Texas Tillie

I have not been on any of the lines you have experienced, but from what I've heard from other Crystal cruisers who have experienced one or several of them, Crystal is head and shoulders above most and at least noticeably better than any of them. The food and beverages (all included except very premium labels) is included and the service is top notch. Also, the entertainment and enrichment is much better quality and quantity than you might expect on a ship with as few passengers as you find on Crystal. No evening buffet, but I don't think anyone misses it. Crystal is not as formal as Cunard, but you can dress up on "formal optional" evenings. Minimum standard on those evenings men need to wear a jacket but a tie is optional. You'll see everything on men on those evenings from a blazer with dress slacks and a dress shirt, no tie, to tuxedos. See that you're British, so I know you call those pieces of clothing something else, but guess you know what I mean! 😉 I don't think you would be disappointed with Crystal. Patty

Remembering a lecturer, a retired US 4 star general, no uniform but his cuff links had 4 diamonds indicating his rank. I wouldn't have noticed except we were sitting next to each other on bar stools in the Cove. Patty

For Aquamarine, Sapphire, Junior Crystal Penthouse and Crystal Penthouse.

My understanding with this question was what needs to stay the same, not that new elements shouldn't be introduced. No where is it everything must remain the same, it's which things need to be the same. Patty

The trees look the same. Are the other decorations recycled from old Crystal? I always thought they did a little too much, but I was on Silversea last December and there was hardly anything. Patty

Some people are gamblers and some people aren't. If you feel comfortable rolling the dice and maybe getting what you want and maybe missing out, who are we to say you are wrong.

Good grief! How does anyone afford to sail on Crystal if they pay that much for a pint of ice cream!!! Patty

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This is the OP's second post. Tracie, whom I respect for all things ballroom dancing, says she never saw it in the Galaxy, especially not as recently as 2016. Anywho, I think the best dancers can hope is that on the Symphony the dancing can be relocated from the Palm Court to the Starlite. Patty

OK, so we are at the point that it did happen at one time, but that time was over 20 years ago, is that right?? A lot changed on the old Crystal from 20 years ago until 2022 when old Crystal went kaput! Patty

If Tracie says dancing was never in the Galaxy on old Crystal Symphony but in the Starlite, I am sure that my original thought is accurate. I'm thinking the OP has the name of the venues confused. Tracie, what is going on in the Starlite while they are having dancing in the Palm Court on Symphony? I'd love to go back to the Symphony where I spent the majority of my Crystal time, but I've now reached the time in life where flying half way around the world isn't something I'm able to do. Patty

I go back 16 years, so it had to have been many years ago. 😳 Patty

I never saw ballroom dancing in the Galaxy on the Symphony. It was usually in the Starlite Lounge. There is a nice dance floor and a small stage for the band. Patty

Wondering how many of the "usual suspects" here on the Crystal forum sailed on the Harmony? I didn't, go back to the Symphony in 2007. Patty

There were 4 dance hosts on my Serenity cruise in July. I am not a dancer but one of the hosts had been a table mate (back with fixed seatings) at least 10 years ago.

Information about the excursions is on the website. New Crystal is hardly a mess. Those of us who have been on sailings can attest that it is every bit as good as Old Crystal and in a few places, even better. Just because the entertainment/enrichment hasn't been listed by cruise on the website seems like a petty complaint. Do any other luxury cruise lines include that information? Patty

Very true as to the desks, but although it looks smaller on the diagram, I don't think the sofa is smaller in the 2018 vs the Classic. Have never sat in the chair in either but I'd guess you'd be ok in either until you get to 250 pounds and/or over 6"4". Patty

This is the most casual of all the restaurants on Crystal. Fish is a frozen, breaded piece, to be served on a bun. Don't think anything at the Grill would be to your liking since you seemed to not like many items on Taste's menu which most would consider a step up from the Grill.

Galveston, New Orleans or Mobile?

Lunch isn't like dinner at Tastes. A sample menu is available on the Crystal website under Ships and then Dining. The menu is rather limited but with some favorites from Old Crystal.

So, if they had sailed and floated around the Caribbean and you did everything there is to do on Crystal in the evening, it would have been ok, but it wasn't ok to do all those same things on board while docked? Patty

So, would it be better to not court travel agents who will then promote Crystal and have the line go under because they can't attract enough passengers? Patty

Logic would say difficult when the same Uber drivers can pick up airport runs at the port for much more money.

Most assuredly, those 2 ports are just about 50 miles apart.

Are the Aquamarine Ocean Views on both ships the handicap rooms? Wonder how the Sapphire Ocean View on Deck 7, Symphony, are selling? Patty