Crystal Cruises has unveiled the complete plans for Crystal Symphony’s and Crystal Serenity’s dry dock transformations. As part of the a multi-million-dollar investment, which the luxury cruise line is calling the “Evolution of Crystal Luxury,” Crystal will see the reimagining of these two ocean ships as well as new river yachts, new ocean-going vessels and a privately-owned Boeing 777 joining the fleet in the next three years. As part of the extensive redesign, several staterooms will be converted into new butler-serviced Penthouses and Penthouse Suites to take the place of smaller staterooms; imaginative new dining options will be revealed; ships will be loaded with high-tech perks; and modern, elegant decor updates will be made in many public spaces.
Crystal Symphony will see two new categories of accommodations—the 367-sq.-ft. The Seabreeze Penthouse Suite with Verandah (12 new suites added) and the 491-sq.-ft. Seabreeze Penthouse with Verandah (28 new suites added)—both occupying Deck 9. Seabreeze Penthouses will be connected by a shared entryway recessed from the hall. Meanwhile, Crystal Serenity will see the addition of 36 additional 403-sq.-ft. Penthouses and two additional 538-sq.-ft. Penthouse Suites on Deck 10. The conversion of staterooms into these new penthouse accommodations will reduce the ships’ guest capacities to 848 on Crystal Symphony and 980 on Crystal Serenity.
“Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity are the foundation of Crystal and continue to embody the cornerstones of the celebrated Crystal Experience,” sais Crystal’s CEO and president Edie Rodriguez in press materials. “These ships have earned us not only acclaim from the world’s most eminent entities and publications for more than two decades, but more importantly, the loyalty of the world’s most discerning travelers and travel partners. We are committed to continuing their reign as the most luxurious ships at sea by investing in changes and updates that will far exceed our guests’ wishes.”
As far as dining is concerned, Crystal is giving its mainstays a modern update. For example, the Crystal Dining Room, the ships’ centrally located main dining venue, will become Waterside, reflecting the chic decor and sophisticated ambiance of the main dining room aboard Crystal River Cruises’ Crystal Mozart with additional tables for two and four guests for intimate dining, and a new open seating concept. The Lido Cafe, another hot spot aboard both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, will become the Marketplace by day and the Churrascaria, serving a selection of Brazilian-inspired tapas, ceviche, salads and grilled seafood, by night. Both venues will feature an open kitchen concept with dishes made to order. The Marketplace will continue to serve casual buffet-style breakfast and lunch options, and will transition to Churrascaria, a stylish casual dinner venue, from 6 to 9 p.m.
New to Crystal’s specialty dining venues is Silk, located in the Trident area of their respective Lido Decks. The restaurant offers 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. For the dinner hours between 6 and 9 p.m., reservations will be recommended, although open seating will be accommodated. The Trident Bar & Grill will remain in the adjacent space, serving casual grilled options including burgers and sandwiches. In addition, Silk Road and The Sushi Bar, the specialty dining venues by master chef Nobu Matsuhisa, will be rebranded as Umi Uma. However, they will still serve Nobu’s recipes. All specialty dining reservations for Umi Uma and Prego will be complimentary for Penthouse guests, while all other guests will enjoy one complimentary evening of specialty dining, with additional reservations available for a fee. Reservations are always required for specialty dining venues. Several favorite shipboard spaces will also receives updates, such as the top-deck, forward Palm Court lounge aboard Crystal Serenity, which will be entirely redesigned to feature more intimate seating, and Crystal Symphony’s mid-ship Starlite Club.
Upon completion of Crystal Symphony’s dry dock in November 2017, guests will receive unlimited complimentary WiFi throughout any Crystal voyage aboard all Crystal vessels. Additionally, a new guest portal, Crystal Connect, will be launched and featured on the landing page of onboard Internet connections. The portal enables guests to easily access the internet, as well as an array of shipboard information including daily menus from each restaurant, daily reflections, day and evening activities, Crystal Adventures shore excursions and daily port maps.
Crystal Symphony’s redesign is set for Sept. 19-Oct. 21, 2017; and Crystal Serenity’s redesign is set for Oct. 14-Nov. 10, 2018. For more information, call (888) 799-2437 or visit crystalcruises.com.
