Live From Crystal Serenity - The Adventure Continues - LA to NYC

[BEAV]

33 minutes ago, ryndam said:

 

 

5.Service in all dining venues is greatly improved. No long waits anywhere. In fact, our servers have asked us if we prefer quick, sequential courses, or if we prefer a more leisurely service. They are all so accommodating and adjust service to suit the guests’ wishes. 
 

Very happy to hear this. IMO this is luxury service, tailored to each table’s personal preference vs. one set pace for the masses. 
 

When out for dinner on shore, I often communicate to servers at the beginning that we prefer a leisurely pace. In restaurants that indicate a 90 minute maximum per table, I’ll book a later reservation knowing they’re not looking to turn the table. 

[ctjon]

Menus look great.  I know you can request ahead of time but I wonder if Gluten Free stuff will appear on regular menus  Needed in  my house and we see them more and more on regular menus

[BWIVince]

1 hour ago, ryndam said:

Some random observations as we speed down the west coast of Mexico at 21 knots on a beautiful, sunny, calm sea.

 

1. The plastic spoons at the gelato bar have been replaced with real, Italian-made little gelato shovels. Pic below.

 

2. The color of the Crystal logo has been altered to a much lighter shade of teal. The formerly bolder teal has apparently been retired. Pic below of the new cocktail napkins.

 

3. Refillable water bottles are replenished in the cabins. Single-use plastic water bottles are available on request. Pic below.

 

4. The pump mechanism and square shape of the shampoo, conditioner, lotion bottles are still annoying. They are tough to dispense and the pump mechanism is really ill-designed. 
 

5. Service in all dining venues is greatly improved. No long waits anywhere. In fact, our servers have asked us if we prefer quick, sequential courses, or if we prefer a more leisurely service. They are all so accommodating and adjust service to suit the guests’ wishes. We’ve found our Waterside “sweet spot” to be 7-7:15p, have not had any wait for a table and conclude dinner meal around 9p. Enough time to stop by the Cove for a to-go beverage and head to the Galaxy for the 9:30 main stage entertainment.

 

6. What has happened to public decorum? At lunch today in Marketplace, there were a couple of seasoned gentleman wearing only their big cabin bathrobes and the Crystal house slippers. There was a time when guests arriving wearing their bedroom attire would be gently turned away at the door. 
 

7. We enjoy our afternoon walks on Deck 7 as does Captain Birger on sea days around 3pm. He laps us all the time.

 

8. I think the “Prego carpaccio” in on the Waterside menu tonite. Will report later.

 

Rob

 

 

 

All great observations...

 

I had a question about #2...  Did you see that new color from the napkins printed anywhere else?  I loved it on the napkins, but I didn't see the new color used on anything else, so I couldn't tell if it was something in transition, or just a specific use case for it?

 

Complete agreement on #4 re: the amenity bottles.  The square bottles are not designed for "permanent use" like the heavy duty bottles you see with the metal nozzles that are attached to the wall in most hotels these days.  The bottles in my bathroom were clearly not designed for guest room reuse over and over, and the pumps were worn, leaking from/through the valve or not working smoothly.  I didn't mind the new toiletries, but they really need to either invest in proper dispensers or revert back to the metal tubes.

 

Vince

[ryndam]

Today’s afternoon snack. Forgot to photograph yesterday’s before we demolished it. 
 

 

[oakridger]

"Gelato Shovel"  😁

 

@ryndam I'm enjoying the detailed report!  Thank you for the observations and pictures!

 

I'm looking into my possible first return to Crystal in 2026.  After the abrupt shutdown I had made my 2024 and 2025 big travel plans already......like many folks I suspect.

 

~Nancy

 

 

[ryndam]

Reflections attached. Waterside menu not posted yet.

 

Tonight’s dinner was “Prego in Waterside”. Carpaccio. Polenta. Pastas. All the old favorite Italian-American comfort foods. Olive Garden at sea. Not really; sometimes we just want the perfectly executed old favorites. The only favorite not on offer was the bread bowl mushroom soup. But we have been assured it’s coming later in the cruise.

 

Puerto Vallarta arrival on schedule at 10:30am. The crew’s favorite port…Walmart and Sam’s Club across the street from the pier.

 

Rob

93A568F4-2313-4867-B9C3-A65EDC100409.pdf

[USCAdventurer]

Don't forget the great buy on vanilla extract at WalMart!  Great prices compared to the U.S.

[Texas Tillie]

18 minutes ago, USCAdventurer said:

Don't forget the great buy on vanilla extract at WalMart!  Great prices compared to the U.S.

