travelberlin

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

Although I understand that it is great to enjoy the moment and I am sure I will do that on my next cruise, it is good for me to know occupancy numbers. I do not like ships which are too full or too empty. Specially I don’t like when because of lower occupancy, venues are closed. But I understand that this is not the case on Crystal now independently of the number of passengers. Ivi

Thanks, some how I have thought there was a cinema on the voyager class ships. Didn’t they have it before?

How is internet onboard? Ivi

Is there a cinema on the Explorer and do they screen movies there?

Which months are “low occupancy months”? Do you mean there are some months in which cruise lines do not sell well? I think that the Serenity will continue to attract guests in North America. The challenge is to get new clients who will like the product so much that they will return many times. Now the Symphony will sail probably mainly in Europe, Asia and Africa. It needs imho a very good market strategy. The challenge is to convince guests from those continents that Crystal is, despite the age of the ships, a unique experience worth the price. Ivi

This sounds very good. I will try it. Thank you. Ivi

How far before the cruise are we supposed to receive the e tickets? Ivi

Thanks Keith. I mean when do they come down. For us traditionally they stay until January 6th (this is when we celebrate the arrival of the 3 wise men) and I was hoping to be able to see them when I board on the 5th. Ivi

How long do they keep the Christmas decorations? Ivi