Table Of Content
It's an eatery that was on Crystal Serenity for many years before its overhaul, and it has thankfully made a comeback under the ship's new owners — albeit with an all-new look. The main dining room on the vessel, and the spot where you'll eat at least a few, if not most, of your dinners, is Waterside. On Deck 5, just off the ship's central plaza, it serves up what the line calls modern international cuisine for dinner in an elegant setting. As is typical for a (relatively) small luxury vessel, Crystal Serenity doesn't have a huge number of eateries. Nor are there so many bars that you won't have time to get to them all on a typical cruise. That sort of too-much-is-never-enough excess is the realm of the big mass-market ships.
CRYSTAL EXPLORER FARE OFFER
Other eateries on Crystal Serenity include Marketplace, a casual buffet, and The Trident Grill, serving cooked-to-order burgers and hot sandwiches. Both are steps away from the ship's main pool on Deck 12, as is Tastes Kitchen & Bar. The latter serves a mix of classic lunch dishes from around the world at lunchtime — everything from stir-fried egg noodles and a grilled Reuben sandwich to chicken quesadillas and a shrimp Caesar salad. Like Umi Uma, Osteria d'Ovidio only can be visited once per cruise for free for sailings of 11 days or fewer. After that, there's a $50 per person charge to dine there on a space-available basis. If you want additional reservations at Umi Uma, you can sign up for another turn, on a space-available basis, for $50 per person.
Crystal Life Fitness
The bathroom toiletries, too, were high-end, made by Italian luxury purveyor Ortigia Sicilia with scents of Italian wildflowers. With its passenger count down, its crew-to-passenger ratio is also through the roof at around 1-to-1. Unveiled in 2003, the 68,870-ton Crystal Serenity has been made even more luxurious during an overhaul in dry dock that was so long — around six months — that it allowed for an almost complete rebuilding of significant parts of the ships. Now, after an 18-month absence from the luxury cruising scene, Crystal Serenity is back and — dare I say — better than before. We were impressed with the care waiters and chefs took with orders for those with allergies and food sensitivities.
Bars and Restaurants
Crystal Serenity was launched after Crystal Harmony (1990, now NYK Asuka 2) and followed by Crystal Symphony (1995). In response to demand, Crystal Serenity had twice as many Penthouses in comparison to the fleetmate. There are two paddle tennis courts (instead of one) as boat devotees are fiercely competitive in this field. We are tracking and are calculationg it's position based on its itinerary. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Aquamarine Veranda Suite
On longer voyages (12+ days) are offered two complimentary reservations per person. At a massive 1,265 square feet, the Crystal Penthouse Suite is a sprawling lair with an entrance foyer, a plush living room, a bathroom with a Duravit spa tub overlooking the ocean, and a butler’s kitchen. But the redesigned Junior Crystal Penthouse Suites are nothing to scoff at either, with an impressive 645 square feet of space spanning separate living and dining areas and a roomy bedroom, walk-in closet, and bathroom. On selected evenings before and after dinner, this entertainment lounge features dancing, production spot shows, cabaret performances and other themed events.
After glasses of cold vermentino, we dug into pasta in a light cream sauce topped with freshly grated truffles, followed by a truffle-covered fried egg. A few days later, on Corsica, a bus whisked a group of us to Domaine Orsini, for a wine tasting and a relaxing stint on the covered patio overlooking the island. And before I disembarked the ship in Barcelona, I crashed an evening excursion to the trendy El Born neighborhood, where our 10-person group shared a barrage of Spanish tortilla, patatas bravas, and croquetas at Tapeo. At the back of the same deck is yet another major entertainment venue, the Stardust Club. It's a more versatile entertainment lounge with a stage and large dance floor that offers a mix of dancing, cabaret performances and other themed events.
Both vessels (being under arrest in Freeport Bahamas since February 5th) were sold via a sealed tender auction, with bids submitted to The Bahamas' Supreme Court and a 10% deposit. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. I spotted caviar on a few of the menus on board, but there’s also an in-room caviar service with a range of Kolikof offerings. Not at check-in, but by the time we docked in Boston the next day, Serenity felt like a place where, well, everybody knows your name.
