Rare loriva Posted October 1 #1 Share Posted October 1 This post was recognized by LauraS! "And another from loriva! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Cruise Reports page. When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" loriva was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. We'll be boarding our first Crystal ocean ship tomorrow. We previously cruised with Crystal in October 2021--but on the Ravel river ship on the Danube. It, of course, spoiled us completely for river cruising. Hence, a different adventure. We've only sailed with one other luxury line (four trips on Regent, all post-COVID) and a couple of premium lines (Viking and Oceania) so we have that as experience and a basis for comparison. Looking forward to discovering what Crystal will show us. Will probably hold any substantive comparisons until after the cruise. If I can figure out how to do it, I'll continue the recent trend of posting Reflections and menus. Wish me luck! Take care, 11 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted October 1 #2 Share Posted October 1 Have fun. Enjoy every minute. Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare May B Posted October 1 #3 Share Posted October 1 Good luck! And have a blast. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakridger Posted October 1 #4 Share Posted October 1 I'm excited to be following your trip! Have a wonderful time! ~Nancy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare loriva Posted October 2 Author #5 Share Posted October 2 Boarding almost became an adventure as the address provided by Crystal when put into the Uber app took us to a different area of Brooklyn. (The correct address is 210 Clinton Wharf.) We drove by the cargo area with the International Longshoremen Association picket line, but no issues at the passenger terminal. The arrival area at BCT was not well signed and the driver drove past the area to drop the bags—one of the employees was also directing incorrectly. You need to look for the baggage drop sign straight ahead from the entry, get the bags tagged, and then walk to another building for check-in. About 50 people were already waiting when we arrived at 1115 hours. There was an initial check of passports and boarding passes outside security. They started letting people enter this first line at about 1130 hours. Then we passed through security screening and received a group boarding number. Directed to a waiting area; Crystal had water on offer. We waited about 20 minutes and then they started calling group numbers. Then we went to a shoreside check-in where passports and boarding passes were checked again. Then onboard the ship to check-in on deck 5 where they checked the documents again, took our photo, and registered our credit card. There is an area where you can check your carry-ons to the left of the check-in desks (between those desks and the Reception). Then off to Waterside for lunch. Cabins were supposed to be ready at 1500 hours, but they announced they were ready for occupancy before 1300 hours. Luggage and card keys were waiting when we arrived in the room. Usual visits by the butler and room steward. The spa raffle was 30 minutes later than posted in Reflections and the muster drill was at 1730 hours and finished by about 1750 hours. Tomorrow will be Newport. Here is today's embarking passenger Reflections and the Waterside menus. Waterside Dinner -- 02 Oct.pdf Waterside Lunch -- 02 Oct.pdf Relections -- 02 Oct.pdf 7 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 360Guy Posted October 3 #6 Share Posted October 3 11 hours ago, loriva said: Boarding almost became an adventure as the address provided by Crystal when put into the Uber app took us to a different area of Brooklyn. (The correct address is 210 Clinton Wharf.) We drove by the cargo area with the International Longshoremen Association picket line, but no issues at the passenger terminal. The arrival area at BCT was not well signed and the driver drove past the area to drop the bags—one of the employees was also directing incorrectly. You need to look for the baggage drop sign straight ahead from the entry, get the bags tagged, and then walk to another building for check-in. About 50 people were already waiting when we arrived at 1115 hours. There was an initial check of passports and boarding passes outside security. They started letting people enter this first line at about 1130 hours. Then we passed through security screening and received a group boarding number. Directed to a waiting area; Crystal had water on offer. We waited about 20 minutes and then they started calling group numbers. Then we went to a shoreside check-in where passports and boarding passes were checked again. Then onboard the ship to check-in on deck 5 where they checked the documents again, took our photo, and registered our credit card. There is an area where you can check your carry-ons to the left of the check-in desks (between those desks and the Reception). Then off to Waterside for lunch. Cabins were supposed to be ready at 1500 hours, but they announced they were ready for occupancy before 1300 hours. Luggage and card keys were waiting when we arrived in the room. Usual visits by the butler and room steward. The spa raffle was 30 minutes later than posted in Reflections and the muster drill was at 1730 hours and finished by about 1750 hours. Tomorrow will be Newport. Here is today's embarking passenger Reflections and the Waterside menus. Waterside Dinner -- 02 Oct.pdf 68.51 kB · 23 downloads Waterside Lunch -- 02 Oct.pdf 61.64 kB · 11 downloads Relections -- 02 Oct.pdf 1.9 MB · 15 downloads Have a wonderful cruise! The dinner menu had some of what we enjoyed in Waterside. We love how they are so varied with many difficult decisions! Yesterday in NYC was beautiful! Now at the lounge awaiting departure. The Crystal survey arrived this morning, and we completed it easily with a LONG list of named crew who were exceptional…they all are but we have come to know many “favorites”. The survey was definitely shorter than the first but seemed to cover the areas well (imho). Booked for next November and have a floating deposit for another once the remainder of the 2026 schedule is posted in early December. Take care! