calliopecruiser

I'm another Crystal refugee, but booked on the Encore in November.  Almost the same itinerary as the Crystal cruise I cancelled - but it's really the sea days, not the ports, that I love. 

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I've just booked a November voyage on the Encore, and I have a question after looking at the deck plans:  There is a big gap running the height of the ship between cabins on the starboard size, separating cabins 643 and 645, 746 and 747, and 841 and 843; on decks 9, 10 and 11, it is between a cabin and a public area.  I presume that gap on the deck plans is filled with equipment related to HVAC or other ship operations.  My current (random) assigned cabin is 745, and I wonder if whatever is in that "gap" creates noticeable noise or vibration.  I am not very picky about location and am usually happy to take any assigned cabin, but that gap on the deck plans made me wonder. 

I was also going to recommend Hotel 1898 - I had a very nice stay there, and it's a great location.   The only tour company I use now is Context Travel - very smart and unique tours, and they would do a private tour just for your group.   I was in Barcelona many years ago when they did small group tours, but they only do private group tours in these Covid times.

Ah, thanks.  Both travel agents I'm talking with are used to booking luxury cruises, but I think SS is just one of several. 

20 hours ago, saminina said:

My suggestion would be to not book thru a local travel agency unless they book a lot with SS

Why?  What do you think a local travel agent who doesn't book a lot with SS will get wrong?

Thank you for your experiences.  It sounds like it will be a good option for me.  I'll email my TA about the Athens to Dubai cruise this fall. 

I have had very happy experiences on Crystal for my last 4 cruises and was set for another this fall.......but since that won't be happening now, I'm searching for a new cruise line.  Some of the things that really added to my relaxation on board are little things that can't be found on their website, so I'm asking here:  Are there any overhead announcements on SB (for an activity, or a leaving shore excursion)?   Is there a library on board?  Does the added-cost Retreat become any kind of a boasting/ego thing on board?  Are gratuities really not expected, or is that a corporate line not borne out in reality?  I leave extra gratuities in an envelope at the end of the cruise, but I dislike servers/crew who seem extra eager and ingratiating in hopes of extra tips.  

I'm a 60 year old woman who travels solo, and prefers sea days over port days.  Thanks for sharing your experiences.

9 hours ago, ldubs said:

I'm not sure if these brands are available in my area.

There's always Amazon 😉

8 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Not sure you have seen the latest news regarding Crystal

Yes, I have :(   I have a cruise booked for the end of November, and I was getting quite excited about it, as it will be my first cruise in almost 3 years.  I hope it's at least picked up by someone who will be slow to make many changes. 

2 hours ago, SelectSys said:

I have been looking at the retirement decision through the lens of my "work from home" experience.

For some people, the "work from home" experience has not been good, and one of my friends taking early retirement has been working from home for the last 18 months.  She hates working from home, finds it much harder and more frustrating to get things done, and will be retiring in March. 

Yes, you should get a smartphone.  There are too many things that are so much easier with a smart phone for you not to.......including things like boarding passes and Covid vaccine records.   There are ways to live without a smartphone, but those work arounds are getting harder and harder.

In my opinion, Apple makes the most intuitive smartphones - not necessarily the most basic, but the easiest to learn to use.  If you think "how would I do this" or "where would I look for this", that's pretty much how it works.  But I'm biased, since I've had iPhones for a dozen years (I'm 60 years old). 

Remember a smartphone is a tool, and you can use or not use as much of it as you like.  Don't feel that having a smartphone means you must use social media sites if you don't want to.  Don't feel you need to be notified with an alert every time you get a text or email if you don't want to.  Use your smarphone for what you want, not what someone else thinks you should do with it. 

On a practical note, I used ThinkSport reef-safe sunscreen ......It worked really well as a sunscreen, but it goes on like toothpaste and left permanent white staining on my black bathing suit.  Neither are a problem for me, but I know it would be for some people. 

24 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

And, if you’re a single cruiser, look at the new Vista ship which has some single staterooms!

I'm weird -- ahem, I'm unusual -- in that I don't want single staterooms, or any singles programming.  I want to be treated just like every other passenger on the ship.   That's not a slight against Oceania, as I've never sailed with her, just a conceptual point. 

I'm a devoted Crystal sail-er, in large part because of the way they treat solo passengers, but I agree that one size doesn't fit all and no one line will suit everyone.  Prioritize what you're looking for and what you think you'll use/appreciate most, and go from there. 

Thanks for suggestions (keep them coming).  I am leaning towards including an overnight in Meteora, taking the train there and then renting a car locally to take myself between monasteries. 

