Keith1010

I would verity this but I believe this is so. Keith

Roy I believe they won't be larger but we shall see.When this was announced it was mentioned the ocean vessels would be sized to carry 650 guests and the expedition ships 220 guests. Symphony and Serenity were sized to carry a greater number of guests and even with larger suites I don't see the shops being larger than the present ones but as they say time will tell. Keith

Good you have your TA involved. And this is the issue I mentioned in my post (Post number 20 on this thread). The key on all of this is to have your TA compare your current booking with the cruise fare you were charged less any discounts you might have gotten with the new promotion to see if there is any benefit for you canceling, paying the admin. fee and rebooking it. If prices have gone up for the new booking you might find there is no benefit of rebooking unless the new price is lower than your current price. They will not provide an upgrade at the price of your current booking. You have to cancel and rebook. This is one where the devil is in the details and why it's important to have a TA look at what cancelling and rebooking would mean. The good news is you are not yet in the penalty phase for cancelling other than the admin. fee. Good luck with this. Keith

Hi everyone. This is what I have been told. Rest assured, there is no speculation on my part. I wouldn't share this if I was not 100% sure on how it works. First, look at the new pricing as it may have changed since you booked the cruise. See what is included in terms of other discounts you may have received such as a Crystal Society discount. If you are withiinthe canellation time frame cancellation fees will apply. If you have done all of this and you see savings/benefits from this then contact your TA to see if they can work with Crystal to cancel your existing booking (there will be a $250.00 admin. fee) and rebook for you. Or if yo don't want to go through all of this contact your TA and ask them to do this for you. And yes, I am well award of what the terms say. but as I noted this is what I have been told and I am not speculating no the ability to cancel and rebook. Again, your TA needs to get with Crystal. Again, everyone should take a look at the specifics of your voyage. While some might benefit others might not. Remember things like dynamic pricing and just the fact that pricing has changed before. Keith

Another nice memory from NWP in 2016. Keith

Very easy. Go to www.crystalcruises.com Then go to My Account. Then click on my bookings. Then click on my reservations. Then click on the date you want to make a reservation. Then click on Spa. Then decide what service you want and make the reservation. Keith

By now the decision has likely been made about a promenade deck. Like most things there is a tradeoff. In this case having one means it is possible of the need to have guest rooms on the same deck without verandahs (yes I know it's possible todo this on a deck without suites) and the added cost (cost for wood, maintenance, etc.) versus the enjoyment of it. Personally I enjoy the promenade. In our case it was one of the selling points for us to book a World Cruise. We viewed it as a place to enjoy exercise, long walks together and with friends, a location to enjoy sail-aways and arrivals, and a place to get away from large crowds. And for those who can't take the sun or some of the other elements being outside it can provide shade versus walking on the top deck. But like most things we are fine with whatever Crystal decides. I remind myself that there was a point in time when we didn't know if Crystal would return and a point where some thought NC would be totally different than OC. As to promenades being dead, I think not. My first reaction to that comment was Vince's. I can point to many things and say not everyone utilizes the amenity. With that said, as someone who enjoys the promenade deck there are many people who utilize it. Keith

A memory of a lifetime sailing NWP on Serenity in 2016. Keith

Are you asking if we cannot log into My Account or to the Crystal website. In my case I can do both. Try restarting your device. See if that works. If not, try another browser. Worst case clear browsing history. Keith

Don't ask me why but when I see this photo I think of The Beatles song Lady Madonna. Keith

I know many of you are on the Miami to San Diego sailing so here is the entertainment section and it includes our very own Jim Brochu. Remember, work in progress. https://www.crystalcruises.com/cruises/none-cse-016-240118#ship-module Keith

Yes this is a work in progress. It's a great start and keep checking for updates. Keith

This is a great front row seat to see the world. Keith

Great news: Entertainers/Enrichment is being added to the Crystal website. If you go to the top and put your curser over our ships one of the sections that shows is entertainment. Click on it and scroll down and on the left site is the ability to pull up entertainers based on various categories. If you click on the entertainer, you will see their bio. Then scroll down and you will see what voyage they are on. Also, they are starting to list it by voyage. This is an example: After you go to this page scroll down. https://www.crystalcruises.com/cruises/none-cse-011-240514?fbclid=IwAR1_--1dCnaA6_FYG3ZWRWfg8WJRvTqHWEMaYq_Nhw1qFOl9pHI883rKnnw Remember, this is a work in progress. We've seen a lot of new enhancements added to the site.

