Comparison between Crystal, Regent and Seabourn

Accommodation in basic cabin/suite with a veranda/balcony:

Winner: Tied between Regent Navigator/Voyager and Seabourn Odyssey.

The Regent suites are finished with darker wood and brass. The cabinetry has curves as well as straight lines. They have a more traditional sailing ship feel. Seabourn suites are finished with light wood and have a more modern hotel room look.

The larger couch, table, chairs and ottoman/coffee table make the living area on the Seabourn Odyssey the winner for having other guests over as well as for dining in the suite. The desk area on Regent is a winner for completing work and/or working on a laptop computer.

I prefer the bar/fridge set up on Regent as, on Seabourn, the bottles are stored in a cabinet on top of the fridge and they become heated by radiant heat from the fridge.

The Seabourn balcony is a winner. It is 15 sq. ft. larger than the Regent balconies and has a lounger as well as a table and two chairs.

Both Regent and Seabourn have the curtain separating the living area from the bedroom and both have a walk in closet.

I have to give a slight nod to Seabourn on the storage in the suite as the extra cabinet along the length of the bed is added space. However, that same cabinet gave me quite a bruise on my leg when I lost my footing in rough seas.

The bathrooms are also tied. Although I love the larger tub on Seabourn, storage is much better on Regent. Seabourn’s choice of soaps/bubble bath provide a better selection but Regent has changed the standard products since we last sailed with them a year ago and I’m not sure how the current products would rate.

Food: The winner is Crystal where every meal from morning to night in all of the restaurants was top notch. The deck buffet lunches not only have a large selection of items but, unlike both Regent and Seabourn, all of the hot food is hot. The additional venues of Silk Road and Prego are both five star (or six if that is the standard used).

However, if you are a beef eater, the beef on Seabourn was consistently the best we have ever had onboard a ship. If you are a crab and lobster lover, Regent’s Prime 7 option will be missed. Crab legs and/or whole lobster (served intact) are not on the regular dinner menu of either Crystal or Seabourn.

Fitness: Not surprisingly, given the size of the ship, the Crystal Serenity is the winner for both facilities and classes offered. Important to me, but not to many other people, is the promenade deck for both jogging and walking.

The runner up for outdoor space is Regent as Seabourn has no designated outdoor area for walking and/or jogging. Seabourn gets the nod over Regent for indoor facilities.

Entertainment: All of the cruise lines have guest lecturers who, given the attendance at lectures, appeal to a large number of passengers. All of the cruise lines have headline shows which are hit and miss according to ones’ tastes. All of the ships have casinos. Crystal’s casino is the largest. It is very busy and filled with people who appeared to be having fun - conversation and laughter. Regent’s casino is busy and, when I’ve been in there, it appears that people are having fun - conversation and laughter. Seabourn’s casino is not busy and I rarely went in (unusual for me) as, for some reason, the fun factor was missing (although the staff were very nice). It reminded me much more of a European casino.

Once again, given the size of the ship and the variety of venues, I have to give the win to Crystal. However, it is also the winner if I look at it from a smaller ship point of view because the “house band” plays a wide variety of music throughout the cruise. Ballroom dancing is nice, but so is Motown/R & B/rock/some of today’s hits. “Rock the Boat” on Seabourn and “Beatles’ night” on Regent should be a sign to management that there are many other passengers who feel the same way.

Service: First off, I have to say that on all of my sailings, most of the crew have provided fabulous service. However, there are other factors that come in to play that impede their ability to provide a consistently excellent experience. Crystal has enough staff/crew to provide exemplary service. Seabourn has enough staff/crew to provide exemplary service. Regent does not have enough staff/crew to provide exemplary service. If one is really picky, Crystal probably provides the largest percentage of crew who provide the best overall service. Seabourn crew also provide fabulous service and has many shining stars that provide “the best overall service”. Regent crew could provide just as good service but there are not enough of them to provide the same level of service consistently. Regent also has consistently had some problems with service at breakfast and I have never figured out why it is such a weakness.

I have to add one last thought on service. The maitre’d/assistant maitre’d in each of Seabourn’s restaurants enhanced our dining experience. For the first time ever on a ship, they actually performed a service rather than just seating us at a table.

