Before You Sail Guide

[TER777]

A 30+ page Before You Sail Guide is now available. Log into your account, select your reservation, select reservation documents. There it is.

[Stickman1990]

Here’s a copy of the latest Before You Sail Guide 

 

Before You Sail Guide V2.pdf

[History&Wine]

It is good to see the smoking policy clarified.  It is the same as old Crystal.

There have been some comments on these boards that luggage must be stored in the room .  This guide indicates that we can ask our suite attendant that bags be stored elsewhere if they will not fit under the bed. 

[Keith1010]

2 hours ago, History&Wine said:

It is good to see the smoking policy clarified.  It is the same as old Crystal.

There have been some comments on these boards that luggage must be stored in the room .  This guide indicates that we can ask our suite attendant that bags be stored elsewhere if they will not fit under the bed. 

Glad you caught this. I was thinking of you when I went through the guide a little while ago and was going to post this section on the thread about smoking. Great catch on the luggage too.

 

Also there is some additional information on the Vintage Room lunches and dinners which is consistent (thank goodness) to what I posted a few weeks ago.

[seasack]

Thanks Stickman for posting the guide. 

 

Those changes are certainly good news to me!  I’m just frustrated with the way information is being given out by Crystal management. I was told as of end of last week in written emails in terms from management that there would be no storage of luggage outside of the room and no cigar smoking anywhere other than the connoisseur club. I just checked FAQ section of the Crystal website it’s still not updated to reflect the information as it is stated in the before you sail guide. I just paid for my trip yesterday so didn’t have time to check anything out on the website as far as the before you sail guide. In the end it’s good news but it has been very frustrating information ride so far!

[Keith1010]

1 hour ago, seasack said:

Thanks Stickman for posting the guide. 

 

Those changes are certainly good news to me!  I’m just frustrated with the way information is being given out by Crystal management. I was told as of end of last week in written emails in terms from management that there would be no storage of luggage outside of the room and no cigar smoking anywhere other than the connoisseur club. I just checked FAQ section of the Crystal website it’s still not updated to reflect the information as it is stated in the before you sail guide. I just paid for my trip yesterday so didn’t have time to check anything out on the website as far as the before you sail guide. In the end it’s good news but it has been very frustrating information ride so far!

You are right that there is some information that still needs updating on the website including the Q&A's and a handful up updates under suite amenities. I realize it can be frustrating but I would say the last few weeks they have gotten out a wealth of information. They are still in catch up mode. There is still more to go which needs updating some of which you mentioned.

 

Please note that there were some items such as smoking which they recently finalized as I had reached out a while back for History & Wine's questions on that and it was work in progress.

 

The luggage item looks to be something that is indeed a recent change as I had a friend asking about that as well.  

 

I do want to mention that inside the ship the connoisseur club is the only place for smoking; cigarettes, cigars and pipes but since you mentioned cigar smoking it is permitted on the aft of decks 8-10 both ships and 11 Serenity.  

 

As you say a lot of good news.  I know we all want to know everything at once and that it all be consistent.  I would only say the amount of work these folks have had to do is incredible. Initially very few people to do it. I think we are seeing the benefits of more people being hired into some of the land based groups.

 

Keith

[TUCKERTOOTS]

In reading through the new Guide, noticed Crystal will no longer cash personal checks.  Also without the Casino cage or ATM on board there is no longer any source for cash. Plan accordingly. 

[ctjon]

Yes, maybe I'm a bit hung up on dress codes - the casual (non-formal) seems a bit more dressed up than before with requirement for jackets for men.  Also seems strange on formal nights that even though it is suits or tux - ties are optional.

Time will tell but to me - I'm not saying shorts or jeans in the evening but not sure I really want to get dressed up every night on a cruise.

[seasack]

As I’m going through the before you sail guide I’m noticing some more things, one of which creates more questions as there seems to be different levels of Internet connectivity from the free one offered to others which cost a fee. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out and what you can and cannot do with the free service and how much the for fee services cost?

 

I don’t know if anyone plans on doing a live from the inaugural or any other of there cruises so we might be able to ask some more simple questions and get feedback from those who will be on board to verify things?

[bayonejoe]

Tuckertoots,

thanks for the information. That creates an issue as I do not travel with a lot of cash.

So I guess my only option is travelers checks.

[Roland4]

42 minutes ago, ctjon said:

Yes, maybe I'm a bit hung up on dress codes - the casual (non-formal) seems a bit more dressed up than before with requirement for jackets for men.  Also seems strange on formal nights that even though it is suits or tux - ties are optional.

Time will tell but to me - I'm not saying shorts or jeans in the evening but not sure I really want to get dressed up every night on a cruise.

