Keith1010

Over the coming weeks and months, we will see more information on the Crystal website. It's wise to check it out often for additional itineraries and details. Recently, they have made it easier to find the details for each room category. Before it was difficult to find as you had to know to scroll down within a room category to find it. Now they have a button marked details and when you press it, the details show in a new window. They also show for each category when the last redesign took place. Yes, they need to overlay this the type of suite (new, Seabreeze or traditional) on the deck plan for the ones where there is more than one type of suite within the category. I call this a work in progress. I do like when you bring up the itineraries you can quickly change all of them from a photo to the actual map making it easier to find ones you are interested in without having to click on each one to find the map/itinerary. I also think some of the other sorts are good from the ability to sort them based on lower price to higher price to shortest durations to longest durations. Often, we want it all at once but very glad to see enhancements being made. I expect we will see more details coming soon to answer questions that many have raised. And I realize the sooner the better for some of them. Finally, a few surprises are nice too. When most of us boarded our first Crystal Cruise I suspect there were several items we didn’t learn until we boarded, and I suspect it might have taken a few cruises to learn all of them. By surprises I am not talking about policies. The good news is with each passing day we are getting close to the inaugural launches of Serenity and Symphony. The countdown began with the release of the itineraries and continues. Our bags are packed. Ready to go. Can’t wait. Many crew I hear from feel the same way including those already on board and the many crew who are returning to both ships. Cheers, Keith

Thanks Ivi. I look forward to your reviews on the Explora Board. I was booked on one of the Explora Journey sailings which is why I had mentioned I did a lot of research. We have canceled our sailing with the return of Crystal. Keith

Today would have been the 80th Birthday of George Harrison the youngest member of The Beatles . He was just shy of 21 years young when The Beatles made their debut on Ed Sullivan Shy is an appropriate word as often he was considered the quiet Beatle. I remember their performances on Ed Sullivan as if it was "Yesterday".

Yes, I expect the policy to be available soon and we do have five months before the first sailing of July 31. There have been several questions I have asked and often the answers provided say this is the policy Crystal had or it is obvious that it is the case. The answer that I was provided does note that indoor smoking is only in the Connoisseur Room. While using the words several outdoor locations that is how it was with old Crystal with one side of the outdoor pool deck smoking, smoking on the back of the guest decks where the round tables and lounge chairs were situated, on one side of the Promenade Deck although without ashtrays I rarely saw this in our last years of sailing including on all the cruises we were on in 2021 and on the outdoor sports deck. To me that fits with the comment I received. I suspect we will know for sure soon as this and other information gets added to the website. In the meantime, I will share what I received as I've asked for more specificity. On a related note the last information I provided on SS smoking on one of the new ships came directly fro a friend who sails SS often, considers it their go to cruise line although they have sailed extensively on other lines and from his experience last year on one of the newer SS vessels. Smoke from cigarette smoking was a big problem as it could be smelled in the fitness center and as a result they will sail SS but not on the newer ships. Keith

Haven't been to a fast food place in at least 20 years. Used to in my younger years. If I could bring one back from the past (I realize there might be a couple still around) it would be my go to place from college in WDC which was Roy Rogers. Great hamburgers, chicken, coleslaw and French Fries and they would prepare it put it under heating lamps and you would put what you wanted on your tray. What i like about Whataburger is its name. You see when someone like me says Water and is from New York in Texas you think I must be talking about the Wata and Whataburger rather than the fixins. Ya'll understand. Keith

It does look beautiful but as Patty correctly pointed out we know from less about Explora Journey than the new Crystal and I say this having done a lot of research on the new line.

Yes. This thread was to see examples of the prices. So far it is showing: Prices could be higher, same or even less in 2023 or 2024 compared to 2022 and before. It can vary based on specific itinerary, and whether one is traveling double occupancy or solo and within that by itinerary or just a specific year 2023/2024 Before this I was reading some saying it was higher or lower but wanted to understand which ones and any other factors and that is what this is showing. I welcome others to post specifics should they wish too. Thank you to those contributing to this with specific pricing from your bookings, current and past, or does you are considering versus past bookings as well as others who are contributing other related/constructive information Keith

Speaking of Silversea a friend of mine who very much enjoys SS said a flaw on the ships was where smoking is relative to the fitness center. He said the smoke came in on the new ships. I realize for those of you who either smoke or do not visit the fitness enter it is a non issue, it for some it is an issue. Keith

Simply because some were saying the price was x percent higher than old Crystal so I decided to start a thread to get examples after I looked at a cruise.

If Crystal designates on their website the smoking rule it will be answered well before the cruise. That is true for many items that are fact and not subjective.

I really don't think this is the case. I had issues with SS but when we sailed them inside was one location which was their equivalent of the connoisseur club. I was surprised by Larry's post because when we sailed them smoking was not allowed on the verandahs and their website says the same thing so confused why that is happening. Outside it was a pain because there were not many places to walk and on the two ships we sailed which are not the new ones it made things difficult. I don't think Crystal will have more smoking outside than before. In terms of the management I would not be concerned that you have a lot of SS management who came over because I have not seen that to date. I'll let you know what I hear back. Keith

Inside it is only the Connoisseur Club. I suspect outside it will be like it was which was in several places and that is what they said so they didn't have to list them all out. With that said, I have asked for specificity. There are definitely some items which were a work in progress and that is why they were not communicated but I don't expect it is this one. Keith

Would you want to be a servant to get a free world cruise and even get paid? If you say yes, maybe someone on this board who is look for a servant will contact you. You never know the power of CC. 🤫 Keith

