Ngaire,
Thanks for your informative posts on Crystal. I appreciate your honest opinions.
I'm curious why you don't carry Seabourn?

You know I get asked this all the time. Got an email today about this. Will you book Seabourn, will you book Crystal?. I can of course book any cruise line I choose. So let me just do a post and go into this issue in a little detail rather than answer people individually.

There are two main reasons I limit my booking to Silversea, Radisson and Residensea.

(a) I really want to be an "expert" on what lines I sell. As you expand your brands that you represent it is increasingly difficult to REALLY be an expert. Radisson for instance has changed its onboard booking policies, pricing theory, the way they do reservations, their new computer and invoicing, gold points program, every time I turn around there are changes. I am totally up on Radisson, I know the Omaha staff, the Fort Lauderdale staff, I live and breath RSSC. The slightest change and I know. If anything goes wrong you need that edge and the production and credibility with the cruise line behind you to be able to handle a unique situation.

Same thing happens with Silversea and Residensea. Constant changes. Any of you that call me for Silversea or Residensea you know I turn you over to Linda or Susan for that Silversea or Residensea cruise. They know and keep up with all the changes with Silversea just like I do with Radisson. They also know Radisson but if they dont know something I am just down the hall. I just dont have the time to keep up with Silversea or Residensea so it is easier to have Linda or Susan do it. Those of you that work with these two ladies know how good and sharp they are. Susan has worked with me for around 25 years, Linda about 18 years. These are really unqiue women who know their stuff and are very intelligent. No hard ship to move over there for a Silversea or Residensea cruise. In fact I may not get you back once you work with either of these two.

(b) I really only want to book cruise lines or products that I want to go on personally. If I had a group on Seabourn or Crystal obviously it would be not a hardship to go but I have to be honest and admit that I really prefer RSSC or Silversea.

Ken and I were talking about this today. He pointed out how opposed I was to working on ROAR. I honestly felt the group needed to go to a South African expert. I had not even been there once. It seemed really foolish to use me as the agent. What value could I add? Olivia and Marcie really talked me into it. Then of course I could not stand not "knowing" so I went to South Africa and I am very grateful for that. I am so enthusiastic about South Africa I cant wait to learn more and more. I have been studying and working on a Destination Specialist Certification for Africa on this trip. Will take the test in January. I went to Houston to meet the Ker & Downey staff. This all takes a lot of time and effort.

I have to feel that way about what I represent. I have to be an expert and I have to really be enthusiastic about the product.I dont have the time to spend learning Crystal and Seabourn to the level that I want to know the product and company. I am not as enthusiastic about these two lines. Crystal is a lovely line, I am about to write a full report that I will post. Seabourn drawbacks to me are no real balcony cabins and the ships are getting older. I cant just sell something to "make money". Hence my decision to not offer them and specialize in what I know really well.

If any of you really want to book Crystal or Seabourn I can do it for you. Particularly now that Julie is aboard she is so good that it is making such a difference for me. I just cant see sending some of you that have become such close friends elsewhere if you REALLY want to do a Crystal or Seabourn. I have been on both lines so I have some knowledge.

However, I am not sure that would be the best thing for you to do. I am not an expert on these cruise lines. This one cruise on Crystal does not an expert make. You have to know the ins and outs of the cruise line, how they work, the key players in the company, go on each ship, know the differences. Experience multiple cruises as one cruise can vary so much from another. It is probable you would do better booking elsewhere with someone who has all that knowledge. This would be your call of course you know up front that I dont claim to be an expert in these lines. I just wont "offer" them as a cruise line that I represent at this time.

If RSSC or Silversea went downhill and then I thought that Crystal or Seabourn or a new line that might come along were better I would change what I offer. I want to represent what I believe to be the best two or three lines out there that I personally want to cruise.

Ngaire, excellent explanation. As always, your straightforwardness is so refreshing. It is yet another reason, beyond the fact of your expertise, why so many of your clients return to you/your agency time and again.

Ngaire, thank you as I often wondered about this myself...ditto what Priscilla says, the whole B&K Team is made up of caring, professionals, who reflect very well--your wealth of extradordinary personal knowledge of the product they offer..r/wes

Ngaire, I think the majority of us LCTer's (as well as CCer's) appreciate your candor. You call it like you see it and as you can see, that is what is appealing to most. Occasionally, we all have a difference of opinion or don't agree 100% with a poster. This forum gives us an opportunity to disagree and voice our differences of opinion as well as, compare notes on the cruises we take, the ports we visit, etc. I think as long as we all remember it's okay to disagree and voice opposing views, the posts should be directed at the topic, not the poster. Don't make it personal. Thank goodness for Ngaire, Ken and the B&K staff. Oh, and of course, Karen and John. ;)

Call me selfish if you like, but I'd prefer to see B&K stick to RSSC, Silversea, and Residensea( although I really don't understand that one from a business standpoint). It's been my experience that the level of service goes down hill quickly when companies start expanding into new areas. I agree with Ngaire's comments. Better to be an expert at what you do, especially in the services sector.

