Critically Cruising

16 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

I am not sure this is right. They seem to work on new itineraries…

All previously announced itineraries gone.  AKA "cancelled".

New ones to be announced.

Thus itineraries are cancelled, not the ship sailing.

When dependent on the good graces of a singular supplier, a wise business doesn't tick them off.  Memories last a long time.

If anyone has the original Explora brochures, they are fun to read now.  Fun in a masochistic way.  Maybe I'll post them so people can compare and contrast with reality.

2 hours ago, Whipsnade said:

Just to let you all know the continuous loop Explora commercials on the giant tv screens has been eliminated. Now replaced with giant still abstract color pictures that change every few minutes. Cannot exactly call them art. 

Taking a cue from Viking, where they post "art" and photographs.  And how they have their "Munch Moments", where they flash his artwork while some bad classical music is played.

IIRC, Silversea tried that kind of "board when you want" type of cruise a number of years back.  Although they had official start and stop ports, you could board whenever and leave whenever.  Even across multiple sailings.

Notice they aren't doing that anymore.  Or at least not promoting it.

As the glow from the raves from "influencers" and TAs starts to fade, is anyone else having some buyer's remorse?

Unfortunately, my upcoming cruise is in the window where I would take a complete bath if I cancelled, so I'm going forward with the trip.  But I'm having more and more feelings that disappointment will be the end result.  The restaurant situation was initially presented as complete choice, then shifted to having limited access to some restaurants.  All-day ala carte dining turns into a buffet, that isn't even open all day.  Restaurants can't handle the guests wanting to dine, with the assumption being that folks can just eat in the buffet.  Included spirits are less than inspiring.  And the shore-side management experience is less than inspiring.  Is this to be an Italian Viking?

In some ways, I wish that I had a cruise that is cancelled.  One where I could take my money and look for a different experience.

19 minutes ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

Without totally monopolizing the board today, have your agent call Explora re the booking date. Magic can happen as long as the booking was made in calendar 2023.

2022

SOL

Just a note.  Despite having Diamond status with MSC, it seems there is no corresponding recognition with Explora, unless you are a newer booking.  There is a cut-off date - if you booked prior to May 12th of this year, you are nothing.  Not even a "thanks for your business" acknowledgment.

The onboard experience had better be awesome, because the corporate attitude seems to be one of grand indifference. I admire @uktog for the restraint they have shown.  Once we get past the fluff of the TA/influencer raving, it seems as though this may just be an overpriced "luxury" illusion.

One and done?

1 hour ago, vml said:

When will you be on Symphony?   I know Russ’s schedule.  

Curious about Hong Kong to Singapore on Feb 28, 2024.

49 minutes ago, java spot said:

I have a question for someone on board about a couple of little things which do have an impact on my decision-making about what to pack.

Another item.  I enjoy having well-shined shoes.  Does EJ provide shoe-shine service for their guests?  Would save me having to bring my own gear.

1 hour ago, ak1004 said:

We do sail on Oceania and find it comparable to SS or Crystal in terms of food and service.

Having sailed both, I have yet to have either the food or service on Oceania come anywhere close to being the level of OC.

Oceania is a premium line.  But it is quanta levels below luxury standards.

1 minute ago, uktog said:

but need confirmation from “ordinary punters” 

This punter boards in Reykjavik on the 9th.  I'll be in a lowly "terrace", not a penthouse or residence, so we shall see.  And with experience sailing on Crystal, Regent, Seabourn and Silversea, it should be an interesting introduction.  Both ways.

5 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Yes it is hard to read the menu and I've tried a few other times so for now I won't post one.  To begin with the print is very small so the only way to read it which I recommend is take a magnifying glass up to it that is what I do for similar things when at home.

One more item for the packing list.

2 hours ago, vistaman said:

Suppose the reply is Croatia , yes then it stops . 

Only if you choose to stop.  Are they from the coast or from inland?  Have they lived elsewhere?  And all the other conversational items you would with someone from an area you might know better.

Seems like you are self-limiting your interactions.

Sounds more and more like my upcoming Explora experience will be "one and done".

