travelberlin

I am interested on this question also. In addition does anybody know how much is the price of the taxi to the airport? Is there a fix rate? Ivi

Interesting 🤔 I have read that they are renovating several areas at that hotel. Ivi

I would love to have those beach towels…

Which presents? I have never got those presents and I am Diamond at Royal. What are they?

Thank you all very much for your advice on my question. I have just booked via Resortpass a hotel of my preference for the day on which my cruise ends. Your help has remind me how valuable the cruise critic community is. Thanks again. 👌 Ivi

Maybe it should also be noticed that many old RC loyalists have moved to other cruise lines when they were not satisfied anymore. Not that Royal cares about it. As long as they are selling well who cares if guests are or not disappointed.

Thank you for pointing this out Host Hattie.

In relation to the day room at the hotel you have booked. How do you book this? Do you book directly through the hotel? I only see the possibility to book for the night when I search online. And the hotels only let you check in at 15.00. Ivi

Thank you. Good that you mention this. Although I have experienced some shore excursions cancellations due to not meeting the number of guests of the particular excursion, this has never happened on excursions that implied the guests had counted on them to get to the airport for their flights. This is why a ship’s excursion on the port of debarkation is attractive, because there is like a guarantee that the guest will be able to get to the airport on time after having an enjoyable time exploring in the port of debarkation. Ivi

The rules from Cruise Critic do not allow to mention travel agents names. But maybe some one on this board can give you some hints.

Thank you for your answers Keith and Rob. I understand that with few people sailing nowadays, it is difficult to manage a group big enough with flights in the evening. This might be even more difficult in Miami, where probably many passengers come from USA. But it looks like my sailing has sold well, so maybe there will be enough passengers to put a group together. I would prefer to have a one day/or half day excursion than to be transferred to a lounge or hotel. Usually cruise lines offer several excursions for debarking guests with flights after 15.00. But again it probably depends of the demand. But as long there is no offer, there cannot be a demand. We would have to start looking for alternatives. Ivi

I have been looking at the cruise planner to see if I can book an excursion for the last day of my cruise. My flight is late in the evening and I am interested on an excursion which ends at the airport. Unfortunately I do not see any thing offered at the cruise planner. Does Crystal offer excursions that end at the airport on debarkation day? Or does Crystal offer shared transfers to the airport? My port of debarkation is Miami. Unfortunately as a solo passenger, I am afraid that a private transfer might be too expensive. Ivi

The option to go via a US travel agent is probably the best. US travel agents offer also on board credit and discounts, which European travel agents don’t.

On a cruise with Azamara, we took a ship’s excursion to St. Margarita in the Mediterranean. It was a tender port. From there we were supposed to go to Portofino as part of the excursion. Sea conditions changed and a storm developed suddenly. The ship had to move to Genoa to dock there since the transfer per tenders was too dangerous. Since we were on an Azamara excursion, everything was taken care off for us. We were taken for lunch (not a good lunch but nevertheless), we did not go to Portofino, but we were taken by bus to Genoa to board our ship. I am glad we were on a ship’s excursion. I am not sure how independent guests handled this situation. And we did get a discount of the excursion price afterwards.

Although I also used to prefer the paper daily compass, now I accept the digital form, because I think is environmental friendly. I do not request that my towels are changed daily either. To avoid food waste, we do not accept the bread basket that they try to put on our table at the MDR. By the way, we do this in all cruise lines we sail with. Not only on Royal.

You are welcome. I have to add that I have got the name of the company that Azamara uses in Rome for excursions and transfers in advance. I have got this information from the website from Azamara. Azamara was having lots of difficulties with pre cruise communication and they could not tell us where the pick up place for the transfer at the airport would be. I have sent an email myself to the company that Azamara uses in Rome and they answered providing me the meeting point at the airport. I went directly there. Nowadays with flights delays and similar it is good to know where their meeting point is, in addition to the place where the plane arrives. Ivi

For my last cruise with Azamara, I went to Rome a couple of days earlier and stayed at an airport hotel. I have booked my transfer from the Airport with Azamara providing a flight number for the date of embarkation. It was fine because my hotel was at the airport. But if I would have stayed in a hotel in Rome itself and not Fiumicino, I would have booked a private transfer to the port. Ivi

Who was the ex cruise director from Azamara who went to Explora? First I have thought you were talking about Heike. But she was hotel director not cruise director. Ivi

Unfortunately I have never experienced a relaxed dinner or lunch at the Windjammer. It is always chaotic and loud.

I was wondering that also. Time will tell.

Unfortunately Amanda Poulson is leaving Azamara. Below the information provided by Azamara. „After nearly a decade of creating unforgettable moments at Azamara, it's time to bid farewell to our amazing Cruise Director, Amanda Poulson. Amanda's incredible voice and positive spirit have left a lasting impact on both guests and colleagues. Her talent enhanced every journey, and among many things, we'll miss her infectious smile and being serenaded from the open deck as guest returned from their AzAmazing Evenings. Thank you, Amanda, for making every voyage special! As she sets sail for new horizons, we express our gratitude for the joy she brought to every sailing. She'll always be a cherished part of the Azamara family. Join us in wishing Amanda a future filled with success and happiness“

Oh that’s nice 😊. My TA informed me. She received the communication from Crystal. Have you booked via a TA?

January 5th. Crystal is working on excursions for St. Barts. In the original itinerary it was St Barts, but it was changed to Marigot. Now it is St. Barts again. My TA received the communication.

I have received the good news that St. Barts is back on the itinerary of my next cruise replacing Marigot. Well done for Crystal to be able to get again permission for that lovely island. Ivi

I will be able to say more about the „best for solo travelers“ after my next cruise. I have booked one of those solo cabins forward because of the price. It is the first time in my whole cruising history (more than 70 cruises) with several cruise lines, that I have booked a cabin that forward. Usually I book midship. My previous booked (and cancelled ) cruises with the OC had a much better location. The lower solo supplement is for me the most important characteristic of Crystal, which is diminish in value to me by the locations of those solo cabins. Nice to have the dance hosts but they are not only for solo passengers. Many couples, in which their partners do not dance, are also enjoying the possibility of having dance hosts. And many solo travelers (including me) do not really care about having dance hosts or not. The possibility to have share dinners with others (solos or not) is available in all cruise lines I have sailed. It is not exclusive to Crystal. And at Crystal ships, many passengers know each other, so they do not necessarily benefit from sharing with new people, because they share with their friends. Old friends meeting on ships and sharing happily together. I wonder if solo travelers would feel welcomed in those groups of friends. And yes there are cruise lines, which are more expensive for solo travelers than Crystal but there are also plenty of other cruise lines which are cheaper for solo travelers than Crystal, even if the solo passenger does not receive a solo discount in those other cruise lines. And I agree 100% about the „best service“ nomination. Ivi