Keith1010

Right now it's not an app. We used something similar on Endeavor which we enjoyed. Keith

They are not iPads. I just used the name generically. They are a tablet. Keith

We received on board discounts. We took advantage of the program where we did those open bookings at home and the money went for our deposit and since we booked by x time frame we each received $250.00 on board credit for each booking. We also received an on-board credit having been with A&K. And we received an onboard credit like everyone who was on the first voyage did which was added while we were all on the cruise. My experience is that on board credits varied in the past based on many different factors I don't want Crystal to copy everything others do. The need to be aware of them and evaluate what makes sense as they develop their marketing and sales approach. Keith

I’ve included a couple of photos and a short video playing Paddle Tennis yesterday afternoon. New iPads will be deployed to each room during this voyage. One was place in our room today. I cropped out the top portion which show names, room number and it also has home key, mail, etc. We enjoyed another great evening. Before dinner we met with Arlene and Gil who we are sailing with for the first time, and they are a lovely couple. Then it was dinner at Waterside. All we can say is bravo. The service, cuisine and dining venue are a wow. Rather than doing a typical end of cruise show, last evening featured two different performances. At 6:30 PM in Palm Court vocalist Annette Manhuyod accompanied on the piano by Mark Manhuyod performed a special tribute to Broadway Hit Songs. Annette has a brilliant voice. At 9:45 pm, James Fox who has-been on-stage with Crystal for several years performed My Live: The Music of Bill Joel. He is always sensational. Today is turn around day. This is the end of the first cruise and the start of the second cruise. Ninety-eight guests are continuing to the next voyage and are in-transit and the remaining guests are leaving the ship to go home or to do other travel. In-transit guests can stay on or go off the ship today as they would in any port. They are encouraged to attend the 5:30 PM muster drill but are not required to do so. Today is the day that Captain Vincent Tallard is the new Captain for Crystal Serenity. He has been on-board observing and performing various duties in preparation for today. The Captain began his career on various vessels and private yachts, and earned his class on license in 2007 and has commanded numerous cruise and expedition ships on all seven seas. Captain Birger Vorland returns home. It has been a pleasure sailing with Captain Birger who we have sailed with numerous times on World Cruises, on the first of two cruises of the Northwest Passage which Captain Birger commanded and on several other cruises with the last being in November of 2021. The captain is highly trained and experienced, keep both crew and guests safe, is a wonderful communicator and an all-around very nice person. I went off the ship early while Anne Marie walked the Promenade Deck. We could see one another. It was a long walk to exit the port terminal and then I took a route we have walked often toward the downtown area. There is a lot of construction and portions of the road are new from our last visit. Weather was perfect as it was 70 degrees Fahrenheit. We enjoyed our traditional Cobb Salad today to begin the next cruise. Enjoying the rest of the day on-board Crystal Serenity. Cheers Keith 9DB13E6A-D161-4804-A446-E6BA1D26029E.mov

I just started a new thread with photos of the solo rooms which I think are very nice. And I am not stupid for sure. Keith

If you scroll each line of icons to the left there are lots more. Keith

Starting today and during this cruise iPads will be deployed. It has your name, room number and other icons such as home page, mail, etc up top but I cropped this out. Keith

All the rooms on deck 7 were redone except for the ones for entertainers. Some of you have asked about power outlets in the solo and double occupancy rooms. There are plenty of them.

I just visited a vacant Solo Room on Deck 7. They are not all the way forward. Entertainers and enrichment personnel are put in the ones the most forward. Room looks very nice. All of them have been redone. Yes closet is a little smaller because of the bar area although that has one draw. Having been in a double room for World Cruise 2007 and thinking of one person traveling while it would have been nice to have had the full closet for me it would work for multiple cruises as a single. Some photos.

The Paddle/Pickle Ball courts were redone and better than ever. You don't slide as the decking is terrific. A few of my friends started playing Pickleball at home but most of us played Paddle Tennis. I believe pickle ball will work better in port when it is less windy from what they said. Keith

First cruise ended in Lisbon. I got off the ship to walk around and who did I see on the Promenade Deck but Anne Marie. Keith

Dwight you are so right. And the few little items are getting corrected. iPads will be deployed this cruise. Phone system fixed last evening with a reboot. We could make multiple open bookings starting yesterday. A few items remain but it is coming along. I am reminded when some said it would be delayed months but they underestimated Manfredi and the use of Italy for the dry and wet dock. Keith

I will add something. As many know the old Crystal pricing model didn't work so well given that it was rare they made a profit. So the choice is simple. Adjust the model or cut back on the amenities offered. At the same time the ship guest capacity has been reduced several times. Originally over 1,000 could sail. So yet the solo supplement changed as did the pricing for suites Personally, I think cruising is a great value and for all we get with Crystal I consider it an outstanding value. I realize that it might not work for everyone and for those traveling solo the pricing is higher. When the word discrimination is used IMHO it is over the top. There is true discrimination around the world but to me that has more to do with religion, race, gender and color of our skin just to name some but not all of what I consider to be discrimination. Keith

Having solo rooms which realize less revenue than a double occupancy room that are in the front of the ship is not discrimination IMHO. It is setting price based on revenue. This is no different than charging more for Aquamarine and Sapphire suites based on location or double staterooms based on location. I know personally what discrimination is and this is not discrimination. As to me, yes knowing what I do if the closet space was the same back then in the staterooms as it was then we would have stayed in those rooms as we have on Symphony a couple of times and on Serenity as we did the first time we sailed on back to back cruises and on the 2007 World Cruise. Keith

