Hi. We just got back from our Trans Atlantic on Crystal. It was wonderful. Reason I am writing this post (I know the rumor pops up time and again) but we heard more rumors about Crystal's parent company buying RSSC. I thought that all of you and Ngaire would know more than I heard so I'm asking if anything is new about it or is it still just rumors. Judith

Hi Judith,

Welcome back. Sorry, I don't know anything about the rumors but would love to hear from you how did the Crystal experience compares with Radisson.
Where you on the Serenity?

From what I've heard is that Crystal is owned by a hudge Japenese shipping company (NHK} That may be wrong. The cruise line is just a small part of the company. Anyone that has been to Japan on a Crystal ship can notice that a large advertising effort is directed at the Japanese people while their ships are in port there.

All I can say is that this company has the assets to buy whatever they want.

Chip, Crystal is owned by the hugh Japanese shipping compnay, NHK. As for the rumors, I have no idea. Nancy

That rumor has been around now for at least three years. I get about a call a month asking about this. I did not think there was any truth to that rumor three years ago and to the best of my knowledge there is no truth to it now. It is kind of my personal joke now I am so tired of this one you would think it would have died down by now.

I agree with that, if they were going to buy Radisson it would of happened a long time ago.

Wow! If Crystal buys up Radisson, what will all of the Radisson faithful do when dinner becomes two seatings (6:30 and 8:15). Will there be a revolt or will it be "grin and bare it" LOL

OK so it wasn't meant 2 B. We certainly need the competition to keep these cruiselines on their toes.

Well if Crystal did buy RSSC and it was two seatings I guess I would revolt and move to Silversea and Seabourn. NO two seatings or fixed dining hours for me, just something I have a bee in my bonnet about.

Ngaire, that was my big beef with Crystal. It was like playing musical chairs, because you had to have the staff change your table. If the Captain wasn't at his table that's where I ate. I just sat down and no one told me to leave. If the Captain was there it was off to the sushi bar. The politics of dinner time.

You can say that again!

I've always thought I should sail Crystal because of the name (guess what my Crys is short for?). But my first cruise--the Floating Prison Cruise--was a set seating cruise on HAL and it was pure misery. Had I not stumbled on Song of Flower I'd never have tried cruising again. So, no Crystal cruises for me as long as they keep the set seating.

Funny how we change as we try new things. A few years ago, I would have thought nothing about the fixed seating since I'd never experienced anything else. Now, of course, we've become totally spoiled. I just love the idea of the open seating. We've only done 2 RSSC cruises so far, but I can't tell you how many times we've met someone in the lounge or at one of the many cocktail parties before dinner and ended up having dinner together. It's such a nice experience - I kind of hate to give it up.

It would have been terrible to have had a set seating on the World Cruise!!! I bet we ate dinner with 100 different people during the better part of 4 months....I wouldn't change that for anything!!

Maybe Crystal will change their fixed seating policy?? Some past Crystal passengers I met on Radisson didn't like it either. Judith, any talk of such on your recent cruise?

Crystal cant Marcie, their dining room is not large enough to accommodate open seating. It is a shame though because if they had open seating, tips included (the paying tips in advance still does not handle the tip issue for me)and wine with dinner this would be a great cruiseline. Their cabins are a little small, particularly the bathrooms. However, the food, service, entertainment is wonderful and ships are really well planned and very attractive.

I never tried that "quote" thing. Anyway, I wasn't going to respond to the thread because of Ngaire's quote above. Since she did expand on it, I will say that if RSSC ever did go with the Crystal way, I would become a bottom feeder picking up the best that Silversea had to add just months before cruise time! While I would love to hop on for a couple of days to experience their lectures and entertainment, their dining, tipping and no wine with dinner pulls me away from booking. The diff'rent strokes thing. Judith, no offense meant!

We have been on 3 RSSC cruises and 1 Crystal cruise. I would not go back to Crystal.I like the open seating. I only wish that RSSC was all inclusive like Silver Seas.The rooms are certainly nicer on RSSC. There is no comparison
between the Harmony and the Voyager.I must admit that the food and entertainment was good. Drinks and wine included with dinner however are quite a plus.We really enjoy meeting people at dinner.

Judith -

Please write a review of your trip. I've never been on Crystal, but I always enjoy learning more about the other lines. It's always fun to "sail along" with our LCT friends. And we're all suffering from severe withdrawal now that Marcie's back on land. :)

Kathy

Ditto Kathy - Joanna