CRYSTAL : A NEW CHAPTER
Crystal Serenity had already had its capacity of 1,050 cut to 980 in a 2017 refit , but the plan was to reduce numbers even more , to 740 , while sister ship Crystal Symphony would go from 908 passengers to 606 . To do this , some decks were cut back to steel , with rebuilding rather than refurbishing to carve out more spacious cabins . Meanwhile , just to make life a little more interesting , as all this was going on , A & K Travel Group was simultaneously working on plans to launch four new ships before 2029 . “ Nothing like this has ever been done before in the industry ,” said Levis . “ But here we are . We made it , and we made it on time .”
They certainly did , but did they respect Crystal ’ s DNA with the new version of such an iconic brand ? When I stepped on board Crystal Serenity with my son , who had twice sailed with me on the cruise line before , that was the important question on everyone ’ s lips . A & K Travel Group had made a bold promise to maintain the qualities for which Crystal was known while simultaneously enhancing the offering . Had they kept that promise ?
I can ’ t think of a better answer than that given by Captain Birger Vorland , who had worked with Crystal for 20 years and concluded that it felt “ the same as before – only better .” Everything felt wonderfully familiar . Here were the pool deck , restaurants and public spaces all looking beautifully spruced up yet fundamentally unchanged , along with the amazing architectural area of the Palm Court , surely the most elegant place at sea for a cream tea .
We instantly felt at home . That feeling doesn ’ t just come from familiarity . It is also thanks to the amazing crew , an incredible 83 % of whom returned to work for Crystal . Wherever you go on board , their story is the same , from Mauro , the Peruvian waiter , and Camilla the Brazilian bar worker to our butler , Igor , who supplied a steady stream of canapés and whisked away my son ’ s shirts to iron . They might have found other jobs or joined other cruise companies in the interim , but they couldn ’ t wait to return to Crystal . Ask any of them why and the answer is pretty much the same : “ Crystal is family .”
They make you feel a part of that family , these smiling ambassadors of Crystal , serving from their hearts . And they inject soul into the vast amounts of onboard space . Bear in mind that Symphony and Serenity now have 30 % fewer passengers than when they were built , sharing the same range of original facilities .
The sensation of space starts in your cabin , particularly if you ’ re lucky enough to be in one of the new Sapphire Veranda suites . The equivalent of two existing cabins knocked into one , they feature a separate lounge / dining area as well as a dressing room and large balcony . With its twin sinks and enormous walk-in shower , the capacious bathroom is better than you will find in many five-star hotels . Everything feels cool and contemporary , the neutral stone and cream colors complemented by splashes of blue .
The specialty restaurants , too , sport a more modern look . It ’ s with relief that I can report that Nobu ’ s Umi Uma is still on board , the chef ’ s ever-delicious Peruvian / Japanese fusion food now served amid a lighter , more appealing backdrop . Just
KEITH COX
Vice President of Entertainment
What do you think The variety and the quality . As well as our bighitting shows in the Galaxy Lounge , we have makes Crystal ’ s entertainment many smaller shows in the secondary lounges . stand out ?
We offer so many different genres ; there is something for everyone .
What can guests do One could learn how to put phone videos to in the daytime ? music at our Creative Media Fundamentals class , take a dance lesson , or watch a movie in the Hollywood cinema . We offer everything from art classes to PGA golf instructors .
Who gives your Our lecturers include Broadway producer onboard lectures ?
Kevin McCollum ( Rent , Mrs . Doubtfire , The Devil Wears Prada ), astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman , and sports photographer Neil Leifer , renowned for his pictures of Muhammad Ali .
My goal is to enhance the popular White What plans do you
Dress Party . We will be constantly creating new have for the future ? offerings and introducing new shows .
Which is your I love watching the shows from back of house , favorite part of seeing how engaged the audience is and the ship ? experiencing the standing ovations .
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