Shore excursions: Crystal shore excursions are excellent but many on our cruise were over priced. I hope that when there is not the spending credit that Crystal will reduce the price to a more reasonable amount. Seabourn shore excursions are excellent but a few on our cruise were overpriced. Seabourn provides excellent travel booklets in the cabin for each of the ports that will be visited. I am not rating past Regent shore excursions.

The bottom line: If I am prepared to have a larger ship experience, Crystal would be the winner. If I am looking for a smaller ship experience, then Seabourn is the winner. If everything goes as planned, I will have another chance to correct any errors that I have made in this comparison by trying out Seabourn and Crystal next year. I can’t wait! :D

Thanks for posting your well rounded comparisons!

Host Dan

I am surprised that you did not find the U shaped deck on level 5 of Odyssey, Sojourn and Quest conducive to walking and jogging. I find the area thankfully underutilized, wide and shady- perfect for exercising. This leaves the loop on deck 9 for sunbathing or a casual stroll.

Happy cruising!

markham, you are absolutely right about deck 5 unless the winds are high and the seas are so rough that spray becomes enough of a factor to prevent one from using the location. We had multiple days with high wind warnings posted on doors and even a captain's announcement - not that they were needed as once we were outside on deck 5 it was a "one side only" walking experience. That being said, the deck is not set up with refreshments (water) and there were also some complaints from passengers on the deck about the noise from people using the deck for exercise purposes. The lack of a designated area is only part of an equation and is not, for me, a determining factor in choosing to sail Seabourn again. We're booked on the Seabourn Pride for next year. I know that there will not be a designated outdoor exercise area onboard but, if one is awake early enough, there is always space available. :D

I think this is a fair comparison between Crystal and Seabourn. I have never sailed Regent. I have sailed both of the first two more than once.I enjoy both of them very much. I prefer, Seabourn because I usually prefer the smaller ship experience. I don't like lunch or breakfast buffets and love to be served on the rear deck of Seabourn. I also prefer the all inclusive Seabourn experience. I realize that Crystal will try that this spring. I do think that if I had the time available to do a World Cruise, Crystal would be my choice because of the larger size and larger ship experience.

JMO.

Regent: good

Crystal: better

Seabourn: best

The reasons for my evaluation are personal to me. I would certainly equate Crystal and Seabourn in most areas BUT the two seating dining as opposed to open seating is a deal breaker for me and I much prefer the smaller ports that Seabourn can enter and Crystal cannot. Now that Crystal is going all inclusive that eliminates a third reason I preferred Seabourn.

JMO.

 

Regent: good

Crystal: better

Seabourn: best

 

The reasons for my evaluation are personal to me. I would certainly equate Crystal and Seabourn in most areas BUT the two seating dining as opposed to open seating is a deal breaker for me and I much prefer the smaller ports that Seabourn can enter and Crystal cannot. Now that Crystal is going all inclusive that eliminates a third reason I preferred Seabourn.

Spot on, although I'd add Silversea tied with Seabourn for the same two reasons.

I'd like to try Crystal someday, but I'd be worried that as first time customers we would be the first to get bumped to early seating dining if they couldn't accomodate all requests for late seating. This may sound extreme, but I would stay home or take a land-based vacation if the only option available to me was early seating dining.

Spot on, although I'd add Silversea tied with Seabourn for the same two reasons.

 

I'd like to try Crystal someday, but I'd be worried that as first time customers we would be the first to get bumped to early seating dining if they couldn't accomodate all requests for late seating. This may sound extreme, but I would stay home or take a land-based vacation if the only option available to me was early seating dining.

We have requested late seating on 9 Crystal cruises, and have been accommodated every time. I don't know where people get this stuff.

Spot on, although I'd add Silversea tied with Seabourn for the same two reasons.

 

I'd like to try Crystal someday, but I'd be worried that as first time customers we would be the first to get bumped to early seating dining if they couldn't accomodate all requests for late seating. This may sound extreme, but I would stay home or take a land-based vacation if the only option available to me was early seating dining.

As Danny pointed out, I don't think getting late seating is a problem, especially on Symphony, where there seem to be more people who prefer the early seating.

