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 oering. 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 The variety and the quality. As well as our bighitting shows in the Galaxy Lounge, we have many smaller shows in the secondary lounges. We offer so many different genres; there is something for everyone. One could learn how to put phone videos to 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. Our lecturers include Broadway producer 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 Dress Party. We will be constantly creating new offerings and introducing new shows. I love watching the shows from back of house, seeing how engaged the audience is and experiencing the standing ovations. What do you think makes Crystal’s entertainment stand out? What can guests do in the daytime? Who gives your onboard lectures? What plans do you have for the future? Which is your favorite part of the ship? CRYSTALCRUISES.COM | 1-866-945-3594 13 KEITH COX Vice President of Entertainment
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