 

Yes, but the vanilla extract sold in Mexico is not equal in quality to the good extract sold in the US. When the ship was there in January, the same brands of tequila at the Walmart were more expensive than the same tequila at Total Wine in the US  😉

 

Patty

Edited August 30 by Texas Tillie

[ryndam]

Tonight’s Waterside menu.

 

 

0C39C5AE-9A0F-4FC9-9B3A-F048F8A40F9F.pdf

[CabinBoy2020]

19 hours ago, ryndam said:

Some random observations as we speed down the west coast of Mexico at 21 knots on a beautiful, sunny, calm sea.

 

1. The plastic spoons at the gelato bar have been replaced with real, Italian-made little gelato shovels. Pic below.

 

2. The color of the Crystal logo has been altered to a much lighter shade of teal. The formerly bolder teal has apparently been retired. Pic below of the new cocktail napkins.

 

3. Refillable water bottles are replenished in the cabins. Single-use plastic water bottles are available on request. Pic below.

 

4. The pump mechanism and square shape of the shampoo, conditioner, lotion bottles are still annoying. They are tough to dispense and the pump mechanism is really ill-designed. 
 

5. Service in all dining venues is greatly improved. No long waits anywhere. In fact, our servers have asked us if we prefer quick, sequential courses, or if we prefer a more leisurely service. They are all so accommodating and adjust service to suit the guests’ wishes. We’ve found our Waterside “sweet spot” to be 7-7:15p, have not had any wait for a table and conclude dinner meal around 9p. Enough time to stop by the Cove for a to-go beverage and head to the Galaxy for the 9:30 main stage entertainment.

 

6. What has happened to public decorum? At lunch today in Marketplace, there were a couple of seasoned gentleman wearing only their big cabin bathrobes and the Crystal house slippers. There was a time when guests arriving wearing their bedroom attire would be gently turned away at the door. 
 

7. We enjoy our afternoon walks on Deck 7 as does Captain Birger on sea days around 3pm. He laps us all the time.

 

8. I think the “Prego carpaccio” in on the Waterside menu tonite. Will report later.

 

Rob

 

 

 

Homage to Crystal … from Dallas.  😉  The matchbox is from the Connoisseur lounge.  
 

Thanks, Ryndam, for your terrific posts. 
 

Bill

[ryndam]

Arriving Puerto Vallarta. We are the only cruise ship in port, so we get the “real pier terminal”. On our last few times here, there was usually a RCCL or Princess ship at this terminal.

 

Walmart and Sam’s club directly across the street. It’s a short 6 hour stay here today. All aboard at 4:30p.

 

Rob

 

 

[goldengatecruisers]

I noticed the light teal color on the napkins when we visited Serenity recently.   I thought at first it was a bad batch from the printer that the ship decided to use as they had them in stock, but seeing comments above it appears Crystal may be playing with colors.   I have to say it was not as striking on the napkin as the former version - it looks too faded and almost disappears next to the white.  

 

Editing to add: I noticed on multiple napkins the logo was not perfectly aligned with the corner which also made me think it was a bad batch from the printer.  I don't recall such inconsistencies with prior napkins.   My OCD kicks in when I see logos and other things misaligned 🤪  Sloppy printing mistakes reminds me of some of the dreadful napkins one now gets on U.S. based airline napkins.

Edited August 30 by goldengatecruisers

[ryndam]

Took longer to navigate the gauntlet of vendors, shops, taxi drivers and tour guides than to cross the street to Sam’s Club. I can understand how this arrangement may be convenient for those 4000 pax megaships. I think I prefer the opposite, alternative berth with just a landing spot for the gangway and the ropes.

 

For comparison shopping: tequila prices on the pier appear to be 25-50% higher than Sam’s club across the street. Tequila prices in CA about 20% lower than Sam’s club here. Tequila prices here are only 10%-15% lower than our prices in TX. Long story/short conclusion: not worth the effort nor the weight to haul any back. 
 

Of course, tequila pours onboard are included and very very generous. 🥃🥃

[ryndam]

Today’s snack. Quite an unusual and unexpected combination of ingredients and flavors. Looking forward to tomorrow’s afternoon culinary adventure. 
 

Rob

 

[oakridger]

@ryndam Thanks for the tequila info!  I have not bought liquor overseas before because I also don't want to carry a heavy bottle back.  It's good to know that CA prices are lower than those Walmart Puerto Vallarta prices for anyone who thought they could get a deal there!  🍹

 

Also, can you please tell us what that lower snack is in your picture.  It looks like some kind of smoked fish to me.

 

~Nancy

[ryndam]

3 hours ago, oakridger said:

@ryndam

Also, can you please tell us what that lower snack is in your picture.  It looks like some kind of smoked fish to me.

