Buzz’s comments on his Cruise from
Seychelles to Singapore on the Crystal Symphony February to March 2026
The ship had 450 passengers, none of whom I remember
sailing with before. The average age of the
passengers was mid 70s so a little younger than many cruises. Many crew members remember me from previous
cruises. This is probably my last
Crystal cruise. There were several
things that should not happen on a 6 star cruise line:
·
Initially when I booked the cruise
Crystal sent me a message that I would need a visa for Indonesia, India and pay
for a Bali tourism tax. The India visa
was only required for passengers getting off the ship in Port Blair. We did not stop in Indonesia or Bali so that
was just incorrect information.
·
The website shows that the solo
cabins are 210 square feet but after a lengthy discussion with another
passenger, I measured mine and it is only 175.5 square feet.
·
I priced out 2 future cruises and they both priced out at $1000 per day. That is about 30% more than I would pay on
Seabourn. Seabourn’s cabins and closets
are much better. See Comparing
Seabourn vs Crystal for my assessment of the two
lines. I will continue to monitor prices
for the itineraries that I want.
However, Crystal has sold almost all the cabins for 2026 and 2027 so their pricing seems to work for them. Most of the passengers I spoke with were less
price conscious that me.
·
The Wi-Fi and internet were very
slow most of the voyage.
·
My television would freeze when I
tried to watch movies or previous lectures.
I took 3 repair attempts over 3 days to get it fixed.
12 FEB – 13 FEB AA 120 PHILADELPHIA – DOHA 1950 1610
The Flag ship lounge is opened to business class passengers. A very pleasant 12.5 hour
flight with lay flat seats in business class. Doha airport had an excellent
business class lounge for my 10.5 hour layover between
flights,
14 FEB QR 678 DOHA – MAHE (SEZ) 0250
0830 A pleasant 4.5 hour flight with lay flat seat in
business class.
14 – 15 FEB Sailfish Beach Villas.
My Villa had free WiFi, two bedrooms (only
areas air conditioned), 1.5 bathrooms, a safe, a TV, a phone (with free local
calling), a completely equipped kitchen, living room and dining room. I arranged for a reasonably priced airport
pickup and drop off at the cruise ship. During my
rides to and from the Villas, I got a wonderful view of the island and a
description of the history and evolving situation of international
relations. It was about a 20 minute walk to the center of the local village. I was given the opportunity to stop at a
supermarket if I wanted to buy something to prepare. Instead, I chose to take advantage of two
restaurants that delivered to my Villa.
This was a great place to recover from my 40 hour
trip from home and the 9 hour time shift.
15 FEB MAHE – I was able to board the
ship early with a very quick check in. My room was ready at 1:15 and my luggage
was already delivered. I attended the solo travelers get together. I had dinner at a shared table at the
Waterside Restaurant. I went to the
Avenue Salon to hear Neal
Fullerton.
16 FEB
DAY AT SEA – I went
to two lectures: Roger Harris
presented Welcome to the Maldives and Major
General Craig Whelden presented Russia vs. Ukraine. I played duplicate bridge. I had dinner at a shared table at the
Waterside Restaurant. I went to the
Avenue Salon to hear Neal Fullerton. I went to the crossing
the equator ceremony. I went to the show
performed by Lorraine Brown.
17 FEB
DAY AT SEA - Formal
Night – I went to two lectures: Roger Harris presented Sri Lanka Explained and Mike
Rendell presented Stay Calm and Drink Coffee. I played duplicate bridge. I had dinner at a shared table at the
Waterside Restaurant. I went to the
Avenue Salon to hear Neal Fullerton. I
went to the show Icons in Concert. I went to the Captain’s Welcome Reception.
18 FEB
MALE Arrived at 7:00
PM so essentially a sea day. I went to
two lectures: Dr. Ed Sobey
presented “Indian Ocean Sea Turtles and Tortoises and Dr.
Micheal Atalay presented The End of a Scourge: Humankind’s Remarkable and
Triumphant Eradication of Smallpox. I played duplicate bridge. I had dinner at the Suchi Bar at Umi
Uma.
19 FEB
MALE – tender
port. I finally got a decent night’s
sleep. I am getting too old to book
trips with a very long time shift before the
cruise. Since it was Ramadan in a Muslim
country, many places were closed. I
wandered around the port area. I watched
the lecture by Susan Middleton: Spineless- Portraits of Marine
Invertebrates. I had dinner at a shared
table at the Waterside Restaurant. I
went to the Avenue Salon to hear Neal Fullerton.
