2026 bookings on Symphony —-who has booked already and which sailings?

[wearesiamese]

I’ll start.I am booked on the Singapore to Mumbai cruise,as well as the 13  day  circle Japan cruise in April

Edited September 4 by wearesiamese

[FlyerTalker]

As the classic line goes: "At my age, I don't buy green bananas anymore"

 

 

[Whipsnade]

Dubai to South Korea. 80 days. So much for the green banana theory. Older I get the more optimistic. 

[ryndam]

As many of us learned, just be cognizant of the 540 day credit card chargeback limitations. Or have appropriate travel deposit insurance.

 

Rob

[USCAdventurer]

I am booked for March 13, 2026 from Manila to Icheon!

[Roland4]

The 21 night Tokyo R/T, and though we got "burned" on the 540 day limit, we are willing to take a chance on the New Crystal's ownership. Plus, it is a great itinerary!

[BWIVince]

14 hours ago, Roland4 said:

The 21 night Tokyo R/T, and though we got "burned" on the 540 day limit, we are willing to take a chance on the New Crystal's ownership. Plus, it is a great itinerary!

This has been on my mind as well, as I still haven’t made a transaction with any travel supplier that’s outside of my chargeback window since February of 2020…. But I’m pretty sure I’m ok with making an A&K deposit for 2026 anyway for the same reason you mentioned.

 

That said, there are other ways to mitigate the risk…. I wouldn’t book it as nonrefundable no matter what, and as long as one is ok with the cancellation terms, staying proactive with cancellation requests during risky times can offset the booking date with some card issuers…. With AmEx, for example, you have 120 days to do a dispute on a missing credit (from the cancellation processing) even if the original charge was outside the 540 day window, as long as you get the supplier to accept the cancellation per the refund policy.  The missing credit then becomes the infraction, and not services not delivered.

 

Vince

[KenzSailing]

9 hours ago, BWIVince said:

This has been on my mind as well,

 

Vince

 

Well, keep us posted.  Seriously, we're looking for our first NC, this could be it.

[BEAV]

25 minutes ago, KenzSailing said:

 

Well, keep us posted.  Seriously, we're looking for our first NC, this could be it.

I’m in on Japan as well. Regardless if Domino’s Japan 🍕 is a pass or fail. 

[KenzSailing]

4 hours ago, BEAV said:

I’m in on Japan as well. Regardless if Domino’s Japan 🍕 is a pass or fail. 

 

Well, here's a little additional incentive:

 

 

[KenzSailing]

On 9/3/2024 at 9:48 PM, FlyerTalker said:

As the classic line goes: "At my age, I don't buy green bananas anymore"

 

 

 

I could be wrong, but I think George Burns has rights of authorship.

[FlyerTalker]

4 hours ago, KenzSailing said:

 

I could be wrong, but I think George Burns has rights of authorship.

 

George is one of many who have used it.  As noted, I acknowledged that others preceded my use.

 

 

[mnocket]

On 9/7/2024 at 7:12 AM, BWIVince said:

I’m pretty sure I’m ok with making an A&K deposit for 2026

 

 @BWIVince  Wow!  You keep popping up as I research booking my first Crystal cruise.  Thanks for helping a newbie find his way👍

 

What is an A&K deposit?

 

I understand your objection to booking a nonrefundable fare.  Do you have any concerns about booking an Explorer Fare? Paying the full fare up front seems a tad risky given Crystal's history, but a 10% discount is attractive, plus I've got $20K travel insurance on my Chase Saphire Reserve card.  Still there's the whole "fool me once..." thing

[BWIVince]

43 minutes ago, mnocket said:

 

 @BWIVince  Wow!  You keep popping up as I research booking my first Crystal cruise.  Thanks for helping a newbie find his way👍

 

What is an A&K deposit?