Well I can asure you that on our one and only Crystal cruise, despite having requested second seating we were given first seating and had to write to the hotel manager, request a meeting with the Maitre D and go cap in hand and practically beg to eat at 8.30, then at the end of the cruise we were expected to tip him!! So although we enjoyed the cruise very much and loved the glamour of Crystal, we have been with Seabourn ever since especially for the open dining and all inclusive.

Well I can asure you that on our one and only Crystal cruise, despite having requested second seating we were given first seating and had to write to the hotel manager, request a meeting with the Maitre D and go cap in hand and practically beg to eat at 8.30, then at the end of the cruise we were expected to tip him!! So although we enjoyed the cruise very much and loved the glamour of Crystal, we have been with Seabourn ever since especially for the open dining and all inclusive.

yeah right like I am going to grovel to some old fart Maitre'd for a table on late seating and then he has his hand out!!!!:rolleyes:

Crystal offers three dining options in the main dining room: early, late, and Open Dining by Reservation. Although it is not perfect, the Open Dining by Reservation allows a more flexible option for those who do not want set seating at early/late dining. It's the option that we chose as we do not want to "have to" sit at the same table with people whom we have never met.

We never felt that any of the crew/staff on Crystal were working for and/or expected tips. We also never felt that the crew/staff on Seabourn were hoping for extra tips nor that anyone expected us to tip them.

As each of us has different experiences on even on the same cruise, all we can do is report information based on our own experience. In my opinion, there really is "no best cruise line" as it all depends on individual preferences and the specific cruise that is being rated. Of course, we can all have our favourites and, it would appear, that we do.

Open Seating by reservation is nothing more than a marketing gimmick designed to try and convince people that they have the same options as on Seabourn, Silversea and Regent. You still have to make that reservation for a specific number of people and show up at an appointed time. It's not the same as strolling in any time you like with whoever you like and being seated.

I'd like to try Crystal someday, but I'd be worried that as first time customers we would be the first to get bumped to early seating dining if they couldn't accomodate all requests for late seating.

18 Crystal cruises, and never a problem getting late seating.

Well I can asure you that on our one and only Crystal cruise, despite having requested second seating we were given first seating and had to write to the hotel manager, request a meeting with the Maitre D and go cap in hand and practically beg to eat at 8.30, then at the end of the cruise we were expected to tip him!! So although we enjoyed the cruise very much and loved the glamour of Crystal, we have been with Seabourn ever since especially for the open dining and all inclusive.

Translation: They bumped you to early seating, but when you asked, they found a way to accommodate your wishes. Sounds like a happy ending, not a cause to grumble.

Open Seating by reservation is nothing more than a marketing gimmick designed to try and convince people that they have the same options as on Seabourn, Silversea and Regent. You still have to make that reservation for a specific number of people and show up at an appointed time. It's not the same as strolling in any time you like with whoever you like and being seated.

I agree. Well in advance of your vacation, you must decide when your entire table will be dining.

And because the rest of the ship is on early/late timing, all the entertainment is synchronized to those seatings.

Open Seating by reservation is nothing more than a marketing gimmick designed to try and convince people that they have the same options as on Seabourn, Silversea and Regent. You still have to make that reservation for a specific number of people and show up at an appointed time. It's not the same as strolling in any time you like with whoever you like and being seated.

That would be a showstopper for me. I like the flexibility of having a cocktail, perhaps chatting to a few people and then wandering down to dinner.

yeah right like I am going to grovel to some old fart Maitre'd for a table on late seating and then he has his hand out!!!!:rolleyes:

Oh Seabourntraveller - well said! LOL!:D:D:D:D:D

yeah right like I am going to grovel to some old fart Maitre'd for a table on late seating and then he has his hand out!!!!:rolleyes:

Reminds me of having to hang out side a certain New York disco waiting to pass muster back in the day! Not good. The ”old fart ” description of the maitre'd was not cool however.

Reminds me of having to hang out side a certain New York disco waiting to pass muster back in the day! Not good. The ”old fart ” description of the maitre'd was not cool however.

