Crystal Serenity, Nov 2-13

[May B]

 

•  

Have you all used the QR code on the iPad to get the onboard Crystal app?

 

I learned an interesting functionality. Last night, I wanted to read yesterday’s Reflections, but it had already transitioned to today’s. Back at Itinerary on the home page of the app, click, then scroll down and click on the plus sign to the right of the port and you get an option to click for Weather or for Daily Reflections for that day and port.

[Emdee]

17 minutes ago, May B said:

 

 

•  

Have you all used the QR code on the iPad to get the onboard Crystal app?

 

I learned an interesting functionality. Last night, I wanted to read yesterday’s Reflections, but it had already transitioned to today’s. Back at Itinerary on the home page of the app, click, then scroll down and click on the plus sign to the right of the port and you get an option to click for Weather or for Daily Reflections for that day and port.

Are you talking about the tablet they provide or your iPad?

[Ibis]

I agree totally with those saying actual numbers of guests in Waterside for lunch will speak more loudly than any of our verbal complaints… certainly did our part with lunch there on our two sea days down and plan to do the same on the way back in to Miami! There were actually quite a few others, as well.

Last night’s show Sweet Soul Music was good but LOUD!  Stardust Club was packed as was Avenue Saloon afterwards.

Looking forward to seeing our group in The Cove later today.

[May B]

4 hours ago, Emdee said:

Are you talking about the tablet they provide or your iPad?

You find the QR code on the tablet they provide. You access on your smart phone. I didn’t think to access it on my iPad as well, but that would also have worked.

[May B]

Today I went to Marketplace for lunch, just after 1 pm. It was quite sparsely attended!

 

I guess many guests were out and about in Barbados. Mr B walked to the historical museum and gave it rave reviews.

[travelberlin]

How many passengers are in this cruise?

 

Ivi

[TRIPACIAN]

15 hours ago, travelberlin said:

How many passengers are in this cruise?

 

Ivi

540 passengers, 565 crew

[travelberlin]

41 minutes ago, TRIPACIAN said:

540 passengers, 565 crew

Thank you. Looking good 👍 

Ivi

[Ibis]

Apologies for asking this question again, but we are trying to make an on board booking for Symphony for Spring/Summer 2024 and still need help with the differences between Aquamarine and Sapphire on Symphony😆. Also comparing them on the two ships. It seems the Aquamarine on Symphony is smaller than Serenity but also are any of these on Symphony that are  newly renovated, as we don’t prefer the newly renovated decor? Were any of these rooms on Symphony previously Seabreeze, not our favorite either? Thank you so much in advance!
 

Further thoughts from Umi Uma… second dinner there last night was so unbelievable! 
Managed to arrive early enough to have two seats at the Sushi Bar and what a fantastic treat! Every bit as good if not better  than we remember from many past visits. Those guys are true artists and so focused and intent on their work. Of course everything was delicious! Worth arriving before 6:00 in order to sit at the bar. The ambiance between sitting at the Sushi Bar and being at a table with the Umi Uma servers is like night and day. And yes, that is true in any Japanese restaurant, but unfortunately even much more so here in Umi Uma. 
 

Can’t wait for tonight’s return visit to Osteria d’Ovidio😋

[Keith1010]

43 minutes ago, Ibis said:

Apologies for asking this question again, but we are trying to make an on board booking for Symphony for Spring/Summer 2024 and still need help with the differences between Aquamarine and Sapphire on Symphony😆. Also comparing them on the two ships. It seems the Aquamarine on Symphony is smaller than Serenity but also are any of these on Symphony that are  newly renovated, as we don’t prefer the newly renovated decor? Were any of these rooms on Symphony previously Seabreeze, not our favorite either? Thank you so much in advance!
 

Further thoughts from Umi Uma… second dinner there last night was so unbelievable! 
Managed to arrive early enough to have two seats at the Sushi Bar and what a fantastic treat! Every bit as good if not better  than we remember from many past visits. Those guys are true artists and so focused and intent on their work. Of course everything was delicious! Worth arriving before 6:00 in order to sit at the bar. The ambiance between sitting at the Sushi Bar and being at a table with the Umi Uma servers is like night and day. And yes, that is true in any Japanese restaurant, but unfortunately even much more so here in Umi Uma. 
 

