travelberlin

Thanks for the information.

I wonder why people who get sick and have to be quarantined are receiving compensation. Is Azamara accepting that this illness is its fault? Guests on other cruise lines are being quarantined for five days because of COVID but are not getting any compensation.

Thank you for your review.

I think my husband and I were on both cruises in 2014. We took the Crystal Symphony from Valparaiso to Auckland. Stayed a couple of nights in Auckland and then took a Celebrity ship to do a circumnavigation of Australia. Ivi

Thanks very much Keith and Terry. I don’t have a particular problem or issue. It is more that I am trying to clarify roles. On other cruise lines in which I have sailed, the concierge is clearly performing concierge tasks like booking transfer reservations, booking restaurants on ports of calls and similar. He/she has also a special desk and is not at the front guest relations desk. The guest relations manager on the other hand, handles everything that the guests might have as a concern and it has an office behind the guest relations front desk. When I was at the Serenity, I had some questions and requests and I have approached the front desk. The friendly people standing there were either new or have not completed their training and did not know much. They kept asking or directing me to a lady, who I assumed was the guest relations manager. However later on, I have realized she was the concierge. This is why I am asking the question. Is there a guest relations manager on the ships or is the concierge at the same time the guest relations manager? Ivi

In case you do not get an answer from LH (and this seems to be very common nowadays) or a rejection of your claim (again it seems to be a first reaction to claims), you could consider contacting Söp (Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr ). Alone mentioning the name of this institution after a rejection or no answer from LH, will prompt you get you an answer. Keep all your receives. Good luck. LH is not anymore the reliable and one of the best airlines in the world. Too many problems going on now.

Does anybody know who the guest relations managers are on the Serenity and on the Symphony? Are they the same as the concierges?

I have seen this restaurant in Brickell near to my hotel. What have you particularly liked from this restaurant ? I might give it a try next time.

Enjoying your posts Adrian. You made me come back to the Explora board, after I left in dissatisfaction because Explora canceled 2 cruises and I did not want to give them a 3rd chance. But time heals everything so maybe in 2026 🧐. Ivi

Great Adrian 👍 it will be good to have your input also. You and Terry, two cruisers with so much experience with cruising and who can give us a honest opinion. Thanks 😊 Ivi

Thanks very much for your updates Terry. Wishing you and Kerry a safe trip home. It would be interesting to read about your comparison from this Crystal experience with your Explora Journey one. Will that be possible? Ivi

Several years ago there was also a report of a crew member hiding in the balcony and who assaulted a passenger while she was sleeping. Do not forget to check there also.

Apparently a passenger discovered the camera under her sink and reported it. It was not an inspection

Have you ever found any hidden camera? What do you do in case you find one.

No email received.

Well this is the price difference I am seeing. And the Yacht club cabin would have to be an inside cabin. Otherwise it costs more.

Although we have enjoyed the Yacht Club, we do not think that the price difference with a balcony cabin is justifiable for us. If we have the choice of paying about US 5000 for a cruise on a balcony cabin, we do not feel that US 12.000 for the same cruise on Yacht Club is good value for money.

Thanks Keith and Cruise-y. I have seen some good tips were given about what to expect from a butler on the Silversea board. Someone asked a similar question there. I have liked the answer from someone who said butlers are supposed to be problem solvers. Ivi

Yes we have. Have you looked at the posts?

If you wait a little, some one will tell us their children went through college because of the tips they received…

Thanks Keith for your answer. Being my cabin just a solo cabin, I prefer to have meals outside the room. In relation to providing information in my case of course, I am talking about a junior butler. I am not sure how much he or she knows about port of debarkation and others. Is it possible at Crystal to request a newspaper to be delivered to your room? Something like the photo below? Could the butler iron some clothes? Ivi

I have to admit that at my last cruise with Crystal, I did not interact very much with my butler. I have had all my meals and snacks outside my cabin. I have only drank water in my cabin having my alcohol consumption at the bars. I have interacted several times with my cabin attendant but I have not requested anything from the butler. This happens to me each time when we have a cabin with butlers with the exception of the MSC Yacht Club in which our butlers play a very important role for example being the ones who serve us at the Yacht Club lounge, bringing to our room our daily newspaper, accompanying us out of the ship at debarkation, helping us with our luggage, etc. Could you please give some tips how to make use of the service of the Butlers at the Crystal ships? Please also some tips what the concierge is supposed to do? I have tried to book some taxi or private transfer at the debarkation port, but apparently this the concierge does not do. Is the role that of a guest relations manager? Or is there a proper guest relations manager onboard. Ivi

We had liked the Churrasqueria. It was a nice setting for a Rodizio. We have enjoyed the salad bar, the different types of meat being brought fresh grilled and pipping hot to our table. We have enjoyed that we could have as much or little as we wanted. The grilled shrimps were lovely. We have not had food waste on our plates and we did not eat a lot. We have liked the fresh cheese yuca bread and the perfect caipirinhas 👌. Thinking about it, it is time we book a Rodizio restaurant again. Maybe this Sunday 🤭

Now that you mention it, I have got the chocolates, no chips.

On Serenity deck 7, no canapés were delivered. Oh pardon I think the cabins on deck 7 are not called suites 🤔