latsyrc

Glad to hear they've brought back lasagna, hope it's permanent.

Plenty of handicapped restrooms all around the ship. very few obstacles as I recall. If you use a "roll-a-lator" get one that folds side to side rather than front to back. In standard cabins the front to back fold configuration will not fit between the end of the bed and the wall.

black slacks and a top with a little sparkle and you'll be fine.

If you go to this site, Roy has listed the last week's menus including included wine selections:

CrystalMenus2023 | Roy's Grand Voyages (wordpress.com)

Lots of previous, pre shut down, menus as well. This should give you an idea of what is served. 

As background I am about to leave for Dubai to board Symphony to reach 50+ cruises with Crystal. I have been sailing with them since 1996. It is by far my favorite cruise line. If you enjoy good food, you will be in heaven. Enjoy.

With 41 days to go to boarding Symphony, so glad to hear carpaccio has returned. I didn't much care for the decor in the old Prego but the carpaccio was excellent, only place I eat it.

On 8/18/2023 at 12:20 PM, ChatKat in Ca. said:

For those of us from the Los Angeles area, Prego was based on the restaurant Valentino with the menu designed by Piero Selveggio.  His food was legendary and his place at the top of the local Itallian food chain.  I am open to new experiences, but, Valentino will be missed by us Angelenos.  We loved Prego.

Coming up on 28 years cruising Crystal and will cross the magic 50 leg line and free specialty restaurants in December. I love Nobu like everyone else but carpaccio at Prego was really special. I wont knock this new restaurant until I try it but I sense a whiff of snobbery that Prego somehow wasn't authentic, sad.

8 minutes ago, Worldtraveler22 said:

Quick question.  Did the ship handle your visa for Egypt or did you have to buy it in advance of your cruise?  Inquiring minds want to know?  Did you also go to Oman and Dubai?  If so, what did you do for visas there?

If you Google web sites of each country you will find requirements for Visas. As I'm reading it, Dubai does not require Visas and Oman only requires them for stays over 14 days. Sure hope I'm reading it right.

That's what I assumed since there is also a category of "join the wait list" on some cruises. I recently reserved a single cabin for Symphony's Grand Voyage and expected to be told I would have to move cabins mid cruise but was confirmed through for all 4 legs. Soon!!! 

Usually 90, Upper West Side

Quebec City?????

I have been taking my grands on Crystal since they were 7&9. The first cruise there was no kids program since it wasn't yet the season. Others have had them and kids had mixed reaction. The year my grandson was 11, they insisted he wasn't allowed to take part in the program for 12-18 year olds. That sounds perfectly reasonable on the surface but there weren't any 15-18 year olds only a couple of 12-14's he had a lot more in common with than 3 year old girls. My then 9 year old granddaughter enjoyed playing with the little ones sometimes. I guess a lot depends on your kids and if they enjoy fine dining, there is no buffet option.

We have also cruised on Norwegian, regular cabins, with extended family groups. Kids tried kids program and wouldn't go back after first day.

If your kids enjoy going out to a white table cloth restaurant and trying new things, I think they would find enough to do on sea days to be happy. Port days you will probably be off ship with them anyway. You may not leave your children in the Kid's program and go ashore. There is paddle tennis, ping pong, shuffleboard, golf putting, pool, walking tracks, and on Symphony, outdoor gym equipment that is rarely used. I have always stressed they are not to monopolize these venues when others are waiting and definitely no splashing in the pool. The Lido guys take great care of them as far as making smoothies and virgin cocktails.

While I was researching our next cruise after returning from our time on the Explorer in November, and since at this point in our "cruising careers" my wife and I are more itinerary driven than particularly brand loyal, there was an Oceania cruise that caught my eye. (One of theirs ships, forget which one, was docked next to us in Naples and it looked, to be fair, beautiful.) So I called them for more info. I can tell you that they do indeed say, at least on the phone, that this will be the best food we have ever had on a ship. Not sure they knew we were on their sister line Regent, which in my opinion is probably unbeatable.

I think I might have read on one of these boards---could be wrong---that both lines, to take advantage of economies of scale, buy the same ingredients. But of course have different chefs.

We didn't wind up booking the cruise, but now I'm curious if there is anyone out there who has tried them both.

