Keith1010

Thanks for sharing. Another lesson learned. Keith

Yes, thank you. I was able to change it to edit the post to get the correct ship name. Right now a cruise to nowhere or might be a cruise to wherever. Keith

When I heard from friends on board Regent Explorer it sounded like the Crystal Symphony voyage which some of you labeled the trip to nowhere. The challenges of getting the hull clean is why I remember they put the Symphony and Serenity in short dry docks after all of that time anchored in Asia before the restart of 2021. One of my friends on that cruise said the flight from Mainland USA over there hit the most turbulence he's ever experienced and I suspect several passengers on that flight said a prayer. So with New Zealand in mind.a few photos from our last visit to New Zealand in February of 2020 on-board Serenity follow. Keith

While I don't know anyone who has 10 open bookings but if they do good for them if that is what they want, I do know many people who have one to five open bookings. No one was forced to make an open booking. I know there are lots of conspiracy theories here that somehow this was all done to generate cash but I think Flyer Talker comments were spot on. I would add there is a cost to do this from the amount of money that they have to put up with the credit card companies to transaction fees. I will also add it allowed them to test out their ability to process transactions and to work through any issues which they did as we saw adjustments made. It was a way to start to move things along and to stimulate interest and stay engaged. And when it comes to making a deposit people will decide if they want to book the cruise as they do with any cruise line including new ones and either book or not book. If they have an open booking they can cancel it. At the same time I know others who didn't do an open booking because they do want to wait for the itineraries or they want to wait for the line to sail and see what people think, All of this is good IMHO because choice is good. For us, I was glad to have the opportunity to do an open booking and our driver was not the on-board credit but rather to hopefully get the category of room and even location we prefer on the itinerary/itineraries we prefer. Many of us have totally different approaches to booking travel plans. Some people like to book cruises years in advance while other wait until much closer. Best strategy??? None. It's all what each person thinks works best for them. Keith

All of this was considered when they decided to bring the ship over to Italy. Keith

I hear you. What they did say in the items I printed off when I did my open deposit is you get priority access to book once our itineraries are released in early 2023. I know it's semantics but if it comes out in a few weeks that's till early 2023 but I know it could have been taken as early January. Hopefully it will be soon. Keith

What you say is correct about the challenges. I do think though we all need to step back. Crystal was only bought at the end of June. A little over six months ago. They bought assets. Not a company. No people. No itineraries. No nothing beyond ships. I just can't imagine. They have to start from scratch. Decide what to do on ships at a high level, then detailed designs, then all the details which goes into this including cost and schedules and everything else. Start hiring people executives and then some people. Even the itineraries. They have to be developed but then they have to determine if the ports are available The list goes on and on. And when they do publish them and everything that goes with them they have to do it right and that includes not cancelling cruises because ships not ready and not cancelling ports because it turned out they were locked in or that the planned itinerary won't work. I guess what I am getting at is this is a massive undertaking because they didn't buy a company. I agree. The longer it takes the more people have locked in plans but.............It's only been six months plus two weeks. Keith

And my Paddle Tennis Racquet should be OK too. Glad not at the airport this moment though. Keith

Three years ago today, a transit of the Panama Canal. Always a wonderful experience. Keith

Which is why many "speculate" late Summer.. We'll know soon enough. Keith

I know it's frustrating but until dates are locked down I do not see us receiving any communications. TA's are asking on behalf of clients so they are trying to provide what they can to them. I expect when things are ready to go that's when we hear whether that is through one or more of the following: the TA first, e-mail(s) to Crystal Society Members, the Crystal website, PR announcements. No inside information but logic tells me this is how it goes. I do think we are inching towards the start date and yes it is testing our patience but in the scheme of things I believe it won't be that much longer. Keith

Roy, I will speculate sooner rather than later. Just my opinion with no knowledge whatsoever. Keith

And that is Long Island in the great state of New York not the Bahamas. My assistant at work used to say fixin. For us we like to say y’all. Then again I also say watter and idear. Go figure.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 to all our Crystal Cruises Cruise Critic Members. May your dreams come true. This year marks the return of Crystal Cruises. Can't wait. Ready to go. And, yes, bags packed. See many of you on-board. Keith

Great video Brian. Brings back nice memories. Happy New Year. Keith

Last New Year's Eve on a Crystal Vessel. 12/31/18. Wishing everyone a safe, heathy and Happy New Year. Keith

Patty, I used to blame this on auto correct, Patty. Now I blame this on KenZSailing. It is clearly all his fault. Not mine. But, his or someone but not me. LOL. Keith

Terry, like most things each person has to decide their level of comfort and confidence. I would be more worried booking air with Southwest Airlines right now. Just kidding. Maybe. Maybe not. The open booking is $500.00 per booking so not something I am concerned about and I plan to make full deposits. I will use American Express as they were so easy to deal with and one of the lessons I learned. I leaned the lesson when the saplings were impacted due to COVID and used them for all new bookings. and easily got money back after Genting went under for the new ones. Unfortunately I had money tied up with another credit card company who had already been a pain in the.......well you know what I mean and that money is lost. There is always risk but I feel confident in the ownership of Crystal Cruises.. But I would never tell anyone what to do when it comes to something like this. Only what I am doing. Keith

During the height of the Pandemic where I live several people would paint rocks and leave them all around our community. To me thesis the best medicine. Keith

It does depend on time of day, day of week and what might happen in terms of roadway accidents. I would give yourself an hour for planning purposes. Could be short and could be longer. Also try not booking a flight before Noon. Keith

My recommendation is try to fly to Miami since your cruise starts there. There is no best hotel because best is in the eyes of the beholder. There are several hotels in the downtown area on or near Brickell and I would check them out. There are lots of restaurants nearby and stores if you need any last minute items. Keith

As most people said I would not do this. Too risky. Is it possible you will make it? Yes. However, there is a good chance you won't. Even if it meant waiting for an afternoon flight or going to Miami I would not go with a 9:00 AM flight. Keith

Nancy, yes. Sooner you go to sleep sooner Santa will arrive. 😃 Merry Christmas. Keith

Merry Christmas.

This year Chanukkah and Christmas overlap as Chanukkah comes to an end after nightfall on the 26th. On the Crystal Holiday Cruise of 2014, Chanukkah ended at nightfall on Christmas Eve so we had some overlap at the start of the Holiday Cruise a couple of days earlier. I am posting a few photos from eight years ago today. Wishing each of our Cruise Critic members who celebrate one or both of these Holidays a Happy Chanukkah and a very Merry Christmas. Keith