 

I understand your objection to booking a nonrefundable fare.  Do you have any concerns about booking an Explorer Fare? Paying the full fare up front seems a tad risky given Crystal's history, but a 10% discount is attractive, plus I've got $20K travel insurance on my Chase Saphire Reserve card.  Still there's the whole "fool me once..." thing

 

Sorry for my confusing wording!  I just meant my overall sentiment about the relative security of deposits under Crystal's A&K ownership.  To this point I haven't done that with any travel supplier anywhere as a hard rule since February of 2020, but I'd break that (with small precautions) in this case.

 

Everyone's risk tolerance is different here, so I understand why people would have varying feelings on this -- I'm just speaking for myself here.

 

Personally, if booking outside outside the 520 day window, I would still never book a nonrefundable fare.  I would be ok with putting the full fare up for an additional discount (I've done that in the past) if I had the money available and didn't have it serving a better purpose in the interim, but even that is a consideration of whether the discount offsets whatever else I'd be losing at that time.  I would never go the extra step for a cruise that far out and book it as nonrefundable for extra savings though, that's just too high risk for me.  My concerns there are mostly based on other holes in most travel insurance I've had and not specific to the line shutting down...   Technically the line owes you money either way if they shut down before you sail.  (My mixed feelings on that are a long story that I'll spare everyone.)

 

I will say that I view using a Visa or a Mastercard as a bigger risk, and we really saw a divide statistically between the outcomes of the different card networks.  Issuers like AmEx that control their own reserves just work differently than an alliance of banks with different interests trying to navigate common guidance.  Back in the old threads in the old forum, we saw all kinds of major national banks reject claims or give bad guidance to customers.  No one is perfect, but the difference between VI and MC issuers and AmEx, which controls both ends of the process, were stark.

 

Anyway, I'm rambling...  Sorry!

 

Vince

[mnocket]

1 hour ago, BWIVince said:

 

Sorry for my confusing wording!  I just meant my overall sentiment about the relative security of deposits under Crystal's A&K ownership.  To this point I haven't done that with any travel supplier anywhere as a hard rule since February of 2020, but I'd break that (with small precautions) in this case.

 

Everyone's risk tolerance is different here, so I understand why people would have varying feelings on this -- I'm just speaking for myself here.

 

Personally, if booking outside outside the 520 day window, I would still never book a nonrefundable fare.  I would be ok with putting the full fare up for an additional discount (I've done that in the past) if I had the money available and didn't have it serving a better purpose in the interim, but even that is a consideration of whether the discount offsets whatever else I'd be losing at that time.  I would never go the extra step for a cruise that far out and book it as nonrefundable for extra savings though, that's just too high risk for me.  My concerns there are mostly based on other holes in most travel insurance I've had and not specific to the line shutting down...   Technically the line owes you money either way if they shut down before you sail.  (My mixed feelings on that are a long story that I'll spare everyone.)

 

I will say that I view using a Visa or a Mastercard as a bigger risk, and we really saw a divide statistically between the outcomes of the different card networks.  Issuers like AmEx that control their own reserves just work differently than an alliance of banks with different interests trying to navigate common guidance.  Back in the old threads in the old forum, we saw all kinds of major national banks reject claims or give bad guidance to customers.  No one is perfect, but the difference between VI and MC issuers and AmEx, which controls both ends of the process, were stark.

 

Anyway, I'm rambling...  Sorry!

 

Vince

 

Vince, Thanks again for the help.  If I may ask one further question...

 

I've sailed a wide range of cruise lines, and how I choose to book tends to vary according to which line I'm booking.  If it's one that's supported by my favorite big box store, I go there (Crystal isn't). Otherwise, I either book direct with the cruise line or, if I'm comfortable I won't need much hand holding, I'll use a discount TA. I hate that Cruise Critic doesn't allow naming TAs, but rules are rules. So, my question is, have you found there to be any significant cost savings available when booking Crystal through a TA, or is more just a matter of convenience? All things being equal, I'd book directly with Crystal, but if a TA specializing in Crystal provides significant cost benefits - I'll exert the effort to try to find one. 

