Suggestions To Crystal

[Roland4]

25 minutes ago, Summer Time said:

Besides using cellphone to adjust hearing aids. Cochlear implant recipients use cellphone to stream and adjust sound levels on their processors. 😊

 

you learn something new!!

Interesting. Not knowing anyone with either, I learn something new every day. Thanks.

[skybluewaters]

3 hours ago, Whipsnade said:

Check cellphones at entrance to Waterside?

 

Goodness, gracious, then how would I take all those pictures of my food?

[Kane]

From discussion, Crystal seems to be the holdout for the good old days.

 

I always thought the ambassador hosts were a good idea, even though I had (and still have) my wife to dance with.  Ballroom dancing seems to have pretty much vanished everywhere else ... swing or stay seated.🙁  I am, however, really glad the "Tux era" has gone by the wayside. 

 

I was really surprised to hear that staff photographers were still going strong on Crystal.  Maybe the art auctions will make a comeback. It seems casinos have. 😁

Edited July 16 by Kane

[Keith1010]

14 hours ago, Rosso Testa said:

I see you were onboard for 24 days. I have a question about the dress code. We are on one of the Crystal Journeys for 38 days. There are NO formal evenings, all the cruises joining us are 7 days. Are men wearing tuxedos? The white nights look popular. Maybe ditch the tux and bring more white clothes? 

I just looked at the cruises you are on. If I am looking at this correctly your 38 night cruise includes two 11 night cruises, one 7 night cruise and one 10 night cruise. So you should have at least 3 formal nights.  

If you go to my account and click on my reservations and then click on view itinerary dress code you should see which nights are formal. If none show, then I would have your TA contact on board guest services to verify which nights are formal.

 

With each passing year less men wear tuxedos for a variety of reasons. If there is one formal night on a cruise then often people don't want to bring clothing specific to one evening and might bring something else.  But in the end, it does vary by cruise.  You will have a white night on each of the four cruises.  And with each passing year sailing Crystal I see more people wearing something white as people have recognized that there is a white night on their cruise.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

I suspect that the suggestion to check all cell phones at Waterside was a joke.  If not, it's not going to happen.

 

I think the point that was made is that if this is a problem (I say I think because I rarely have seen people at dinner on cell phones) that Crystal can put something in Reflections as they do for other things.  I also recommend that if you are at dinner and this happens and it bothers you to simple ask for the Head Water to come by and point it out to him/her.

 

In all our years of sailing Crystal I don't think I could count on a couple of fingers when I have been at dinner and someone was talking on the phone. I would say on occasion we have experienced some cases where some people at a table talking very loud and that has been bothersome but it's all part of the experience when you chose to cruise with lots of people. I would also tell you that this happen on land at restaurants.  

 

As I've said people are people.  I am suer we are all guilty in some way too.

 

Keith

[Whipsnade]

Joke. Joke. Joke. 
Can you imagine the tie up if you had to check cellphones at the door??!! We would probably all miss our dinner or be late for the show. 
Regarding formal nights:  I always bring tux and dinner jacket so I have at least two formal outfits. Always get compliments. Hard to teach an old dog new tricks. 

[Rosso Testa]

7 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

I just looked at the cruises you are on. If I am looking at this correctly your 38 night cruise includes two 11 night cruises, one 7 night cruise and one 10 night cruise. So you should have at least 3 formal nights.  

If you go to my account and click on my reservations and then click on view itinerary dress code you should see which nights are formal. If none show, then I would have your TA contact on board guest services to verify which nights are formal.

 

With each passing year less men wear tuxedos for a variety of reasons. If there is one formal night on a cruise then often people don't want to bring clothing specific to one evening and might bring something else.  But in the end, it does vary by cruise.  You will have a white night on each of the four cruises.  And with each passing year sailing Crystal I see more people wearing something white as people have recognized that there is a white night on their cruise.

 

Keith

Thanks so much for the info Keith!

[daleandrews]

We are departing on a 23 day cruise -- Quebec City to Barbados -- on October 26.  It's sold as one cruise but is actually 2 back to backs.  Interestingly, the itinerary posted by Crystal shows no formal nights.  This is fine with me -- haven't put on a tux in decades -- but it seems a bit inconsistent with the formal night scheduling reported by others. I'm wondering if this is an indication of Crystal stepping back from formal nights on its itineraries.

[ryndam]

33 minutes ago, daleandrews said:

We are departing on a 23 day cruise -- Quebec City to Barbados -- on October 26.  It's sold as one cruise but is actually 2 back to backs.  Interestingly, the itinerary posted by Crystal shows no formal nights.  This is fine with me -- haven't put on a tux in decades -- but it seems a bit inconsistent with the formal night scheduling reported by others. I'm wondering if this is an indication of Crystal stepping back from formal nights on its itineraries.

