Liv4cruzin

On 3/31/2023 at 4:43 PM, Keith1010 said:

Used to be Dryers. Then switched to Ben and Jerry’s.  
 

Keith. 

Can’t tell you how I will miss that lychee sorbet.💔

I realize these single cabins are not in the ideal location for most people. I personally like to feel the motion of the ocean; so forward deck seven appeals to me. I was just thinking back 8-10 years ago, when I was having a conversation with the south Florida DSM for CRYSTAL at a travel expo. I mentioned that I would be tickled pink if there were solo cabins on CRYSTAL ships. Her reply was, "that will never happen".   I don’t know whether I was more disappointed or offended. Obviously, they were having no problem with single bookings with the quite favorable supplement at that time.  I have received a couple of quotes for those cabins; and I am very pleased with the rates they’re offering. 

On 4/6/2023 at 7:02 PM, goldengatecruisers said:

Becky!!!  I am so happy to see you post.  It has been quite a while since I have seen your comments and I thought possibly you had left the CC community.   I hope you are well and enjoying life.  I know we will cross paths again on a future Crystal voyage.

 

Ashley

Hey Ashley, how you guys doin’?  Nice to see you & MayB & Keith.  I have been off CC for a good while.  Life had gotten quite hectic; starting to ease up a bit.  Still cruising; just not often enough.  So excited & hopeful that I will get the chance to reconnect w/ OLD Crystal friends. 

On 3/25/2023 at 2:07 PM, hypercafe said:

.………..They have a whole new ship and shore side staff that has never worked together under the new company…………………

I would like to point out one positive perspective, if I may.  NC will not be starting w/ an all new shipboard/shoreside staff.  A hefty percentage of the onboard staff & crew will be coming back.  And after a long conversation this afternoon w/ my OC shoreside cruise consultant, I also learned that a lot (exact % unknown) of the off sales staff have already returned. We’ll never know what incentives the crew might have been promised for their returning.  But their supposed loyalty speaks volumes to me.  They were abruptly let go; & had to scramble to find comparable employment.  Yet they seem to be eager to rejoin the OC crew family.  Maybe they were not appreciated enough or adequately rewarded financially at their new posts.  For me, those friendly faces & their impeccable service were much more important to some, than their supposed old vessels.  The fact that these ships are the perfect size, layout & level of comfort (IMHO), I’ll take those old sisters any day over almost any new build.  

Beef carpaccio hasn’t been the same since…….

I more than got my money’s worth out of that cappuccino machine in the studio lounge.

I had 28 by mid afternoon. Deleted them before I ever took notice of what the time span was.

That’s too bad. Went to rib night at Osheehans and it was very good. Sometimes I just don’t want the process of the MDR and that hit the spot

I inquired about ribs & prime rib in O'S last week on Jade. The hostess told me that they don't offer that on their "smaller" ships any more. I was disappointed, as well.

I was very pleased with my one & only Moderno experience on the Getaway several yrs ago. I am a serious carnivore (rare please)! My one misstep was enjoying the salad buffet too much. They had put out an impressive selection, beautifully presented; & IMO delicious. Wish I had left more room for MEAT. I've been looking forward to a repeat peformance on an upcoming Jade voyage. Now.....I'm concerned. I will try to lower my expectations a bit.

A friend & I booked a last minute cruise which stops in Bonaire on 12/4. Leisurely ambling around the island in a golf cart sounds like a excellent idea. However, with 2 ships in port that day, it may be too late to secure an actual booking with Debbie. Since no one has mentioned trying to do this excursion on a rainy day, I have to ask if they offer any snap on/zip on type curtain for protection should there be inclement weather. Tks for any/all input.

I also love Moderno.

I'm a bit surprised at the Pax count. Being one of the 52 cabins affected by the A/C debacle, I was disappointed that Guest Relations did not offer us other accommodations. Maybe they were all occupied by non-revenue guests. We were told "the ship was full". And I didn't realize that I had missed some of those rainbows, until I read your review.

I have to admire the way you link successive cruises together. Have a(nother) great cruise.

Yep, Roy is my idol....it takes a lot of time & research to create a travel adventures like this.

