Texas Tillie

From my experience with Crystal since 2007, most of the time the Bistro was closed at 6 PM. There were times when there were experiments with its being open in the evening, but those were the exception, not the rule. The company explaination for not having it open was a crew scheduling issue. Patty

For people not aware of the current exchange rate, $17.50 Canadian is about $12.75 US today. ☺️ Patty

As it has always been. I ate at the sushi bar less then 2 weeks ago sitting with a friend and was able to order from the regular menu while sitting there. Why shouldn't that count as a visit? Patty

Will everything offered be from the gelato brand? Patty

Do any other luxury lines ever start a world cruise anywhere other than the USA? If so, how successful have they been? Patty

Tipping is so personal and also depends on where you are from. I'd consider an up front tip a bribe and very tacky, but others feel differently. Patty

He moved from Symphony to Serenity!

Yes, the 1/2 liter bottles at the gangway. In the cabins it's water they purify on the ship and the butler will continue to replenish. The containers with the cabin water has a sticker with a pull by date that is broken when you unscrew the cap. I think it's about a week from when the water is bottled but not sure. Patty

The carpet with the "pee stain" by the bathroom has competition in other places on the ship with the big red blobs where you expect to see the chalk outline of the body!😉 Patty

I didn't put any words in your mouth, I gave 2 examples of Crystal cruises where the demographics completely changed the atmosphere. I was answering your question on how demographics affect the atmosphere on the ship. I was not stereotyping at all. Anyone who thinks 100 children and teens vs. 200 people (of whatever age) with canes, walkers and wheelchairs will create the same atmosphere is delusional. Patty

Not new at all. Those leaflets have been available at the excursion desk for each port as long as I can remember. Patty

I was on an old, old Crystal cruise, 7 days, round trip Los Angeles, Thanksgiving week with 100 of those on board under 18 years old. I've been on another cruise where at least half the passengers looked like they had staged a break out from the nursing home. And you would question that the activity level around the ship was equal and that the ship was more crowded in one example over the other? Patty

I'm sure Crystal has no idea what the tour vendors will be charging in almost 2 years. The prices will be available 6 months out when you can book the tours. Patty

Interesting that some of the same people who say Crystal must attract younger guests in order to maintain viability are then offened when a new show has a new, younger concept! Patty

And it's really not fair to compare an expedition ship with a "regular" cruise ship. They are totally different animals and although there is a crossover for some passengers between both types, there are also many passengers who are specific to one and not the other. That being said, it is sad the Endeavour wasn't able to stay under the Crystal umbrella. Patty

Fewer than 50% of the cruisers on the Symphony that ended yesterday were from the US and the ship was practically full. When Vicki read off the countries represented it seemed to be more different countries represented than during the days of Old Crystal. Patty

The Sympony cruise that ended yesterday had over 150 new to Crystal cruisers out of aound 550 total. So, not everyone requires a brand new ship. Patty

But if all the solos are booked, the exact same cabins on deck 7 (a little more midship but no other difference) will probably cost you 50% to 75% more than the double occupancy fare per person. Some of the cruises I've looked at the solo cabins are in the neighberhood of 10% more than the double occupancy/per person. Patty

I have no idea what the guest count is on the current Serenity cruise, but I got off the Symphony yesterday with a guest count of around 550 out of 600 capacity and often venues were not at all crowded. Don't forget that Serenity was built for over 1000 guests and capacity now is a little over 700. That gives a lot more public space to each guest, Patty

An up to the minute report on Portuguese Tarts and the Crystal ships - I have no idea why, but on Serenity they are one and done for the day, whereas Symphony (debarked yesterday), they are available from later morning through closing. On Symphony they are currently a little smaller than in the past. Look at that as having one more days than you might have in the past or having more than one at a time. Patty

Remembering the Panama Canal cruise in February 2009. That was the month the stock market fell out of bed during the 2008-2009 recession. There was a lot of joking, “well, guess this is my last Crystal cruise”. Almost all were back on Crystal within a year as the stock market does what the stock market does! Patty

The photo with the caviar appears to be in their suite. It is an extra charge item on Crystal. There’s a caviar menu in each suite.

Arts Cafe on Silversea might have more comfortable seating but the food offerings are woefully inferior. Sat down in a comfy chair on the Silver Nova and eventually a waiter came over and told me I should order at the counter!! Patty

I boarded Symphony this week with a PDF on my phone. No issues. Patty

Currently on the Symphony and have been to shows 2 of the first 3 nights and have no complaints about the sound. Last night was Bruce Hammond doing a Neil Diamond tribute and my only complaint is that there’s no way they can present all his hits in a 45 to 50 minute show. Patty