![]() ![]() This will position it to kick off a huge 2024 world cruise, which will start either out of Los Angeles, or from Miami with a journey through the Panama Canal included. Where will Crystal be sailing? Crystal SerenityĬrystal Serenity will make its triumphant return to the seas with a July 31 sailing over 12-nights from Marseille to Lisbon, commencing a path that will take it through Northern Europe, Iceland, Canada and the Caribbean. The cabinsĬrystal Serenity, Sapphire Veranda Suite Living Area ![]() You can also expect the off-ship portions of your cruise to be more expertly curated than ever, with Crystal to team up with new owners Abercrombie & Kent and their 60 years of land travel experience to design pre and post-cruise land programs and shore excursions. The courts will now play host to both paddle tennis and pickleball and both the spa and gym have also been renovated. The lower capacity is also allowing a revamp of the ship’s spaces, not only are familiar favourites like Palm Court, Le Bistro, the theatre, show lounge and Connoisseurs Club sticking around, but you can also expect exciting changes such as the return of Crystal Symphony’s nightclub. Furthermore, a near 1:1 crew-to-passenger ratio will remain, and if you’ve sailed with Crystal before you won’t be returning to strangers, with the return of many captains already announced and news on the returning of further crew soon to come. While some of the 19 square metre classic ocean-view rooms will remain, they’ll still be drenched in some extra luxury with butler service now being extended to all of those onboard. ![]() Most of the rooms will be refurnished, with brand-new Italian marble finishings and fine cotton linens awaiting guests. Crystal Serenity’s capacity will be reduced from 980 to 740 and Crystal Symphony from 848 to 606, making Crystal Cruises return one marked by extra attentive service and more space at sea. Reduced occupancy and larger staterooms and suites mean you can expect an even more personalised and opulent experience onboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. What you’ll get: Thanks to new owners Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal Cruises is about to become more luxurious than ever before. The real test will come when Crystal ships set sail again – will it deliver on its renowned personalised service or will the crew push the bar a notch higher? The “new” Symphony and Serenity will have nine restaurants and six bars. The old Crystal ships had six restaurants and six bars. Looking at photographs of the “revitalised” suites today, the names may have changed, the space may be larger but they looked eerily familiar.Īs a plastic surgeon would say: “The bones are there, all you need are some tweaks, tucks, and lifts.” “Crystal is reborn”, declared the line’s President Jack Anderson this week – he, incidentally, also served as President when Crystal Cruises dissolved its operations in February last year.Ĭrystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony have now been “reimagined and enhancements made to every part of our guess’ journey,” he added. The grey and white marble bathroom had double washbasins, a shower room big enough to fit two people, ample supplies of Etro bath products and fluffy Egyptian cotton towels.Ī chilled bottle of Charles Heidsieck champagne in a silver ice bucket was waiting to be opened. I stayed in one – it had a veranda which was decorated in a soothing palette of beige, white and silver. The line also added 40 new Seabreeze Penthouse suites on Deck 9. Throughout the ship, there were contemporary chandeliers and paintings, giving the vessel a sleeker look. But best of all, famous and much revered Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant was renamed Umi Uma with the seven-seater sushi bar as popular as ever. There was a new Brazilian Steakhouse called Churrascaria on Deck 11, a new Chinese eatery called Silk, also on the same deck. Then Symphony looked refreshed after her multi-million-dollar facelift – the main dining room was revamped as the Waterside Restaurant with open seating. ![]() We were on a 114-day world cruise from Cape Town to Fort Lauderdale. Ironically, when I last sailed on the Crystal Symphony in April 2019, she was also newly refurbished. It’s a good thing since many of them were the backbone of the line’s fearsome reputation for great service and more than two decades of awards. And, in a move that looks like getting the band back together, many of the staff have been rehired. There are larger suites and fewer passengers. Crystal is back – and I for one couldn’t be happier.Īlmost a year to the day when the most-awarded luxury cruise line was unceremoniously placed in the hands of administrators and abandoned by Genting Hong Kong, new owners Abercrombie & Kent have announced its two ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are back – refurbished, restyled and refreshed. ![]()
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