Actually, if you read it, what it says are "suggestions" for Resort Casual. The only jacket "requirement" seems to be the "dark-wash jeans", which strikes me as odd, but since I don't a pair of jeans of any kind.....

[Roland4]

5 minutes ago, Roland4 said:

 

 

5 minutes ago, Roland4 said:

Duplicate post

 

Edited July 22, 2023 by Roland4

[FlyerTalker]

Good to hear about the luggage.  I have two bags that do not split 50-50, and have trouble fitting under the Crystal beds.  Which is one nice thing about Viking and Seabourn -- both have beds high enough to fit closed suitcases.

 

 

[Keith1010]

2 hours ago, TUCKERTOOTS said:

In reading through the new Guide, noticed Crystal will no longer cash personal checks.  Also without the Casino cage or ATM on board there is no longer any source for cash. Plan accordingly. 

Yes that one was also in the Q&A's. This one says you can cash travelers cheques if I remember correctly. Good advice to plan accordingly.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

1 hour ago, seasack said:

As I’m going through the before you sail guide I’m noticing some more things, one of which creates more questions as there seems to be different levels of Internet connectivity from the free one offered to others which cost a fee. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out and what you can and cannot do with the free service and how much the for fee services cost?

 

I don’t know if anyone plans on doing a live from the inaugural or any other of there cruises so we might be able to ask some more simple questions and get feedback from those who will be on board to verify things?

I will be giving the internet a good test for sure.  😀

 

Keith 

[Keith1010]

1 hour ago, ctjon said:

Yes, maybe I'm a bit hung up on dress codes - the casual (non-formal) seems a bit more dressed up than before with requirement for jackets for men.  Also seems strange on formal nights that even though it is suits or tux - ties are optional.

Time will tell but to me - I'm not saying shorts or jeans in the evening but not sure I really want to get dressed up every night on a cruise.

It only says suggestions.

 

For example it is saying you could wear a sports jacket which I do but most don't so that doesn't change.

 

It actually lists jeans which is what I was always told verbally when I was asked years ago but for the first time it is in writing.

 

And it lists shorts which it never did before.

 

The key word is suggestions and what they are showing is a range of them.

 

Keith

[History&Wine]

2 hours ago, bayonejoe said:

Tuckertoots,

thanks for the information. That creates an issue as I do not travel with a lot of cash.

So I guess my only option is travelers checks.

There is no need for cash on board, and there will most likely be plenty of ATMs at most ports.

 

For me the answer is a debit card that will reimburse ATM fees.  This has always served me well.  

[FlyerTalker]

46 minutes ago, History&Wine said:

For me the answer is a debit card that will reimburse ATM fees.  This has always served me well.

 

Careful with debit cards.  In the wrong hands, they can completely drain your bank accounts.

 

Lots of ways to protect against that, including having a card that is ATM/PIN only, and with daily limits.

 

 

[dimundsR]

5 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Yes that one was also in the Q&A's. This one says you can cash travelers cheques if I remember correctly. Good advice to plan accordingly.

 

Keith

I vaguely remember getting euros from the reception desk and having the charge applied to my statement.  

[Keith1010]

7 minutes ago, dimundsR said:

I vaguely remember getting euros from the reception desk and having the charge applied to my statement.  

My sense is that they won't do that.

 

But  in the past they had local comes on where you could purchase local currency.

[Keith1010]

As long as we are on the topic of money I bring more money than I think I need. Why you ask?

 

I want to have cash so if something should happen where we can't get back to the States for awhile or if something happens in the States where the Banks close I have money.  Far fetched? Not after 9/11or the Great Recession. 

 

Just my two cents.

 

Keith

[SnoBirdCruiser]

I agree with you Keith, always have an emergency back up with us ..."just in case".

 

 

[bayonejoe]

8 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

As long as we are on the topic of money I bring more money than I think I need. Why you ask?

 

I want to have cash so if something should happen where we can't get back to the States for awhile or if something happens in the States where the Banks close I have money.  Far fetched? Not after 9/11or the Great Recession. 

 

Just my two cents.

Keith, I always travel with extra cash. Especially on a cruise where I do use cash for tipping. However , on a long cruse I.e. WC ,I don’t like traveling with excessive cash. OC provided a great service in cashing checks.

Going forward,I will use travelers checks. 

[Stickman1990]

3 hours ago, History&Wine said:

There is no need for cash on board, and there will most likely be plenty of ATMs at most ports.

 

For me the answer is a debit card that will reimburse ATM fees.  This has always served me well.  

You are 100% correct 

 

Also these days many merchants in many countries accept debit and credit cards - people might just be surprised as to how many. During COVID there was a big move to electronic transactions to avoid cash handling 

[Txcotn]

Prepaid visa cards work too.