Cheap Cruise Holidays & Latest Cruises Deals

Saturday 4th Feb 2012

www.cruise.co.uk - Cruise Deals, Cruises & Cruise Holidays

0800 408 6200

Cruise Reviews
120,634 Opinions Cruise Answers
181,921 Q&As Cruise Photos
14,128 Real Photos Cruise Videos
1,438 Real Videos Shore Excursions Our Cruise
Consultants Cruise Info
Guides Cruise Forum Get a Quote Special Offers Last Minute Cruises Luxury Cruises Tailor Made Cruise River Cruises Family Cruises Free Brochures Make a Payment

Cruise Reviews

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Symphony

SWAN LAKE IN RUSSIA - WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

SWAN LAKE IN RUSSIA - WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

Reviewed By: Coxhill, Reading on 9th Aug 2008
Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises	Times cruised before: 1-2
Cruise Ship: Crystal Symphony	Sailed: July, 2008
Destination: Northern Europe	Age: 56-65
Cabin: Balcony

We have just been on Symphony for an 11 night cruise from UK to Stockholm, the highlight of which was the 3 day (2 night) stop in St Petersburg. The ship was very like Serenity (our only other cruise) so we knew what to expect in terms of stateroom accommodation. These are not that spacious but very comfortable with a super king-size bed and great bathroom. Regular cruisers on other luxury lines tell me Crystal have the smallest rooms of all - but they are adequate. As before the service was faultless and all the staff were most helpful and friendly. This has to be down to what a first-class company Crystal are to work for judging by the number of years' service so many of the employees have been with the company. Food was as usual very good indeed and one or two meals were superb. The choice is almost too much but our personal favourite is the Silk Road restaurant. Sometimes the main dining room can be very noisy and the last formal evening (of which there were 3) the meal took a very long time - over 2 hours. We had some very nice Americans at our table but I found it disappointing that unlike on Serenity the previous year, none of the men bothered with proper black tie other than my husband. The trip stopped in Oslo (didn't care for it), Copenhagen (very nice), Helsinki (just beautiful - who would have thought it?), St Petersburg (pretty amazing to see how those Romanovs really spoilt themselves!), Tallin (pleasant just for a walk around in the old part and finished in Stockholm (very attractive looking city). The highlight for me was going to see Swan Lake at the Mariinsky in St. Petersburg being danced by one of the most stunning ballerinas I've ever seen, Anastasia Volochkova, - it was perfection and well worth the expense ($288 each). Some of the excursions are pretty pricey and if you did something every port you would easily have a whopping bill at the end of your cruise. Alchoholic drinks are charged but they are reasonable except for the added 15% gratuity. I don't know why Crystal can't include them like Silversea do. The Spa is good but some treatments way too high a cost, so didn't bother but the hairdressing side of it is what you pay here (not London). This was not a particularly relaxing cruise as it only had 2 sea days - was all a bit go, go, go. I think it was the best way to do St Petersburg though, being able to go back to your comfy ship at the end of the day. When looking at the Russian items for sale in the shop on board, I was horrified at the prices for nothing special. I feel that Crystal assumes because it caters for the reasonably affluent cruiser it can charge silly prices for some things in its shops but then again you don't have to buy! Thinking about doing one of their Panama Canal cruises in the New Year - somewhere different and out of 15 days, you get 8 at sea! Bliss.
Quality of Food
Food quality is the tops. Breakfasted in the Lido - splendid choice. Bacon too crispy though. lunch was always the the buffet - the Gala Buffet put on once each cruise is something to beholdAte twice in Prego (amazing carpaccio), twice Silk Road (fabulous flavours) and all other dinners in main dining room at 2nd sitting. They will cook you anything gievn 24 hrs notice.
Entertainment
Some American comedy pianist called Dale G? was just great. Great fun. British West End musical singer, Robert Meadnore, was excellent and some American magician/comedian also very good. The other productions were pretty good that use the Crystal ensemble.
Shore Excursions
Best excursion was Peterhof and Catherine Palaces in St Petersburg but they are a little too rushed to really enjoy them. Going to the ballet at Mariinsky Theatre was amazing but I don't call that an excursion as such. Sadly missed out on the Hermitage.
Staff
The head wine waiter in Silk Road (sorry forgotten his name)is just wonderful and fun. He even saved the last bottle of some Californian wine for us in case we managed to get back to Silk Road (we did).
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities	n/a

Cabins

Overall Rating

Was this review informative to you?

Report this review

Comment by Macro, Reading (21 Mar 09 03:19) about this REVIEW

Why not try Seabourn. It is all inclusive except for spa and shore excursions ( though at least 1 excursion is included.) No 15% and no tipping and all suites.

Report this comment

Comment by Organ, Plymouth (12 Aug 08 23:33) about this REVIEW

Hi We visited St.Petersburg in June for a two day stay on P & O's Artemis and also thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the ballet to see Swan Lake. We went to a different theatre, the Michailovsky Theatre, but it was a beautiful old theatre and we had superb seats in the dress circle and were served a glass of Russian champagne in the interval. P & O charge for this trip was £46 each which seems very reasonable compared to what you were charged by Crystal Cruises.If you have a chance to visit the ballet go for it, even if you are not a ballet fan I am sure you will enjoy the experience.

Report this comment

Question by WILSON, BEDFORD (09 Aug 08 21:22) about this REVIEW

Hi all, we want to visit St Petersburg. 3 days doesn`t seem long enough to see all there is, but we would prefer to cruise for health reasons. Advice please - did you have to buy Russian visas? Whsat sort of prices were the visits? How long at each? Did you find that there would have been cheaper tours locally? Many thanks

Report this comment

Answer by Coxhill, Reading (10 Aug 08 16:29) to a QUESTION by WILSON (09 Aug 08 21:22)

Hello, if you want to do your own thing in St. Petersburg then yes you need Russian visas which cost £100 each and I understand take about 4 weeks to acquire. We did not have them so were forced (as is everybody on any cruise line without single visas)to go on the ship's organised excursions. On Crystal the excursions were from $57 up to $300 depending on what you did. Your cruise line will give you a list of their excursions I'm sure prior to leaving so you can read through what's on offer and decide. Can't help with doing your own thing locally but am sure they would be cheaper but it's a vast city and not the kind you can walk around like Paris. If you are going on Crystal then log on to their website with your booking ref etc and you can read all the tours on offer at any place for your cruise. The palaces outside the city like Peterhpf and Catherine are a minimum 1hour drive away from the port. Some tours were 8-9 hrs and although we didn't do one, other passengers said it was too much and far too long a day. 3 days isn't anything like enough so just do some homework first. Buy a book on the city from Amazon. Enjoy your holiday!

Report this comment