Is anyone booked on the Inaugural Crystal Serenity cruise? No Roll Call yet

[Stickman1990]

I find it interesting that there seems that whilst there’s an underlying buzz about the inaugural Serenity cruise in July ( https://crystalcruises.com/cruises/return-to-service-cse-012-230731 ) no one has started a Roll Call for it (in fact there’s a very low count of roll calls for any of the future Crystal cruises)

 

Are roll calls a “thing” anymore?

 

Don’t be shy - who is booked for the inaugural cruise in late July? 
 

The roll calls can be found at:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2616-crystal-serenity-roll-calls/

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2617-crystal-symphony-roll-calls/

[nancygp]

With all the excitement about the New Crystal and sailings returning this summer, I’m so surprised there are so few posts on the roll calls

 

Nancy

Edited March 16, 2023 by nancygp

[Roland4]

2 hours ago, nancygp said:

With all the excitement about the New Crystal and sailings returning this summer, I’m so surprised there are so few posts on the roll calls

 

Nancy

Perhaps, like me, people are holding back because they are sceptical that Crystal will meet the launch dates!!!!!

[schmoodle]

1 hour ago, Roland4 said:

Perhaps, like me, people are holding back because they are sceptical that Crystal will meet the launch dates!!!!!

 

Oh! Good info. Thanks

 

Are the roll calls here or on Facebook or maybe on the Crustal website?

[wearesiamese]

There is a tab at the top of the page that says “find your roll call” and click on that and the different cruise lines will be displayed

Edited March 16, 2023 by wearesiamese

[Mr Luxury]

9 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

I find it interesting that there seems that whilst there’s an underlying buzz about the inaugural Serenity cruise in July ( https://crystalcruises.com/cruises/return-to-service-cse-012-230731 ) no one has started a Roll Call for it (in fact there’s a very low count of roll calls for any of the future Crystal cruises)

 

Are roll calls a “thing” anymore?

 

Don’t be shy - who is booked for the inaugural cruise in late July? 
 

The roll calls can be found at:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2616-crystal-serenity-roll-calls/

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2617-crystal-symphony-roll-calls/

It's a Poker game.

Nobody's showing any signs

[travelberlin]

10 hours ago, Roland4 said:

Perhaps, like me, people are holding back because they are sceptical that Crystal will meet the launch dates!!!!!

I am holding it back because inaugural sailings or sailings immediately after a dry dock have usually unfinished venues, work onboard the ship continues, crew are still trying to learn, etc. 
I am also holding it back because I prefer to wait for honest reviews, which show the positive, negative and need for improvement aspects before we go for spending a lot of money on well known itineraries (been on those port of calls several times) which are quite competitive and where several cruise lines offer good deals (including solo deals).

Ivi

[Cruise-y]

53 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

I am holding it back because inaugural sailings or sailings immediately after a dry dock have usually unfinished venues, work onboard the ship continues, crew are still trying to learn, etc. 
 

Endeavor is a prime example. But I don’t think inaugural cruisers will care. 

Edited March 16, 2023 by Cruise-y

[ctjon]

Some people also don't want to publish what cruise they are on and do not do meet and greets.

[Stickman1990]

1 minute ago, ctjon said:

Some people also don't want to publish what cruise they are on and do not do meet and greets.

Sure - but right now we have ZERO who admit to being booked on the inaugural 

 

Just seems a little strange to me 

 

But maybe it also confirms just how few a number of cruisers actually use Cruise Critic 

[Stereojeff]

We're booked on both Regent and Silversea as early as this May and the roll-call action there is also nil. Seems their time has come and gone.

 

Jeff

[bitob]

For us, the purpose of roll calls was to organize private excursions - to get a group of 6 or 8.

Nowadays many of the cruise lines include excursions so folks don't opt for private (mistake IMO) and we are willing to hire a private guide for the just the 2 of us if we are not traveling with our usual group of friends.  I'm not sure of the purpose of the roll call.

[Texas Tillie]

I’d never book a private excursion with others I didn’t know. Too afraid I’d end up with someone with issues. At least on the cruise ship excursions and the large coaches, you can get away from the ones who are nuts. The coach is large and there are 20 plus others to hang with. 🤪😵‍💫😱

 

Patty

[jbandkb]

I have noticed a precipitous drop in active rolls calls across other lines we've been sailing.  They are there but months can go by with nary a word.