Anne, glad you are sharing your adventure w/ us. Looking forward to it.....safe travels.

Loved it all; & I appreciate the time and effort to share your journey w/ us.

I understand brands of tea would be a very personal thing. I never really cared for hot teas until I sailed on Crystal. Then I just got so addicted to celebration tea & green tea passion. I have since ordered directly from Mighty Leaf; & keep some stashed in the fridge for special occasions. My tea drinking guests seem to appreciate it.

Claudia,

From looking at the coffee/tea menu, it appears they are not offering Mighty Leaf teas. Is that the case? I've grown quite fond of their Celebration tea.

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for.

Two things to consider for your options : the ship, and the date.

 

.....At this time of year, it is the polar night in the North, which means the sun doesn't rise during the day. But it doesn't mean 24 hours night. You get a couple of hours of sunrise-like lights, followed by a couple of hours of sunset. If the mountains are covered in snow (it should be the case, but in some recent years the snow was really late), it gives very special lights and colors. I was on a trip with Hurtigruten for Christmas 2010 and had a great time, and I fell in love with the winter lights in the North which I found absolutely fascinating. And long nights mean more chances to see the Northern Lights......

Approximately what time of day would these hours of "dawn" & "dusk" occur during the winter months? Thanks

I started cruising in the late 60's on NCL's "white ships". And to think that the Starward & Skyward were a big deal back then. When I finally got to sail on the ss Norway, I got a glimpse of the grandeur of ocean travel (even if it was island hopping in the Caribbean). With it's glass enclosed promenade on Int'l Deck (especially breathtaking when bedecked with a dozen or so themed Christmas trees during the holidays); the 2-story Club Int'l with marble statues & columns, those elegant staircases descending into the dining rooms. She was such a beauty in her heyday.

I think they may be been the first to offer optional specialty dining in Le Bistro. That was truly haute cuisine. Sailing her was like living a fairy tale; & I was blessed to sail her many more times. Being a rabid Wheel of Fortune fan, I was one of the first to book the Wheel of Fortune cruise in 1990. They held tryouts onboard; & I was so nervous that I failed the first round test. But it was a thrill to see Vanna out & about onboard. Pat didn't sail with us because his wife was expecting a baby at any second.

I love all cruising; but I'll take the sleek ocean liner body over today's ginormous, boxy behemoths any day. Nothing looks quite so graceful as a long pointy bow & tapered stern slicing through the ocean waves. I will continue to miss her.

Of course I will have my camera with me... how much trouble is it to ask a fellow cruise guest to take a picture of my husband and me?

I would do it for someone and not think anything of it. I love pictures and taking pictures...I always try and do the best I can for someone so they will be happy with their picture.

In so doing this...I get a memory to keep and make a new friend, too!

I usually travel solo; & I love photography. My "MO" is to keep an eye out for a couple trying to take photos of each other or a group of "friends" taking turns shooting the group. I walk up to them & simply ask "Would you like for me to take a picture of you together?" They're usually grateful; & then turn around & ask if they can return the favor. Since I'm never in my own photos, I take them up on their offer. Don't be shy.

You may not get full credit for all your voyages. My first cruises were in 1969 & 1970 on the Starward & the Skyward. I had 112 day prior to boarding Getaway last month. I had input all the pertinent info on the website; & found they only gave me credit for 80 some odd days. I inquired at the Lattitude Desk while onboard; & was told that the Latitude program wasn't started until the early 90's. In their opinion, I was lucky to be given credit for some of those early cruises prior to the start of the program.

I wish the security lady at pier C in MIA had read that memo. Last month when boarding Getaway, SHE confiscated 6 (store bought & sealed) packages of Lance peanut butter crackers. Even though I told her I need to eat something before I take my morning medicine, she couldn't care less. I was not happy. In retrospect, I wish I had put them in my big bag & eaten the crumbs later.

Funny that you mentioned the coffee......we found the iced tea so strong it looked like cola in the glass. We finally filled the glass 1/2 & 1/2. Maybe a lot of people prefer stronger coffee & tea. The rest of us can always water it down.

6.00am - "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, MY ONLY SUNSHINE........"

 

6.01am - "MAN OVERBOARD !!"

There are times I wish there was a "like" button.