cheese (this would elevate imho any “osteria” to the the level of a fine “restaurant”) or a caponata and an Ossobuco a la Milanese or a la Romana. Even a well prepared spaghetti al aglio,

olio and peperoncino or a spaghetti a la carbonara would please me more than some of the current offers at the Osteria in the ships.

We thank Manfredi and partners for what they have done saving the old Crystal and for us, the clients, and wish them lots of success. Opinions we provide are thought as positive feedbak.

Ivi

9 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

They were still translucent and gray, not a hint of pink. I was told the raw shrimp are placed on top of the risotto after it is cooked and the heat from the risotto "cooks" the shrimp. Wrong!!🙄

 

Patty

My experience with the risotto was similar. I think they should offer another risotto dish. Not the one with raw shrimps. The traditional one with funghi porcini might be a better option.

Ivi

8 hours ago, Sdancer said:

Great thread, very informative!

Since my cruise is rather short to have time to experiment with dining, I will skip Osteria this time.

 

 

I have enjoyed Osteria twice in my cruise in January. I am planning to enjoy it again on my next cruise in a couple of weeks. But in a short cruise I might also skip it.

Ivi

From the information on the Internet access, Crystal indicated in relation to VPNs:

“Are VPNs, remote desktop connection software, or similar applications restricted on the Premium
Plan? Major client VPN business applications and remote desktop connections are allowed, though restrictions
may apply depending on the specific application, particularly VPNs used for anonymization.”

I have asked friends onboard and they were not able to use VPN during the world cruise. Has anyone been able to use a VPN service onboard Serenity or Symphony? And if yes, which provider? 
 

Ivi

2 hours ago, Embarker1 said:

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum and at Osteria. This January while on board Serenity; while dining at Osteria we  were surprised the waiter via directions from the chef refused my request for a side of marinara sauce to accompany my entree. 

 

The entree was a kind of fancy breaded veal patty ( I do not see it now on the current menu provided here by dimundsR?  maybe it was taken off? )  I thought it would be nice to have a marinara suace placed on the side of the entree... Mind you I was not asking to have the sauce put on the entree, just to the side... 🤔   

 

The explanation from both the waiter and also the maitre d' for the refusal was that given the restaurant has a Michelin status they do not allow modifications or special requests. The maitre d' explained further that that if an Osteria entree was altered and then a guest might take a picture of the said altered dish, it could get out on social media and this is what they were trying to avoid.   Actually we were all kind of floored and I was able to laugh it off and not get upset with a first world problem🙂 but I do think this refusal was laughable and it made us miss  Prego all that  much more.  These are the trials and travails of having to put up with a luxury cruise line which we do love but greatly annoyed by the 'no' being given when we are always accustomed to the Crystal 'yes'.  I summed it up as Osteria is a 'no restaurant' on Crystal a 'yes ship'.  I would be Interested to know some thoughts on this from some of our Crystal Society members.                 

Interesting. I am curious about one thing: where is it stated that Osteria has a Michelin status? Has it received a star or is mentioned in some Michelin list? 
 

Ivi

Interesting contributions in this thread. Being an economist, I am price sensitive and I do not find that any company has such a level of perfection that I would pay any price to sail with them. There are limits to how much champagne and wine I can drink. And the food on the ships even though, it might be very good it cannot really compete with the one prepared at restaurants on land. Cruising is an option for me, not the only activity which I enjoy doing, even thought I cruise at least four times per year. But I can drink better champagne and wines and access excellent restaurants on land, so I do not need to cruise for that. I cruise because I like to navigate and to get to different destinations in a comfortable way. I cruise on Crystal ships on deck seven because that is the per diem I am willing to pay. Of course it would be lovely for me to cruise in the penthouse suite or whatever the most expensive suite is called, but that perdiem I am not willing to pay. 
 

Ivi
 

15 hours ago, Out2See said:

The menu at lunch is much more varied and I would say down to earth. I remember the spaghetti bolognese being absolutely fantastic

Thank you. Spaghetti bolognese at a Crystal cruise? Not really my idea of luxury although I love pasta. 

11 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

What's in there besides the pin? Anything? I think I've seen a luggage tag mentioned in the past.

A luggage tag.

I have got mine today after requesting it from the loyalty ambassador. 
 

5 hours ago, rdemn said:

I get it you’re on a cruise you don’t need to be watching TV.
but my last cruise, me and my wife got the Noro virus

We were in bed for 24 hours actually longer than that we missed a day

we just laid in bed watching their TV, which basically they have two channels. If you don’t like sports or news, if you go, call Fox MSN, BC news I don’t know who picks  what you’re going to watch, but they need to rethink. It seems like every episode was part of a series where you had to be paying attention to the last episode like 24, now 24 is a good show, but I don’t know what the hell was going on put some standalone shows on where you don’t need to know what’s going on.   And  don’t even say they have pay-per-view movies at 12 bucks apiece there choices suck not that I would pay $12 to watch a movie step up the game royal

I agree. This is definitely an area to

improve. 

I did not get mine automatically so I went to the loyalty ambassador. She did not give it to me either for reasons I do not understand.  But she said she has requested it and it will delivered to my room. We will see…

On 5/3/2024 at 10:26 PM, Williamsburgcruiser said:

Anytime I am not cooking, the food will be just fine for me.  I am more disappointed with the clientele who want 5 star, but don't want to pay for it.  I'm cruising for $135 per person,  per night, I will not complain when I wake up in a different place every day.  

How much did you pay before at Royal Caribbean when the food was much better than what is it now? No one is comparing with five stars experience. You did not notice that you are paying more for less? 

5 hours ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

 Wow. We were there April 5 - 14,  2024 .  I guess we ate it all???  Sure had the chicken and the short ribs then.   The soups were really good as well.  I don't always eat dessert so can't comment on those.  I am not a fan of the steak in the MDR no matter the cruise line. 

They had the fried chicken on the menu on the welcome dinner but after I have ordered the waiters apologized and produced a different menu indicating there was no fried chicken on the evening. 😃

6 hours ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

Sailed on the Explorer of the Seas in April.  Second Royal cruise as we cruise another line often. MDR was hit and miss with the strip steak being ...well...not really good.  BUT, overall the food was just fine and sometimes exceptional.  I still can't believe they make fried chicken so good. Did not expect that to be honest and wish I had ordered it instead of DH ordering it.  The short ribs are to die for.  The Jerk Chicken was incredible.  If you want a good steak, go to Giovannis.  It is excellent.  The staff on Royal is outstanding.  Windjammer is dang good and allowed me to try a lot of Indian food I was not so sure about ( and ended up loving ).  We were so impressed with Royal that we booked another cruise while onboard.  I sit here thinking that even my fav land restaurants are not as good as they once were, but this is part of being in recovery mode. Everyone is trying their best to provide good food without doubling the cost.  I don't feel I can have the same expections I had prior to 2020.  That is unrealistic.  Yet, Royal did a good job in meeting most of them.  

On my cruise with the Explorer, no fried chicken, no short ribs… menus repeating. Food at MDR nothing to crave for.

Food at the Windjammer is fine. I remember I used to avoid buffets but for this cruise it seems to be the best option. 
 

One question: didn’t Windjammer used to have an Asian corner with Miso soup for breakfast? Wasn’t also a whole grain bread somewhere?