Can’t wait for tonight’s return visit to Osteria d’Ovidio😋

Let me try to help.

 

Serenity rooms are larger than those of Symphony.

 

Aquamarine on deck 10 are all classic.  On deck 9 Aqumariine are all the former Seabreeze from 2017.

 

I don't see any new Aquamarine on Symphony.

 

If you need more time to study this you could make an open booking which is good for 90 days from the time you make it and is $1,000 per room.  Or you can make the actual booking on board and get some help from the one of the two on board booking folks and pay the full deposit.

 

Glad you enjoyed Umi Uma and wishing you a great time on your return to Osteria.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Keith

 

 

[BWIVince]

I'd also add there is no shame in preferring Symphony's classic Aquamarines to the 2017 (former Seabreeze) ones.  I'd take a classic over a 2017 any day.  

 

(I haven't seen the new Sapphires yet in-person though so I can't comment on which I'd prefer there.)

 

Vince

[May B]

We had another lovely CC get-together Wednesday night, and looking forward to the final on Saturday, same time and place as Wednesday.

 

Tonight the 9:30 show was James Fox doing Billy Joel, and I love that show as much as the three Billy Joel concerts I’ve been fortunate to have attended. And he’ll be back Sunday night doing his own show. Should be great, also.

 

Magician was fun! Bridge people attended, and Sandy who teaches iPhone photography. Sandy was our Crystal escort for a wonderful tour today in St Lucia to hike to see the Pitons up close. We heard about so much that grows on this island and saw so much of it, too. There’s a begonia plant whose flowers taste like a green apple (with similar crunch).

 

Attended our third Bob Ray presentation, so much fun! Then met him and his wife in the Cove and heard about their 2024 schedule on Serenity and Symphony.

 

Tomorrow we get to enjoy Roger McGuinn again and, except for a conflict, could attend two trivias. Btw, prize for trivia winners has been discounts, either at spa or photo shop.

 

And tomorrow night the Supper Club!

 

 

[May B]

9 hours ago, Ibis said:

Apologies for asking this question again, but we are trying to make an on board booking for Symphony for Spring/Summer 2024 and still need help with the differences between Aquamarine and Sapphire on Symphony😆. Also comparing them on the two ships. It seems the Aquamarine on Symphony is smaller than Serenity but also are any of these on Symphony that are  newly renovated, as we don’t prefer the newly renovated decor? Were any of these rooms on Symphony previously Seabreeze, not our favorite either? Thank you so much in advance!
 

Further thoughts from Umi Uma… second dinner there last night was so unbelievable! 
Managed to arrive early enough to have two seats at the Sushi Bar and what a fantastic treat! Every bit as good if not better  than we remember from many past visits. Those guys are true artists and so focused and intent on their work. Of course everything was delicious! Worth arriving before 6:00 in order to sit at the bar. The ambiance between sitting at the Sushi Bar and being at a table with the Umi Uma servers is like night and day. And yes, that is true in any Japanese restaurant, but unfortunately even much more so here in Umi Uma. 
 

Can’t wait for tonight’s return visit to Osteria d’Ovidio😋

Paula Jean at future cruise desk seems to be pretty good at sorting out the options, Ibis. I think you should sit down with her and explain what you like and don’t like. Have fun!

[happy cruising]

May B, can you share Bob  Ray’s 2024 schedule for the Symphony and Serenity? Thanks! 

[Keith1010]

7 hours ago, May B said:

We had another lovely CC get-together Wednesday night, and looking forward to the final on Saturday, same time and place as Wednesday.

 

Tonight the 9:30 show was James Fox doing Billy Joel, and I love that show as much as the three Billy Joel concerts I’ve been fortunate to have attended. And he’ll be back Sunday night doing his own show. Should be great, also.

 

Magician was fun! Bridge people attended, and Sandy who teaches iPhone photography. Sandy was our Crystal escort for a wonderful tour today in St Lucia to hike to see the Pitons up close. We heard about so much that grows on this island and saw so much of it, too. There’s a begonia plant whose flowers taste like a green apple (with similar crunch).

 

Attended our third Bob Ray presentation, so much fun! Then met him and his wife in the Cove and heard about their 2024 schedule on Serenity and Symphony.

 

Tomorrow we get to enjoy Roger McGuinn again and, except for a conflict, could attend two trivias. Btw, prize for trivia winners has been discounts, either at spa or photo shop.

