Mar 13 2008

My Voyage on Crystal Cruises’ World Tour

Having just returned from my 3rd sailing on Crystal Cruises I have to say that I am quite delighted with my overall experience. This cruise line continues its commitment to excellence in many evident ways and I am constantly much more refreshed after I leave the boat and head home than I was when I first got on. Truly, it's a wonderful experience. 

Happily, I was upgraded to a Category AA. Immediately I discovered that the staff was very attentive and right there to try and meet passenger’s every need. Unfortunately we had a few nights of bad weather . During the days though, the weather was quite pleasant which made sailing particularly enjoyable. But as we all know, no one can control the weather. Thank goodness there were so many other wonderful things to experience that this did not negatively impact anybody’s trip. 

The spa could not be beat. Talk about luxury and comfort. All I can say is that it’s spas like this that make the cruise industry second to none when it comes to feeling pampered. The staterooms were well laid out, comfortable and quite user-friendly.

During our voyage we found out there were 400 passengers on the World Cruise. These folks seemed to stay together and prefer not to mingle as much with people who were not onboard for the long haul. However, as with most trips, the guests were friendly and cordial with one another and a good time was had by all. As always, the cocktail party was fun. It was held in big room The Stardust Club and though not a spectacular amount of Signature passengers showed up, the ones who did had an especially good time. We had a nice crowd of people this time who very nice and friendly. 

As with all cruises dining is an important element. In the two specialty restaurants the cuisine was exceptional. Quite frankly, one could easily put on a few extra “cruise pounds” with all the delicious food that was being served. And of course there was 24 hour in-room dining available to anyone who wanted it so that no matter where one went, hunger was never an issue. The Prego and Silk Road, cost $7.00 per person extra to eat there, they were well worth the extra money. Also I found that Taste restaurant was wonderful for breakfast and a good call for late risers. Lunch was served there too for late lunches. The ice cream bar with complimentary bottled water, soft drinks and specialty coffee drinks was a nice treat as well. 

This trip offered a nice amount of sea days which was wonderful for folks who wanted to just relax, read or do nothing. However, there were plenty of activities onboard while the boat was at sea, from bridge, guest speakers (who were especially terrific), to enrichment programs, and computer classes. Additionally, the ship offered two pools, a spa, movies, library, a paddle tennis court, and a golf instructor, enabling me to go from one activity to another on the sea days. Furthermore, on the days we were in port the ship offered a good amount of things to do for those who didn't want to get off the ship. Balancing that out though was the fact that the cruise directors were quite knowledgeable and on the days before the boat arrived at the port, gave passengers plenty of information, to do their own thing, or take a tour.e All in all it was a great time filled with meeting new people, visiting exotic locales and laughing a heck of a lot.

Harriet Sitomer
Senior Travel Consultant
ALL-TRAVEL
Los Angeles – South Bay

2001 S. Barrington Ave. Suite 315Los Angeles, CA 90025  
P: 310.312.3368  |   800.225.3614 USA
F: 310.312.5053
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday 7:30AM – 7:00PM Pacific Time
Saturday 9:00AM – 4:00PM Pacific Time
Sunday 10:00AM – 4:00PM Pacific Time

About Harriet Sitomer

As a luxury cruise and tour specialist for more than 15 years, my goal is simple: to create a picturesque, memorable travel experience for each and every one of my clients. Start to finish I make sure that I am there – not in words, but deeds – for all of my clients.

I think one of the greatest difference-makers for me as vacation expert is my own personal passion for travel. It's a joy I aspire to share with every client - I want to make their dreams come true. Most recently, I just returned from yet another wonderful cruise on the Crystal Serenity to South America through the Panama Canal (I have sailed many times on Crystal and Regent Seven Seas). Additionally, I have had the pleasure to sail on Seabourn, SeaDream, Holland America and Silverseas cruise lines.

Locales to which I have cruised include: Australia, Europe, the Mediterranean, South America, Alaska, the Netherlands, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.

Of course, with me as an agent, my clients don't just get passion; they get accreditation as well. I have certifications from Crystal, Disney, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Holland America, Celebrity and several other tour companies. Overall, I want to make memories that last a lifetime for my clients. Their smiles make me smile... and bring true fulfillment to my work.