REVITALISATION For more than 30 years, Crystal Cruises has been renowned for delivering award-winning cruises on boutique vessels with high-end interiors, dining, entertainment and wellness experiences. In June 2022, A&K Travel Group saved the brand from liquidation, swiftly relaunching it with a reimagined name and vision: Crystal – Exceptional at Sea. In keeping with its promise to deliver “exceptional” suites, service, dining and experiences, Crystal is carrying out extensive renovations onboard its two oceangoing ships – Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity – in Trieste, Italy, before they begin service in the second half of 2023. One of Crystal’s top priorities is to create guest rooms that “artfully pair comfort with exceptionally elegant design” by using “elevated details, contemporary craftsmanship and artisanal finishes”. For example, the suites will feature marble quarried from Italy, fine cotton linens and modern furnishings. Crystal will also enlarge the suites to introduce more spacious layouts that will “maximise in-room relaxation” for guests. Suite options will range from the 850-square-foot Crystal Penthouse Suite with an expansive living area and a private veranda, to the 323-squarefoot Aquamarine Veranda Suite, which is “perfect for grand yet intimate moments”. Increasing the size of the suites will decrease Crystal Serenity’s capacity by 24 per cent and Crystal Symphony’s by 28 per cent, leaving them able to accommodate 740 and 606 guests, respectively. It will also enable Crystal to offer an almost 1:1 guest-tocrew ratio. In addition, the ships will offer various entry-level guest rooms with contemporary classic décor, including “cosy” single guest rooms with “welcoming and comfortable detailing” and ocean views. Crystal will also enhance many of the ships’ signature venues, some of which include the theatre, show lounge, Le Bistro, Connoisseurs Club and Palm Court. Plus, it will revamp both the spa and fitness areas and introduce one fullsize pickleball and paddle ball court on Crystal Symphony and two on Crystal Serenity. Crystal Symphony’s nightclub will also be reinstated. Both vessels will boast nine restaurants and six bars, which will deliver “authentic dining experiences” with food and beverage offerings designed to reflect the destinations they visit. “Palatial suites, spacious verandas and guest rooms have been rolled out on both ships, reducing overall guest capacity,” says Jack Anderson, president of Crystal. “Personalised service – long a Crystal signature – has been elevated further. Dining is a journey through culinary specialties, with authentic food from around the globe. Local experts at Abercrombie & Kent have planned memorable experiences in each destination to guarantee beyond-the-guidebook access.” A new era of exceptional experiences A&K Travel Group will take the Crystal brand’s long-standing legacy of luxury to new heights when it debuts the newly renovated Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony this year 85 Crystal is enhancing the guest suites onboard both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony Photo: Crystal
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