Just to respond as to Residensea - easy to handle, one ship, one itinerary, been on it multiple times and a surprising number of people still want to experience this ship.

Plus if they go to Antarctica again this is the ship to do it on. I want to retain the ties with Residensea for this reason alone. If it comes up in the 2006 schedule all those waiting for Antarctica should jump on this ship quickly. It sold out last time and the reports were great.

Ngnaire::

First let me tip my hat to you….and apologize… I was to quick to critizise your opinions of Crystal.. Your recent messages have told me that I was premature in judging your impressions of Crystal,,, As you are aware, I am sure , I have received a lot of flack from that,, mostly from MarnaLou,
My only wish is that you would consider booking them ,,, I will be your first booking!!!!

Paul.

Apology accepted. Lets move on from here. Look forward to future happy posts from you.

FYI the LTC thread on CC the Crystal board has been taken down. I see Paul has come around and that's a good thing. Thank heavens there's lots of cruise lines to choose from and none of us have to go on ones we don't like. Human nature is to want people to like what you like. I think Ngaire has bent over backwards to be fair and balanced with her reviews as she stated on just one Crystal Cruise. I was on my 12th cruise on Crystal before I realized I could get shrimp tempura for snacks in our penthouse room. One of the things I like about Crystal is the full size crap table and the free drinks:) Do they have a full size crap table on Radison? Ernie

Ngaire, we appreciate all the helpful info on Crystal. Sure looks like you are racking up those internet minutes. Good thing that you bought that package, otherwise you might be experiencing a two for one fare??? The price of two cruises for the sailing on one!!! LOL

We are very thankful to find out how this compares to the other luxury lines. It is always good to be well informed.

Should I consider Antarctica instead of Alaska?

Ngaire, thanks for your great response. Different strokes for different folks. Think about it, we all love RSSC, but the mass market lines keep pulling them in.

I have a very wealthy friend who won't travel on anything other than Princess. She and her family (kids) love what the large ships offer. They just book a large suite and go top of the line. She recently took RCI and loved that too.

I think the fact that Ngaire wants expertise in her company should be commended. I was happy with my TA, with a few blips. Folks kept raving about Ngaire, so I switched to her because I was traveling with the VOF group and thought it would be easier. I was not dissatisfied with my original TA. Now that I have been working with Ngaire, I wouldn't go back. The expertise pays off and she is lovely to deal with as well.

Thank you, Ngaire.

Ernie - I do not believe that RSSC has full sized craps tables but I'm not entirely sure about that - might be better to have somebody who spent more time in the casino than I did to answer that one! :)

Lee - while I've never been to Antarctica, I would think that they're 2 very different experiences (besides the cold and the ice that is). The wildlife is different and the seas will be different (i.e. you're much more likely to hit heavy rough seas going to Antarctica than you are in Alaska). And how many people can say that they've been to Antarctica?

Ngaire - thanks for the explanation. I've always wondered about this myself ...

Masaki

Lee stay with Alaska for now.

These two trips are like night and day experiences.

Alaska has the wildlife, tons of tours and excursions to chose from, shopping, greenery and mountains and glaciers.

Antarctica is pure nature. Zodiac rides, thousands of penguins, huge icebergs, zero shopping or tourists and a LOT more expensive.

Antarctica is a destination that people go that have been most other places, and have a desire to step on the final continent and also have a real zeal for wildlife and far away places.

For all those interested in Antarctica on ResidenSea, I spoke with their reservations department about tentative schedules. It is not scheduled for 2006. It is tentatively scheduled for January 2007 including the Falkland Islands. If anyone is interested, let us know and we will keep you posted once we have the itinerary which should be about March 2006. We are scheduled to have the itinerary for 2006 in March 2005.

Susan,

Todd and I are definitely interested. I'll email you.

Thanks!

Kathy

Ngaire,
your explanation of why you book what you know makes perfect sense. I've booked cruises with travel agents where I knew much more about the line than they did and that felt strange, to be effectively telling them what I needed and what was available to me.
Enjoy the end of your cruise.

