Has Anyone Sailed With Crystal?

[JM23457]

Has anyone sailed with Crystal who could share a bit about their experiences with them? Crystal has a Northern European cruise available in 2022 that I'm very interested in. I'd love to do the same itinerary on the Magic, but have no clue if it will be offered, let alone take place during the limited window of time I can actually sail. Price seems to be on par with DCL.

Any tips on booking with them? Things to watch out for?

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Following. Saw their ship in Alaska and it looked very nice.

 

[gotomu212]

I sailed with them 9 years ago when a family member wanted company. I really enjoyed the experience, but it was very different from DCL. Please don’t take any of the rest of this as a judgment good or bad- just the differences which some may like and others won’t. It was also a decade ago and I know many lines have relaxed more.

The cruise has a much much older cruise base. Almost everyone was 60s or 70s or 80s, and there were almost no children. The cruisers were also wealthier (and I do not mean that wealthy people don’t cruise DCL or that it’s good or bad or to imply different “class” of people) but in general it had the feel of a wealthy country club and the onboard experience was a little stilted to me. Again, I enjoyed myself and felt the service was fantastic, but I would not have felt comfortable walking around in my flip flops or going to breakfast without makeup. There was also more of an attitude of entitlement and snobbiness that cropped up.
You dressed for dinner (cocktail dresses and suits every night except formal night where it was tails and evening dresses). The food was fantastic. They had more lectures and adult activities (obviously) that were very well done.

Im surprised their prices are close to DCL, and maybe that’s CoVid or DCL getting so out of whack with pricing, but back then Crystal was definitely pricier and a more “luxury” experience. Hope that helps.

 

[JM23457]

I sailed with them 9 years ago when a family member wanted company...The cruise has a much much older cruise base. Almost everyone was 60s or 70s or 80s, and there were almost no children.

Was your cruise during the school year, or when school was out?

Im surprised their prices are close to DCL, and maybe that’s CoVid or DCL getting so out of whack with pricing, but back then Crystal was definitely pricier and a more “luxury” experience.

That is DCL's crazy pricing. The June 11-night Northern European on Crystal that I'm looking at starts at about $9,000 for 2 passengers in an oceanview stateroom. DCL would charge at least that much for that itinerary with 2 passengers in an oceanview stateroom. I know because I've priced out similar cruises on DCL in the past.

 

[garneska]

i cruised Crystal last year in June. It was a west coast cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver. We did have kids on the ship and I assume because school was out. Now it was not a lot of kids but definitely more than i was expecting. I would say the dress was not as formal but time of year and itinerary makes a difference. i would expect northern europe cruise will be a bit more formal. I am not a formal person and really don't care if people want to dress for dinner. If it is designated formal night I reserve a specialty restaurant. However I had no issues on that cruise at dinner.

I will say it is not a disney cruise. Personally i love it and thought it was great. i would absolutely do another cruise when covid goes away. The food was absolutely better on Crystal. The state rooms are smaller than DCL but i thought the common areas were plenty big enough to hang out.

Let me know if you have other questions.

 

[FSU Girl]

My grandmother used to sail them all the time when she was alive. My parents went on a couple of those cruises and they were the youngest on board every time. One cruise had two little kids, I don’t think they have a kids club, but not sure. I went on the cruise once when it was in port for dinner which was cool. This was about 15 years ago. The ages will definitely be skewed much older. If you like the itinerary and the price go for it, but it will be different from a Disney Cruise.

 

[JM23457]

Sounds good from what I'm reading so far. I know it isn't DCL, but my son will be 17, so we don't really need it to be DCL. I just want it to be at least as nice as DCL, which it sounds like it is. I wouldn't mind a little luxury.

The cruise will be primarily about the ports, getting to tour some special European cities, particularly in Russia, without having to navigate it all independently, or switch hotels every time we go to another city.

 

[garneska]

You should be fine then. If your son is 17 he will at least enjoy the food. He might be the only teenager but you know if your kid can handle that. The entertainment definitely does not live up to DCL. The movies or the shows. They do have a lot of lectures. I suggest your son bring something that will entertain him. I did enjoy the electric violinist.

 

[JM23457]

You should be fine then. If your son is 17 he will at least enjoy the food. He might be the only teenager but you know if your kid can handle that. The entertainment definitely does not live up to DCL. The movies or the shows. They do have a lot of lectures. I suggest your son bring something that will entertain him. I did enjoy the electric violinist.

Is there much smoking? Is it a quiet environment? Do they have movies on demand in the stateroom? Thanks.

 

[gotomu212]

Was your cruise during the school year, or when school was out?

That is DCL's crazy pricing. The June 11-night Northern European on Crystal that I'm looking at starts at about $9,000 for 2 passengers in an oceanview stateroom. DCL would charge at least that much for that itinerary with 2 passengers in an oceanview stateroom. I know because I've priced out similar cruises on DCL in the past.

Mine was during summer, for that cruise there would have been nothing for kids to do. I know one family had their au pair with them, but otherwise at that time they would have been with you 24/7.

That seems like a great price for Crystal for Europe- at least based on what I remember from pricing them several years ago.

 

[garneska]

Is there much smoking? Is it a quiet environment? Do they have movies on demand in the stateroom? Thanks.

I had no issues with the smoking. I know there were places and a cigar lounge but did nit go there. I run so smoking is not my thing. They do have movies on demand but they catered to an older crowd. that is why I would say bring some movies downloaded on an iPad.