Correction. I meant to have said since July 2022 no longer are there any flat rates for Taxis. All rates are metered. Keith

Ivi, My apologies. I should have said since July of 2022 no longer is there a flat rate. It is all metered. Keith

I also want to add that five ships is no big deal for Miami. There are plenty of taxis and also you have other options such as Uber. Keith

There is no longer a metered rate. This changed in July of 2022. Keith

These are big boots (or for some shoes) to fill. Keith

This is an example of what is so special about Crystal. Thank you for sharing this. Keep enjoying Keith

I am not Bill, but I can answer some of the questions. When we were on board the first two sailings of Serenity I didn't see any solo get togethers listed in the daily program reflections. I am familiar with the location of the solo rooms on deck 7. No worries about being near the elevator. You should not hear other out by that area. On the Pool Deck there are lounges available in the shade. For some that is certainly a preference particularly saying in the Caribbean. But overall demand varies by overall occupancy of the ship. If you find it's a problem my recommendation is to get out there earlier. On port days less of an issues as many are in port. My view is to try a variety of dishes. For example, the Osteria Italian restaurant was new to all of us so rather than have one starter it was recommended I have two. There are lots of great choices in all of the dining venues but food preferences do vary by person. Keith

I thought this would help. You don't have to go all the way to Key Biscayne but as far as you think you can do and make it back. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Four+Seasons+Hotel+Miami,+1435+Brickell+Ave,+Miami,+FL+33131/Key+Biscayne,+Florida+33149/@25.7267635,-80.2223109,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x88d9b680c8ba8b07:0x494fd6ac4a57e74a!2m2!1d-80.1922639!2d25.7588046!1m5!1m1!1s0x88d9b5f6594fa365:0xecf8e502280e8ed3!2m2!1d-80.1628248!2d25.693713!3e2?entry=ttu I've never run from downtown to South Beach and then to Miami Beach because of my concern getting to that Bridge that takes you over there. Too much traffic and not a sidewalk. What we would do is walk over to the Intercontinental and get a taxi or Uber and drop us off at the beginning of Ocean Drive in South Beach. From there you could run on the side walk up Ocean Drive past those iconic hotels on the left and beach on the right and eventually it turns from side walk to boardwalk and just keep going as far as you want. Often a goal would be to get to the Fontainebleau Hotel. We used to go there on family vacations to Florida so it brings back fond memories for me. Yes I've always wondered why they check cars coming into Port Everglades and not Miami. You would think if there is a security concern at Port Everglades there would be one at the Port Of Miami as well. Keith

I would ask if you prefer to sit in the same area with the same wait-staff. I would see what you tihink the first night and if you are happy with the table and wait staff ask if it is possible to sit there. Now, the issue is what the overall occupancy level on that cruise and what time you arrive. Keith

I have run early in the downtown area and across the bridge into the port area. If you are going up Brickell you do have to contend with cross walks/lights. Or you could start further down by the Intercontinental and run from there to the port and back. If you don't start early downtown then you will have to contend with people walking on the side walk although with patience you can get around them. When you get across the bridge you have to run across a couple of streets but they are part of the port so not highways to deal with. Unlike Port Everglades there is no security check point to deal with. I hope this helps. Another place to run is if you go across the bridge to to the island where the Mandarin Oriental i located there is a nice wide path that goes around that area and I like to walk and run it with nice views of the Bay and some of the cruise ships. And finally you can head in the other direction from Miami where you go through Coconut Grove and then over to Key Biscayne if you want a long run (you have to get back too) to change things up. Keith

The nice thing about Miami is there are tons of Hotels a short distance from the port including ones in Downtown on and near Brickell Avenue at a wide range of price points. They include: These are located about 10 minute drive from the port in downtown with some a few minute walk from lots of restaurants on Brickell. Four Seasons JW Marriott Hampton Inn Conrad Hotel AKA Novetel SLS Brickell Slightly closer to the port but within walking distance of Mary Brickell. Mandarin Oriental (you can walk over the bridge (low bridge with walkway for pedestrians) Hyatt A little closer to the port but still walkable to downtown places mentioned above. Intercontiental Epic Marriott Marquis plus another hotel in the same building. Holiday Inn Past the Arena Hilton If you just want hotel and not visit the downtown area there are a slew of Marriott Brand Hotels within a mile of the Maim Airport. If you want the beach area and night life you have tons of hotels in South Beach (noisy at night) or Miami Beach. A more remote area has the Ritz Carlton on Key Biscayne. And they have two other properties one on South Beach and one in Coconut Grove. As you can imagine price points vary quite a bit but great choice. And transportation options include taxi, hotel arranging a service for you, taxis, etc. Eventually people will ask about Fort Lauderdale when the ship starts to use that as its home port for Florida. In my case, we prefer Miami (I know some don't but we do) so we will stay there and on the day of embarkation make our way to the port. Also, the Florida Ports of Call Board is terrific for discussions of hotels and things to do in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and for that matter most of Florida. Our first time staying in Miami (I stayed there when I was young on Family Vacations) was before WC 2007 when the pre cruise hotel and gala was held at the Four Seasons Hotel. This was when they were taking down many of the low rise hotels in Miami and replacing them with large high rises buildings. I hadn't seen more cranes in a city until we visited Dubai. Things slowed with the great recession only to pick up again a few years later. Lot of new hotels and even the Brickell Shopping Mall didn't open until November 2016 and took awhile to fill with stores and restaurants. I like to walk so often we would walk from the Four Season, up Brickell, across the bridge and into the port of Miami. GO to get those steps in. Keith