Is Crystal worth what they charge?
 

We are considering takeing a Crystal ship May next year to the Mediterranean. What's your experience with the Crystal? The per day price seems very high, considering the fare does not include tips, wines and drinks, and assigned seating for dinner. We felt we get the value for the money at Silversea though their price of course is high. How about Crystal? Is the service the same league as the other luxuary lines? Is Crystal worth what they charge? What's your experience with them? I'm willing to pay if I get value for the money, and not necessarily a deal(though that would be nice). I just don't want to feel being taken afterwards. I'm not comparing them to Princess, Celebrity or Holland America, of course.

IMO, Crystal is not worth the money. Silverseas and Radisson are a much better value for the $$. You hit the nail on the head when you said that the fare does not include tips, wine and drinks. Again, just one opinion here.

I agree with Petlover, I have never cruised on Cyrstal only had lunch in port and the service was great. I just cruised the Radisson Diamond in March 04 and absolutely loved it! If you spend much on drinks these type of ships are worth it and day to day prices really don't differ much from the mass market ships, only less people and much, much better service and no kids!

I don't drink. Even so, when all said and done, the price difference between all inclusive ships and mega-lines is much less than most people realize.

Whatever you do do NOT pay the brochure price for a Crystal or any other cruise for that matter....you can get them all at a discount if you are patient.

Interesting question as we ask ourselves the same one. We had booked a Crystal SA cruise for 18 days. It was (with the discount) $14,000( for 2) for a Cat B. On the other hand we also have booked an earlier Celebrity Cruise for 14 days in South America (different route) for $3800 in the CC(concierge class) . After discussing the more than 3xs the price for Crystal, we cancelled. I just do not see that it can be almost four times better.

We are going with Radisson after all. The per day price isn't much different. Ship's smaller than Crystal, has open seating and from what I've read, I don't have to keep signing everytime I turn around, and that's important to me.