Edited March 16, 2023 by jbandkb

[Mr Luxury]

3 hours ago, travelberlin said:

I am holding it back because inaugural sailings or sailings immediately after a dry dock have usually unfinished venues, work onboard the ship continues, crew are still trying to learn, etc. 
I am also holding it back because I prefer to wait for honest reviews, which show the positive, negative and need for improvement aspects before we go for spending a lot of money on well known itineraries (been on those port of calls several times) which are quite competitive and where several cruise lines offer good deals (including solo deals).

Ivi

Me too

[bitob]

3 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

I’d never book a private excursion with others I didn’t know. Too afraid I’d end up with someone with issues. At least on the cruise ship excursions and the large coaches, you can get away from the ones who are nuts. The coach is large and there are 20 plus others to hang with. 🤪😵‍💫😱

 

Patty

I did it for years without an issue.  Some of my best cruising friends are folks we met on shore excursions we organized.  I would never be on a bus with 20 strangers.  Different strokes.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Some of our best cruises ever with private excursions booked with strangers. We did a 28 Day cruise where every port we booked private.  We did have a couple of people we wouldn't spend more than a few hours with (and the one guy that forgot his wallet).  And they guy whose companions went shopping so did they didn't return on time, but, he at least came to tell us. But the few out weighed the risk.

 

[bitob]

My favorite story about the lunatic we had on a private tour involved a private tour to Luxor from Safaga.

 

Can you think of a more magical or fascinating place?  One guy kept asking if we would get back in time for Happy Hour - 2 for 1 drinks -- it was an Oceania cruise where alcohol was not included.  Needless to say, we did not get back in time.  You can't make this stuff up.

[travelberlin]

5 minutes ago, bitob said:

My favorite story about the lunatic we had on a private tour involved a private tour to Luxor from Safaga.

 

Can you think of a more magical or fascinating place?  One guy kept asking if we would get back in time for Happy Hour - 2 for 1 drinks -- it was an Oceania cruise where alcohol was not included.  Needless to say, we did not get back in time.  You can't make this stuff up.

In Safaga I took a ship’s excursion to visit Luxor and the Valley of the Kings because it mentioned that due to security reasons we had to be escorted by an armed guard. Our escort slept the whole time 😀.

Ivi

Edited March 16, 2023 by travelberlin

[May B]

21 hours ago, schmoodle said:

 

Oh! Good info. Thanks

 

Are the roll calls here or on Facebook or maybe on the Crustal website?

See post #1 of this thread to find the CC ones. I haven’t gone looking for any on that other, bigger site.

 

I do, however, have very good friends on the inaugural of Serenity. They were the reason Mr B and I tried Crystal in the first place.

Edited March 17, 2023 by May B

[joepeggy]

We are also booked on the Inaugural Cruise on Serenity in late July with our niece and her husband and looking for information on booking shore excursions and dining.  Can't find anywhere on the website to book dining or excursions.  Does anyone have any information on whether you have to contact Crystal directly or go through your travel agent?

 

We sailed on Crystal Serenity several times before the bankruptcy and are excited to get back on board.

[bayonejoe]

We are booked on the inaugural Serenity cruise and have several friends who will also be on.

we are currently on Silvermoon, and have met a number of Crystal refugees. The majority of which will be on the inaugural Serenity cruise. 
As far as a casino, the one on moon is the size of a large closet. Doesn’t seem worth the bother.

Our experience so far on SS is positive . Food and wine  much better than our experience on Regent Navagator last fall.

If Crystal were not coming back, SS would be a contender for our new cruise line.

[Keith1010]

2 hours ago, joepeggy said:

We are also booked on the Inaugural Cruise on Serenity in late July with our niece and her husband and looking for information on booking shore excursions and dining.  Can't find anywhere on the website to book dining or excursions.  Does anyone have any information on whether you have to contact Crystal directly or go through your travel agent?

 

We sailed on Crystal Serenity several times before the bankruptcy and are excited to get back on board.

Crystal will  be rolling out the capability to book excursions, specialty restaurant reservations and other reservations such as spa and salon and also provide information such as passports etc.  

 

Keith

[travelberlin]

2 hours ago, joepeggy said:

We are also booked on the Inaugural Cruise on Serenity in late July with our niece and her husband and looking for information on booking shore excursions and dining.  Can't find anywhere on the website to book dining or excursions.  Does anyone have any information on whether you have to contact Crystal directly or go through your travel agent?

 

We sailed on Crystal Serenity several times before the bankruptcy and are excited to get back on board.

Please kindly post your review or impressions on this inaugural cruise of the A&K Crystal if you have the time? 
Ivi

[joepeggy]

On 3/19/2023 at 3:12 PM, travelberlin said:

Please kindly post your review or impressions on this inaugural cruise of the A&K Crystal if you have the time? 
Ivi

I will definitely post a review after sailing.