Hi Ngaire. I meant to ask you earlier if you walked on the Promenade Deck or went to the spa or the Creative Learning Center, and what you thought of them. The Creative Learning Center rotates its various classes but always has keyboard lessons on Yamaha and language classes of the various countries (Spanish for Mexico and Spain,)(German and Norwegian for Norway, French while we did the British Isles, etc.). They have golf lessons, art lessons, all sorts of daytime activities. Oh, you asked about puzzles. They have them daily to be picked up in the library. On sea days, they count toward prizes. How did you like the Jade Garden? Did you get a chance to see (or book) the Vintage Room. We enjoy Pasquale (the head sommelier's) wine talks also. I can't wait to read your full review. You have been honest about your likes and dislikes. Judith

Ernie - sadly, no full-size craps tables (at least on Mariner and Navigator.)

Ernie, No ship in the Radisson fleet has a full-size craps table - they are all mini-craps tables. I've noticed that the Radisson crowd in general (goes beyond LCT) isn't really into gambling. The mini-craps tables often aren't even half full. Really, no cruise line can compare to Crystal in the casino department. This goes beyond just which table games are offered. The ambiance and service are just superb in Crystal's casinos. They're always crowded and the dealers are really on the ball in terms of tracking your bets, which can get chaotic when the craps table is at max capacity.

We are interested in Antarctica Jan 07. More important than Falklands is South Georgia Island; any word on its inclusion?

Some of you have been reading the Crystal cc board today. The posting about Ngaire's postings was removed earlier and many of us felt this was wrong. During the day, some people (at least one of whom I have never seen post before) have made comments about Ngaire's choice not to book certain lines. As you all know, I love cruising on Crystal and will defend its policies to anyone, but I could not sit by and see Ngaire insulted. I wrote a post to that board about her and that will probably cause that thread to be taken down also, but I hope my opinion carries some weight with our regular Crystal posters and I couldn't leave things unsaid. As some of you know, we had booked a cruise on the Paul Gauguin which I had to cancel because I am highly sun sensitive -- I take certain post cancer medications that make my skin blister when I am in the sun -- and she was our travel agent for that cruise. No travel agent could have ever been nicer to me both in booking the cruise and then in cancelling it. I hold her in the highest regard. Now if I could only change her mind about assigned seating!!! Judith

Hi Judith!

I can't get over some of those people who seem to think that Ngaire shouldn't post opinions on her own board.

I just want to say that I was one of the original planning group for our safari trip in 2006. When Ngaire consented to be our agent, she thought of things that we hadn't begun to think of, and there were five of us working together for several weeks before she even knew what was going on. She totally looks after her clients.

My husband and I realized that we simply wouldn't fit with the more formal atmosphere that is Crystal, but we had looked at Crystal before we found RSSC.

Crystal is quite formal -- both in the assigned seating and the formal attire on usually three nights of the cruise. I love seeing my husband in a tux (he enjoys wearing one) and we love dancing at the various parties. I don't know how the postings on that thread spiraled up like they did. I found her comments to be honest and mostly favorable (when you pass the assigned seating and charges for wine and gratuities). The current thread seemed also to be getting out of hand so I made my comments. She certainly doesn't need me to defend her, but I thought the comments should stop. Judith

Judith, I really appreciate your open-minded attitude toward the differences in preferences of the loyal Crystal and RSSC clients. I guess if you cruise one luxury line first, and like it, you want to repeat the experience. The more you repeat it with good results, the less likely you are to want to change. Find a good product and stick to it is my mode of operation. I just find it disconcerting when, if you give an opinion on a competing board on a thread that is intended to compare lines, you are dismissed as not being credible. I tread very carefully on the Crystal board for fear of a response that is defensive and somewhat agitated in posture. On the Radisson boards, it is upon us to be able to receive good or bad reports on other luxury lines without retribution to the poster if they prefer another line. I just wish all would approach this as a sharing of information rather than a competition to attract new business to our favored lines. Have to say that when I have posted on Crystal cc, you and Darcie stand out to me as the most reasonable and willing to accept other's opinions.

Perhaps cruisers fall into two camps - the loyalists and the experimenters. I am all for trying different cruise lines.

In the mid 80's my husband and I were in our 30's - we owned a retail business and decided one year to take a cruise to get as far away from work as possible. We rightly figured that our employees wouldn't call us and would take more initiative while we were gone.

