Keith1010

Yes.

Very. As it was before but not sure if everything was in stock as they are still getting orders. I was very pleased with the availability of the revenue and inclusive choices. Keith

I remember this process was in place for the Bahama Cruises. During your cruise your might receive charges posted to the card by Crystal rather than it all taking place on the day you debark. This is because there have been times the credit card company reject them. So be aware. I check my accounts daily so when I saw it the first time I asked forgetting that it worked this way before. Keith

This is an example of the daily canapés for all suites. It changes daily. Keith

About a week ago the 2023 Serenity Holiday Cruise was sold out but now a few rooms left.

They were very similar to what we've enjoyed before. I don't have a list. Maybe someone does. The Nobu wine was not yet on board but it is on order. They still had the C Chardonnay but it is a TBD as to whether that continues. Keith

Thank you Rob and Jim.....After we were met at the airport by the driver and walked outside that heat was stunning. Not the hottest day around here but after a few weeks where the highs were relatively mild it was hot for sure. Larry, maybe I will just eat the photo. LOL. The story of my life; typos and autocorrect. Keith

We’re being driven home as I write this. Global Entry has certainly come along way sine it began. Just go up to the kiosk and stand there while you ate photographed and in a few seconds you are ready to proceed to meet the agent who photographs you again and you are hone free. No questions spraking of questions and I know they do this as part of security was our five minute discussion at check in for our BA flight. We told him we sailed. Rystal and that led to around ten questions. I asked if we would have to go through security a second time as they used to for flights back to the USA and he said sone get pulled over but we are not on that list. It is hot here. . By the way we had terrific weather this entire cruise. A few weeks ago it was not so nice in the IK and a couple of weeks before arriving to Marseilke it was super hot. if there are any typo it is due to me writing this on an iPhone without my reading glasses. Bags are packed for the next. Ruiz’s. Ready to go. Can’t wait. And Crystal is back and better than before. I won’t say I told you but you know I did. Cheers, Keith

Thank you so much for your kind words. With new itineraries for 2025 coming out soon maybe you will find something to book.

How long is the cruise.

I am not sure which area you are asking about. The Casino became the lounge. It is not certain where the casino goes. There are thoughts on it but it needs to be finalized. Which area were you thinking of? Keith

Have a great time and Bon Voyage. Enjoy Umi Uma. Best to you. Keith

Patty, Anne Marie says it's not the Prego Recipe but the recipe they have used in Waterside before. Keith

Vince I feel the same way. By the way when Serenity came out a lot of people including on this board didn't like the color scheme. I think the last several dry docks they have improved the look with the new carpeting and the changes to the rooms. As to the lounge. I think it looks a lot better in person than with photos. But I have viewed it as a place holder. They made the decision to remove the casino and they couldn't leave it as is and this was a quick solution because they had an incredible amount of work to get done in very short order. As it turned out leaving it the way they did might have turned out well as they plan for the future. Let's see what happens. In the end the things most important to me are not the lounge or the color scheme of the carpet. It is the crew, cuisine service, enrichment, entertainment, and a few other things. I am reminded that for 17 months Crystal didn't sail so I so very much appreciate that Crystal is back and when it comes to furniture etc it's not like I am buying the place. The suites we've sailed in recently is wonderful. Would I design it the way it is? No. But to be sailing with Crystal again is a blessing and puts things into perspective IMHO. Keith

Phyllis: They didn't turn away anyone if they weren't in the recommended attire. Many people were dressed up on formal for the first cruise. We didn't dine out on the second cruise as I couldn't wear shoes that night. The first cruise had two formals and the second one just one. I see that Muriel provided her observations from the second formal night. My observation is they are trying to make it a little more dressier but I can't say that with 100% certainty. We dressed up more. Anne Marie had the mushroom soup once on each voyage. I thought she had it on one of the formal nights of the first voyage and I thought it was on the one formal on the second voyage as I know I had the caviar but if it wasn't that night it was another one. It cannot be special ordered. Osso Bucco cannot be special ordered. None of the Prego items can be special ordered. The food was truly amazing in Waterside. I never special ordered anything other than asking for a caesar salad or a simple salad of Boston lettuce, mushrooms and tomatoes. My observation is special ordering is way down from the days of past. I could be wrong but it seemed like the menus had more entree choices than we've seen in a very long time and I found the food tasty, presented very well and at the proper temperature. Overall i was pleased with pretty much all the food. I did try most things in Tastes during our two visits. There were a few items Anne Marie and I didn't care for but we found several on each night we enjoyed. Umi Uma loved it all and enjoyed most items at the Italian Specialty Restaurant. Some are smaller so for example I had two starters at the recommendation of one of our hosts and it was a good recommendation. I would let the waiter try to guide you both on this. Keith