 

And tomorrow night the Supper Club!

 

 

Hi Muriel:

 

Do you happen to remember when Bob Ray will be on board Serenity and Symphony. No worries if you don't but I thought I would ask.  

 

Enjoy the Supper Club this evening.

 

Thanks to you and others on board for your posts.  

 

This is the most guests on board so it's also been nice to hear how things are going.  It's good preparation for the Holiday Cruise which at the present time is either sold out or close to being sold out.

 

Continue to enjoy.

 

Keith

[Emdee]

8 hours ago, May B said:

Paula Jean at future cruise desk seems to be pretty good at sorting out the options, Ibis. I think you should sit down with her and explain what you like and don’t like. Have fun!

Paula Jean is a sweetheart. So very pleasant to deal with.

[May B]

49 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Hi Muriel:

 

Do you happen to remember when Bob Ray will be on board Serenity and Symphony. No worries if you don't but I thought I would ask.  

 

Enjoy the Supper Club this evening.

 

Thanks to you and others on board for your posts.  

 

This is the most guests on board so it's also been nice to hear how things are going.  It's good preparation for the Holiday Cruise which at the present time is either sold out or close to being sold out.

 

Continue to enjoy.

 

Keith

 

 

6 hours ago, happy cruising said:

May B, can you share Bob  Ray’s 2024 schedule for the Symphony and Serenity? Thanks! 

 

My recollection is Mumbai to Athens on Serenity, then a week on land, then Symphony.
 

[May B]

1 hour ago, Emdee said:

Paula Jean is a sweetheart. So very pleasant to deal with.

And that big deck plan is useful, too! I suggest everybody go by and pick one of those up, even if you aren’t booking now.

 

The deck five staterooms for Serenity don’t show up, so I guess they aren’t for sale for guests.

[May B]

Phil and I are cancelling our Supper Club reservations tonight. I don’t know if there’s a wait list.

 

Have a blast, whoever is attending.

[Ibis]

Many thanks to Keith and May B for their responses concerning our Aquamarine/Sapphire questions. Yes, Paula Jean is very helpful and we have had two short meetings with her; yesterday’s was shortened as she suddenly remembered the Crystal Society party! It was great to see her again and I’m sure we’ll sort it out today. Having said that, it’s always very interesting to hear what other posters with lots of experience have to say:-) Thanks to all!

 

Once again loved Osteria d’Ovidio on our second visit! Great food, great service. Tried a few new things which were amazing and just had to taste the Tortello again…fantastic! We are so fortunate to have great food in Waterside, Osteria d’Ovidio and Umi Uma. The experience at the Sushi Bar is simply world class and we can’t imagine why someone (who makes those decisions?) chose to reduce the number of seats at the bar from 9 to 6. Yes, maybe I forgot to mention, the newly renovated Umi Uma only has 6 seats now instead of 9 at the Sushi Bar:-( Be there at 6:00 sharp if you want a seat! 
 

Billy Joel show last night was super.. talented guy plus, the stage production was very well done!

[Emdee]

2 hours ago, May B said:

And that big deck plan is useful, too! I suggest everybody go by and pick one of those up, even if you aren’t booking now.

 

The deck five staterooms for Serenity don’t show up, so I guess they aren’t for sale for guests.

When walking by I saw a  room being cleaned. It had a single bed so I guess they are for staff. 

[NWX]

2 hours ago, May B said:

Phil and I are cancelling our Supper Club reservations tonight. I don’t know if there’s a wait list.

 

Have a blast, whoever is attending.

Nice to know you can reserve now, on our last cruise they wouldn't let us reserve, Paolo was adamant it was first come first served.

[NWX]

8 minutes ago, Emdee said:

When walking by I saw a  room being cleaned. It had a single bed so I guess they are for staff. 

Only Symphony had deck 5 guest rooms, never on Serenity. Guest rooms start on 7.

[Keith1010]

22 minutes ago, Txcotn said:

Only Symphony had deck 5 guest rooms, never on Serenity. Guest rooms start on 7.

That's correct.

Keith

[jssabs]

Just now, jssabs said:

If you need more time to study this you could make an open booking which is good for 90 days from the time you make it and is $1,000 per room.

Keith, is this a typo or should it read $100 per room which is what OC required for an open booking?