I Am So Excited for all the Crystal Faithful

[Sthrngary]

Hello All:

 

Soon your wait will be over.  My hopes are your memories of the Crystal Cruise of the past will be exceeded.  Change is very difficult for all involved.  Let's imagine that with the right financial backing, much better upper level management, and many of the same ship crew members, Crystal will reemerge as an industry standard once again.  

 

Please share your experiences when you cruise again.  I was happy to see the Mushroom Soup was back and that is NO JOKE.  I have been in withdrawal.  It was SO Good.  Keep the faith and remember; the future Crystal Brand is in your hands.  It will survive based on "Word-of-Mouth" that is accurate to the exceeding expectations.  No amount of Marketing will bring back the brand.  You are Crystal's Future.  Just my opinion, not meant to challenge other. 

 

Cruise well and as Keith always says, "Enjoy Every Moment". 

[Treasure Hunter]

I’m a faithful follower of yours on NCL Haven posts. I know you will be on Oceania. We were looking for a September 2024 cruise that would allow us to visit the D-Day beaches. We found a Crystal cruise ( Dover to Dover that actually docks in Rouen on the Seine for three days. ) We have always wanted to cruise Crystal and are very excited but nervous too ( as a newcomer). How does it compare to the Haven, our standard ). We’ve been disappointed in Celebrity Retreat. Just got back from Viking Mississippi and did not enjoy it. Two out of three meals served buffet. You made your own toast. It was the most boring cruise with skipped ports. Husband loved Field of Dreams excursion but then we had a canceled flight on way home with people crying in the airport ( flooding in NY). Previous cruise in June was a fun Celebrity to Greece with family. Decided I need more than a riverboat. Tell me I’ll be happily surprised by Crystal. Your fan.

[Sthrngary]

1 minute ago, Treasure Hunter said:

How does it compare to the Haven, our standard ).

@Treasure Hunter Well now that is an excellent question.  We just have to make one assumption which in my heart of heart believe will the the case.  The Assumption is the NEW Crystal will be at least as good as the OLD Crystal.  All indications are it will be.  With that assumption in mind, here is my response.

 

Crystal Cruises in my experience which was one cruise was the "Haven on Steroids".  The key to Crystal like Oceania or Regent is when you leave your stateroom, everyone is treated the same.  Sometimes, in your stateroom, you might have a few extra amenities besides a larger living space.  I LOVE that everyone is treated the same.  On that same focus, Crystal Personalized service is a better experience than any other brand I have cruise to this point including the NCL Haven, the Celebrity Retreat or MSC Yacht Club.  Impossible to describe but immediately apparent.  Add to this the food is elevated if you can believe that because we both like the Haven Restaurant.  

 

10 minutes ago, Treasure Hunter said:

Tell me I’ll be happily surprised by Crystal. Your fan.

 

Here is what you have to remember.  Crystal is a smaller ship, it is designed for long cruises that are port intensive.  It does not have water slides, go carts and the like.  The shows are less of a productions show off of Broadway and more of an ensemble of good performers.  

 

The VERY best butler I have ever had with NO ONE ever coming close was on my Crystal voyage. His name was Erin.  No words, just the best.  Now to answer your question in my way.  If the NEW Crystal would have been a real thing prior to me booking my Oceania 10 day cruise in the Mediterranean, I would have seriously considered it. Just know, it is much more laid back, and Luxury is different than mainstream in very subtle ways.  

 

Short answer, "You WILL LOVE IT!"

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Treasure Hunter]

Thank you.😁🥰

[Treasure Hunter]

We plan to be touring every day. So not too worried. Sorry they eliminated the casino. Glad they have a library. It’s a big anniversary. Hope the formal nights are optional. It will be a real throwback. 

[Sthrngary]

5 minutes ago, Treasure Hunter said:

We plan to be touring every day. So not too worried. Sorry they eliminated the casino. Glad they have a library. It’s a big anniversary. Hope the formal nights are optional. It will be a real throwback. 

You will have a great time.  On the kind of trip you want to go on, you will be busy enough without a casino.  I would read the rules on the formal night.  Might not be super formal however not super casual either.  The people that I met on Crystal enjoy the food and the experience equally.  I used to laugh at the folks on the NCL Haven Board wanting to know if they could wear shorts and flip flops at dinner in the Haven Restaurant.  Now THAT was an not going to happen at the dinner hour in any Crystal dining experience. 

 

Promise to review it.  I envy you in many ways.  Enjoy

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.  

[Treasure Hunter]

We were thinking sports jacket instead of suit or tux( which doesn’t fit anymore) and my usual black pants and fancy top

[ctjon]

If I remember correctly - sports jacket was OK for formal night at the end of the old Crystal - hopefully it will still be OK

[nancygp]

5 minutes ago, ctjon said:

If I remember correctly - sports jacket was OK for formal night at the end of the old Crystal - hopefully it will still be OK

You remember correctly! 😀

 

nancy

[StoryMag]

 Crystal isn’t like being in a large hotel in the penthouse suite. It is more like being on an exclusive yacht with 650 of your closest friends. The promenade decks are delicious! The company of fellow travelers is delightful and the attentiveness of the crew is magical. I am sure you will love it! I know I will! In 30 days!!!!

Roll on August!!!!!!!

[Keith1010]

38 minutes ago, ctjon said:

If I remember correctly - sports jacket was OK for formal night at the end of the old Crystal - hopefully it will still be OK

We'll know more when we get our cruise documents as the A&A says this will be defined more in information provided to us.  They use the word "optional" but only list formal items so that is what is a bit confusing. Does that mean what they show is optional and if you don't go with this you can go with resort casual. I am not clear on this.  

