LeeAnne,

We have traveled with Crystal on six separate cruises and loved every one. We also are Radisson cruisers (5 times) and really enjoy this cruise line, as well. We have not cruised on the Crystal Serenity or the RSSC Voyager ( however, we are on the Voyager on segment 7 of the World Cruise in 2005)

That said, we have recently cruised with the Crystal Symphony in Europe and in Canada/New England. If you email me (med4bike@yahoo.com) I will email you my two Crystal reviews. (too long to post here)

In a nutshell, the pluses for Crystal are: a bit better service in the cabins and the restaurants, the food is a bit better in the main dining room and in the alterntive restaurants ( no extra charge but a suggested $6.00 pp gratuity), the entertainment is far superior in all respects on Crystal. The cruisers seem to enjoy a more "formal" approach to cruising in the evenings (more tuxes and evening gowns on formal nights) However, on informal nights or casual nights the dress is about the same.

The Radisson pluses are: no tipping (this can add up quickly on Crystal), wine with dinner, inexpensive internet charges, open seating at dinner (Crystal has two seatings for dinner: this used to bother us but after our last 2 Crystal cruises with the same outstanding waiter in the dining room, we prefer the same waiter, even if we have to dine at 8:30 pm). The cabins on Radisson are superior (we particularly enjoy the privacy curtain between the bedroom and sitting room on Radisson) and each suite on Radisson has a balcony. ( On Crystal you pay dearly for a suite with a balcony). Radisson greets you on embarcation with a glass of champagne and has a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for you in your suite along with two liter bottles of premium liquor. This is not a deal breaker for us but it's nice to have a drink in your cabin in the late afternoon.

As a side note, we have brought back liquors, Limonchella (sp??)from Florence, to both ships, Mariner and Symphony, on different cruises, of course, and never had a problem or a question with either cruise line.

We actually choose our cruise line by itinerary and time of year for the sailing. You can obtain good deals on Crystal which can match those on Radisson, however, if a balcony is a must then Radisson has Crystal beat.

As you can see, we have cruised with both cruise lines frequently. To be quite frank, on our last Crystal cruise to Canada/New England, we had a terrific deal through our travel agent ( and probably through Crystal) that had all our gratuties paid for and ship board credit of about $800.00 for the two of us. Nice touch!

While it may appear that the pluses above clearly favor Radisson, it is the intangibles and itinerary that often times give Crystal the edge.

Hope this makes the distinctions between these two great cruise lines "crystal" clear.

Maurice