 

~Nancy

Nancy, the middle one was a smoked salmon. The lower one was a goat cheese in an eggplant wrapper. Tasty, but odd combination, IMHO.

[ryndam]

3 hours ago, oakridger said:

@ryndam

Also, can you please tell us what that lower snack is in your picture.  It looks like some kind of smoked fish to me.

 

~Nancy

Nancy, the middle one was a smoked salmon. The lower one was a goat cheese in an eggplant wrapper. Tasty, but odd combination, IMHO.

[ryndam]

Reflections attached. Waterside not posted yet. We fined in Osteria tonite. Need to head to the show and will comment about Osteria tomorrow. (Preview: it’ll be a favorable review).

 

Rob

 

 

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[PaulaJK]

Looking forward ti your comments on Osteria.

BTW. Mushroom soup in bread basket appeared on menu 2 nights ago..would welcome a revisit.

excellent selections in Waterside tonight plus a well received show of Whitney Houston tunes.

[ryndam]

Waterside lunch and dinner menus attached. 
 

BTW, per Paula’s comment above, the mushroom soup in Waterside a couple of nights ago was not the Prego version, although it was served in a bread bowl. The Prego recipe will be on the menu later in the cruise.

 

Rob

 

 

FECCC2D1-B3DB-424D-9D46-05E042C0F95B.pdf D381C10E-45A8-4AD2-9E97-5AC28BC03A90.pdf

[Elizabethbea]

Thank you for the menus. Nice choice of wine to buy too. And , although it seems a lot, a mark up of 200% on retail is not over the top..

[loriva]

DH LOVED the sound of the butter and ginger seared grouper on the Waterside lunch menu!  What are the chances past Crystal cruisers think that dish will show up on a NE and Canada itinerary vice Mexican one?

[Texas Tillie]

7 minutes ago, loriva said:

DH LOVED the sound of the butter and ginger seared grouper on the Waterside lunch menu!  What are the chances past Crystal cruisers think that dish will show up on a NE and Canada itinerary vice Mexican one?

 

The menu didn't say "fresh", so the fish had to have come out of the freezer. If there's still some in the freezer, you can ask for a special order, even if its not on the menu for the cruise.

 

Patty

[May B]

8 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

The menu didn't say "fresh", so the fish had to have come out of the freezer. If there's still some in the freezer, you can ask for a special order, even if its not on the menu for the cruise.

 

Patty

Per a friend who took the kitchen tour, with advance notice, you can request any item you’ve had onboard in the last TWENTY YEARS, and if they have the ingredients, they’ll make it for you!

[ryndam]

Osteria comments. We dined there last night.

 

1. For anyone that reminisces about the old  Prego, get over it and move on. Prego is history, it was interesting while it lasted and it’s done, gone and relegated to the history cooking books.

 

2. Try to wrap your expectations around the current concept. You’ll have a much better experience. If the menu does not make your taste buds salivate at all, then there are other venues onboard. Again, Prego is gone and it’s not coming back.

 

3. try to experiment a bit out of comfort zone. After all, everything on the menu is included. Try it. Ask for half portions. If you don’t like it, send it back and try something else. Ask your server which dishes seem to be most popular with the guests. And follow their guidance.

 

4. We have found certain items that we enjoy. This is what we ordered last night. We arrived at 7:00p and left the room around 9:15p. I don’t take a camera to the restaurant and rarely post food porn pics, so here’s the description only:

 

a. We shared a portion of the beef tartare. Would order again, but needs a bit more salt.

b. Jim ordered the cold lobster appetizer. Meh. Not a repeat for us.

c. I ordered the baccala appetizer. Delicious. I’d order this again as a main course.

d. We shared both tortonollo versions. Three pieces each the beef/fig and the ricotta/pear. Would consider this as a main course next time.

e. Jim ordered a half portion of the steak. It was delicious and the half sized portion was the perfect size. A keeper.

f. I ordered the duck. If you enjoy duck, it was okay, but probably not interesting enough to try again.

g. I ordered the cheese tray for dessert. The best tallego I’ve ever had.

h. Jim had the strawberry mascarpone which he thoroughly enjoyed.

 

Wine service throughout was perfectly paired with each course.

 

On our earlier cruise last January, it was a one-and-done for us. This time, we are really looking forward to returning in a week or so.

 

We were repeatedly informed that the menu continues to evolve and a new menu is “coming soon”. No one seems to have an ETA for the menu change. 
 

Conclusion: go with an open mind. Experiment. Send it back if not to your liking. Try something else until you find a preparation that suits your palate.

 

And Prego is dead. RIP Prego.

 

Rob