We are on the b2b FLL-Barbados-FLL, November 9-27, 2024. There is one "black tie optional" listed for each of the two 9-day b2b cruises. If you go to your online Crystal booking account, under "My Reservations" there is a tab marked "View Itinerary Dress Code". That will show each suggested dress for each evening of your booked cruise.

 

Rob

 

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Edited July 16 by ryndam
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[Whipsnade]

There is always a “black tie optional” night on every segment. You will find about 40% in formal attire that evening. The balance always wear at least a jacket and tie. 

[ryndam]

2 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

There is always a “black tie optional” night on every segment. 

Only on cruises greater than 7 days in duration.

[daleandrews]

1 hour ago, ryndam said:

There is one "black tie optional" listed for each of the two 9-day b2b cruises. If you go to your online Crystal booking account, under "My Reservations" there is a tab marked "View Itinerary Dress Code". That will show each suggested dress for each evening of your booked cruise.

 

That is precisely what I did to check out the suggested dress code.  On our cruise, even though some days overlap with yours, every night shows up as casual. So there must be a glitch on Crystal's part.

[skybluewaters]

1 hour ago, daleandrews said:

every night shows up as casual. So there must be a glitch on Crystal's part.

 

This is a well-known glitch.  Well-known to some passengers, but apparently not to Crystal

[Whipsnade]

I wouldn’t worry about it as long as you have a jacket and tie you will be fine. But no flip flops, please. 

[krb1000]

8 hours ago, Whipsnade said:

There is always a “black tie optional” night on every segment. You will find about 40% in formal attire that evening. The balance always wear at least a jacket and tie. 

On our recent (June 24-July 9) Serenity sailing, less than 15% or so in formal attire …and many in jackets sans ties. (Ties are not required). 

[Whipsnade]

Sadly, end of an era. Rules and norms don’t seem to matter much any longer. That is why we try to stick to longer cruises where gentility and decorum usually still prevail. Personally I still enjoy dressing up. Wife as well. Looking forward to our long cruise in Symphony this fall. 

[Keith1010]

13 hours ago, daleandrews said:

 

That is precisely what I did to check out the suggested dress code.  On our cruise, even though some days overlap with yours, every night shows up as casual. So there must be a glitch on Crystal's part.

I would suggest that you have your TA or you can do this yourself write to on board guest services to have them confirm the dates for the formal evenings.  Their e-mail address is:

 

obgs@crystalcruises.com

 

Keith

 

 

[ctjon]

I think one of the issues is that there are very few places and evens that require or suggest formal attire these days and so people just don't have them.  You used to even be able to rent men's formal attire on the ship,  I can't see buying formal for a ship trip if suit is OK. I remember years ago on formal nights there was a passenger who showed up in jeans and no one from the crew told him not allowed.

[Whipsnade]

I hope that wasn’t Crystal!!

I do recall a cruise where none of my shoes, including black velvet evening shoes made it on board and I had only pool sandals which I did wear with tux on first formal night. The next day, without being asked, Concierge loaned me a pair of officer’s black patent leather shoes. 
Now that is Crystal!!

[ctjon]

48 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

I hope that wasn’t Crystal!!

 

 

 

It was Crystal

 

 

Edited July 17 by ctjon

[Cjohns16]

Having completed 70 cruises over a period 40 years, I have seen many changes, some good  , others not so. I am not a brand folllower, although  I have met many who are. Back in the 1980s on Cunard ocean liners,  every sea day was a Black Tie. If you did not  want to comply then the main dining room suggested eating in Kings Court tonight. Now on Crystal  cruises,  if on gala nights , say 40% want to dress formal, how about assigning say the starboard  side for those dressing formal and port side or the others. Crystal does not used the market place in the evening, although Crystal old did.

[Whipsnade]

I happen to agree with you. On Cunard of old it was black tie every night in Grill Class. Loved it 

I am 85 and on my third tuxedo. Bought first one for the price of two rentals. Have retired three formal shirts over the years. I think a gentleman should always try to dress like a gentleman. The ladies seem to like it too although I don’t catch many any longer. 

[Kane]

Ah yes, the good old days aboard Crystal. 

 

I definitely recall packing Tux, Business suit, and Blazer for different dress evening standards.  Cummerbunds, bat wing shirts, and other neckwear gee-gaws along with the three padded shoulder jackets required two suitcases (steamer trunk?).

 

Apologies, but I'm glad those days are in the past.

[Tubthumper down]

I should be able to Facetime with Tubthumper at dinner on formal nights because he is a Tuxedo cat !!!

[Cjohns16]

I think those who want to dine in casual mode really should swip right and dine port side. This also includes those who need to face time and shout with loud voices.