travelberlin

If only that were true…I could tell you several stories about the problems with the train companies… Just to give you an example, in November last year I had book a journey from Irvine, California to San Luis Obispo. Amtrak canceled Irvine as a train station and did not even told me. The next place where I could get the train was Los Angeles. Fortunately, since I always double check my bookings 48 hours in advance, I was able to get to LA by car to take my train. In Europe is not better. Currently Convois de Portugal is on strike from February 8th to February 21st! I was about to book a train ticket with them for April from Porto to Lisbon and after reading the reviews, decided to take a private car transfer instead. Ivi

I keep getting wrong invoices indicating we have to pay a large amount for our cruise that we have already paid in full. I have contacted my travel agent, who after contacting MSC explains to me that those invoices are automatically generated and that we should just ignore them. Something is wrong with MSC! Ivi

Yes, and the web page in relation to COVID it is from December 9th. Ivi

Is this still so? Do Grand voyages still require COVID tests? Ivi

Great 👍 have a wonderful voyage. I have written a review of my Azamara Pursuit voyage and it is published on Cruise Critic under Azamara reviews, if you still want to read one experience before your trip. Ivi

Thanks for your posts Terry in Ohio. They were refreshing and you brought important points to consideration. In relation to Singapore, I do like that city. I would stay there at least three nights to have time to get a feeling of this interesting city. Considering what might be better, going East or West from Singapore, I have gone West when I was going to Berlin, but I have gone East when going to Los Angeles. Enjoy your travels. Ivi

We would say for example „Ich komme aus Berlin“. By the way if you come from Hamburg, you better not say „I am a hamburger“ 😉 Ivi

I have just returned from a cruise to Tierra del Fuego and the Falklands. We had two very good speakers: Dr. Jean Kenyons and Dr. Joe Coffey. Does anybody know if they were also once guest speakers on our original Crystal? Ivi

Since this thread is now talking about laundry rooms and having washers and driers in your cabins, I have to wonder why people go on a cruise and do their laundry themselves 🧐 Cruise prices are expensive and laundry prices are peanuts comparing to those prices. In the original Crystal the laundry service (non self service) was superb. We have used a lot. Ivi

Thanks I was informed by friends who have booked it, that the itinerary was tentative. Not definitive. But it seems that it will be similar to the WC 2022. We were booked on that one.😔 Ivi

I think that the people who are booking now the World Cruise 2024 do not really care where the ship is going. They are just happy with the ship and hopping that it will have at least the quality of the original Crystal in order to justify the current prices. For those interested in segments, the first two are also easy to identify. For example I assume that there will be Miami-LA and LA - New Zealand. For booking of other segments, it is better to wait if you are interested in itineraries. Ivi

I agree. I have to say that the wonderful reviews of the original Crystal have influenced as to book cruises with them. Those reviews came from cruisers and also from magazines. I have also written reviews and live blogs of some of my cruises. I guess I am also kind of an “influencer”. Only I have never got any benefit, financial or any type from sharing my impressions. Ticktockers make a lot of money out of their posts. It is for me just annoying sometimes going to a good restaurant and seeing the today influencers making several pictures of themselves in order to make comment about the restaurant. Ivi

A “Berliner” is similar to a doughnut. He said : “Ich bin ein Berliner” meaning only himself. He was loved and respected by Germans. Ivi

I have sailed both. I find Azamara much better than Celebrity. Give it a try and who knows it might be good for you too. Ivi

When was this? Azamara does not belong to Royal Caribbean anymore. Ivi

I am not sure if you still can match your Celebrity status to Azamara. I think that possibility has expired. Ivi

Unfortunately there seems to be a tendency to allocate the least desirable cabins for solo cruisers. The company that bought the Crystal name, is also allocating some cabins to solo travelers, which are in a less desirable location. I am not a fun of that policy and I hope that Azamara continues with its solo supplement discount of 25%-50% and we have the chance to pick up our own cabins. I would hate to see that deciding to allocate the ocean views restricted cabins only for solos with a lower supplement would mean that not other cabins are available for solos unless we pay double occupancy rates. Ivi

I understand your point. All cabins with exception of this ones would be ideal for solo travelers if there is no solo supplement. However this is unrealistic. Those restricted view cabins might be interesting for some solo cruisers if they do not come with a supplement. Ideal they are not. But they could also be interesting for couples if the prices of those cabins are the lowest on any cruise. Ivi

Interesting but how do you come to the conclusion that those cabins would be ideal for solo travelers? 🧐 I am a solo traveler and believe me those cabins are not ideal. Not only they are the smallest cabins on the ship but due to the obstruction the only thing you see are the tender boats. In addition there is permanently crew working on the tender boats, which means that in order to have privacy, you have to close the curtains. With that, your “ocean view” cabin turns an inside cabin but you paid higher prices. Ivi

Those are good news 👍 Ivi

I agree. I think that several people will be able to give us a good idea on how things are going in the new Crystal. And similarly as when we read reviews from other cruise lines, hotels, or whatever we would like to book, we will decide which things are important for us. Ivi

Wow… you are a Berliner 😀 Ivi

Pursuit, Jan 24, US 430 Ivi

I booked a midship ocean view no restrictions for my cruise with the Pursuit. I made an offer for an upgrade to veranda. My offer was weak but since I was cruising solo my offer had to be multiplied by two. I have got an upgrade 48 hours before sailing to a V3. I am discoverer plus. Ivi

I will not take those cabins not even as solo cruiser. I would rather take an inside cabin which cost less, and are larger. Ivi