Another Cruise Line Rethinks Red Sea Voyages - Cruise Hive
Another Cruise Line Rethinks Red Sea Voyages.
Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Crystal Symphony restarts cruises after refurbishment under the new A&K ownership
Called Pulse, it doesn't get going until around midnight, assuming anyone on board is still up for it. Speaking of dancing, Crystal is one of the few cruise lines in the world that still sails with "ambassador hosts" — older gentlemen who are on hand to dance with single ladies on board. For a bar with a view, you'll want to head up to the faux palm tree-filled Palm Court & Sunset Bar, which is at the top of the ship on Deck 12 overlooking the bow. We're talking such dishes as sauteed tiger prawns with creamed orzo, broccolini and candied bacon; or broiled lemon sole floating in a shallow dill-and-cockles chowder with snow peas and confit potatoes. More traditional items, such as grilled black Angus sirloin steak with Bearnaise sauce, also appear on the menu, which changes nightly. The solo cabins, which I wasn't able to see, are also an entirely new category of cabin for the ship.
This way, the 7-night Luxury Bahamas Escapes itinerary offered 3x embarkation ports - Nassau (Saturdays departures), North Bimini (Sundays), Miami (Mondays). Oceanview and Balcony cabins have a seating area, 2 twin beds (convertible to queen), bathroom (bathtub, shower). The Crystal Serenity cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues. The fitness center is massive and fully equipped—I spent many hours there trying to deflect the inevitable pounds I amassed at the nine restaurants. There are a host of complimentary classes and tests on offer, and you can also book sessions with the personal trainer.
The spa has a gorgeous, light-wood sauna with a picture window — perhaps my favorite place to watch the world go by — and an extensive treatment menu. I was extremely impressed with my dynamic biotech resurfacing facial and noticed the effects of the healing LED blue-light mask, which dissolves dead skin, for a full week after the treatment. Crystal enlisted leading cruise ship architectural firm, GEM, to guide the redesign of select guestrooms and suites. Accommodations feature neutral tones and high-end fixtures, complemented by subtle hues of pastel colors that resonate with the color of the ocean. Elevated details, contemporary craftsmanship, and artisanal finishes embody modern refinement, while the spacious layouts maximize in-room relaxation. But after a major overhaul in early 2023, part of a relaunch of the Crystal brand under new owners, it's back to being one of the leading luxury ships at sea.
Bars and lounge are spread throughout the ship, and there are ample options no matter the time of day or experience sought. Unparalleled choice, including the only Nobu restaurant at sea, dining aboard Crystal is an unforgettable experience. Segment Grand Voyage prices (double occupancy) started at USD 2700 pp, with promo offers inclusive of USD 1000 pp (Book Now Savings), 2,5% (Crystal Society savings), 2% (New-to-Crystal savings), 5% (B2B/Back-to-Back cruise savings). Leaving from Los Angeles on January 11th (2026), the 135-day itinerary visits a total of 72 ports/destinations in 27 countries, ending in Civitavecchia-Rome on May 26th. During the 2016 drydock (May), the ship received overhauls of all Penthouse Suites.
There are no inside accommodations on the 545-room Crystal Serenity — even the entry-level offering has an ocean view. The smallest rooms, at 215 square feet, are the doubles with an ocean view, singles with an ocean view, and doubles with a veranda. The redesigned suites are chic and spacious and have plenty of nooks for pictures, and the ocean views from all directions on the ship make for countless dreamy backdrops. I spied a few influencers aboard my sailing and let’s just say they had a blast shooting glamorous pictures in the Hollywood Theater, Palm Court, poolside hot tub, and numerous bars. The majority of Crystal Serenity’s guest rooms and suites have a veranda, but the two lowest-priced categories, each offering 215 square feet of space, are solely ocean-view.
When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don’t cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Cigarette smoking (including electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers) is only allowed outdoors in designated areas at the back of decks 8, 9, 10 and 11; in a small corner of the main Seahorse Pool area on Deck 12; and at the Connoisseur Club on Deck 6. From September 2023 through January 2024, Crystal Serenity will be based in North America for sailings to New England, Canada and the Caribbean.
No comments:
Post a Comment