We had a great time and cruised for four consecutive winters to various places in the Caribbean and Mexico on Royal Caribbean, Holland America, SItmar and Princess (in that order.) Although we enjoyed all of them, the best were Royal C because it was our "first" and Sitmar because there were quite a number of passengers our age. HAL was just OK - way older demographic, and by the time we sailed on Princess we were sick of the formula and had no desire to cruise for a long time.

We didn't cruise again until 1998 - on Seabourn to Indonesia and then on a Sea Goddess ship - (now SeaDream) to Turkey and Greece. Now we're back to being converted to cruising, mainly to destinations that are more exotic.

Future plans are to try Radisson, Silversea and perhaps Cruise West for Alaska or Residensea for Antacrtica and even Crystal at some point.

Loyalty is good - I'm sure the cruise lines are happy to engender it, but new experiences are what makes life interesting. A great thing about these boards is to read people's impressions of different ships.

Well, I'm guilty too of diving in over there on the OB (other board ;) ). I guess I'm feeling rather chatty today -- there are very few people here in my office, as our company shuts down next week, and most people have taken this week off as well (which I can't do, since I'm saving up my vacation time for my CRUISE!) So frankly I haven't had much to do today other than haunt the cruise boards. I did spend a good chunk of time doing some more research on the ports I'm going to be visiting on my upcoming cruise (there are just so MANY!). Anyway, I suppose I should pipe down now!
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSXXXXXXXXUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_5_3.gif' border=0></a>

Leslie, I couldn't agree with you more-experiment! You have done this. I don't think any one of us who is experimenting with different luxury lines is going to have a problem. It's when you get into those mega-ships after a luxury line that the difference is seen. However, wagsalot and others have been on the biggies after RSSC, and always report the good and the bad. They go on those cruises with different expectations.

LeeAnne: Never pipe down! You write the most articulate posts and I enjoy reading them to the max.

Well thank you Jean! Really, I'm not usually this prolific. :D

Marc,
I will check and see what the tentative schedule is for ResidenSea in Antarctica. When I checked today I was simply told it would be January 2007 and include the Falklands. I will see if South Georgia is scheduled at this time and post tomorrow. However, the apartment owners vote on the itinerary and it can change from time to time.

Hi Judith,

I find your posts to be so honest and refreshing, in light of all the heated discussion.

Participation in any message board forum thrives on open, candid, and even lively, heated discussion. We each have different experiences that we bring to our reports and reviews. We also have differing expectations and opinions. How great is it to be able to speak freely? It's a sad commentary when differing views are subject to negativity and deragatory rebuttals.

You are a very welcome member of LCT and I applaud you for your open-mindedness! For many of us, cruising and travel is an on-going learning experience. It's people such as yourself, Ngaire and so many others who frequent both LCT and CC that make the learning process so informative and enjoyable!

As far as experimenting, we have experimented with RSSC's ships and have preferences. We have been so spoiled by the Mariner/Voyager (we like these ships the best, so far) that we haven't ventured to other lines. However, if Ngaire recommended one and a group went on it, and the timing, value and price was right for us, we would certainly be open to trying a new line.

This is why we love what Ngaire has done with ROAR and with Crystal and the rest of you with your opinions as well. Thank you all!!!

Well, guys it is time for me to “chime in” on this board. I am the one who started the thread on the CC Crystal board re: Ngaire’s Crystal report (which much to my chagrin has now been deleted- those Gestapo methods at work again). It was my intention to obtain some responses from the Crystal cruisers to Ngaire's opinions. From reading this LCT board in reaction to Ngaire's report, I felt that, while she is certainly entitled to her opinion, it was a wee bit "skewed", to her personal tastes. In the first place, it was not a "normal" Crystal cruise with 250 TA's aboard and also it was her first Crystal cruise.

To be quite honest with you, our first RSSC cruise was on the Navigator to the Far East and it was not one of our better cruises. The officers and crew were surely and not amenable to solve our traveling companion’s and our own reasonable requests. The overall layout of the Navigator, to us personally, was not as passenger friendly as say, the Mariner. That said, we have since cruised with Rad 3 other times (all on the Mariner) and will be on one segment of the World Cruise in April.

I certainly respect Ngaire's analysis and opinions and she is looking at the Crystal with a very inquisitive and experienced eye. I commend this.
However, I did feel that in some of Ngaire's earlier reports concerning the food, the production shows (only a tad better in costumes than Crystal’s, in her opinion) and the lack of meeting people (and missing her LCT buddies) not a Crystal experience which we have had.

