We arranged to be picked up by a water taxi at the Ca Sagredo, our hotel’s dock, at 1:00 p.m. which meant we had time to enjoy a drink on the terrace for one last time.  The water taxi arrived a bit early and our bags were quickly loaded onboard.  We stood at the back of the taxi and became completely immersed in the surreal water world of Venice.

We were taken to a dock at the Stazione Marittima in the same area as the Crystal Serenity.  Porters and Crystal personnel met the water taxi.  We had a very short walk to the terminal and, within minutes, were boarding the ship for our first Crystal cruise.  We were greeted by a variety of staff and crew.  Our hand baggage was taken by a crew member who showed us where we could leave the bags. We checked the hand luggage in at a table on Deck 5 and we did not see it again until it was in our cabin.  We really appreciated this service as usually we carry the bags from place to place until the cabin is ready.  As was noted in our pre-cruise documents, the cabins were not ready until 3:00 p.m. but lunch was available on Deck 12.  First, we went up to deck 13, received a tour of the gym and the spa and I booked a spa appointment.  Then, after a quick bite to eat from the Trident Grill on Deck 12, we went down to our cabin where our bags were waiting on the bed.  When we walked in to the cabin, we couldn’t help but compare it to our basic suite on Regent.  It was going to take some time to get used to the Crystal Serenity in a 269 sq. ft. cabin (verandah included). The whole cabin area is open and, as we tend to have different hours, we weren’t sure how we’d be able to move about without disturbing the other person. There was also a storage space issue; where could we possibly fit all of the clothes that we had brought for our extended journey?  The closet was not walk-in and, from the exterior, appeared tiny (looks can be deceiving).  There did not appear to be many drawers or storage compartments.  Our next concern was the living area.  The love seat appeared tiny (sometimes, looks are not deceiving).   Well, we kept an open mind and I am pleased to report that our three suitcases full of clothes and all of our shoes fit within the allocated space.  We switched  most of the wooden hangars for the smaller metal type and made use of every inch of the closet.  Although I didn’t like the design of the closet, it worked.

The love seat was small and only fit one of us comfortably unless all of the pillows were removed. However, there was always the chair or the bed and we didn’t spend time sitting together on the love seat so it really didn’t matter.

The ship was gorgeous and the public area look exactly how they are depicted in the brochures.  Having a promenade deck to walk laps was a bonus. For those who prefer inside exercise facilities, the gym was well equipped and offered wonderful ocean views.  There were a variety of programs offered both indoors and on the promenade deck for those who were interested in classes.
The service was exceptional; attentive but not intrusive, and the crew/staff obviously took great pride in providing the best service possible.  It was also a pleasure to sail with the Crystal Society Host, Eduardo Molina.
The main dining room, Prego and Silk Road provided us with the best meals we have ever had at sea (which is truly a compliment as we have had many delicious meals on other ships).  There were little extras that Crystal provided to enhance the dining experience.  For example, in Silk Road, one could choose to have a flight (three types) of cold saki, as well as other drinks typically provided in a Japanese restaurant.  One could choose from a rolls/sushi/sashimi menu and/or choose to order from a full menu developed by Nobu Matsuhisa.  We appreciated that meals were individually paced and that the wait staff seemed to do this intuitively.
We had the Open Dining by Reservation option and booked most of our dining times before we boarded.  We easily changed one dining time the same night we were to have dinner because we wanted to attend other events.  It was not, however, flexible the way you experience with full open dining.  There were a few other options available.  For example, a reservation was not necessary for the Sushi Bar and it was on a first come/first served basis. (On this cruise, it was packed and was difficult to get a seat unless you were flexible as to what time you ate.)  Tastes was also open on about half of the evenings for casual poolside dining.
As we were on a port intensive itinerary, we made little use of the options for day time dining. There were four locations available for breakfast including a Late-Risers Breakfast offered from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  There were also four locations available for lunch; an ice cream bar; a bistro; and afternoon tea.  Late night snacks were available from 11:00 p.m. – 12:00 midnight.  If you were still hungry or if you wanted to eat in your cabin, room service was available 24 hours.
Daytime activities included Computer University @ Sea, a library, the Studio – language and/or music lessons, art classes, enrichment lectures, golf nets, paddle tennis, a movie theatre, a casino and a variety of bars.
Shore excursions were handled really well.  Tickets were provided in the stateroom and stated where and when to meet. Times were staggered and specific tours were announced.  Bottled water was available.  People on each tour followed Crystal personnel holding a sign with a number to the allocated transportation.  The Crystal representative stayed with the bus for the whole tour.  With the exception of one time, our tour guides were all excellent.  They were passionate and engaging.  They also tried to keep the tours paced to fit the majority of the group.
We met some wonderful people; the ship was first class; and our experience  exceeded our expectations.  We will be back!

Although we were exhausted upon our arrival in Venice, taking the water taxi from the airport to the hotel was the perfect antidote. We stood outside the small cabin and watched enthralled as we made our way across the water highway from the mainland and through the smaller canals of Venice. It was like nothing we have ever seen, anywhere.

Our water taxi pulled up to the dock/patio of our hotel, Ca Sagredo. As with many of the buildings that line the canal, the hotel did not look like much from the outside. In the interior, we found a combination of a museum and an art gallery; gorgeous murals, paintings, architecture, and staff who were obviously proud of their surroundings.

We were early so our room was not ready. It was not, however, too early to enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace. We sat mesmerized by the scene in front of us – the Grand Canal. To the left was a gondola station; to the right was a vaporetti stop; across the river was the market; and everywhere we looked was a panoramic photograph waiting to be taken.

Our room was ready shortly before the check in time of 2:00 p.m. What a room! We were taken to Room 204, the Sala di Sebastiano Ricci (now called the Historical Grand Suite). The whole ceiling was a stuccoed masterpiece; antique furniture/fabrics/decor and Murano glass replicated the ambiance of the 17th century. The modern bathroom appeared to be recently renovated and provided us with the luxurious amenities one finds in any five star hotel. Windows that opened allowed us views over Campo Santa Sofia as well as side views of the Grand Canal and the gondola station.

After spending many hours walking the districts in Venice, we concluded that the Ca Sagredo location on the Grand Canal was perfect for us. The Piazza San Marco, in the heart of the tourist area, was always congested and filled with tourists and tour groups. Piazzale Roma, the area where conventional transportation (roads and rails), was also extremely busy. The Ca Sagredo’s central location between Piazza San Marco and Piazzale Roma was much quieter yet, within a couple of minutes, we were in the shopping area on the way to the Rialto Bridge. There were many trattorias and other eateries for when we wanted to leave the hotel.
We had a fabulous chef’s choice dinner created by Chef Klostermaier at the Ca Sagredo L’Alcova restaurant. The giant shrimp in a caramelized sauce was a highlight and is something that I will try to reproduce once I am home.
We made the most of our time in Venice and walked through the majority of the city. It was stunningly beautiful and every corner, nook and cranny, had some hidden gem just waiting to be found. When we first arrived, we met a couple who were just leaving. They told us to follow the crowds and we would never be lost. It was true. However, we also decided after our first day to spend some time not following crowds and getting lost wandering the back streets. We felt like we were immersed in the “real” Venice. We also took a gondola ride and would not hesitate to take another one if we were to return to Venice. (A word of caution for first time visitors to Venice, make sure that you arrange to be picked up and dropped off at the same stop.)