Crystal Serenity December 2nd to December 16th

[Emdee]

I am adding a third R to the rest and relaxation the Serenity always provides….recuperation.

I decided that the best place to recuperate after knee surgery was on Crystal Serenity with the Crystal love. I have finished my intense physio and need to up my walking and what better place to walk than the lovely promenade. Crystal trekking poles are always available for us. Don’t know if they have leg weights…but may take my own. 
 

On board guest services has promised to provide the accoutrements to make this cruise possible. Not only that I am happy to note they already have my profile ready with my allergies etc. That is something I loved about old Crystal …the fact that your profile already showed your likes, dislikes and needs. Regent too has a similar file on passengers ..not Silversea, though. For me the bottles of Evian lined up in my suite make me feel welcomed. By day 2 every restaurant knows my preferred water. I don’t drink alcohol or virtually anything else so it is hugely welcomed by me. The new Crystal water isn’t bad but I found in varies day to day in taste. You can tell I am a water person! 
 

We leave Friday for an overnight in Miami before boarding our b2b so packing is in full earnest. Happy to say no formal nights so no suit needed for DH. I found the ship extremely cold in September so will be packing warmer clothing for inside. Hope to visit a couple of beaches at least but it will depend on my mobility. 
 

If there are any others on these cruises feel free to join this thread I may or may not post on a day to day basis so other comments and experiences are welcome.
 

[travelberlin]

Have a great time. It is a wonderful idea to recover from your knee surgery onboard the Serenity. I wish you a good recovery and a lovely cruise.

Ivi

[Emdee]

11 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

Have a great time. It is a wonderful idea to recover from your knee surgery onboard the Serenity. I wish you a good recovery and a lovely cruise.

Ivi

Thank you so very much for your kind wishes.

[Keith1010]

Wishing you a wonderful cruise.  This is the best therapy.

 

I would bring your own leg weights.

 

Have a great time and safe travels.

 

Keith

[nancygp]

Have a great time…perfect place for a quick recovery 

 

nancy

[Emdee]

13 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Wishing you a wonderful cruise.  This is the best therapy.

 

I would bring your own leg weights.

 

Have a great time and safe travels.

 

Keith

Thanks for your wishes. So excited. I decided it was an appropriate reward for my hard work of physio and exercises. Thanks for the tip regarding the weights …will slip it in my bag. 
Next surgery scheduled for March. Unfortunately no Crystal reward then as we have booked a family trip on Regent! I really believing in seizing the day especially after the last few years of illness and Covid etc.

[Emdee]

3 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

If only life's problems was just down bedding 😁

Yes but it does tell of their service standard. 
When I wrote to Crystal on board guest services they confirmed that all my allergies etc were already noted in my profile.

Seabourn on the other hand decided I was gluten free instead of lactose free so I had to beg the lovely bread in TK Grill.
Regent remembered my daughter’s request from 10 years ago although she hadn’t traveled on them in the intervening years.

[Emdee]

10 minutes ago, nancygp said:

Have a great time…perfect place for a quick recovery 

 

nancy

Thanks Nancy. We had our first snow today…just a sprinkling but happy for the promise of warm air and sea breeze.

[Roland4]

2 hours ago, Emdee said:

Thanks Nancy. We had our first snow today…just a sprinkling but happy for the promise of warm air and sea breeze.

We are on Oceania Vista on our last two sea days before heading home Friday. Other than some showers in St. Bart's, and possibly again tomorrow, the weather has been pretty much perfect, lots of sunshine and temps in the 27/30 C range each day.

 

Have a great trip!

[BEAV]

A fantastic idea! 
 

In 2016 we took a similar cruise to recuperate (and celebrate!) the end of 6 weeks of 30 radiation treatments. I was concerned my Oncologist would advise against, but he wholeheartedly encouraged the trip! 
 

Enjoy your cruise to the fullest. 😉👍🚢

[Embowaf]

Have fun! I'll be on the second segment.

[Emdee]

2 hours ago, Roland4 said:

We are on Oceania Vista on our last two sea days before heading home Friday. Other than some showers in St. Bart's, and possibly again tomorrow, the weather has been pretty much perfect, lots of sunshine and temps in the 27/30 C range each day.

 

Have a great trip!

Thank you.

[Emdee]

14 minutes ago, Embowaf said:

Have fun! I'll be on the second segment.

