Impressions from Crystal Symphony from Istanbul to Monaco:

[BWIVince]

Is anyone else old enough to remember when Symphony's library wasn't in the atrium (before the 2004 refit)?  😊 

 

Vince

[travelberlin]

1 hour ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

That was fake news. The casino will be where the bridge lounge is located.

Thanks Patty. 
Ivi

[travelberlin]

13 minutes ago, BWIVince said:

Is anyone else old enough to remember when Symphony's library wasn't in the atrium (before the 2004 refit)?  😊 

 

Vince

Not me Vince 😃 I am happy to report that I am younger than that 😎

 

Ivi

[Keith1010]

18 minutes ago, BWIVince said:

Is anyone else old enough to remember when Symphony's library wasn't in the atrium (before the 2004 refit)?  😊 

 

Vince

Vince, my first Symphony cruise was in 2003 and then in 2004 when it crossed from Dover to New York with a maiden call to Greenland.  I have to be honest that I would have used the library both times but can't remember where it was. Maybe too old so I can't remember. LOL.

 

Keith

[BWIVince]

5 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Vince, my first Symphony cruise was in 2003 and then in 2004 when it crossed from Dover to New York with a maiden call to Greenland.  I have to be honest that I would have used the library both times but can't remember where it was. Maybe too old so I can't remember. LOL.

 

Keith

 

That's fair, that was a long time ago!  😄

 

The photo shop and displays were where the library is today, and the library was where the CU@Sea is today (though larger).  They flipped the CU@Sea to where the library was, created the Studio where the CU@Sea was, and moved the wall so the Studio was larger than the CU@Sea was.  They then refit the corridor outside the Starlite (which was still enclosed for 2 more years) as the photo gallery and built the photo shop desk at the aft end, and rebuild the original photo shop and gallery at the starboard midship gangway as the library.

 

2004 was Symphony's first "big" refit -- that was also the year they expanded the spa, gutted the dining room (the first time, when they got rid of the Harmony-style decor), added the Vintage Room, converted the TV's to DVDs, and did a soft goods refit of the staterooms and suites...  Among other things.

 

Vince

[ryndam]

Well, if we're going down memory lane, and sorta hijacking Ivi's thread, here are some vintage pics of Symphony's original Caesar's casino.

 

Rob

 

[TheKingD]

Vince @BWIVince, I am almost certain I'm older than you are, and I was on Symphony three times before the 2004 refit.  Your memory of the ship's details is amazing to me, and I do not have that much recall, but I do remember the library in its former location.  I hope I get to meet you next week on the Serenity, and I'm bringing my list of all my cruises because there is a chance we travelled together at some point, even though we didn't know it then.  I started on the Symphony and I am sorry missed out on the Harmony, but I've been on the Serenity many times.

 

Cindy

[BWIVince]

Thanks Rob!  To help everyone with the orientation, the statue was at the aft entrance from the Avenue of the Stars/Crystal Plaza, so the first pic is looking straight forward through to the forward elevator lobby and Galaxy.  That whole aft panhandle is what later became Luxe, and now Jade.

 

Vince

[BWIVince]

1 minute ago, TheKingD said:

Vince @BWIVince, I am almost certain I'm older than you are, and I was on Symphony three times before the 2004 refit.  Your memory of the ship's details is amazing to me, and I do not have that much recall, but I do remember the library in its former location.  I hope I get to meet you next week on the Serenity, and I'm bringing my list of all my cruises because there is a chance we travelled together at some point, even though we didn't know it then.  I started on the Symphony and I am sorry missed out on the Harmony, but I've been on the Serenity many times.

 

Cindy

 

I'd love that Cindy!!  Looking forward to it!

 

Vince

 

[Cruiselover51]

4 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Ivi, Patty is correct.

 

On Symphony Bridge moves to the Lounge. On Serenity Bridge moves to the Library and Library moves to the Lounge  The CEO was clear that this was the only option on Serenity.

 

Keith

Hello, here is what is written on Crystal Society Family Facebook:

*Casino Update*

Greetings Crystal Society Members,

After listening to your feedback regarding the casino since our announcement yesterday, we have a few updates to share:

· The Library will remain where it is on both ships and not be changed.

· Bridge will be played in the Lounge on both ships during designated Bridge Hours. For tournaments, we will ensure that there is no flow of passengers through the Lounge to guarantee no interruptions during play. Additionally, Bridge play equipment will be provided in The Lounge during this time.

While we appreciate everyone’s feedback, no further modifications will be made, and this is the final configuration.

We hope you are as excited as we are about bringing back the casinos to Crystal.

 

FYI.

[Keith1010]

8 minutes ago, Cruiselover51 said:

Hello, here is what is written on Crystal Society Family Facebook:

*Casino Update*

Greetings Crystal Society Members,

After listening to your feedback regarding the casino since our announcement yesterday, we have a few updates to share:

· The Library will remain where it is on both ships and not be changed.