 

 

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I can's speak to Regent's food since have never sailed them but IMHO Oceana food is far inferior to Crystal. I did 42 days on Marina from Tahiti to NYC. The food in Jacques was outstanding (as good as Crystal MDR) the rest were a disappointment and the crowding in the MDR was a big problem as was the very slow service.

It is available on my 12/26/16 cruise

If you're flying in the day before you cruise and need a place to crash and recover from jet lag, Premier Inn, West Thurrock filled the bill for us. Clean, quiet (despite construction), superb staff, cold beer on draft, what else do you need. There is absolutely nothing nearby and this property is utilitarian but we liked it. Inexpensive and a quick transfer to the port with little traffic. Road work in area is making congestion terrible!

Just returned yesterday from 14 night Crystal Symphony UK/Ireland cruise. Three generation BIG birthday celebration. Fabulous. When judging price, remember what's included/excluded: gratuities, alcohol, transfers, internet, specialty dining, and the list goes on. For us Isle of Skye was the highlight.

I live in the Southern US, and we have several large denominations that don't drink alcohol (at least in public :D).

 

Roz

Funny! Ocean City, NJ was founded as a camp meeting and didn't allow alcohol (at least they didn't 50 years ago). My mother reveled at the sight of all the liquor/beer bottles floating out from under the houses during storm surges.

Definitely Norway! Iceland was interesting, would recommend the Blue Lagoon, touristy but lots of fun. I was in Nuuk years ago on Crystal and swore I would never return, still haven't figured out why they wanted to go there. The Norwegian coastal cruise was heavenly. Scenery as good as Milford Sound and a lot closer.

- the smoking in the most attractive bar, relegating us to either a very dark pub-like bar or one next to the ballroom dancers (apologies, can't remember names of the bars)

claranda obviously hasn't been on board Crystal recently, smoking was outlawed in the Cove bar I think effective January 2014.

Yes Crystal's staterooms are only 70% the size of Seaborne's but a recent search of next summer's fares show them to be 50% of the cost as well. If you're willing to pay Seaborne's rate, you can have a Penthouse on Crystal which is the same size.

Canadian limit on beer is 8.5 liters per person. Approx. 1 case.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/atl-lat-eng.html

We need a car and driver from Heathrow to Tilbury in July for 5 people and luggage. "ShuttleDirect" seems far less expensive than competitors, any one have experience with them?

Thanks in advance

Caryll

Yum - love chocolate martinis - especially when made with Godiva🍸 I enjoy them on Regent as well as my new favorite drink, the Mexican Butterfly - a drink available on Regent (unless you know the recipe which I don't have).

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

Recipe for Mexican Butterfly, http://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/cocktail-of-the-week-the-mexican-butterfly/

Anything with St.Germain is yummy IMHO

Caryll

Mama Lou used to stay on HAL ships most of the year -- for quite a few years.

Haven't heard anything about her in quite a while.

She left HAL for Crystal about 5 years ago when they eliminated gentleman hosts according to an interview I read with her. She's one of 4 ladies living full time aboard Serenity, reportedly there are some on Symphony as well.

Hey Dan,

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me too

A bit off topic, but curious: Has anyone cruised to Easter Island? We are going there next year and now I've read that only 1 in 4 tenders are successful. Now THAT has got me a little upset.... but what can you do?

I was there for 3 days in 2013 and 1 in 2015, tenders ran all 4 days. We were threatened with no tender in 2015 but captain moved the ship and found a spot where tendering was possible. It rocks and rolls getting in to the little harbor.

"Don't think twice just do it."

"I have no hesitation in going anywhere in them."

"Happy sailing - you will love Seabourn!"

 

I'm liking what I'm hearing....thank you all for this info!

 

A friend mentioned I should also consider Crystal Serenity for a Transatlantic. I've never sailed Crystal either. Anyone have any opinions?

 

I really like that this cruise is over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Wonder if they will have a special dinner planned.

 

I will confirm this week for sure!

 

Thank you all.

If you enjoyed O, you will absolutely adore Crystal! Better in every way. The trade off of Crystal's having slightly smaller cabins is that they devote much more space to public areas. Thanksgiving dinner on Crystal always includes a Roast Turkey and fixings option. That's American Thanksgiving.