Thank you

[Emdee]

49 minutes ago, BEAV said:

A fantastic idea! 
 

In 2016 we took a similar cruise to recuperate (and celebrate!) the end of 6 weeks of 30 radiation treatments. I was concerned my Oncologist would advise against, but he wholeheartedly encouraged the trip! 
 

Enjoy your cruise to the fullest. 😉👍🚢

Thank you so much. 

[mkbruce]

On the Serenity now sailing toward Nassau. The ship and staff are as lovely as I remember - and many of the crew remembered me and my wife.

 

Food, service and overall enjoyment have been exact as expected. One more night at Umi Uma tonight and Tastes again tomorrow (don’t skip this one - the lamb is to die for) then it’s back to reality.

[Emdee]

2 hours ago, mkbruce said:

On the Serenity now sailing toward Nassau. The ship and staff are as lovely as I remember - and many of the crew remembered me and my wife.

 

Food, service and overall enjoyment have been exact as expected. One more night at Umi Uma tonight and Tastes again tomorrow (don’t skip this one - the lamb is to die for) then it’s back to reality.

My DH had the lamb in September….he said mine is better. I buy baby lambs from a local farm incredibly tender meat. Will likely go to Tastes again. Enjoyed it at lunch as well. 
Cannot wait to be back on board.

[KenzSailing]

On 11/29/2023 at 2:21 PM, BEAV said:

A fantastic idea! 
 

In 2016 we took a similar cruise to recuperate (and celebrate!) the end of 6 weeks of 30 radiation treatments. I was concerned my Oncologist would advise against, but he wholeheartedly encouraged the trip! 
 

Enjoy your cruise to the fullest. 😉👍🚢

 

Oh my, I'll see that and raise you to 7.5 weeks and 38 treatments.  Nice to keep seeing the sunset ain't it?

 

Be well pal.

[BEAV]

13 hours ago, KenzSailing said:

 

Oh my, I'll see that and raise you to 7.5 weeks and 38 treatments.  Nice to keep seeing the sunset ain't it?

 
It certainly is! 
 

September 12, 2016 sunset at sea

 

Happy recuperation cruise, @Emdee

 

[Emdee]

9 hours ago, BEAV said:

 
It certainly is! 
 

September 12, 2016 sunset at sea

 

Happy recuperation cruise, @Emdee

 

Thank you. Now in Miami.

[Emdee]

Miami musings…

Always happy to go on a cruise but something about going on Crystal just affects us so differently. We have far more days on Regent and are booked for two long ones next year but I really think it is the Crystal love that envelopes us.
Each night at Waterside I get a blanket for my arthritic knees. The waiter even washed it mid cruise for me! On Regent I was told to bring the lap blanket from my room. 
Just a few more hours to board and hopefully dine in  Waterside for our embarkation lunch tradition. 

[ryndam]

Back onboard today, too. Staff we haven’t seen in 4.5 years addressed us by name. Impressive. And we haven’t left the pier yet. Umi tonight. 
 

Since the OP graciously offered others to supplement this thread, I may just do that.

 

Cheers. Muster drill shortly.

 

Rob & Jim

Edited December 2, 2023 by ryndam
Typo

[Emdee]

4 hours ago, ryndam said:

Back onboard today, too. Staff we haven’t seen in 4.5 years addressed us by name. Impressive. And we haven’t left the pier yet. Umi tonight. 
 

Since the OP graciously offered others to supplement this thread, I may just do that.

 

Cheers. Muster drill shortly.

 

Rob & Jim

Welcome to the thread. We sailed in 2019 April with you. My daughter did a tour with you and had the good fortune to meet Elton John when she left the tour! She isn’t on board but said to say hi to you. 
 

[Emdee]

The usual busy first day…boarding, unpacking and the like.

Lots of greetings and welcome back from staff on board. 
Lots of promotions and upward movement of staff. Always good to see hard work and loyalty appreciated. 
Tomorrow Bahamas ….a sea day for us. 

[ryndam]

Yesterdays and todays activities, for those that may be interested.

 

Rob

[ryndam]

Selection in the Bistro as varied as usual, but it’s not self serve. Not sure if this arrangement is permanent or a temporary experiment. Seems to work fine, but then again there’s only 350+/- onboard.

 

Rob