Keith

[Keith1010]

4 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

Hello All:

 

Soon your wait will be over.  My hopes are your memories of the Crystal Cruise of the past will be exceeded.  Change is very difficult for all involved.  Let's imagine that with the right financial backing, much better upper level management, and many of the same ship crew members, Crystal will reemerge as an industry standard once again.  

 

Please share your experiences when you cruise again.  I was happy to see the Mushroom Soup was back and that is NO JOKE.  I have been in withdrawal.  It was SO Good.  Keep the faith and remember; the future Crystal Brand is in your hands.  It will survive based on "Word-of-Mouth" that is accurate to the exceeding expectations.  No amount of Marketing will bring back the brand.  You are Crystal's Future.  Just my opinion, not meant to challenge other. 

 

Cruise well and as Keith always says, "Enjoy Every Moment". 

Thank you for your post and starting this thread.

 

I still hope that one day Anne Marie and I will sail with you both.

 

Keith

[Florida90210]

7 hours ago, ctjon said:

If I remember correctly - sports jacket was OK for formal night at the end of the old Crystal - hopefully it will still be OK

Yes.  A sports jacket was definitely OK on old Crystal on formal nights.  That's what I wore on all four of my cruises.  Hopefully, it will be OK on the new CrystaI since I don't own a tuxedo nor do I own a suit.  

 

 

 

[ctjon]

Hard to believe these days but you used to be able to rent and pick up a tux while on one of the Crystal ships

[Leejnd4]

22 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

Hello All:

 

Soon your wait will be over.  My hopes are your memories of the Crystal Cruise of the past will be exceeded.  Change is very difficult for all involved.  Let's imagine that with the right financial backing, much better upper level management, and many of the same ship crew members, Crystal will reemerge as an industry standard once again.  

 

Please share your experiences when you cruise again.  I was happy to see the Mushroom Soup was back and that is NO JOKE.  I have been in withdrawal.  It was SO Good.  Keep the faith and remember; the future Crystal Brand is in your hands.  It will survive based on "Word-of-Mouth" that is accurate to the exceeding expectations.  No amount of Marketing will bring back the brand.  You are Crystal's Future.  Just my opinion, not meant to challenge other. 

 

Cruise well and as Keith always says, "Enjoy Every Moment". 

I just wanted to say that this was SUCH an uplifting post! It made me smile. 🙂

 

I know there are people who are still very angry and bitter about all that happened. I get it. I can understand how they feel, and I totally get that after being burned, they don't want to give Crystal another chance. But it irks me when I see them trying so hard to tamp down the excitement of those of us who DO want to jump back onboard. I try to just ignore them, and focus on my own excitement (and that of others willing to try NC). Our feelings matter too.

 

Thanks again for reminding us that good things are ahead. 

[May B]

Gary, it’s great to have you stop by!

 

 

[Sthrngary]

54 minutes ago, Leejnd4 said:

I just wanted to say that this was SUCH an uplifting post! It made me smile. 🙂

 

I know there are people who are still very angry and bitter about all that happened. I get it. I can understand how they feel, and I totally get that after being burned, they don't want to give Crystal another chance. But it irks me when I see them trying so hard to tamp down the excitement of those of us who DO want to jump back onboard. I try to just ignore them, and focus on my own excitement (and that of others willing to try NC). Our feelings matter too.

 

Thanks again for reminding us that good things are ahead. 

@Leejnd4 Wow, that was awfully nice of you to say.  People in general want to be part of a "Pack".  We tend to gravitate to others that agree with our positions.  We want to bring more people into our "Pack".   The world we know have shows so many examples of this behavior.  

 

Those that are bitter have every right to be bitter.  Some were stranded, others lot lots of money, other were disappointed as well as hurt.  Hurt that the brand they loved so much, that they were advocates for, let them down.  

 

This blog was those folks home away from home to engage on Crystal Cruising topics like no Crystal log paper on the bottom of the trash can (My personal favorite).  Now, from time to time these folks come back to attempt to bring new candidates into their new "Pack".  This is human nature and does does not mean everyone has to like it.  They have the right to do so based on their past personal experience.  Yet we all have the right to use "Ignore" function of CruiseCritic.com.  Everyone has rights.

 

I hope that makes sense.  Also to @May B thank you for allowing me to visit from time to time.  I hope as Keith says that many of us cruise Crystal together in the not to distant future. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[wearesiamese]

Has anyone heard any updates about when the 2025 itineraries will be announced?

[Shorex]

1 hour ago, Leejnd4 said:

I just wanted to say that this was SUCH an uplifting post! It made me smile. 🙂

 

I know there are people who are still very angry and bitter about all that happened. I get it. I can understand how they feel, and I totally get that after being burned, they don't want to give Crystal another chance. But it irks me when I see them trying so hard to tamp down the excitement of those of us who DO want to jump back onboard. I try to just ignore them, and focus on my own excitement (and that of others willing to try NC). Our feelings matter too.

 

Thanks again for reminding us that good things are ahead. 

I second everything Leejnd4 wrote. And I add my thanks to Sthrngary for posting with kindness and optimism. Because of previous commitments, we won't be joining Crystal until early next year. However, if our Explora cruise is canceled (and I give it 50/50 odds) we'll be booking a very last minute Crystal cruise. 🙂

[Leejnd4]

3 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

 

I hope that makes sense. 

 

Yes, it all made perfect sense. And I do have lots of compassion for those who got burned. I don't begrudge them their anger - they have a right to feel it. 

 

It's just nice to share the excitement for NC with others who are excited as well. 🙂