Thanks once again🙂

[Txcotn]

Not Vince but - we have always felt there is terrific value in using a TA. A TA will go to bat for you, ie get your dinner res when the website won't allow it, arrange special celebrations for you, provide some remuneration in the form of either shipboard credit, a credit, a nice gift, etc. We met our TA in 1998 and we're still with her. She really provides great service so well worth whatever we pay vs a discount TA or doing it on our own. Just MHO.

Edited Thursday at 11:44 PM by Txcotn

[Keith1010]

I am not Vince either but the fare that a TA charges is the same that the cruise line charges.

 

As Txcotn noted a TA might provide some sort of amenity such as an on board credit.

 

Like most professions not all TA's are the same.  With that said a very knowledgeable TA, who knows the Crystal product, who also knows who to go to when an issue is resolved and who has your back I believe adds tremendous value.

 

I consider myself more knowledgeable than many people including many TA's but my TA (and there are others) knows things I don't know which over the years has resolved and avoided problems and has also save money for me such as when I brought the entire family on board  and configured the booking to maximize savings.

 

Also, they are your advocate should something go wrong. An example was when old Crystal was slowing up returning money when Covid caused cruise cancellations for 2020 and parts of 2021.

 

Even if there was no amenity benefit associated with having a TA I would have a TA for those reasons take care of my booking for all of the other reasons I've mentioned plus more that I have not mentioned.

 

Keith

[Whipsnade]

I agree with Keith 100%. TA has always been a big advantage for us in savings and strategies. Look for one that does a significant business with the cruise line in which you are most interested. 
We never book non refundable for several reasons, primarily because non refundable means non refundable. We usually do not buy insurance until our money goes hard. That way we can cancel for any reason before  that date and get full credit. 
We have had good experience with Visa as we are with the largest bank. 

[crickette]

We agree with the above recommendations to use a professional, knowledgeable TA.  One other thing is to find one that is part of a large consortium - Virtuoso, Signature, Ensemble, are just 3 examples.  They have signed agreements with Crystal and can provide additional benefits.

[BWIVince]

16 hours ago, mnocket said:

 

Vince, Thanks again for the help.  If I may ask one further question...

 

I've sailed a wide range of cruise lines, and how I choose to book tends to vary according to which line I'm booking.  If it's one that's supported by my favorite big box store, I go there (Crystal isn't). Otherwise, I either book direct with the cruise line or, if I'm comfortable I won't need much hand holding, I'll use a discount TA. I hate that Cruise Critic doesn't allow naming TAs, but rules are rules. So, my question is, have you found there to be any significant cost savings available when booking Crystal through a TA, or is more just a matter of convenience? All things being equal, I'd book directly with Crystal, but if a TA specializing in Crystal provides significant cost benefits - I'll exert the effort to try to find one. 

Thanks once again🙂

 

Sorry for the delay...  Everyone did a great job above and I agree with all those points.  There's just a few value props from above I'd emphasize.  Full disclosure -- I'm biased. I was a retail travel agent at the beginning of my career (decades ago), and had worked on the operations side for a travel intermediary up until Covid.

 

1) TA's can provide value-adds through their consortium memberships or volume with Crystal.  There may be online or mass-market agencies that may provide other perks you value.  One person may get more out of using a Crystal specialist, but another person may really like the airline miles or perks through their bank or loyalty program portal -- the choice here is personal.

 

2) The advocacy piece here is huge.  Here I think the advantage goes to the Crystal specialists since they have the strongest relationship with Crystal's sales team if they need favors or issues addressed, but IMHO anyone would be nuts to book direct.  I always hear people say, "I don't need an agent, I can advocate for myself."  Ok, with what leverage, and to whom?  A call center reservations agent?  ...Even their supervisor?  Good luck.  Really the only people in a supplier org to bend the rules to fix an issue that doesn't have a straightforward or simple fix are the industry sales team, and they maintain the relationships with agents...  Not direct sales customers.

