For many years, the Crystal Serenity was one of the most renowned luxury cruise ships in the world. Some would even say it was at the very top of the rankings, thanks to the impeccable service it provided to its loyal but discerning guests.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 66 – September 2023
In early 2022, operations of both Crystal Cruises ships, Serenity and Symphony, were suspended due to the bankruptcy of their parent company, Genting Hong Kong, which was unable to cope with the financial impact of the cruise industry shutdown caused by the pandemic. Now, after an 18-month absence, this magnificent ship returns under the ownership of luxury travel expert Abercrombie & Kent, which purchased the ships and all rights to the Crystal Cruises brand.
The ship has undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishment, and its launch in July of this year has showcased the best of the Crystal experience, with the necessary update to compete in today's super competitive luxury cruise market.
The Crystal brand and its boats were acquired by Abercrombie & Kent during the pandemic.
But Crystal is technically a new luxury cruise line that just debuted this year, seemingly built from the ground up. Its owners have no connection to the former owners of Crystal Cruises, and while its name is slightly different—it's now simply Crystal—it operates the same two ships, and many of the experienced crew members are back on board.
The ship,
launched in 2003, the 68,870-ton Crystal Serenity, has undergone a refurbishment that lasted around 6 months, to almost completely rebuild many areas of the ship and of course improve it.
The old problem with Crystal ships was that many of their cabins weren't large enough, at least not for an ultra-luxury ship. Newer luxury ships in recent years have been built with larger cabins and suites, putting Crystal ships at a disadvantage.
This is no longer the case. Two decks of cabins have been completely dismantled and replaced with much larger suites. Originally built for 1,080 passengers, the Crystal Serenity is now configured to accommodate only 740 passengers, and the size of its public areas remains unchanged. This means its "space ratio"—a fancy cruise term referring to the amount of space on board per passenger—is at a near-unprecedented level. Furthermore, the crew-to-passenger ratio is around 1:1. These features, along with the level of service, are the building blocks of true luxury cruising.
On the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity, you'll find most of the same butlers, waiters, and receptionists who made it famous for its exquisite level of service, a long-standing hallmark. According to its new owners, 80% of Crystal's guests are repeat customers, and the interaction with this crew, whom they encounter time and again on board, creates an experience that many luxury cruise enthusiasts consider unparalleled.
The promenade deck is more than just classic; it's inviting. It wraps around the entire ship, something increasingly rare on cruise ships. It's lined with teak decking that has been restored to look almost new. Whether for sports or a leisurely sunset stroll, it's a relaxed, elegant, and beautiful space.
The Crystal Serenity has undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishment before entering service in July.
The casino has been removed and in its place there is a delicate lounge that will surely be considered for another use in the future.
Cabins and Suites:
The variety of cabins and suites at the Crystal Serenity is relatively simple. It has only nine categories, and only two of them represent the vast majority of the accommodations.
Around 40% are Sapphire Verandah Suites. These suites, measuring 50 square meters including the balcony, are unusually spacious for a master cabin category on a cruise ship. Each of these suites features a separate living room and bedroom, a walk-in closet and a large bathroom, as well as a 10-square-meter balcony.
The slightly smaller, but equally spacious, Aquamarine Verandah Suites account for another 28% of the ship's accommodations (106 suites). Measuring 38 square meters, including balcony space, these suites lack the separate living areas found in the Sapphire Verandah Suites, but are still impressively large. The remaining suites consist of four larger Crystal Penthouses, six junior suites, and approximately 100 smaller double and single cabins, including 14 new single cabins
The suites are elegantly decorated in beige and blue, with quality linens, generously sized bedside tables with marble tops, American and European electrical outlets, and USB ports on both sides of the beds. The bathrooms are incredibly spacious and feature Ortigia Sicilia toiletries.
All cabins and suites have butler service.
Restaurants and Bars:
Typical of a luxury ship, the Crystal Serenity doesn't have a large number of restaurants or bars; that kind of excess is common on large cruise ships, which are not exactly luxury vessels. However, the quantity is compensated for by the quality. The ship has one main restaurant and two specialty restaurants, as elegant and exclusive as any. There are also several casual restaurants near the pool on the Lido Deck.
The ship's main dining room is Waterside, located on deck 5, which serves what Crystal calls modern international cuisine—traditional dishes with a sophisticated twist. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Two decks of cabins have been completely dismantled and replaced with much larger suites.
The culinary star of the Crystal Serenity has always been and continues to be Umi Uma, the innovative Japanese-Peruvian restaurant created by the legendary master chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa (Nobu). This restaurant was a fixture on the Crystal Serenity for many years and has thankfully returned under the ship's new ownership, albeit with a completely new look, while retaining all of Nobu's signature dishes, such as Nobu-style black cod marinated in Saikyo miso with tender peach and ginger, Wagyu steak, and other specialties.
The newest restaurant on the scene is Osteria d'Ovidio, an upscale Italian restaurant that takes the place of Prego, the Serenity's former Italian restaurant. Like Umi Uma, it was completely renovated in early 2023, and its new menu is dedicated to Northern Italian cuisine.
Osteria d'Ovidio is named after Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, the new owner of Crystal. He is a familiar name in the cruise industry, as Lefebvre d'Ovidio was the founder and owner of the luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises, until he sold it to Royal Caribbean Group.