20 FEB
DAY AT SEA - I went
to two lectures: Roger Harris
presented Astonishing Stories of the Anderman Islands and Major General Craig Whelden presented
Implications of a Rising China. I played
duplicate bridge. I had dinner at the Beefbar. I went to
the Beatles Tribute Help performed by Neal Fullerton.
21
FEB COLOMBO I booked
a 6.5 hour excursion: A Colombo Heritage Tour -
Uncover the refined heritage and vibrant rhythm of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s
cosmopolitan capital, where echoes of Portuguese, Dutch, and British influence
merge with indigenous culture. We bagin with a
panoramic drive past the storied Pettah Bazaar, a bustling commercial quarter
filled with colorful market stalls and local character. We continued to the
Colombo Town Hall, a striking architectural landmark reminiscent of Victorian
grandeur, standing proudly beside the serene green expanse of Vihara Mahadevi
Park—once the British botanical gardens.
We traveled past Cinnamon Gardens, a prestigious residential enclave
named for the spice plantations that once defined it. This tree-lined district
reveals elegant colonial mansions, a testament to the city's rich past. A
guided visit to the National Museum of Colombo offered insight into Sri Lanka’s
storied history, with artifacts that span centuries of cultural evolution. A
refined buffet lunch that included many local specialty foods was served at the
historic Galle Face Hotel, offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and
colonial charm. We concluded with a visit to a handicraft store where I bought
gifts before returning to the ship. I
went to a lecture given by Craig Whelden: 9/11: a Personal Reflection. I had
dinner at Umi Uma at a sharing table. I went to the Avenue Salon to hear Neal
Fullerton.
22 FEB
HAMBANTOTA I booked a
4 hour excursion with 10 passengers. It poured rain early in the morning and
fortunately stopped about 2 hours before we boarded the bus. If it had not stopped raining the tour would
have been cancelled since most of it involved walking on the ground without
shoes. We traveled inland at a
leisurely pace for about an hour to the sacred grounds of Ramba Raja Maha
Vihara, a historically significant Buddhist temple complex dating to the 2nd
century BCE. Nestled along the Walawe River, this archaeological site was once
a thriving monastic center, now preserved and managed by the Central Cultural
Fund of Sri Lanka. Spanning
approximately 200 acres, the site offered a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s religious
heritage and architectural legacy. The temple continues to serve as a place of
worship, where modern structures blend respectfully with ancient remains,
accommodating monks and pilgrims. Since
we were there on a Sunday, the site was flooded with young children who were
there to attend a religious Sunday School.
The children were very curious about us since we had light
complexions. The extensive interaction
with the children made this a great excursion.
Gentle walking paths of sand and gravel wind through the grounds,
offering a quiet opportunity for reflection and discovery. A brief pause for
Ceylon ginger tea, traditional treats, and local bananas complemented the
cultural immersion. We were given a customary offering by resident monks, with
discretion and respect for spiritual practices followed by a visit to the
museum. I went to a lecture given by
Mike Rendell: The Original Greatest Showman. I went to the show Rocket Man: A
Tribute to Elton John. I went to the violin concert: A Night at the Movies
performed by Anya Shumal.
23 FEB
TRINCOMALEE I booked
a 9 hour excursion: The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa:
An interesting blend of archaeological monuments, Polonnaruwa was the second
kingdom of Sri Lanka and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a two hour drive, the tour started at the museum where the
guide showed us what the sites looked like originally. We visited 6 sites ending with Gal Viharaya or “Rock Temple” where there were four colossal
statues of the Buddha cut into the stone, reflecting peace, serenity and strength.
Polonnaruwa the other sites
included ruins of ancient palaces, intricately carved moon stones and royal
baths. We went to a local restaurant for a buffet lunch featuring local
dishes before returning to pier. I ate dinner at the
Sushi bar. I went to the Summer of Love
concert performed by Neal Fullerton. I
went to the show Night with Andrew Bateup.
24 FEB
DAY AT SEA. I went to two lectures: Roger Harris
presented Welcome to Thailand and Mike Rendell presented Willam Dampier –
Scientist, Sailor, Travel Writer and Pirate.
I played duplicate bridge. I went
to see Aaron Kavanagh perform The Boy from Oz.