I can also see why Paul59 took exception to Ngaire's report, as a frequent Crystal ( and Radisson) cruiser). I too believe that Paul59 did not express himself properly, but I know him and have traveled with him and I do not believe that he was deliberately vindictive. IMO, he was doing nothing more ( but a bit too personally) than protecting his cruise line just as many of you LCTers “shunned” Crystal based solely on Ngaire's report.

Actually, one of my biggest gripes with the "formal" Crystal experience is the room service. On RSSC the room service waiter sets the table very nicely, presents the food in an appetizing manner and it is placed on a larger table mounted on the small table (the one used for reading materials, etc). On Crystal, the stewardess comes in, drops the tray on the tiny table and leaves with all the food piled upon each other. Not very appetizing, to say the least.

Overall, Ngaire's report and comments are right on point from her personal point of view. For example, we like the two seatings at dinner (cause we have the same table and excellent wait staff), the formality of the afternoon tea ( like the personal service and attention, but miss trivia after the tea, as on RSSC).

I agree with Ngaire that the RSSC cabins are nicer and bigger ( love the walk-in closets and the privacy curtains on the RSSC ships), wine with dinner and liquor set ups in the rooms are a nice "extra" ( not a deal breaker but nice), glass of champagne on embarkation and a chilled bottle awaiting in the room, internet costs very reasonable ( as compared with the "highway-robbery" charges on Crystal).

In Crystal's corner we love the Bistro, as does Ngaire, where you can get any type of coffee and snack almost all day, and for us, we love Crystal’s extraordinary entertainment, in the production shows, the lounges, the lectures, and the "on board" activities. In our opinion, the production shows on RSSC are mediocre, at best, as compared with Crystal.

Again, I thought Ngaire's reports and comments very valid, fair and balanced and in many respects right on point ( so much so that I bet Paul59 would also agree as to their validity) Also, they contained her own personal preferences which she is certainly entitled to.

While she is not my TA, I have spoken with her on a number of occasions and found her to be very knowledgeable, friendly and extremely amenable to assist. (Besides the fact that she was the originator and sponsor of this wonderfully informative LCT board.)

My intent, again, in posting on the Crystal CC board was not to bring out "vindictiveness" among the two boards but constructive comments from experienced travelers from both cruise lines. In a way it succeeded and in fact, there are now (coincidentally) many more daily posts on the CC Crystal board and can you believe, they are actually asking for "roll calls" for various cruises (never have seen that before)

Y’all have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and New Year.

I'd like to add a few comments to the ones posted by med4bike. I have not cruised on RSSC, Silverseas, or World; although, I have looked at the possibility of cruising on RSSC and Silverseas. I have cruised on Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony several times, as well as on Celebrity (twice), HAL (once), and NCL (once). Currently I'm booked on Crystal Serenity in January, and on HAL in late April.

I've read most of the comments on both the CC board and here. One of the things that I noticed is the change in tone of Ngaire's comments as her Crystal cruise progressed. At the start her comments were quite negative, but with time they became more positve.

Every line that I have cruised on has had its positive and negative points, and many of Ngaire's criticisms of Crystal have some validity. However, I must say that I have enjoyed all my cruises on Crystal ships -- some more than others, but most were very memorable experiences.

One of these days I may well take a cruise on RSSC or Silverseas. While I'll most likely make comparisons with Crystal, my expectations will be that these lines will be different from Crystal. And, then I can decide which line fits me better.

I do have to agree about the dinning ensuite experience. The stewardess brings the food and there really isn't any place to put it except on the bed. You only have that little table in front of the desk and have to switch plates on and off the bed as you eat. Not really a problem for me but 2 people I can't see it. You can go out on the balcony if the weather allows.

I feel the need to step up to the mike here and say that Mark and I had pretty much ruled out Crystal LONG before I had any clue who Ngaire was. I'm quite good at internet research, and when we decided that we wanted a cruise experience beyond the mass market product, I went looking. I also called a cruise agent who I had done business with in the past (who is apparently not in business anymore) and got brochures from her. She booked our first RSSC cruise, and at that point we knew we had found our cruise home. But we still watch Silverseas, Crystal and Seabourne, just in case something catches our eye.

We have never been "gung-ho" cruisers, one cruise a year is all we are interested in at this point. So, for the one a year, RSSC is a great choice for us.

These choices are easy for me;

Gotta have a balcony

Can't tolerate fixed seating

Scratch Seabourne and Crystal!

We book Silversea or RSSC based on destination. My research says that SS is more expensive for basic suites - about a wash on larger suites compared to RSSC. Comments?

I agree 100% with hrprof!