Crystal
Fodor’s Expert Review
Crystal is back, under new ownership and minus the word “Cruises” in its name, but still very much the elegant, service-focused brand that won it numerous accolades and enviable guest loyalty over the past three decades. After a forced 18-month hiatus brought on by the February 2022 bankruptcy of its former parent company, Genting Hong Kong, both Crystal ocean ships are back at sea. Crystal Serenity was relaunched in late July 2023, followed by Crystal Symphony in September 2023.Read More
The cruise line’s new owner is London-based A&K Travel Group, whose majority stakeholder is luxury cruise pioneer Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the founder of Silversea, which was sold to Royal Caribbean Group several years ago. The new Crystal currently features just the two luxury ocean ships (the former Crystal Cruises’ river ships and an expedition vessel were acquired by different buyers), but A&K Travel Group has revealed plans to build four additional ships by 2029. They will be two 650-guest ocean vessels and two 220-guest Polar-Class-6-rated expedition ships.
In the meantime, Crystal has announced itineraries through early 2025 for Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, including sailings in Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, Asia, Africa, Australia & New Zealand and Canada & New England, as well as 2024 and 2025 World Cruises. Both ships underwent extensive refurbishments before their relaunch, with newly redesigned specialty restaurants and spa and fitness areas and a reconfiguration of its staterooms to create a larger number of more spacious suites. This reduced the guest capacity of Crystal Serenity to 740 from 980 and Crystal Symphony to 606 from 848. In this new era for Crystal, the cruise line’s medium-sized ships are now sailing with passenger counts typically found on small-luxury vessels.
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What to Expect on Board
While most luxury cruise lines offer stellar culinary programs, Crystal is the only one to have a restaurant by Michelin-starred Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, whose Nobu restaurants can be found in cities from New York to Cape Town and chic island enclaves such as Santorini and Ibiza.
Onboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, guests can reserve a table at the chicly redesigned Umi Uma to enjoy exceptional sushi and sashimi as well as Nobu-style Black Cod (marinated in miso, peach and ginger), Wagyu beef, and an array of Japanese-Peruvian dishes.
Equally superb is Osteria d’Ovidio, Crystal’s new fine-dining restaurant (it replaces Prego) offering a menu of Italian specialties in a chicly reimagined setting. Standout dishes include Tortello Pasta Filled with Braised Beef, Figs Vincotto and Gorgonzola Cheese, and Salt Baked Sea Bass with Tarragon Sauce and Swiss Chard. Don’t miss dessert, especially the Coffee Foam, Hazelnut Ice Cream, and Salted Caramel.
Crystal guests can enjoy one complimentary meal at both Umi Uma and Osteria d’Ovidio on sailings up to 11 days, two on cruises up to 22 days and three on sailings of 23 days or more. Beyond the free reservations, guests can also book additional dinners at either restaurant for a charge of $50 per person.
Rounding out Crystal’s dining venues are Waterside Restaurant, a traditional dining room concept elevated by its beautiful décor and modern international menu with options that include Citrus-Cured Hamachi, Wild Mushroom Tart, Creamed Orzo with Sautéed Tiger Prawns, and Pan-Seared Duck Magret; Tastes Kitchen & Bar, an airy and more casual option for both lunch and dinner serving globally-inspired tapas-style cuisine (the Ricotta Gnocchi and Chimichurri Steak are yummy); Marketplace, an upscale buffet eatery offering an excellent selection of hot and cold items for breakfast and lunch; Trident Grill, a fast-and-casual counter-style venue for burgers, sandwiches, and tasty sweet potato fries; The Bistro, an all-day café for coffee, tea, and light bites; Scoops Ice Cream Bar for creamy gelato and chewy cholate-chip cookies; and 24/7 in-suite dining for anyone who wants to enjoy a meal in private.
Guests can also reserve The Vintage Room for a special wine-paired tasting menu to be enjoyed with a small group of family or friends (at an additional charge).
Guests shouldn’t expect splashy, multi-media extravaganzas, but the consistently excellent musical and comedy entertainment that happens nightly onboard both Crystal ships is well-suited to its Baby Boomer and Gen X clientele.
Rather than just one musical production in the Galaxy Lounge, Crystal offers several nightly options in a variety of venues, including the cozy Crystal Cove cocktail lounge, the elegant Palm Court and the cabaret-style Stardust Club.
