There are eight of us in the pastry team on Crystal Symphony. We produce all the desserts; I oversee them in all food outlets. I’ve always had a passion for pastry. I love to see how happy it makes people when they enjoy my desserts. Anything with chocolate. Our guests also love our Crystal classics – Portuguese custard tarts in the Bistro, banana foster bread pudding in Tastes, and German chocolate cake in the dining room. Very important. Our guests are used to a high-quality food offering on board both Crystal ships, and I believe it is one of the reasons they return. It’s a whole different challenge to kitchens on land, but I love it. For example, the more the ship moves the less accurate our weighing scales are. What does your job involve? What do you love most about it? Which are your most popular desserts? How important is food to Crystal’s guests? Is it more difficult to prepare food on a ship than it is in a restaurant? PAULA HANNIGAN Executive Pastry Chef, Crystal Symphony CRYSTAL: A NEW CHAPTER 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 oªered in the new Lounge space. And Broadway-worthy shows continue to form part of a comprehensive entertainment oªering 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 oª 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 oª 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 diªerent? 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. CALL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR PRICING, ITINERARIES, AND MORE 16
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTQ5NjY=