At 68,000 tons and taking 1,080 passengers, Crystal Serenity is Crystal Cruises' largest ship to date. The nearest contender is running mate Crystal Symphony, which weighs in at 51,044 tons and takes 940 passengers. The line has uniquely positioned itself by operating the largest ships that fall into the top end of the cruise market, yet are not mega-massive by today's standards. Completed in 2003 at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the Serenity is an evolutionary ship for the line, designed to offer the Crystal product within a newer, larger and roomier version. The 635 crewmembers are 40% European, 40% Asian and 20% North American. The captain is Norwegian and the top officers are Scandinavian and Japanese.
Crystal Cruises is owned by the huge Japanese container shipping firm NYK. The line's first ship, Crystal Harmony (carrying 940 passengers) was transferred to NYK cruises at the end of 2005 to become the Asuka II for the Japanese market.
Crystal's passengers look for food and service on par with the other top lines—Seabourn, Silversea and Regency—while also desiring big-ship choices such as amenities, activities and entertainment. They tend to be North Americans aged 55 and above, with some European passengers. Some families are now booking during the holidays, so Crystal has established children's programs for two age groups and has added some third-cabin berths. Tipping the dining and cabin staff individually is the custom here.
The Crystal Serenity spends the late fall and early winter in the Caribbean and on Panama Canal transits. She then undertakes a partial world cruise in early January, leaving from Los Angeles via the Pacific, traveling through Australasia, the Indian Ocean and Suez, and ending at Southampton, England at the end of April. The ship then heads to the Mediterranean to be based at Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Civitavecchia (Rome), Venice and Athens for a late-spring to late-fall program of 7- to 12-day cruises. Crystal is well-known for its enrichment programs and special themed sailings such as classical music, film, theater and golf, sometimes hosted by well-known celebrities.
Spaciousness is evident throughout—in the public room corridors, under heightened ceilings, in the oval atrium and out on the widest open promenade at sea, a veritable boulevard in teak. The roominess is further confirmed by a passenger space ratio of 63 compared to 53 for the Symphony. The Palm Court, located high up on Deck 12, is an expansive blue-gray room with natural light flooding in through 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows and six hexagonal skylights. The rattan furnishings arranged in cozy groupings on two levels define the observation room setting for the captain's welcome party, dancing after dark, and one of the best-served afternoon teas afloat. The dozen selections of teas are followed by a procession of stewards bringing hors d'oeuvres, sandwiches and pastries. In the Galaxy Show Lounge, every seat has good sightlines for the major big-ship productions. Other entertainment venues are the Stardust Club for cabaret acts and dancing; Pulse, the late-night disco; Hollywood Theater for films and lectures; and Caesars Palace at Sea casino. The ship's 16 computers allow one to keep in touch via e-mail, at a price, and all cabins are wired for personal laptops. For the mind, the innovative Crystal Learning Institute offers more than a dozen sign-up courses such as Yamaha piano instruction, drawing workshops, Spanish lessons, Cleveland Clinic health talks, and tai-chi. It's a veritable Elderhostel at sea.
The 8,500-sq-ft spa and fitness centers, located high up and aft, are much larger than aboard the two previous ships and are arranged with separate entrances. For sports, two paddle tennis courts sit side-by-side on Sun Deck 13, and aft down on Tiffany Deck 6, there is a cluster consisting of two golf nets, a putting green and two ping-pong tables in a quiet wind-protected setting with a view of the wake. The staffed library of books and DVDs has three cozy bays for curling up in a chair with foot stool, and the Bridge Lounge has 16 well-patronized tables and instruction by guest lecturers. For drinks, besides the Palm Court, the Avenue Saloon, a Crystal trademark, offers a pianist in a clubby paneled setting, and cigar smokers and after dinner imbibers retire next door to the Connoisseur Club. For an open setting, the Crystal Cove off the Atrium, topped with a colored glass oval dome, has a live pianist or player-piano renditions. The Atrium's mezzanine is the setting for two high-end shops selling clothing, jewelry, china and glass and a Crystal souvenir shop.
The Bistro has a sit-up bar and table seating for enjoying the all-day snack buffet of cold meats, salads, cheeses, fruit and desserts. Evening dining choices include the traditional Crystal Dining Room with two sittings, unique to such a high-end ship, but this did not seems to be a problem as most people like to eat at a specified time anyway. The room buzzes with activity but is never noisy. Memorable selections are Alaska crab soup with brie, ricotta and sun-dried-tomato stuffed chicken breast, sesame-crusted tuna, and chocolate hazelnut pudding souffle. Prego, the Italian specialty restaurant, is entirely different in style on this ship. It is a long room located aft on the starboard side, executed in white and gold with decorative panels showing Florentine scenes. Two Italian favorites are pumpkin ravioli flavored with apricot and gorgonzola-topped filet of Angus beef. On this ship, the Asian restaurant, Silk Road, has Nobuyuki Matsuhisa as the consultant for a pan-Asian menu that offers such signature dishes as lobster with truffle yuzu sauce, and black cod with miso. The Sushi Bar at the entrance is a new offering for Crystal. None of these alternative restaurants carries a surcharge, although, with the exception of the Sushi Bar, reservations are required. For casual poolside dinners, Tastes has attractive table settings next to the Trident Pool and under the Magrodome. Lunchtime lido buffets have themed menus plus serving stations that offer grilled lunches, salads, desserts and ice cream. There is ample seating outside, under the Magrodome, inside and aft under cover. Queues are not a part of Crystal's lido dining. Service is tops everywhere.
Most cabin accommodations are larger aboard the Serenity than aboard the Symphony, with the 286 A and B categories measuring 269 sq ft versus 246 sq ft for the earlier pair. A new category AA, 82 penthouse staterooms with veranda, also 269 sq ft, offers butler service plus a complimentary wine and spirit selection upon embarkation. All cabins are outside, as they are on the Symphony. Of the 548 cabins, 85% have private verandas, and no cabin has a lifeboat-obstructed view as these are stowed below cabin levels. The 64 penthouses with veranda measure 403 sq ft and have an entertainment center housed in a built-in mahogany cabinet with flat-screen TV and DVD player. The bath is equipped with a full whirlpool bath, separate shower and twin sinks. The walk-in closet has a deep safe and plenty of hanging and drawer space. The teak deck verandahs are furnished with a typical white plastic table and chairs with green cushions. In the penthouse accommodations, one can order a full meal from any of the restaurants during dinner hours. The other cabin categories can order from the Crystal Dining Room and from a 24-hour room service menu.
The Crystal Serenity is designed for luxury seekers who want a bigger ship than Regent or Silversea provides.