Entertainment on the inaugural cruise of Crystal Serenity included the Crystal Ensemble of singers and dancers’ wonderful “Icons in Concert” (a rousing celebration of rock music’s top hit-makers) and “Crystal on Broadway” (a colorful tribute to top show tunes), as well as “A Salute to Sinatra” by vocalist Bruce Hammond, “My Life – The Music of Billy Joel” by Broadway veteran James Fox, and stand-up acts by witty, old-school comedian John Joseph. The atmospheric Avenue Saloon, where bartenders mix flavorful craft cocktails, also features nightly piano entertainment.
In addition, Crystal’s enrichment program presents an array of onboard lectures by guest speakers, who in the past have included actors, sports stars, political figures, scientists, entrepreneurs and even astronauts. These vary by sailing and guests are often delighted to discover who will be aboard and speaking during their cruise.
The place to relax on Crystal’s ships when the sun is shining is the refreshing Seahorse Pool, where cushy loungers and circular day beds with cheerful orange cushions surround a turquoise pool and hot tubs.
Nearby bars and eateries, such as Marketplace, Tastes, and Trident Grill, make it convenient to grab a snack and then get back to soaking, sunning or chatting with new friends.
One of the areas renovated for Crystal’s relaunch was the spa and fitness spaces. Now called Aurōra Spa, this wellness-focused retreat takes inspiration from the Goddess of the Dawn and offers an expansive menu of massages, body treatments and facials — including tech-enhanced options designed to treat aging skin. Medi-Spa treatments are also available, ranging from microneedling and fillers to acupuncture and IV Therapies designed to revive, re-energize and flush out body toxins.
The 3,000-square-foot Fitness Centers aboard both ships are now lined with the latest Technogym® equipment and guests can also enjoy yoga, meditation and personal training sessions. They can also head to Wimbledon Court on the top deck for Paddle Tennis and Pickleball.
Another indulgence onboard Crystal’s ships is the cozy and well-stocked Library, where fans of historical fiction, travel memoirs, thrillers, and even romance novels can find something to enjoy as they relax during sea days. If movies are your preferred entertainment, both ships also feature the Hollywood Theatre, which screens recently released films as well as classics.
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Your Shipmates
Crystal’s core clientele is solidly age 60 and older and comprises a mix of affluent professionals, cruise-loving retirees, and multigenerational families (grandparents, who are Crystal loyalists, introducing their kids and grandkids to the brand). The majority are English-speaking (Americans, Canadians, Brits, Australians) with a mix of Europeans, Asians, and South Americans, depending on the itinerary. While Crystal is a luxury cruise line, with prices that start around $4,000 per person for a seven-night sailing, the onboard vibe isn’t stuffy at all. The crew sets a convivial tone, and guests follow suit.
Dress Code
With the relaunch, Crystal has simplified its dress code: Day Casual (shorts, jeans, polo shirts, sundresses, and bathing suits with coverups) and Evening Resort (dresses, pants/dark-wash jeans, skirts, blouses, and sweaters for women and dark-wash jeans or chinos, collared polo shirts, button-down shirts, and sweaters for men). Formal evening attire is only required on sailings of more than seven nights when more formal cocktail attire is suggested for certain occasions: cocktail dresses or elegant evening suits or skirts with blouses for women and suits or tuxedos with evening shoes for men.
Junior Cruisers
While children and teens are welcome on all sailings, onboard programming geared to junior cruisers is only offered on select itineraries, primarily during the summer months and holiday and spring break periods.
Service
Many loyal Crystal guests say that stepping aboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony feels like coming “home.” The main reason is the cruise line’s consistent and expedient service, provided by a crew that is as loyal to Crystal as its most frequent guests are. Long-time Crystal cruisers are greeted with hugs by crew members they’ve sailed with before—and even first-timers will feel the genuine warmth as they’re welcomed aboard.
Tipping
Crew gratuities (for stateroom attendants, butlers, restaurant, and bar personnel, etc.) are included in all Crystal cruise fares.
Past passengers
Crystal’s loyalty program is known as Crystal Society and guests who have cruised with Crystal in the past are entitled to a number of onboard benefits. Details of the revamped Crystal Society are expected to be announced shortly.