I am not surprised that some entertainers and lecturers sail on other lines as we have sailed on other lines. And when Crystal was not sailing many entertainers and lecturers were on other lines. With that said, with Crystal now back some of the entertainers and some of the lecturers will go back to either only being on Crystal or mainly being on Crystal. As I have said for years, in the end only one opinion matters and that is our own. Value is in the eye of the beholder. The best total package is in the eye of the beholder. And even the beholder changes for a range of reasons from disposable income to age to activity level. People should be happy with their choices and not have to put down others for their choices. Life is short. For me I can't imagine gong to another board complaining about the same things over and over and telling others why they shouldn't like a product that many of them do. I am just happy that I found a cruising product that we enjoy so much we return year after year. I can't say that about all products but I can say about it in the arena of cruising.

As the first cruises comes to a conclusion the consistent feedback from pretty much every guest I've spoke with which is easily half the ship is Crystal is back and better than ever. It is as if we never left Crystal. The issues being worked on are the telephone (software such as being able to leave messages and getting all phones to work which could be hardware and/or software) with lots of progress made with that, some of the systems used by the crew, tv's although that has improved considerably, the ability to offer at a fee additional internet packages and iPads. All new systems have been implemented but with each passing day a lot of progress is taking place. For example, they were unable to make more than one open booking for the same one or two guests. This was resolved yesterday so we could make several of them. The crew has been a delight. The crew includes many who worked previously on Serenity, some from Symphony and other Crystal vessels along with others from other cruise lines or at sea for the first time. Whether they are first time or have been with Crystal for years it is clearly a wonderful team and Crystal all the way. They have adapted very well to having butlers for all rooms, and to allocating restaurant staff to the various venues and making adjustments as needed. There is less crew than before as the overall occupancy of guests is lower wit the conversion to more suites. Some of the guests leaving today will be on the inaugural for Symphony. Many guests say what we do which is we are so happy and appreciative that Crystal is back. If you loved Crystal before you should love it again. It is Crystal for sure. Keith

To me the price of the overnight trips is in line with the past. They include transportation, and when on buses they are typically half full to provide leg room, nice hotels and food, security as you will have on this trip. Yes the tour operator makes money and hopefully Crystal does and there is the overhead that many forget about including insurance. And the cost of the trip includes the escort from Crystal for costs such as their hotel room, food, entrance fees, etc. On a trip like this one of the benefits is should you get back late the trip will wait. I have not looked at pricing for excursions other than the ones on the two voyages we are on but they are priced pretty much the way I expected from prior cruises. Private excursions that you arrange yourself are often lower in cost. My view is if this is an excursion you want to do this one I would not do privately. JMO. Keith

More like hors d'oeuvres which change daily and a nice selection. Why? Because there are 277 suites so this way the Galley can make them all the same way. Those in the CP's and Junior CPs can order additional items. We were very impressed with the offering and a larger selection than in the past. Keith

Last night was the second and final formal night of the cruise. We dined at Waterside. In addition to dining at one of the specialty and alternative restaurants guests could sign up to attend the Supper Club which includes entertainment and dancing. The Supper Club menu features some of the items from the Waterside Menu and guests mainly sit at four person tables. We have dined at the Supper Club a couple of times on previous cruises and were very pleased with the choice of items and the cuisine we each ordered. The good news was setting the clocks back one-hour last evening. Today we anchored off Portimao, Portugal. As it turned out wee decided to stay on-board Serenity as there are friends who will be leaving tomorrow, and we wanted to spend time with them. Between seeing friends, walking the promenade deck, and playing paddle tennis we also made room for dining. I've also included photos from early risers breakfast and the great signage. Cheers Keith

Jeany, My pleasure and more to come. Keith

You are right. More to come. Keith

Thank you so much for following along. Keith

Today is the last day of this voyage. Have met many. Ice guests for first time and reunited with many from past cruises keith

Through travel each of us has had the opportunity to visit many places around the world and to get to know the people who live there. We last visited Lahaina in 2018 and 2019 and have visited there many times on Symphony and Serenity. It is hard to comprehend the loss of life and the devastation to Lahaina and to Maui. We have seen other devastation to place we visited just days after our visit including Christchurch, portions of Florida, portions of Japan and even Istanbul. Thinking of all the lives impacted by this tragedy both those who lost their lives, their families and loved ones and all of the businesses and people who have lost everything. It puts so much into perspective. Please say a prayer for each person impacted and I am sure that many people from around the world will help out in some way in the rebuilding of Lahaina and the surrounding area. Keith

I think most people will find having a butler an enhancement. The butlers on both ships are not a butler in name. Many were butlers on land or others were outstanding members of the waitstaff team. Newer ones have/are receiving training from the Senior Head Butler and Head Butler. I know some people say they never utilize their butler but I have often found that there are times they will. I am reminded that some who don't eat a meal in their room still ask for a glass of wine or even a mixed drink and the butler is there for them. Even the appetizers are an enhancement for those in the solo and double rooms. Anyway, see what you think if having a butler with Crystal is new for you. Cheers, Keith