travelberlin

This is correct. It depends of the itineraries. But this applies to all cruise lines nowadays. Azamara has solo supplements either 25% or 50% or none. It depends of how good the cruise is selling. Since I cruise solo many times and I am not addicted to a certain cruise line, I do my homework, compare per diems and take the one, which I consider a good value for money. I agree with Keith that it is good to have options. Ivi

There was an expiration date for the double upgrade plus the OBC at Explora if you are MSC diamond. I believe it was either February 23rd or 28th. There is no expiration date for matching status between others and MSC. Ivi

Heike Berdos who used to be Hotel Director at Azamara is now working for Explora since some months. She is wonderful. I am confident she will have a fantastic influence on the quality of services. Ivi

Yes. I have got a two category upgrade and US 500 OBC on my booking as part of that temporary offer. Ivi

Our next cruise at the beginning of April is on the MSC Yacht Club. We will see if it continues to be as good a we remember. We have considered the Journey from Hamburg to New York for September with Explora. Once Crystal announced that it was sailing again, the itinerary from Reikiavik to Quebec became interesting. This is why I have compared prices. We like more the itinerary of Explora plus the prospect of the new beautiful ship. We have not decided yet. However I am booked with Explora for February next year. Looking forward to cruising with them. Ivi

This is exactly how I understood this thread Keith. This is why I am contributing. Ivi

Those of us who have sailed with MSC have more or less an idea about the cruising experience. I am assuming that it would be at least comparable to the Yacht Club experience. MSC owners have shown that they can offer a luxury experience with an Italian touch (which we love) in the Yacht Club. MSC owners have also good financial means to support this undertaking and are willing to invest on Explora and make it successful. I have no fears that they could go bankrupt in the next 5 years . I am willing to try Explora the same way I am willing to try the new Crystal. We do not know how both will perform. We just have expectations. After Explora and New Crystal starts sailing we will see reviews. I am confident that some of those reviews will be honest. We will know more. I will try to write a review once I cruise with Explora. Ivi

Oh no, this thread was started for those comparisons. This is the reason why people are contributing. It is not a take it or leave it thread. Ivi

Oh yes we go! The question is with which company 😉 at the moment we are exploring what the new Crystal has to offer… Ivi

Does not exist that expression? 🫢Sorry English is my third language… Ivi

Comparison between New Crystal and Explora Journeys. New Crystal Reikiavik to Quebec, 11 nights Aqua Marine Veranda Suite, September 2023, for two people US 15800. Per Diem for two 1436. Explora Journey Reikiavik to New York, 16 nights Ocean Terrace Suite, September 2023, for two people US 20300. Per Diem for two US 1268. Ivi

I would not say too cheap. I would say it was price worthy. I have booked several cruises with other cruise lines with solo tariffs which were price worthy. Ivi

Thanks for this information. We will see how much actually the solo supplement is. But you are right, it hurts 😔 Ivi

Comparison between my booked and fully paid Crystal Serenity cruise from Vancouver to New York due to sail in August 2022, 25 days total price including all taxes and fees for a solo passenger in Cabin Ocean View, midship category C2. Total price US 9343. Per Diem US 373.72. This cruise never took place due to Crystal’s bankruptcy. Same itinerary and number of days for August 2024, in the solo C3 Ocean view cabins forward, US 12.900 including the so called destination fees (I am not sure if those are taxes and fees ). This is a Per Diem of US 516. If I would like to take the same category C2 as for the cruise, which never took place, the price would be US 23.600 (assuming the taxes and fees are included and that as a solo traveler I would have to pay for two because of choosing that category). This means a Per Diem of US 944. Ivi

Yes, Adam Smith could write more about it. For example that the laws of supply and demand do not apply to flight tickets in the way he thought. It is not an “invisible hand” regulating the market so that supply and demand meet, but the hands of the airlines. The airlines have the power to influence the supply and they do so first by forming alliances which eliminates competition, second reducing the number of flights offered using code shares with those partners and 3rd cancelling flights which did not sell well. I have never seen a price reduction in flights I have booked although at the moment of flying the planes might not be full. But maybe this is just me. Airlines do not seem to discount prices when the demand is low. They just seem to reduce supply cancelling flights. In addition, I have noticed two, for me “new”, strategies: one is the offer to bid for an upgrade to a higher class and the other is to capture the information of your browser via cookies so that if you keep looking for certain flights on certain days, the prices of those flights will get higher. In this last case you end up competing with yourself. So I try to book the flight the first time I search in order to avoid price increases just because I am signaling interest. Interesting indeed… Ivi

I know what you mean. I am in a similar situation. Ivi

Fact is that the dispute of the Falklands has left a bad taste in Argentina. However I would not think that this has implications in Buenos Aires in the way how they treat foreigners. Just think that Porteños (how Argentinians from Buenos Aires are called) are not the friendliest folks around. This is noticeable even from people who are not British and speak Spanish. The picture is from Ushuia. Ivi

You have got a good point there. I will start looking at Ponant. However, I find it good to compare also with the previous prices from the Crystal we new and loved. Both comparisons are very helpful to decide. 1) Comparison with Original Crystal prices because assuming the new company will deliver same quality, now we know if this is being delivered at per diem prices acceptable to us. 2) Comparison to other cruise lines, because since some of us are price sensitive but still enjoy cruising and never, ever, had an experience in which we did not appreciate the crew, itineraries, etc., we will compare the per diem to others and see if current per diems for this new Crystal are what we wish to pay. Ivi

Do you know how to find information on that event? Ivi

Yes! And that wine was a Trapiche Malbec Reserva. Since I was alone and I do not drink a whole bottle by myself I have asked them to keep it for me until next day. I went again to have a nice meal 😋 Ivi

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this information and I know now that if I want to stay in Miami during this time, I should look for other places. Ivi

In March Keith. Exactly at the start of Spring Break 😔 Ivi

Thanks this means that we should only plan to book about 3 months in advance if we want to have a more or less reliable booking. But isn’t it that there are lower fares when booked far in advance? Is there any information when flights become more expensive? Ivi

Thanks Benny B Goode and Keith for your answer to my question. Lovely pictures Keith. I would look into the locations you have both mentioned. I have stayed in South Beach several times and actually I like that it is possible to walk every where and the nice vibe with latin music coming from every where. We consider South Beach as the capital of South America (with all respect for USA Americans). Wealthy and famous South Americans party there. I wouldn’t mind the normal vibe of South Beach. What I am actually concerned now is the Spring Breakers. I am not sure if South Beach will have lots of them. I wouldn’t like to be in a place where many drunk people are walking around. My experience with that custom of young US Americans is only from movies and that doesn’t leave a good impression. Maybe I should just avoid South Beach during that time of the year… Ivi

Could you please tell us how many days to see the per diem per person? That makes easier to compare with similar offers from other cruise lines. Ivi