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare loriva Posted October 3 Author #7 Share Posted October 3 (edited) We enjoyed a lovely dinner in Waterside on our first night on board. Tried some things we would not normally have ordered--the Waygu tartar and double consommé--thanks to recommendations from our excellent waiter Sami. And the "Beehive" dessert was so pretty--and pretty delicious as well. (Sorry, I don't do "food porn" photos.) Looks like a beautiful day in Newport. This is a tender port, so good weather needed. The Waterside is closed for lunch as we're in port, so only the dinner menu to post today. Looks like I forgot to post yesterday that we have a passenger count of 450-500. (Reception would only provide a range, not an exact number.) That's about 200 fewer than the last cruise based on what @360Guy reported and perhaps the reason cabins were available so early. Many thanks, Reflections -- 03 October.pdf Waterside Dinner -- 03 October.pdf Edited October 3 by loriva Addition 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted October 3 #8 Share Posted October 3 Just catching you on your post from yesterday and this morning. Welcome aboard. I tired that Waygu Tartar for the very first time on our just recently Symphony cruise and thought it was delicious. Enjoy every minute. Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare loriva Posted October 4 Author #9 Share Posted October 4 We lucked out with beautiful weather in Newport yesterday. Spent most of our day walking part of the Cliff Walk, visiting the Breakers, and then looking at the Gilded Age "cottages" along Bellevue. All-in-all about 8 miles. Then--strictly for research purposes--we had a New England-style lobster roll and a local beer at the Brick Alley Pub. Had to contrast and compare it to my usual choice of Connecticut style, of course. Stopped at The Bistro upon return to the ship for a refreshing coffee. Dinner again in Waterside with the delightful Sami. Great recommendations for the lobster medallions and Arctic char. Had our first drink in the Crystal Cove before dinner--we had our pre-dinner drink in the Palm Coast the first night so we could catch sail away. Heard the last few notes of "What a Wonderful World" from the deck in front. So far, this cruise feels a bit stripped down. Not sure if that reflects the low passenger load or that the CD is away--we have Rafael Derkson this voyage. There was no CD morning show yesterday and just watched today's, which lasted about three minutes. There was no Captain's Welcome reception last night, although we did have some of the menu items I've learned to associate with that from other's postings here. There is also no White Party listed on the sailing itinerary from the embarkation Reflections--we'll see. Maybe will spot the CD at the pre-dinner show tonight and can ask. We've also experienced a few minor maintenance issues in our classic Aquamarine. They have been quickly resolved, however. As others have noted extensively, the staff on board are wonderful. Today's Reflections and Waterside Dinner menu (closed for lunch again as we are in port). Many thanks, Waterside Dinner -- 04 October.pdf Reflections -- 04 October.pdf 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Stickman1990 Posted October 4 #10 Share Posted October 4 Raph is a bona fide Cruise Director and has been for a number of years - so nothing stripped down about that I suggest you ask at the front desk about White Night as Crystal usually run it on all cruises - so it would be unusual not to do so but I agree it’s conspicuously absent from the programme listed in the embarkation day Reflections 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted October 4 #11 Share Posted October 4 You’ll have one reception which will be on the formal night and it will be a Captain's and Crystal Society Reception. Cd Ralph just got on for the start of your cruise. I am sure there will be a white night. Keith 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krb1000 Posted October 4 #12 Share Posted October 4 Just want to chime in my two cents…Raphael is a wonderful cruise director…we sailed with him last November and then again in June. We love him🩵 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare loriva Posted October 5 Author #13 Share Posted October 5 A quick one between the gym and Italian wine lunch (gotta do something to earn the latter!) to post today's Reflections and the menus. More later--perhaps after a post-lunch nap! Waterside Dinner -- 05 October.pdf Waterside Lunch -- 05 Oct.pdf Reflections -- 05 October.pdf 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare loriva Posted October 5 Author #14 Share Posted October 5 (edited) Quick follow-up from yesterday. It appears Crystal only does a Captain's Welcome Party when the second day of the cruise is a sea day. Otherwise, as the experienced @Keith1010 points out, there is just one combined welcome/farewell and Crystal Society reception. Likewise, the CD Raphael Derkson contacted us yesterday--Crystal does read these posts--to advise of a simple mistake in the voyage itinerary. The White Party will be tonight after we put into port for an overnight in Halifax. He seems to be a lovely person. (For those who follow these things, he spent his 3-month break along the Black Sea in Bulgaria and just bought a Triumph Spitfire.) So, I happily stand corrected on the absence of a White Party. We spent a lovely day yesterday. Crystal has a shuttle that runs every 20-30 minutes (3 per hour are planned, traffic permitting) from the ship to Surface Road and Clinton Street just around the corner from Quincy Market in Boston. In our case, we picked up DH's sister and her husband and then brought them back to Serenity for lunch. This is something very special and, in our experience, unique to Crystal--the ability to host personal guests on board. It was really wonderful to share the ship with our family. We continue to be pampered by our excellent butler Gary as well as our stewardess Reysie and her assistant Mae. They are always asking how they can assist more. (We've also met Gary's lovely finance Claire, who is a waiter on