Vince I think they have a plan in mind for casino and for all or part of the lounge space but knowing that things can change we'll wait for them to announce it. I suspect they are working through the logistics of what they have in mind to be sure it will work out. Keith

Thank you David for following along and your kind words. We both have been the walking wounded. I do want to give a shoutout to the ships doctor. We were in very capable hands. I was a bit concerned about flying for each of us the other day but we are both making progress. I looked like hop along and my attire of slippers was a bit unique. Hopefully in a week I'll be back to normal and hopefully Anne Marie will continue to make progress too. As the time nears I'll post about the next cruise. We do have several cruises booked which include both Serenity and Symphony. Keith

Many thanks for your kind words. And a game of paddle tennis or pickle ball sounds great. Keith

OK. Now we know for sure the first survey was for the first cruise. As to the survey, I've never seen a survey or been part of a survey as we did them at work annually that everyone was pleased with the questions. I do think they covered a lot of ground. My favorite are the ones from say BA that say can we take a minute of your time to complete the survey and twenty minutes later I am still answering the questions. Anyway, glad they go the surveys out. Keith

Wishing all of you an early Bon Voyage. It will be wonderful. Cheers, Keith

On our flight back home. Internet reminds me of old Crystal when it took ages to load on certain voyages. LHR was very crowded. Reminded us of JFK when we flew to and from Iceland in 2021. And we had to take a bus to the flight and walk up the stairs. We've done this a few times at either LHR or Gatwick and in South Africa and I would do this in private planes when I worked but this one was unexpected. Think of it. You have a bad ankle and Anne Marie has an issue too and we each have a carry on and a back pack. And there was no butler to assist us and we were like sardines in the but to the aircraft. You know what. Life is short. It could be worse and this leads me to my view. Can I find some faults with our first two cruises? Yes. Can I find fault at home? Yes. Can I find fault with almost everything? Yes. But in the end of the day who cares. For those of you who have traveled the world you should know that 95%+ of the world will never cruise on a luxury line and have issues much more monumental than ours. Yes, I know this is cruise critic so we just criticize. Well speaking for myself that is not in my vocabulary.You say why? My parents were part of the greatest generation and my nana who lived with us was born before then. They all had a right to . They didn't have much, lived through the depression, supported WWII (my father enlisted before the war) and yet they never complained. So for me I remind myself of what things could be and how good we have it. If you think that is cheerleading that is your problem. And for those of you who thought the majority of the crew would not come back, and Crystal would be very different from what it was and feel the need to continually complain you got it wrong. I am ecstatic that Crystal returned. It was never perfect but what is? I just focus on what is good and as I mentioned when I kicked off this thread I have no patience for those who complain. Why? Because if you can cruise on a luxury line you are truly blessed. Can't wait for our next Crystal cruise and bags are packed, ready to go, can't wait. Cheers, Keith

It was great meeting you during the sail away in Bordeaux. That was the most casual I have been in the evening as we dined in our room due to my ankle issue. Otherwise it was sports jacked or tuxedo other than our two meals in Tastes. Keith

It is the lounge. Lots of tables and chairs. Not used much. It won't be the new casino though. There are many options as to how it can be used. Let's see what Crystal comes up with. In the meantime, if the gangway is located on Deck 6 it will be used for check in. Keith

I am wondering if the survey was from the first cruise. If anyone was on the first or second cruise I would be curious if you got the survey. If you did could you indicate which cruise? Keith

My suspicion based on timing is it was the second but I answered it for both cruise combined. Keith