Nightmare of a lifetime

Item: Crystal Serenity
Rating: 2.8
Author: gkaustin

Crystal Serenity Cruise Review to Hawaii

gkaustin

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 3

Helpful Votes: 88

Overall rating:

2.8 out of 5

16 Night World Cruise Segment 1b: Isles Of The South Pacific (Honolulu To Auckland)

Sail date: January 20, 2019

Ship: Crystal Serenity

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8133

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

Overall, there are newer products on the market for less. They may not do a world cruise itinerary, however, it's better to piece together a few segments on a nice new ship, then do a world cruise on old rusty landrover. Go big or go home, and buy the insurance in case of emergencies. You never know when you might get sick from the food or fall or injure yourself.

Embarkation

1 out of 5

If i told you, you might faint

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Main dining room very avg, quality of service was poor. Specialty restaurants are considered "designer" by name, but very above avg by taste and service. Although staffed with a very unauthentic staff which represents the lower end quality of staff vs. The original restaurant staff quality, they are still getting their feet wet. Oh Emelda Marcos, oh Emelda.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

There is alot going on, canasta, majohnn, bridge and knitting to name a few, if you are young and bustling, leave these challenging onboard activities to grannie or the great aunt or uncle you could not wait to leave on Thanksgiving.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Although there was plenty of entertainment, I rate it C+ or B-. For the amount of money spent on the fare they should be having Celine Dion and David Copperfield. They can't even get Rodney Dangerfield. I would settle for even a runner up on America's got talent. But if you own a hearing aid store, you could make a fortune onboard. That's if the passengers will admit they can't hear.

Children's Programs

Don't believe they have. That's good news, gives them lots of room to focus on the rest of the ships improvements.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Staff overall were very pleasant and kind. Management would smile to your face and skewer you in the back. CLEARLY

Ship Quality

2 out of 5

Very old feel, dated, lots of rust and breaking fixtures in the room. Tvs are dates and do not even offer to see your onboard folio. Instead the opt for an app that never works, or snail mail and very "ungreen" way of delivering the paper one. They claim to be very "green and environmentally friendly", i have never seen more waste of food, paper, plastic straws, paper cups and towel supply. Air-conditioned are old and inefficient and don't maintain temp correctly. Time zones change almost daily, they provide a cheap $5 white clock you have to change yourself. They should be offering atomic clocks, air dryers for your hands, auto flush and faucets, garbage they open automatically to put used wasted towels and replace all disgusting bathroom handles on doors. It's as if they allowed years of urine to eat through the metal on the handle and you feel it every time you open one. They did a face lift but forgot you can't just put lipstick on a pig and call it a supermodel.

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Small, dark, dated, smelled, lights are very cheap, all fluorescent bulbs which give you headaches. 1 power outlet for US power and hallways to rooms have dated carpet and scooters lining the corridor illegally because half the guests can't walk. They never do anything to remove the constant fire hazard.

Ship tip

Use a very good travel agent you trust and have used before. NEVER BUY DIRECT FROM Crystal, they can't offer any incentives or concessions cause they want to keep all of the commission. Make your travel agent earn their commission, and shop around to other ships. Regent offers you more for the money. They say Crystal is better, but after the Hassel you go through to be on a little nicer ship, if you have not been on both, you will never know the difference and you will miss nothing.

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