Written by
Published on 07/20/2023
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, June has lived in Orlando, Florida, for more than 40 years. An avid cruiser, June sailed the world with her husband, Jack, to whom she was married for 53 years before he sadly passed away in 2015. Now she’s looking forward to more fabulous times onboard Crystal accompanied by her family.
“I was introduced to Crystal by my mother on a cruise on Crystal Harmony in the late 1980s, so I have been part of the Crystal family for almost 35 years. I’ve had so many great experiences, yet there are some that stand out.
“I remember in 2006, Jack and I sailed aboard Crystal Symphony to Antarctica. It was a bucket-list destination for us, because our goal was to tick off all seven continents. I remember one day it snowed. I had just finished lunch and I went outside to the pool deck, where some of the crew were having a snowball fight. It was the first time many of them had seen snow. I laughed right along with them. It was a joyous, memorable moment.
“In 2019, I was on the World Cruise aboard Crystal Serenity. One of the ports of call was in Madagascar. It was hot and humid and tough walking, but when I saw the lemurs I didn't even care. They had been on my checklist for years, and that was all that mattered.
“However, the best was in 1992, when my husband and I sailed through the Panama Canal for the first time. We were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary – I was aboard a ship I loved, with the man I loved, in a beautiful part of the world. What more could I want?
“I’ve sailed several times with my entire family – my two daughters, their husbands, and my grandchildren. Losing Jack after 53 years of marriage was obviously a very sad time for me, but I just wanted to get back to sea because we both loved being aboard. It was daunting, taking my first trip alone, but when I embarked, I knew a lot of the staff and crew immediately. One waiter in the dining room even remembered my mother and me from Crystal Harmony.
“I have sailed a total of 36 segments on Crystal, including the World Cruise in 2019. I’ve tried other cruise lines and sailed on some beautiful ships, which were lovely, but when Crystal announced it was returning to sail, I knew I had to get back onboard. I have so many fond family memories. Crystal’s strengths are manifest, but I think all the long-time cruisers will agree that it’s that feeling of family that returns time after time. Every time I embark, I feel like I am home and safe.
“One of the main things experienced cruisers like me notice is that the crew is happy. They come back. Year after year, they get to know you and you get to know them, and their families.
“It is an incredible home to have while you are sailing the seas. Of course, you make friends with other passengers, but family schedules are hectic and mean that sometimes you don’t see the people you meet for a few years. But the joy of sailing with Crystal is that you will always find at least a few friendly faces onboard.
“It is rare that a staff or crew member leaves. The feeling when you arrive onboard, everybody's smiling and calling you by your name, it's just priceless. You feel like a family is welcoming you back to their home, which they are sharing with you. And you know that while you’re onboard, they will take excellent care of you. If the crew were not happy, it would be a different story for me, especially because I now travel alone.
“To the Captain and all the officers, butlers, and crew who are part of the Crystal family, I salute you! You are the sole reason I am returning to my home away from home. Thank you for coming back.”