I am far from the expert on this but this is what I do. I get a sense of what a good fare is by looking at fares over a few week period. Does this provide a 100% low far solution? No. But it gets me a good understanding about the fares. I realize when I book early and if it is one flight or if the flight involves stops that flight time can change. But if they change and I am not happy with them I either change them myself or call the airline. I book early because I want Business/First Class and two seats together so with some domestic flights having very few rows and other flights having more rows but substantially less than coach I don't want to wait. This is not at all different booking other things with limited availability. If I used Airline miles I want to book early as well. And as FlyerTalker says it does come down to demand versus availability. I think exceptions to this might be if several months from now there is a major increase in fuel costs, or if a competitor ratchets down prices and they want to match them or if an airline pulls out leaving the carrier to exclusively serve a market and prices go up although this is similar to demand versus capacity. And like buying a new car where you can negotiate price once I buy the tickets I don't spend another minute worrying about my decision because you just never know. Keith

I am trying to confirm what "throughout" is. When I posted the other day that was the same word I had heard but I interpreted it as it was in the past similar to what Crickette said although the reality on the promenade is the ashtrays don't exist but in addition to what was posted they always allows smoking on the back of the guest decks where they have the lounge chairs and round tables and I believe on the open deck on 12 Symphony and 13 Serenity although it was not often you would see that. I short, on the outside I've asked will it be as it was or less. Can't see it being anymore. Keith

I asked about this one and it will be as it was the past few years with Crystal. They understand this is one of several items they need to document so everyone knows. Keith

Please do not be sorry but the purpose of my thread was not to compare Crystal to other lines. If you would like to do that please start a new thread. Why did I start this thread? Because some peoplesaid the prices had gone up quite a bit between Crystal new versus Crystal old. On the other hand some people said the prices had gone done for new Crystal versus Crystal old. Some said it was about the same. I was not sure but since I don't think people make this stuff up I suspected it will vary and also could vary by category and definitely by double occupancy versus solo. Again, that is the purpose of the thread. Very simple. And I would love if we can keep this on track with people posting their comparisons if they so choose. Thank you. Keith

OK one more. 2022 cruise Vancouver to New York City in a PS category (25 days) $2,479.00 per diem. 2024 cruise Vancouver to New York CIty in a PS Sapphire (former PS) (24 days) $1,847.00 per diem. When World Cruise is shown I'll take a look at 2024 versus original 2022 pricing. Keith

Here's another one. Cruise before World Cruise 2024 and Cruise before World Cruise 2019. Double Occupancy Aquamarine (former PH) 2024 is a longer cruise than 2019 Per diem in 2024 is $1,188.00 and per diem in 2019 was $1,547.00 I realize not 100% apples to apples but that is going to be tough to find. And as I have said a few times this is double occupancy and in many cases or even most solo guest are going to have a higher rate to begin with. Keith

Ivi, sounds like FLcruise2011 has some good input but a suggestion. I would post this on the Florida Ports Of Call Board. There are several locals who regularly answer questions on the board and the Host is very helpful and she lives in the Miami area. Keith

Ivi, what month are you looking at. I find that ones you are thinking about won't be going to South Beach as things are too pricey for them. It wil lie busy but it is between November into April. Yes one of the things we like about Miami is its diversity. One of the people who really helped to turn things around is Gloria Estefan. Keith

Some photos from Holocaust Memorial in South Beach. We have visited there on most visits. Keith

Ivii had asked about South Beach so a few photos from our last visit there. Then on the boardwalk as we walked from South Beach north. Keith

I feel the same way as Bob S. and Vince. This one to me is a more unique than an unknown company because of A&K being a big part of it. I've only used them for some tours and found their programs to be of high quality. What also makes this company different than an unknown is we know the assets which are the ships and we know that so many members of the crew will be from Crystal. In addition, some of the key executives of the team responsible for the on-board experience including the operations of the Hotel, Shore Excursions and Entertainment/Enrichment were in the same or very similar roles in their last years at Crystal. I get it for those who are gun shy and like most things only one opinion counts which is your own. l do believe no matter what type of travel if one has concerns insurance is something to consider but to verify the insurance you obtain addresses whatever the concern(s) are. This includes not only should a company fold but other concerns such as age/health, become ill, missing a cruise due to some other issue such as a shutdown of an airline or the entire system. We've all learned things happen and many of those things have nothing to do with a specific company such as the examples I mentioned. Keith

Ivi, South Beach has several attributes including lots of restaurants , a party scene (I'm too old for that), a place to people watch and nice beaches but with that comes a lot of people particularly at night and depending on where you stay and the location of your room can be noisy. In our case we like visiting it but not staying there. If we did I would look for a hotel where I could get a room facing the beach area. South Beach is part of Miami Beach and further north there are hotels that would be quieter. When we go on cruises we stay downtown on Brickell but it is just a city. We like to walk around the city and then Uber or Taxi to places such as South Beach and from there visit that area or walk along the Boardwalk further North. There are also a few places to stay there. There are lots of hotel choices on or near Brickell at a variety of rates. From around November until April lots of people (some are snowbirds) go to Miami for the pleasant weather. Within those period you do see some fluctuation of rates depending on factors including Holidays. Key Biscayne which was mentioned in post 3461 is interesting. We've never stayed out there because often we want to walk around a lot so we prefer the city and we don't rent a car but certainly for something very relaxing it has its positives. We do enjoy Miami and have seen it change with each passing year mostly for the good. Keith