Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity – the renowned luxury ships of Crystal Cruises – are each receiving a multi-million transformation as part of the “Evolution of Crystal luxury“, giving them more innovative dining options, more state-of-the-art technologies, spacious new suites and penthouses.
Crystal Symphony, one of the most awarded luxury ships in the world, has emerged from a month-longdry dock, returning to the seas with newly designed spaces, features and amenities. The ship’s new Open Seating dining concept ushers in new restaurants on board, while more of the spacious, butler-serviced Penthouse accommodations were added. Throughout the ship, state-of-the-art technological upgrades were installed, enhancing guests’ connectivity and access to entertainment and news on demand.
Crystal Symphony’s new look is decidedly modern, particularly in regard to the high-tech features in staterooms and penthouses.
New Penthouses and Penthouse Suites
With 12 newly added Seabreeze Penthouses and 28 added Seabreeze Penthouse Suites Crystal Symphony now features more spacious, butler-serviced Penthouses and Penthouse Suites. The new accommodations boast the same square footage as existing Penthouses and Penthouse Suites (367 sq. ft. and 491 sq. ft. respectively).
Penthouse accommodations offer guests enhanced all-inclusive Crystal amenities, including butler service, in-room specialty dining and unlimited complimentary dining at the onboard specialty restaurants.
With the conversion of staterooms into the new penthouse accommodations the ship’s guest capacity has been reduced to 848, while the number of crew on board remains the same.
New Open Dining Concept and Restaurants
The world-class culinary experience also enjoyed an evolution with new stylish restaurants and a brand new Open Seating concept allowing guests to dine at their leisure, affording more choices and flexibility for evening dining and entertainment.
Waterside has emerged in place of the former Crystal Dining Room, reflecting the chic décor and sophisticated ambiance found in the restaurants of the same name aboard Crystal River Cruises. Added tables for two and four guests offers expanded options for intimate dining while the new open seating concept invites guests to dine as they wish. Waterside continues to serve breakfast and lunch.
Moving into the former Lido Café space are Marketplace (by day) and Churrascaria (by night). Both venues feature an open kitchen concept with dishes made to order. Marketplace continues to serve casual buffet style breakfast and lunch options, and is converted into Churrascaria, a stylish casual dinner venue in the evening creating an additional dining option for guests. Churrascaria features a Caipirinha as a welcome cocktail and serves a selection of Brazilian-inspired tapas, ceviche, salads and grilled meats presented by Crystal “gauchos” on sword-like skewers.
Newly adjacent to the existing Trident Grill on the Lido Deck is Silk Kitchen & Bar, offering full service dinner of modern Chinese-inspired fare with family-style dinner plates ideal for sharing, and self-service options for breakfast and lunch that include dumplings, Chinois salad, a soup and noodle bar and other Asian favorites. The Trident Grill remains in the adjacent space, serving casual grilled options including burgers and sandwiches.
Silk Road and The Sushi Bar, the specialty dining venues by famed Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, has been rebranded as Umi Uma & Sushi Bar. The authentic venue serves the inspired cuisine of Nobu, prepared by his personally trained chefs, and remains the only Nobu restaurants at sea. The ship’s second specialty restaurant, Prego, remains the same, continuing to serve regional specialties of Italy.
High-Tech Enhancements
All guests now enjoy unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi throughout any Crystal voyage aboard all Crystal vessels. A new guest portal – Crystal Connect – on the landing page of onboard internet connections, enables guests to easily access the internet, an array of shipboard information including daily restaurant menus, daily Reflections, day and evening activities, Crystal Adventures shore excursions and the ship’s location, itinerary and points of interest. A number of international newspapers are available for digital viewing, as well as a library of box office hit movies, music, Crystal lectures on demand and much more. Crystal Connect is also available for use on guests’ personal devices.
In all rooms throughout the ship – in each stateroom and in all public areas – high-definition, interactive flat-panel TVs enable guests to conveniently access onboard programs, view the Crystal Spa & Salon menu, the Connoisseur Wine Selection and dining menus.
Reimagined Public Spaces and Entertainment
Crystal Symphony’s mid-ship Starlite Club, a hub for evening dancing and cocktails, now boasts a fresh design to complement its vast sea views and brand new technological capabilities.
Underlining the newly revamped entertainment venues is a brand-new production show – Crystal in Motion – which replaces the former “welcome aboard” show in the Galaxy Lounge. Additionally, the ship will offer evening-long entertainment options around the ship as guests enjoy anytime dining. The Starlite Club features varied acts from the Crystal Ensemble, as well as comedians, ballroom dance group and the Crystal Show Band.
Crystal Serenity is set to receive an equally extensive redesign in fall 2018.