Plus, I was looking at that listing of activities.  Anyone care to decipher what those cryptic titles are?

Disillusionment grows.

Suffice to say, they missed an opportunity.

4 minutes ago, flossie009 said:

Are you saying that your TA discounted the cruise fare but has told you that you cannot have that discount until after the cruise?

If so it sounds like a very odd arrangement 🤔

Nope - sounds like the "discount" is not a discount flowing from the operating company, but rather a form of rebate being given by the agent.  Those rebates would be coming from the commission earned on the cruise, which would be credited to the agency after the cruise.

Where cruiselines enforce pricing discipline through either cabin pricing minimums and/or restrictions on shipboard credits, agencies will often work around that with "rebates aka discounts" that don't show up on any cruiseline accounting.

10 minutes ago, Orator said:

I've done the Panama Canal 3 times on Celebrity. I need to find out how much Crystal will give for my $25000 in lost bankruptcy claims. I believe it's 20%.

Two separate issues here.  The first is any actual payment from the Assignee, and that is a function of your claim filed with Mockler.  It is not any kind of payment/credit from Crystal, nor is Crystal involved in that proceding.

The second is any "Exceptional Initiative" credits that you might have received from New Crystal under their "EI" program.  That required filing a request for the credit (deadline passed), a designation by NC of what that credit would be, and then utilizing the sub-credits for bookings by certain dates.

So, it's not just getting 20% of a $25k claim.  The hoops needed to be jumped through.

37 minutes ago, PTIGIRL said:

One thing I miss is the global map that used to be on the wall across from the Bistro. Any plans to resurrect that, Keith? Or am I the only one who liked it?

I liked seeing the countries that no longer existed, or the ones created since its printing.

And the frequent "oh, that's where X is" discovery.

34 minutes ago, vistaman said:

charging for a Tanqueray 10 or a VSOP Cognac ?

both free on nearly all the "all inclusive level" cruise companies 

 

For an example of what New Crystal is serving:

And the Explora whiskey offerings seem a bit thin.  Only two Scotch singles.  Canadian Club but no Crown Royal.   Two cognacs.  And sparse aperitifs.

Not impressed.  My only hope is that this menu isn't indicative of what's available shipwide.

FWIW, I received an invitation to do an online (non-zooom) survey for SB.  Much of the questioning was about marketing "messages" and themes, not about actual product or delivery.  So the topic thread about "Marketing" is spot on.  It was not about the cruise experience.

I too got shown collages of photos, and questions such as "which photo best represents a luxury cruise?"  And to rank and rate various marketing slogans.  I saw lots of photos of people doing watersports and "active" excursion type stuff, so that might be a direction they are contemplating.

And at the end, I got a "thank you for participating".  Not even a "have a drink in the bar on your next Seabourn cruise".  Congratulations on the $200.

1 hour ago, CwazeAndCwaze said:

El Rancho Vegas.  First hotel to be built on what would become "The Strip".  Burned down in 1960.

3 hours ago, jeanine said:

Rome to Rio! Car service

Note that "Rome to Rio" is not a car service, but merely a front-end booking portal.  They do not operate any transportation themselves.  And most likely would just book you into Rome Cabs or Rome in Limo or another service.

Tip for ANY cruiseship laundry machine:

Look at the serial number plate that is usually inside the door of the machine.  Note the model number of the machine.  Then, you can easily get the complete manual for the machine online.

Also did this when I needed to reset the coffee maker on a Viking cruise.

2 hours ago, pavementends said:

When I was in Argentina in January some (most?) US credit cards were giving close to the blue dollar exchange rate. So less cash advantage.

Worth checking in advance.  Mine were all at about the official rate.

2 hours ago, pavementends said:

Also- if you want to bring cash- be aware that crisp hundreds are the most desirable, with a worse exchange rate offered for smaller denominations.

Or have large bills if exchanging for pesos -- and small ones for shops where they will take the dollars directly at the blue rate.  I was finding many smaller shops that gave blue rate for payment directly with tens, fives and ones.  Or local type restaurants. Guess they didn't want to go through an exchange and take that hit.