The other restaurants on the Crystal Serenity are the Marketplace, a casual buffet, and The Trident Grill, which serves made-to-order burgers and hot sandwiches. Both are just steps from the pool on Deck 12, as is Tastes Kitchen & Bar, which offers a mix of classic lunch dishes but truly shines at dinner. Designed as a casual evening option, Tastes features a menu of internationally inspired dishes in a relaxed yet upscale setting. All the dishes, such as yellowfin tuna, raw hamachi, oven-roasted cauliflower, ricotta gnocchi, California street tacos, or chimichurri steak, are placed in the center of the table for sharing.
On Deck 6, right next to the central atrium, there's a Parisian-inspired café serving espresso and light snacks throughout the day. A continental breakfast buffet is offered in the morning, and a selection of cold cuts, pastries, fruit, and other items are available in the afternoon.
Finally, the Crystal Serenity has a special small dining room called the Vintage Room that can be booked for exclusive private dinners that combine an elegant five-to-seven course set menu with wine pairings for each course.
Some cruise ships have so many bars and lounges that it can seem impossible to visit them all on a typical seven-night cruise. Crystal Serenity is not one of them. For drinks, you can choose from Crystal Cove, Avenue Saloon, or Palm Court & Sunset Bar.
The Sapphire Verandah Suites make up 40% of the ship's suites, and at 50 m2, they are unusually spacious for a main cruise ship category.
On a typical night at Crystal Cove, you might find a saxophonist playing early in the evening, followed by a pianist and a violinist, and almost certainly a singer. The Avenue Saloon, at the rear of the ship on deck 6, is a cozy spot. Its leather-paneled and dark wood walls, heavy red upholstered armchairs, and dim lighting create the atmosphere of a speakeasy.
For smoking, there's the Connoisseur Club, which is the cliché of a cigar and pipe smoking room with dark wood paneling, leather sofas, upholstered wingback chairs, and Scotch whisky or Armagnac.
Palm Court & Sunset Bar, located at the top of the ship on deck 12, is the bow-view bar offering panoramic ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Palm Court is also where a formal afternoon tea service is served on days at sea, accompanied by a pianist and violinist.
Activities and Shows:
Crystal Cruises has always been known for a higher level of entertainment than other luxury lines, and the new Crystal is no different, coming alive at night in a way that many luxury ships lack. A highlight is the Galaxy Pavilion, a full-fledged theater at the front of the ship on Deck 6, offering all kinds of relatively large entertainment productions. At the rear of the same deck is the Stardust Club, a more versatile lounge with a stage and a large dance floor, offering a mix of cabaret performances and other themed events.
Crystal is one of the few cruise lines in the world that still sails with "ambassador hosts," older gentlemen who are available to dance with ladies traveling alone. It's surprising to many, but a true classic of the cruise world.
We can't forget the Hollywood Theatre, a traditional movie theater that shows recently released films and occasionally broadcasts live sporting events. There's also a small nightclub tucked away behind the Stardust Club, called Pulse, which doesn't open until around midnight.
For all these reasons, the ship's nightlife is rich, lively, glamorous, with people who are "dressed up" and eager to have fun.
During the day, life on board is more relaxed. As is typical on luxury ships, the upper decks don't have the kind of attractions found on larger vessels aimed at other segments. Instead, the Crystal Serenity offers an elegant and refined experience on the centrally located pool deck. The large Seahorse pool, a nod to Crystal's seahorse brand, is flanked by two large whirlpool tubs and rows of luxurious sun loungers, as well as stylish, modern sofas and white wicker chairs under umbrellas. This main pool deck was completely renovated, but the classic teak flooring was retained.
The upper decks of the Crystal Serenity also house two paddle tennis courts that can double as pickleball courts, a complex known as Wimbledon Court. Six decks below, tucked away at the stern of the ship, is a haven for golf enthusiasts, complete with drag nets, a small putting green, and table tennis.
In addition, there are other indoor areas on the ship, such as a large library with staff throughout the day, a computer area, and a shopping area that wraps around the central atrium on deck 7. The ship's entertainment staff also occasionally offers dance lessons, bridge lessons, etc.
While this ship is not particularly family-oriented, it does offer a small teen center and children's playroom on deck 12, right next to the main pool area.
In addition, the ship boasts a luxurious spa with 12 treatment rooms, also completely renovated this year. Renamed Aurora, the spa features bright, light neutral colors, a ceiling illuminated with fiber-optic starlight, and organic materials such as selenite (a natural salt crystal) and silk-brushed slate to create a serene atmosphere. The spa also houses a hair salon, saunas and steam rooms for men and women, and a relaxation room.
Itineraries
From September 2023 to January 2024, the ship will be based in North America to sail to New England, Canada and the Caribbean, before departing on an epic 141-day round-the-world cruise from Miami that will continue until June 2024.
After that, the ship will spend the summer of 2024 sailing to Alaska from Vancouver, British Columbia and Seward, Alaska, before returning to the east coast of North America for another season to New England, Canada and the Caribbean.
The 2023 and 2024 voyages to New England, Canada, and the Caribbean will depart from several North American ports, including Quebec City, New York, Miami, Bridgetown, Barbados, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Crystal Serenity isn't the newest luxury cruise ship on the market, but its relaunch this year as part of the Crystal brand puts it back in the leading position in the luxury scene.
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