 

3) Lastly, expertise is valuable.  I know a lot about Crystal, but my agent has spent a lot more time than I have on Crystal this year than I have.  Searching online or chatting in forums is great, but sometimes there is incredible value in asking someone who knows you personally, because they know your perspective on the question, their answer is probably going to be better targeted.

 

Just some added thoughts...

 

Vince

[Keith1010]

I just want to add a couple of points.

 

One is that when things go wrong having a TA is so very important. Case in point was during Covid with the refunds intervals or should I say extended refund intervals. Having a good TA to me made a difference.  

 

Another item is depending on who ones TA is associated with for certain hotels they can obtain added amenities that one might not get on their own. 

 

Related to that sometimes we have further questions with the hotel and find it easier to have the Travel Agency utilize their contacts to get the answer. Or in our current case, we have a request of the hotel while we are on board right now and so much easier for our TA to run this down.

 

Transfers. While I am pretty savvy there are some places where I could not find a private transfer say from airport to the hotel on my own and my TA arranged that for us.

 

Private tours.  Sometimes we book on our own. Sometime do private through Crystal. Sometimes on via the Travel Agency our agent is associated with.

 

As I've mentioned all TA'S are not the same. So to me all of this added value is great with the right TA only.

 

To me it is analogous with other things. I can find home and auto and for that matter medicare insurance on my own but we feel a lot better having a broker for the home and auto and also a different broker for Medicare supplemental plans. Our cost is no different as it is no different booking a cruise so with the right person there is a lot of added value.

 

Keith

 

[Whipsnade]

Another thought as it pertains to air. 
We always book our cruises on our Chase Sapphire Visa card where we get three points for every dollar. It adds up fast. We always fly business and haven’t paid for a ticket in at least ten years. And we have 1.5 million points in the bank. 

[Leejnd4]

On 9/19/2024 at 5:23 PM, mnocket said:

 

Vince, Thanks again for the help.  If I may ask one further question...

 

I've sailed a wide range of cruise lines, and how I choose to book tends to vary according to which line I'm booking.  If it's one that's supported by my favorite big box store, I go there (Crystal isn't). Otherwise, I either book direct with the cruise line or, if I'm comfortable I won't need much hand holding, I'll use a discount TA. I hate that Cruise Critic doesn't allow naming TAs, but rules are rules. So, my question is, have you found there to be any significant cost savings available when booking Crystal through a TA, or is more just a matter of convenience? All things being equal, I'd book directly with Crystal, but if a TA specializing in Crystal provides significant cost benefits - I'll exert the effort to try to find one. 

Thanks once again🙂

 

I see everyone already responded with the value-add of using a TA. I just want to add one comment: I'm a dedicated and expert DIY traveler, meaning, I haven't used a TA for any travel for decades. I book all my own flights, hotels, tours, rental cars etc., always booking directly with the travel company, never using OTAs (online TAs such as Expedia or Priceline).

 

EXCEPT FOR CRUISES! I would never consider booking a cruise without going through my wonderful TA. Everyone has already mentioned most of the benefits. My TA also offers a frequent-customer discount right off the top, as well as a "rewards" check that I receive after the cruise. AND I get OBC from the TA directly, as well as from their travel consortium (in our case it's Signature). In addition, some of their cruises are "Hosted Trips" in which one of their agents is on the cruise, and we get additional benefits - larger OBC, included excursions, cocktail parties, larger post-cruise rewards.

 

Even if I didn't feel I needed them for solving problems or whatever, just the financial benefits are significant. And the truth is, I DO find them helpful for solving problems! In my experience, most cruise lines are just not staffed to handle passengers booking directly. They expect you to book through a TA, and in fact prefer that. TAs are customer-focused and you can develop a close relationship with a TA, who knows your preferences.

 

So here's another vote for TAs! 🙂 

 

Editing to add: getting back to the topic of this thread, I haven't yet booked but we are pretty excited about the two Incheon-Tokyo itineraries on Symphony in Spring 2026. But we are going to wait until our next cruise on Symphony to book, so we can take advantage of the on-boarding booking discount.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 05:03 PM by Leejnd4