TER777 Posted March 10, 2023 #51 Share Posted March 10, 2023 7 hours ago, bitob said: I have heard a rumor that there might now only be one agency left. Were they owed money? Were they stiffed? I cannot imagine it is a fortune. Easily remedied if the NC is willng to pay that debt to get the bridge program back. YES -- I know they don't have responsibility for the debt. No. No money is owed. That is not how the bridge etc brokers/instructors programs are structured. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History&Wine Posted March 10, 2023 #52 Share Posted March 10, 2023 The ATM was located in the casino. I guess no casino, no ATM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txcotn Posted March 11, 2023 #53 Share Posted March 11, 2023 55 minutes ago, TER777 said: Ballroom dancing to live music! And live music in the Palm Court till? 55 minutes ago, TER777 said: Ballroom dancing to live music! And live music in the Palm Court till? Ballroom dancing - fine but not our thing - DH can't dance🤯 Palm Court? Lovely but a real snooze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChatKat in Ca. Posted March 11, 2023 #54 Share Posted March 11, 2023 9 hours ago, bitob said: One "fly in the ointment" with respect to the bridge program is what happened with the two agencies who provided the ACBL certified directors when Crystal went under. At the time there were only 2 agencies who could provide ACBL sanctioned games. I have heard a rumor that there might now only be one agency left. Were they owed money? Were they stiffed? I cannot imagine it is a fortune. Easily remedied if the NC is willng to pay that debt to get the bridge program back. YES -- I know they don't have responsibility for the debt. There are 2 different sources of Bridge Directors. The "charter" Cruises you can find in the ACBL Magazine where the famous bridge instructors come from and they hold the Sectionals at Sea. If you did not book via the Group Bridge Program, you cannot play. There were 2 sources of these instructions/games. One was sold and they had a group on our recent cruise. It was the transition to the new owners/directors and it did not go well. The other well known group is still booking the charter sailings. Regular Passengers who play in the Crystal games also have ACBL sanctioned Bridge Directors and you can earn points just like any land based Bridge Club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare May B Posted March 11, 2023 #55 Share Posted March 11, 2023 (edited) 20 hours ago, ChatKat in Ca. said: There are 2 different sources of Bridge Directors. The "charter" Cruises you can find in the ACBL Magazine where the famous bridge instructors come from and they hold the Sectionals at Sea. If you did not book via the Group Bridge Program, you cannot play. There were 2 sources of these instructions/games. One was sold and they had a group on our recent cruise. It was the transition to the new owners/directors and it did not go well. The other well known group is still booking the charter sailings. Regular Passengers who play in the Crystal games also have ACBL sanctioned Bridge Directors and you can earn points just like any land based Bridge Club. Hi Kathy, I agree that Larry Cohen, Robert Todd and Michael Berkowitz are the best-known instructors. However, their cruises (exclusively run by a travel agency I shall not name, b/c I think it isn’t allowed on Cruise Critic) were Regionals at Sea. I expect they will be up and running as soon as their terms can be negotiated. Unless the infamous owner of that agency carries such a grudge against OC that he refuses to book NC. They have a RaS advertised for December on another cruise line. However, Ginny and Jeff were famous enough that bitob was looking forward to cruising with them, and they were running Crystal’s bridge program. I am personally acquainted with five others who directed/taught in Crystal’s bridge program. Four are very experienced players and teachers, and the other one is a very experienced club director. Edited March 11, 2023 by May B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChatKat in Ca. Posted March 11, 2023 #56 Share Posted March 11, 2023 (edited) But there is another Bridge Sailing Entity that was recently sold. Our friends were on that sailing (with us) but we did not participate. They told us it was a mess. Edited March 11, 2023 by ChatKat in Ca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivyleaguegent Posted March 12, 2023 #57 Share Posted March 12, 2023 On 3/10/2023 at 6:10 PM, TER777 said: Ballroom dancing to live music! And live music in the Palm Court till? One of the primary reasons that Crystal was (is?) our preferred line in its segment!! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare May B Posted March 12, 2023 #58 Share Posted March 12, 2023 17 hours ago, ChatKat in Ca. said: But there is another Bridge Sailing Entity that was recently sold. Our friends were on that sailing (with us) but we did not participate. They told us it was a mess. There are several who run organized bridge, after blocking space (staterooms, and playing space). I’m guessing I know who you mean, as I can only think of one who is new to the market, and they seem to have taken over for the previous couple. That previous couple had a huge number of loyal followers, b/c they did a beautiful job. I actually stopped in to say hi once, on Symphony. Their game was in Prego! The husband was extremely gracious. One year they went directly from the holiday cruise, ending in Miami, to Australia to board the other ship. I was impressed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare May B Posted March 12, 2023 #59 Share Posted March 12, 2023 On 3/10/2023 at 5:25 PM, suzeluvscruz said: On your first point - we aren't big gamblers but do enjoy the casino after a late show. As it looks now, all there is to do after a show is to go somewhere and drink. Unless there is entertainment of some sort (other than the lone piano in the Cove), that leaves the Avenue. Might it be so crowded that no one else can squeeze in? Oh yeah, there's the disco, but we're way too old for that! Dinner, a show (maybe) then off to the suite to read....heck, we can do that at home for a lot less $$$! I was thinking there was a movie in the Hollywood Theatre at 10:30. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txcotn Posted March 12, 2023 #60 Share Posted March 12, 2023 1 hour ago, May B said: I was thinking there was a movie in the Hollywood Theatre at 10:30. There is but not exactly a social venue and most of the movies really sucked. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtA Posted March 12, 2023 #61 Share Posted March 12, 2023 1 hour ago, suzeluvscruz said: There is but not exactly a social venue and most of the movies really sucked. Agree. Most did suck but every once in a while, they'd come up with a gem. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctjon Posted March 12, 2023 #62 Share Posted March 12, 2023 Yeats ago the movies were quite good - the hits just after they left the theaters. Now those same movies are on streaming services so probably a lot harder or much more expensive for a cruise ship to get and show. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crickette Posted March 12, 2023 #63 Share Posted March 12, 2023 Another OC offering that I hope returns “YOU CARE. WE CARE.” CRYSTAL VOLUNTOURISM ADVENTURES. We participated whenever they were offered, and felt these were some of the best excursions we took. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChatKat in Ca. Posted March 12, 2023 #64 Share Posted March 12, 2023 7 hours ago, May B said: There are several who run organized bridge, after blocking space (staterooms, and playing space). I’m guessing I know who you mean, as I can only think of one who is new to the market, and they seem to have taken over for the previous couple. That previous couple had a huge number of loyal followers, b/c they did a beautiful job. I actually stopped in to say hi once, on Symphony. Their game was in Prego! On Serenity they played in the Starlight Lounge on one cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare May B Posted March 13, 2023 #65 Share Posted March 13, 2023 21 hours ago, ChatKat in Ca. said: On Serenity they played in the Starlight Lounge on one cruise. Absolutely, but I don’t think that was the (retired) Salobs. I could be wrong. It was the Regional at Sea, in the daytime, for sure. They have to be in a separate room from Crystal’s bridge program. In the evening the regional moves into the bridge room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted March 27, 2023 Author #66 Share Posted March 27, 2023 I have confirmed there will be a bridge instructor on all Crystal Voyages. Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitob Posted March 27, 2023 #67 Share Posted March 27, 2023 I play bridge on every line. I would be shocked if there is a bridge instructor on cruises without sea days. No cruise line does that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted March 27, 2023 Author #68 Share Posted March 27, 2023 Before I posted the answer about Bridge I checked with the person who would know for sure. Most itineraries I have looked at have at least one sea day. Regardless, this is what I was told. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitob Posted March 27, 2023 #69 Share Posted March 27, 2023 I have never been on a cruise where there was acbl bridge with only 1 sea day maybe crystal will change that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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