This has been a busy week for me and cruise ships. Monday Jamie and I flew to New York to spend the night on the Crystal Symphony. It was my first time on a Crystal Cruises ship. The Symphony holds 940 passengers (if my memory serves me right) but has a very intimate feeling. The ship was recently refurbished, and the new elegance shows. All the staterooms and suites were upgraded, and although a bit small, the appointments were lovely. Great colors, comfortable bedding, a huge bathroom, (big enough for 2 to fit comfortably) with tub and shower...the Nobu specialty restaurant is artfully done, with a vary calming, oriental influence, and Prego is an intimate, subtly fun room. The food was absolutely wonderful, as was the service. Even though we were only on board for the one night (and we didn't leave the dock) it seemed as if the staff already knew us and our preferences. The only thing that struck me as odd, was the choice of a pink carpet for one of the decks...I couldn't imagine having to walk to the end of a pink hallway to get to my cabin. We flew home Tuesday afternoon, having listened to a great sales and marketing presentation by the President and Sales and Marketing Manager. Crystal has some great itineraries for 2010 and 2011 and is definitely worth sailing with.
Thursday afternoon, Sylvia Berman, President of Post Haste Travel, (and my mother) were off to spend one night on the Seabourn Odyssey. This is the first time the Odyssey has been in Fort Lauderdale, and although larger than her sister ships, at 400 guests, she is still intimate and elegant. The Odyssey is so well designed and thought out. The public areas seem cozy and intimate while at the same time being bright and open. The low profile seating keeps the view from being blocked from any location, and the seating arrangements allow for privacy or friendly interaction, whichever you choose. There are nooks and crannies all throughout the ship. The pool area is very well laid out and comfortable. The cabins are large, roomy and almost all have balconies. The Weingarden (sp?) Suite was amazing! A special spa tub on the veranda, separate from the rest of the balcony...dinner was marvelous. Multiple small courses, and lobster done just right. I think the staff could use a bit more training, but all in all, they were very friendly and attentive. This beautiful ship is a must for the discerning cruiser who is looking to visit the smaller ports and wants comfortable elegance.
And to top it all off, this morning we watched the Oasis of the Seas enter Fort Lauderdale from the deck of the Odyssey. I was at the rail about 6:30 AM and saw the Oasis appear from the clouds on the horizon...very eery...it's a behemoth of a ship. After watching the Oasis wait until it was the right time to enter Port Everglades, she finally approached the port, and what a sight! Bigger and bigger as she got nearer. There are condo's right at the edge of the entrance to the Port, and the Oasis completely covered them...and she just kept coming! How the pilot got her so easily into her dock is beyond comprehension. Sylvia and I will be on board the Oasis November 27th and 28th for a travel agent preview. I will be sure to tell you all about this amazing ship. This is one week I will remember for a long time.
No comments:
Post a Comment