· Bridge will be played in the Lounge on both ships during designated Bridge Hours. For tournaments, we will ensure that there is no flow of passengers through the Lounge to guarantee no interruptions during play. Additionally, Bridge play equipment will be provided in The Lounge during this time.

While we appreciate everyone’s feedback, no further modifications will be made, and this is the final configuration.

We hope you are as excited as we are about bringing back the casinos to Crystal.

 

FYI.

Yes. FYI I posted this on the Casino thread.

 

 

Keith

[travelberlin]

For all those who are happy about a casino again on Crystal ships, this picture is at the entrance of the formal casino. It looks appropriate with the dress code at the Montecarlo casino 🎰. I am not a gambler and I don’t think I will be seen around the place. But I am happy for those who wanted to have the Casinos back. 

 

[travelberlin]

Yesterday we were in Volos. I have booked a ship’s excursion to an archaeological Museum and to the village of Makrynitsa. The excursion was Ok but I do not think that I would book it again. The drive to Makrynitsa was an adventure up and down the hill in a large bus, encountering other large buses on our way and in a narrow street. Maybe it would have been better to take smaller buses for this excursion. Since we anchored, the drive on the tender boat was also an adventure. I kept bumping my head against the wall of the tender boat. Symphony has the smallest tender boats I have experienced until now. 

Back to the ship, hungry,  at around 14.00, I went to have lunch at the Marketplace. My experience at lunch time at the marketplace were, with exception of the day of embarkation, until now quite disappointing. Few offers sitting a long time, like in all buffets… And Tastes with its quesadillas, spaghetti bolognese and the like is not really an alternative to me. I find food at lunch time on port days a weakness on the ships. 
 

Fortunately there is tea time at the Palm Court between 15.30 and 16.30. I went to have the tea. After that, I was happy again and listening to Louis singing while we left Volos, I was thankful of being on this wonderful world. 
 

[Stickman1990]

Enjoying following along - thanks for posting

I hear it was a bit rough today for tendering due to strong winds - did it end up being a sea day?

Any chance of posting a few of the Reflections (they should be available as PDF's to download via the Crystal web you can access onboard

[travelberlin]

We have anchored quite far from the port in Mykonos. Strong winds did not allow for us to debark at the expected time of around 8.00. Announcements were made indicating the port was going to send larger tender boats. I was happy about that. Unfortunately it didn’t happen.
 

Actually the port was canceled and I have decided to make the best of a sea day. I went to the Bistro to enjoy the Portuguese tarts and I went to the Spa to have my nails done.

 

Short before noon, an announcement was made again that it was possible to go to town now. I have looked around and the waters remain rough for me but I assume it is safe to go now. I have asked if we were using the ships tenders and at what time was last tender. Yes the ships tender boats are being used and the last tender is at 17.00. With that information, I have decided not to go. Not again a rough ride for me today for just some hours under the sun. I have been in Mykonos about 35 years ago for a long stay when I was young and beautiful. I was very much looking forward to being there again but I guess it will have to be another time. 
 

Waiting for my lunch at Waterside, which apparently is going to be opened today for lunch. Lucky me ☺️ 
 

Edited Thursday at 09:21 AM by travelberlin

[travelberlin]

1 hour ago, Stickman1990 said:

Enjoying following along - thanks for posting

I hear it was a bit rough today for tendering due to strong winds - did it end up being a sea day?

Any chance of posting a few of the Reflections (they should be available as PDF's to download via the Crystal web you can access onboard

Thanks Terry for following my cruise. I am afraid that I will not post Reflections. I hope someone else might do it. I am quite busy now posting here and for my friends in Facebook. My internet connection in my room does not allow me to post pictures and I have to go to other places to do it. 
 

Besides that, I am still not very good with posting. At least I am able to post pictures now. I remember many years ago, I couldn’t do that and you were so kind to me that I would send the pictures to you and you would post them at Cruise Critic for me. Remember? It was a 35 nights Oceania cruise from San Diego to the Amazon River. Amazing…

 

Ivi

[travelberlin]

Staring a new day onboard the Symphony…

 

 

[travelberlin]

Yesterday was a sea day on our way from Mykonos to Siracusa. As usual plenty of activities on board. I have just taken it easy and finished reading my first book onboard. 

I had a very good lunch at Waterside and in the evening I decided to try Tastes. 
 

The meal at Tastes was very good. I had the Gambas al Ajillo, the Chimichurri steak and a nice version of the Key lime pie. A nice Primitivo wine from Puglia (a region I love in Italy) accompanied my steak and a  Spätlese from Austria my dessert. 
 

Edited 16 hours ago by travelberlin

[Keith1010]

Ivi,

 

That key lime pie looks great.

 

Keith

[History&Wine]

I found many of the desserts at Waterside looked great but tasted ordinary.  The desserts at Tastes were few but very good.

[vistaman]

On 6/26/2024 at 9:01 PM, ryndam said:

Well, if we're going down memory lane, and sorta hijacking Ivi's thread, here are some vintage pics of Symphony's original Caesar's casino.

 

Rob

 

I remember it very well - and before all in  some pax were "hanging around" in the casino as the basic drinks were free  -