skybluewaters

Thanks for that information, Rob. On my upcoming Serenity cruise, which is 15 nights and which appears to be well-booked, I've been able to schedule one reservation each for the three restaurants, but I'll need to schedule the second allowed reservation for each of the restaurants once onboard. Is it this kind of reservation you're talking about being difficult to get, or do you mean it will be difficult to get reservations beyond the second ones? Thanks again.

I hear you, but that's getting harder and harder to do these days.

Why do you say that? I see that the T&C state that the program applies to cruises after January 1, 2023, but I have also heard on CC (which, of course, is not official), that previous cruises with OC would still count towards earned benefits. Any why do we need to be discussing this at all? You would think that Crystal would make some mention of this in their T&C...although perhaps that's what the January 1, 2023 statement means.

If you have an invoice from Old Crystal, check it. The milestone levels did show up on those invoices, but they no longer do.

The Terms and Conditions state that the Crystal Society Program applies to voyages beginning January 1, 2023. Does that mean our previous credits from OC no longer will be honored? I believe it was reported here on CC that previous cruises would still count towards the various rewards.

Actually, I don’t own a tuxedo. I was just showing off that I can spell “cummerbund.”

So, it's two votes for a BTO night on June 25 and one vote against. As Meatloaf melodiously said, two out of three ain't bad. Time to search for the old cummerbund

Here's the first seven days from my itinerary, Tracie. It's different from yours, but I don't know why that would be.

Thanks, Keith. That's good to know. When I look at my upcoming Serenity cruise, which is 15 days (actually, it's a B2B, 8 days and 7 days), every day is listed as "Resort Casual." I thought that there would be one formal night on the 8 day segment, right? Does that mean I won't have to starch and press my cummerbund?

I'm not sure this is a stalling tactic. Just ask Shohei Ohtani.

Sorry to hear that. Seems that Seabourn doesn't want to wait until the last minute to adjust their itineraries, which is a good thing. Very interested to know what the new itineraries will be...they didn't give you any idea?

Hmmm, looks like the suite host and the suite attendant are the two crew members who service your cabin. I'm guessing that the host is the senior of the two, while the attendant does most of the work. Btw, scrolling down the page to "Seabourn Cruise Suite Amenities," the Ocean View suites are checked off for having a "spacious veranda." I don't think so.

Can the free week (or the equivalent $) be applied to a cruise that has already been scheduled with a deposit but not yet fully paid for?

If an excursion is canceled, it's canceled, and knowing why doesn't help me or, in fact, even interest me. My only concern would be if there is an ongoing issue that may be due to a problem with the cruise line itself (and not the vendor) or if there is an issue with health or security that may recur. Otoh, if cancellations become frequent, my attitude would change.

The saddest place on a Crystal ship is Waterside during a port day at lunchtime. Maybe three tables occupied, passengers whispering so that their voices don’t echo across the room, multiple servers standing around staring forward, no energy, no vibe. I do understand the desire for luxury white tablecloth meals, but once daily at dinner suffices for me. Better to let the crew have some time off

Are we allowed to choose what you get to eat? If so, I'd be interested in your opinion of the branzino 🐟

1....we received an e-mail from Seabourn notifying us that this excursion would not be offered "due to operational reasons." Operational reasons is the standard jargon SB uses when they cancel. Can mean anything. 2. I called Seabourn's excursion department and asked the representative for some additional information as to what was going on, and why. It was news to the person I was speaking with... This is quite commonly the situation with the well-meaning but uninformed staff on the phone. 3....they would reach out to Expeditions and get back to me. Since some time has now passed and that hasn't happened Once again, all too common. I find that the employees initially answering the phones are not the ones who can solve your issues, except for the most straight-forward issues. Politely asking to speak to someone more directly involved in the situation can be helpful. Often you will be put on hold briefly while the person on the phone consults with someone higher up. I know this doesn't help you out, but at least you know you're not alone, fwiw. And things get much better once onboard!

You can't know with certainty, but it's never the first night, it's not on a port day, but it is often the first sea day of a 7-day cruise.

And while they're at it, separate the appetizers from the side dishes and from the entrees more distinctly so you can tell which is which. Currently they're all over the place. I'm sure much time is wasted by the waiters explaining the menu.

It's good to hear that Crystal has decided not to keep the dining room open for lunch on port days. This is a wise choice in the allocation of resources, both regarding manpower and the wastage of food.

And don't forget to bring a dictionary (in several languages). The menu seems unnecessarily obtuse.

There are standard dishes and rotating specials. This menu is typical.

I hate to break it to you, but...😁

You might want to bring some shorts and tee shirts. Last time we were on Crystal in Alaska, the temperatures hit into the low 80s in two of the stops.

I'm wondering why you had an 8PM flight when there are several earlier ones. Was this your preference or did FlightEase schedule this despite an earlier preference on your part? I'm trying to get a handle on how flexible FE is. Thanks