I went to the Avenue Salon to hear Neal Fullerton.
25 FEB
DAY AT SEA. I went to two lectures: Roger Harris
presented Welcome to Malaysia and Dr. Ed Sobey: Life Begins in the Sea. I played duplicate bridge. I went to the Avenue Salon to hear Neal
Fullerton.
26 FEB
PORT BLAIR. I took
the shuttle into town and walked around the Aberdeen Bazaar. I went to two lectures Craig Whelden
presented “A Consequential Life” and Dr. Micheal Atalay presented “Origin Story
of the Universe”.
27 FEB
DAY AT SEA Formal
Night. I went to two lectures: Roger
Harris presented Singapore Explained and Ed Sobey presented The Ocean’s Role in
Climate Change. I played duplicate
bridge. I went to the Avenue Salon to
hear Neal Fullerton.
28 FEB PHUKET –
Tender Port. I booked a 4 hour excursion: Heritage of Old Phuket Town – After a half
mile walk to board our motor coach for the 45-minute drive to Phuket Old
Town. Upon arrival, we began our walking exploration. We
started with a tour of Sangtham Shrine," which
is a beautiful Chinese Shrine constructed in Old Phuket in 1889 by a Chinese
family, also known as the Shrine of the Serene Light, called Ting Kwan Tang in
Chinese and Saeng Tham Shrine in Thai. This Taoist Temple is a hidden little
gem, with the main entrance a nondescript narrow gate on the main road. We wandered the streets around the old part
of town to explore extravagant examples of typical Old Phuket architecture. In this historically rich part of town, we
saw shrines, temples (Buddhist and Chinese), ornate and beautifully preserved
'shophouses,' quaint cafés, tiny printing shops, impromptu private and public
museums, and even a mini ex-red-light district. Phuket Old Town was built on riches reaped
from Phuket's tin boom of the last century when metal was a precious commodity.
Our final stop was on the top of Rang Hill, a stunning viewpoint overlooking
Phuket Town and the central areas of the island, where we were treated to a
refreshing drink before returning to your ship. I went to the show Beyond the Horizon
performed by Nica Sanhez. I went to the
show My Life in Melodies performed by Aaron Kavanagh. I went to the Q&A presented by Ed Sobey.
I ate dinner at the Sushi bar. I watched two earlier lectures that I missed:
Craig Whelden presented the 12 day War and Dr. Micheal
Atalay presented The House of Widom and the Arabic Age of Enlightenment. I went to the Avenue Salon to hear Neal
Fullerton.
01
MAR GEORGE TOWN (PENANG) I wandered around the port area. Since it was Sunday,
most business were closed. I went the lecture Craig Whelden presented
“Arsenal of Democracy”. I went to the
show Club Nights. I went to the Avenue
Salon to hear Neal Fullerton. I watched
two earlier lectures that I missed: Susan Middleton: Endless Forms Most
Beautiful and Spineless Portraits of Marine Invertebrates. My flights home were
cancelled due to the war with Iran and I spent time trying to find an
alternative and my travel agent Tully worked until midnight to find me
alternative flights.
02 MAR
MALACCA – Tender Port. I took the 30 minute tender ride and then the 20
minute shuttle bus ride to the center of town. I wandered around the center of the city near
the mall. Since it was Ramadan, many
restaurants serving local foods were closed for lunch. I went to a lecture given by Dr. Micheal
Atalay: Numbers, Nature and the Golden Ratio.
03 March
Singapore I have a 16 hour stay in the airport.
The airport has an early check in option 12 hours before my flight. I
found a good Dim Sum restaurant for lunch and a good noodle house for dinner. I did not go to the premium lounge was only
good for 3 hours. This is a great
airport with lots of shopping and restaurants.
There was free Wi-Fi.
04 MAR AA
8488 (operated by JAL) SINGAPORE
– Tokyo 0220 0955 This 6 hour flight was only
available in economy when I was initially rebooked, but a business class seat
was available and assigned to me when I checked in at the gate. This 767 aircraft
was comfortable with lay flat seats.
04 MAR AA 8405 (operated by JAL) Tokyo - Chicago 1050
0735 (crossing the date line). This 11.5 hour flight on a 777 aircraft had lay flat seats but no
shelf space to place my CPAP.
04 MAR AA 2992 Chicago – PHILADELPHIA 1140 1439
For a complete
description of all the activities click here.
More information on Crystal Cruises click here.
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