I have done it, after seeing some cruise friends do it, and it's OK.  Inspired, I did a 4 week trip in Italy with a carry-on size bag too -- challenging, but it fit the needs of the trip.

The more cruises I've been on, the smaller and smaller my luggage gets. 

I am 60 and single, but not widowed, and I chose Crystal for my first solo cruise and have never looked back.  What I liked about Crystal (and why I chose it) was that there are a large number of solo passengers and so we were treated just like every other passenger on the ship.  I did not want the situation I'd had so often before where couples (or solo men) got more attention from staff than a solo woman did, where I was left trying to get the attention of a bartender or customer service rep who thinks I must be part of a group with the couple standing behind me.  Also, at least in the past (I haven't booked a cruise for over 2 years), their singles' supplement was much less than 100%, which I also appreciated - a sign that they recognized me as just as important a passenger, and not just someone who is taking up room that they could sell to a couple/pair.  

I also found the passengers very laid back and easy to chat with and get to know.  Or, if they weren't interested in meeting new people (me), they were polite about it and didn't make me feel left out.  I didn't want solo get togethers or dining tables, because I wasn't interested in meeting other "solo passengers", I wanted to meet other passengers, regardless of their marriage status, or travelling companions.  Married, single, solo, families, whatever.

I'm sailing with them solo in November, and oh, so looking forward to it. 

I'm 60 and single.  No way would I be looking or interested in any kind of romantic relationship on a cruise - I don't want to start a long-distance relationship.  However, I would (and have) made friendship on board with people I would meet for drinks or meals, and make plans to share activities and time together. 

November 2022.  Hopefully nothing new pops up then, either at home or my destinations (Greece and UAE)

I know of a few people who moved up their retirement because of Covid, not deferred it.  Work was harder, and combined with the risks and restrictions, they burned themselves out (or were on the risk of it) and decided to retire early.  I can't say as I blame them, either. 

I've been off these forums for years, but I think I might actually be able to go on my November 2022 cruise, which departs from Athens at the end of that month.  My thought now is to stay in Athens for 5 or 6 days, but I'm not sure if I'll actually stay in Athens or include some day trips.  I've read that taking ferries that late in the year is unpredictable, so I don't want to plan any island trips, though most of the recommendations I read are for the islands.  What about Meteora, Patras, Thessaloniki, Veria?  I do not want to go to Delphi.

On 6/15/2021 at 6:04 PM, portiemom said:

Is there scientific evidence for mixing manufacturers?

Yup!  Well, it's preliminary research, but all signs point to an equitable if not better response.  Also a greater risk of post-vaccine side effects......but I'd happily exchange a few days of feeling lousy for better protection. 

Following an AZ shot with an mRNA as a booster has actually been shown to provide better protection than boostering an AZ vaccine with another AZ vaccine.   When it comes to the mRNA vaccines, it doesn't really matter which one as they're kind of interchangeable -- so boostering with Pfizer is the same as boostering with Moderna. 

I'm more upset about the rumour that the US will not accept vaccinations with AZ as valid for purposes of travel, because it hasn't been approved in the US.  I mean, I'm glad it wasn't approved because it means they gave Canada a bunch and I got vaccinated earlier than expected, but I hope it doesn't mean I can't enter the US.  It does seem like it would be shooting themselves in the foot not to accept people vaccinated with an efficacious vaccine that's been approved in so many other countries. 

Sounds like a jam-packed trip.....have fun!   I've been cruising solo for over 10 years or so, but I've never done a European cruise (I prefer lots and lots of sea days).  I did do a 6 week solo trip to Italy 18 months ago, and it was so fabulous I want to go back again. 

I disagree with Jim - take a book or a kindle if you want to.  This is your cruise, and if you feel better perusing a book or your day's photos on your phone, do it.  Or if you feel better taking it just in case you might want to, do it.  

I did it frequently, and I was not trying to hide from anyone - I was trying to enjoy myself.  If other people thought I was nervous or introverted, that's their problem, not mine.   I did not go to dinner with the plan of meeting people, and therefor wanted to make myself seem approachable (ick - sounds like a pickup bar), I went to dinner with the plan to enjoy some good food and something mentally interesting, which might be people watching or it might be reading a book or my phone.  When I cruise solo (whether I have friends onboard or not), I enjoy it most when I can do what I want to do, not when I feel I must do something to "fit in".  I do enough of that back home.

I also didn't want people dining nearby to think that I had nothing better to do than listen in on their conversations 😉