CRYSTAL : A NEW CHAPTER
PAULA HANNIGAN
Executive Pastry Chef , Crystal Symphony
What does your job There are eight of us in the pastry team involve ? on Crystal Symphony . We produce all the desserts ; I oversee them in all food outlets .
What do you love I ’ ve always had a passion for pastry . I love to most about it ? see how happy it makes people when they enjoy my desserts .
Which are your most Anything with chocolate . Our guests also popular desserts ? love our Crystal classics – Portuguese custard tarts in the Bistro , banana foster bread pudding in Tastes , and German chocolate cake in the dining room .
How important is food Very important . Our guests are used to a to Crystal ’ s guests ? high-quality food offering on board both Crystal ships , and I believe it is one of the reasons they return .
Is it more difficult It ’ s a whole different challenge to kitchens to prepare food on on land , but I love it . For example , the a ship than it is in more the ship moves the less accurate a restaurant ? our weighing scales are .
next door is the Italian specialty restaurant that has been renamed Osteria d ’ Ovidio after the chairman . Its food is better than ever following a tie-up with Michelin-starred chef Stefano Di Gennaro , who concentrates on regional produce in his carefully crafted dishes . The cruise line ’ s famous , and much-loved , mushroom soup is no longer on the menu , but you can find it in Waterside , which has also upped its game with a daily changing fine-dining menu that focuses on locally sourced produce .
While you can still enjoy a formal night here , the onboard vibe is increasingly relaxed , epitomized in the new-look café for all-day dining , a favorite among computertapping passengers . With the help of a former Soho House brand maestro , Crystal is clearly aiming to broaden its appeal , with state-of-the-art equipment in the gym , a range of wellbeing classes , and gin tastings in the atmospheric saloon lounge .
Not that returning passengers are forgotten , with the ever-popular gentlemen dance escorts ready to whisk ladies onto the dance floor , traditional afternoon tea served in Palm Court , and the Computer University @ Sea on hand to teach tech . A variety of new enrichment experiences for all ages , such as arts and crafts , will be offered in the new Lounge space . And Broadway-worthy shows continue to form part of a comprehensive entertainment offering that in my opinion sets Crystal head and shoulders above its competitors . Guests have the opportunity to see two shows every evening , including world-class tribute acts , live music performances and stand-up comedy .
Just as there was when my mother , my son and I took a multi-generational cruise a decade ago , there is something for everyone here , from the kids ’ club to the spa . And what a spa it is . Named after Aurōra , the goddess of dawn , it has a slick new look with plenty of light . A spell in the sauna is even more appealing when you can sit in it and watch the waves outside .
Life on board is clearly still special , but it ’ s off the ship that it will be truly unique , with the help of Abercrombie & Kent ’ s bulging portfolio of exceptional experiences and onthe-ground network of experts and guides . You can expect exclusive access to aristocratic homes , castles and palaces alongside as many unforgettable adventures as you care for among the shore excursions .
Better still , you can combine a cruise with everything from a safari to a villa stay as part of a pre- or post-cruise tour . On a World Cruise or Grand Journey , there are options to spend much more time getting under the skin of each destination , ticking off bucket-list sites as well as taking personalized tours depending on what you want to see . In Peru with a few days to spare ? Maybe it ’ s time to visit Machu Picchu . Been there and want something different ? Then see the Nazca lines , explore the jungle or check out the coast . And the real beauty of it all is that everything will be seamless , from the moment you start planning to the time when you return .
16
CALL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR PRICING , ITINERARIES , AND MORE