Txcotn

3 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

Keith,

 

You do realize you haven’t answered the most important Bistro question, are there Portuguese tarts?!?!?!

 

Patty

That is your assignment when you get on next week!😎

5 minutes ago, lindsay_claire said:

Have a wonderful time! Quick question-could someone tell me the preferred post-cruise hotel in Lisbon that Crystal is recommending? We have booked the Lisbon to Barcelona cruise next May and have started looking at hotels. Thanks!

You will not be disappointed with Avenita Palac, absolutely charming and great location and awesome breakfast buffet, best we ever had in 25 years of cruise travelling..I think others here will agree.

1 hour ago, bayonejoe said:

I believe that is the Saphire suite.

Keith just posted the Aquamarine 

I had asked for the NEW Aquamarine and that is what is on #81. Sapphire is larger and on an earlier page.

9 hours ago, bayonejoe said:

 

 

 

where are the pics

In post #81

Thank you for the Aquamarine pics!

Aquamarines please! The newest rather than classic or Seabreeze. 

Thanks!

53 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

 

Newspapers are available free on the iPad they provide or for a fee you can get a printed copy.

 

 

What does that mean on the iPad they provide? I have my own and I can access news papers on line.

Ship looks gorgeous, Lounge is a nice idea for old casino space! Sapphire looks wonderful but IMO granite is garish, could have been more soothing without the overspeckled look. Also in Osteria and Umi - what makes a restaurant think people want to crowd into a sofa to eat? I (just me there) would prefer chairs but at least it's not a banquette!

10 minutes ago, wearesiamese said:

Are they still going to have mini refrigerators in each stateroom? I couldn't tell by the pictures ??

One picture showed the inside of it. Wine, water, beer....

Hope so!!!!!!!

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

11 hours ago, tnm6217 said:

Was the White Party a regular event on OC? My first Crystal cruise will be an 11 nighter, so according to the new guide, there will be a White Party. I'm happy to go shopping to find something appropriate, but any thoughts or insight would be appreciated!

No worries, if you don't show up in all white, no one will forbid you entering!

Prepaid visa cards work too. 

3 hours ago, Rothko1 said:

 

Might depend on how many drinks he had in the Cove before 6 pm.

FYI none.

57 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

No surprise there at all - he wasn’t compliant with the dress code 

 

I suspect “thrown out” actually meant he was politely reminded of the dress code and asked to comply should he wish to stay in the Cove after 6pm. This is hardly issue where Security would be called to deal with the matter

I used the term  "thrown out" too casually. In contrast, there have been multiple occasions when "violations" much more egregious were not dealt with...the 2 very hirsute and muscular men who showed up every day in their "wife beaters" for breakfast, just gross; and the woman who daily came in her bathrobe and slippers to the Bistro. Honestly those are rather blatant in your face "I'm going to dress my way" attitudes that really are offensive. The bermudas may have been wrong, but they weren't offensive.

8 minutes ago, LoveBora said:

Not only will they not be allowed in the dining room, they will be banned from all public spaces. My husband had a custom made navy blazer made for the 2022 WC, which, of course, we didn’t get to go on, so he thought what if he wore his blazer with navy dress pants. Not a look he would normally go for, but would they be so picky as to distinguish between a “suit” and matching pants and jacket color?

Several years ago a friend of ours was thrown out of the Cove at 6PM because he still had his (nice) Bermuda shorts on, had to take his drink with him.

59 minutes ago, comas said:

Thank you Nancy for your views, which are most helpful. I feel certain we wouldn’t book a Guarantee ~ it seems far too risky. Ann. 

If you book a guarantee, you are guaranteed the level you contract for, plus the added possibility you will

be upgraded. Really no risk, you either get what you ask for or better.And they ask you if you want it, at least they did in the past.

Our deal is just ask our TA, she gets the quote.  After over 50 cruises she’s never steered us wrong. A good TA has a dedicated Crystal liaison, always deals with her. Don’t know where that might go in the future as the liaison was just promoted. 

Short answer - use a TA, they are worth their weight in gold.

We've done many VR including our own 50th anniversary party. We were able to pre-book VR for a full compliment of guests, other times we spoke to the Head Sommelier to tell him we were interested in a VR dinner, and when he had 12/14 he would arrange it. In my memory he may have had one date and as time went on and interested parties requested, he may have added another date. The wines on our party were at and charged at our level of interest, the group, or unaffiliated (for loss of a better term) were at Crytal's choice at a fixed price for all, no upgrading or downgrading.

Thanks, Terry! It’s dinner time here and now I’m really hungry. I could eat those pictures!

I generally do not tell companies how to run themselves but there are times that I as well as others wish a company did something different for the customer experience. Best example is Crystal, which actually asks the questions in the QAP. Companies don't run themselves, they are administered by humans, which is one of the reasons they hire consultants, to make it better. For example: on our first Crystal cruise in 1995, we removed the luggage tags from our suitcases to find a sticky gooey mess from the 100% adhesive tags. We made the suggestion to just put the adhesive just on the ends, and guess what? They did it! That's the real story of why your luggage tags never made a mess on your luggage handles. They actually thanked us for the suggestion! Truth!

4 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Surely I was giving my own opinion.  Surely you do this often. 

 

Some people give their opinions but do it without that obnoxious smiley face that just two or three do as a put down.

 

And someone can say the sun rises each day and sets and surely someone would have to disagree.

 

Cruise Critic is about opinion and surely usually there is not 100% agreement. If there was every thread would consist of a handful or less of comments.

So it goes.

I never use a smiley as a put down, only as a real smile or a roll eye when I believe Crystal isn’t communicating well. Please don’t take offense as it’s never meant that way. I’m not in the habit of putting people down, just entities when I get frustrated. 

3 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

Why would Keith know? It’s a question for Crystal to answer - I guess their marketing and social media teams have their reasons for the limited release of these sort of previews

 

The reality is that in a few weeks there’ll be a ton of photos, videos and first hand counts of the onboard experience

 

Time will tell…

Only because he seems to have a pipeline….😎