board.) Sami also continues to impress in Waterside. While on his first contract with Crystal, he's very experienced in the industry and the consummate professional. Plus a really interesting guy. We were discussing the Middle East on our first night and mentioned the dish shakshuka. Sami offered to see if the kitchen could make it for us--and it magically appeared for breakfast the next morning! Give that man a promotion! And try the ahi tuna as well as the grouper. While I don't do food photos, the whisky dessert was definitely close-up ready. I went to both shows yesterday evening. Bruce Hammond did his Bobby Darin tribute and is an excellent showman. Dave Konig did an entertaining comedy show--the bit about Bronx Airways was the best. (It would be great if Crystal did the same as Viking and broadcast the shows live into cabins.) Today is essentially a sea day on this itinerary as we do not put into port into Halifax until 1900 hours. There were two enrichment presentations (one destination, one world affairs with a different presenter than listed online before the cruise), two computer classes, two golf clinics, two bridge lessons plus open bridge and mahjong play, three fitness classes, one dance class, one art class, one movie, and 10 sales pitches (including the A&K presentation). We missed all of them live but watched the destination lecture and A&K presentation in our cabin. We also missed trivia and the Asian buffet in the Marketplace. This was, of course, because we opted to do the wine lunch and lecture in the Vintage Room. This is billed as a 90-minute event, but really it takes three hours! And we loved every minute of it. As many have mentioned, the head sommelier Jiri is very knowledgeable and personable. There is also a dinner and a caviar lunch planned for this cruise. Events for the next cruise are not yet set, but there were guests at the lunch who on doing B2B cruises and were asking for the Bordeaux lunch. A Rhone lunch is in the works for the future. I'm attaching the menu. I've also attached the current included wine list. Some options have been dropped. We were looking forward to the Ca'nani pinot noir but there is now a C Selection pinot noir instead. It was very heavy for a pinot--more like a merlot. Many thanks, Edited October 5 by loriva Internet cooperated and added wine list 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Stickman1990 Posted October 5 #15 Share Posted October 5 25 minutes ago, loriva said: In our case, we picked up DH's sister and her husband and then brought them back to Serenity for lunch. This is something very special and, in our experience, unique to Crystal--the ability to host personal guests on board It’s nice to host friends and family onboard. Just so you and others are aware you can also do this on other luxury lines including Regent, Silversea and Seabourn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted October 5 #16 Share Posted October 5 Ioriva. such a wonderful post. Thank you so much for all you are doing posting. I am glad that Raph followed up with you. It's another wonderful example of Crystal. Keep enjoying and that you for taking the time to post the menus, reflections along with your thoughts. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare loriva Posted October 6 Author #17 Share Posted October 6 (edited) Last night was the White Party. The dancers were fabulous and the singer, Karin, very talented. And the current show band is amazing. I had a nice dance with CD Raphael. The pre-dinner Crystal on Broadway show had to be cancelled. We dined at Tastes last night. It was fun trying the different small plates--the Hamachi was fabulous. Here is today's Waterside dinner menu. I tried to get the Reflections, but it did not upload. (I remember there was a talk on whales of the North Atlantic by the oceanographer lecturer as the ship sailed at 1500 hours.) And I cannot try again as, unfortunately, I'm now in a hotel in Halifax, Canada, awaiting a flight home tomorrow. Milton is forecast to pass by our home in Florida on Wednesday night as a category 1 hurricane and I need to fly home to take care of the dogs in case we need to evacuate. (In case you ever need to know, Crystal charges a $250 early disembarkation fee.) DH is staying onboard. If things work out, I'll fly to Quebec City and join him there for the rest of our planned trip. Maybe we'll get to enjoy another Crystal cruise someday. Take care, Waterside Dinner -- 06 October.pdf Edited October 6 by loriva Addition 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txcotn Posted October 6 #18 Share Posted October 6 Loriva, we wish you well in Milton. Florida doesn't need yet another big storm and hope your home and pets will be ok and you can rejoin the ship. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare May B Posted October 6 #19 Share Posted October 6 Loriva, what a shame that you have to disembark early! Best to you in your travels and with Milton. We always discuss whether to cruise out of Florida in hurricane season, but you even had to consider whether to leave on vacation! Little did you know. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txcotn Posted October 6 #20 Share Posted October 6 Muriel, we hope you too will be ok! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted October 7 #21 Share Posted October 7 Loriva,, safe travels home please be safe after you arrive. Thank you so much for all of your posts. I have friends on Symphony who adjusted plans to get back to Florida today before the storm hits. Muriel and everyone else in the forecasted path of the hurricane please stay safe as well. Keith 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJANDH Posted October 15 #22 Share Posted October 15 On 10/1/2024 at 9:26 AM, loriva said: We previously cruised with Crystal in October 2021--but on the Ravel river ship on the Danube. It, of course, spoiled us completely for river cruising. If you loved that one you should look at Riverside Luxury river cruises. They purchased the Crystal river boats and are getting very good reviews from previous Crystal cruisers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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