If being "factual" is not cool in 2012 then whatever! Maybe in 25 years time when I'll be part of that "club"... I'll be cruising Crystal...until then Seabourn!:rolleyes:

Oh Seabourntraveller - well said! LOL!/quote]

 

fairbourne...I just call em' as I see it! LOL!:D:cool::D

Oh Seabourntraveller - well said! LOL!/quote]

 

fairbourne...I just call em' as I see it! LOL!:D:cool::D

 

Calling it as you see it is admirable, unless wildly inaccurate. On The Quest we came across a maitre d' who appeared to be about 30 years old, who was way over his head, who had an absence of charm, and whose duties appeared to resemble those of a 19 year old girl who seats you at Chili's.

On Crystal, on the other hand, we have found the maitre d's, like the wonderful Remi on the Symphony, to be handsome, suave, debonair, very fit, and in the 40 to 50 year age range. They have the challenging job of matching diners at tables for the fixed seating, and for the most part do an almost magical job of putting compatible people together. It may not always work out perfectly, but on our most recent cruise, which was not atypical, we all bonded at our table of 8, and even requested and received expanded reservations in the specialty restaurants so that all 8 of us could dine together.

While the maitre d's, like the other service personnel appreciate tips, we have never felt like any employee expected them or was hustling for them.

 

To each his own, and I realize that many luxury cruisers find fixed seating objectionable, but for us it has worked out well on Crystal, even resulting in some lifelong friendships.

 

Calling it as you see it is admirable, unless wildly inaccurate. On The Quest we came across a maitre d' who appeared to be about 30 years old, who was way over his head, who had an absence of charm, and whose duties appeared to resemble those of a 19 year old girl who seats you at Chili's.

On Crystal, on the other hand, we have found the maitre d's, like the wonderful Remi on the Symphony, to be handsome, suave, debonair, very fit, and in the 40 to 50 year age range. They have the challenging job of matching diners at tables for the fixed seating, and for the most part do an almost magical job of putting compatible people together. It may not always work out perfectly, but on our most recent cruise, which was not atypical, we all bonded at our table of 8, and even requested and received expanded reservations in the specialty restaurants so that all 8 of us could dine together.

While the maitre d's, like the other service personnel appreciate tips, we have never felt like any employee expected them or was hustling for them.

 

To each his own, and I realize that many luxury cruisers find fixed seating objectionable, but for us it has worked out well on Crystal, even resulting in some lifelong friendships.

 

Our Maitre'd Michael Simon on the Legend is problably around 30 and isn't over his head...actually he is one of the best Maitre'd we have come across in a longtime that can actually "relate" to people and not just have his palm open.:rolleyes:

We have met most of the Seabourn Maitre'ds and all have been wonderful, and never ever looking for a tip, apart, sadly, from the one recently on Quest, who is not really up to the job, described accurately by Digtexas.

 

Calling it as you see it is admirable, unless wildly inaccurate. On The Quest we came across a maitre d' who appeared to be about 30 years old, who was way over his head, who had an absence of charm, and whose duties appeared to resemble those of a 19 year old girl who seats you at Chili's.

On Crystal, on the other hand, we have found the maitre d's, like the wonderful Remi on the Symphony, to be handsome, suave, debonair, very fit, and in the 40 to 50 year age range. They have the challenging job of matching diners at tables for the fixed seating, and for the most part do an almost magical job of putting compatible people together. It may not always work out perfectly, but on our most recent cruise, which was not atypical, we all bonded at our table of 8, and even requested and received expanded reservations in the specialty restaurants so that all 8 of us could dine together.

While the maitre d's, like the other service personnel appreciate tips, we have never felt like any employee expected them or was hustling for them.

 

To each his own, and I realize that many luxury cruisers find fixed seating objectionable, but for us it has worked out well on Crystal, even resulting in some lifelong friendships.

 

Crystal's rigid dining times and reservation policies are precisely why, until they change, they won't get my cruise dollars. I do not like to grovel to a maitre d for a specific table or time to eat. And I don't know today what time I may want to eat tomorrow; or who I may want to eat with. If a maitre d controls my dining options, I am on the wrong ship.

 

Crystal took a big step with their inclusive fares. But before they can truly compete in the luxury market, their dining policies need to be rethought IMHO.