That space ratio is industry-leading in the luxury sector—and it was deliberate—says A&K Travel Group CEO Cristina Levis. The ship’s 84 cubic feet of space per passenger—and a crew complement just as loyal to the brand as the passengers. While the passengers were waiting for Crystal’s comeback, Levis says, so too were the crew who had worked onboard before the previous parent company’s bankruptcy. Some of them even declined contracts from other cruise lines in the interim so they could return immediately to Crystal when they received the call, the team says—she noted nearly 80 percent of the crew onboard were returning.
Later, on a tour of the ship’s refurbished staterooms, we learned that Crystal had gone to great lengths to balance a modern refresh of the ship with the Crystal experience that guests had known for years. Many suite categories come in two flavors—classic design, with more focus on wood paneling (and bathrooms with tubs), or a more contemporary refit (with larger showers replacing tubs).
Both ships had their casinos removed during drydock—a move that Levis said was already being reversed after swift and decisive guest feedback. Adding back the casinos won’t be a simple task, she notes, and there’s no announced date for when the project might be completed.
There’s another noticeable difference with Crystal Symphony that belies her history: Although the ship’s interiors are all brand new, the 1995 vintage means that her propellers are shaft-mounted, making for more noticeable vibration onboard compared with newer cruise ships (Crystal Serenity, built in 2003, has newer, smoother pod-mounted propulsion).
There are other ships in the pipeline, Levis says, with plans for four more ships—two oceangoing cruise liners and two expedition ships—to be built in a European shipyard in the coming years.
Guests can also expect the upcoming builds will maintain the same design aesthetic of Crystal’s senior ships—no wild amusements, no gimmicky onboard activities, nothing meant to fool guests into believing they’re anywhere but a luxury cruise ship at sea. Guests might spend their days dining in Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa, indulging in the famous black cod marinated in Saikyo miso with baby peach and young ginger, or in the main dining room Waterside restaurant with a sophisticated menu of both classic and contemporary dishes.
There’s also the typical cruise dining assortment—ice cream parlor, buffet, grill, coffee shops, and 24-hour in-suite dining (guests in top suites can order room service from Umi Uma or Osteria d’Ovidio), but all top-quality. For entertainment, aside from the line’s legendary White Party, there are production shows, an onboard movie theater, or an impressively wide selection of treatments in the Aurora Spa, including massages using coconut poultices or bamboo, cosmetic medi-spa services administered by a licensed physician, IV treatments for hydration and vitamin intake, teeth whitening, facials, and a full host of salon services.
In short, Crystal is back, in all its glory. And even if they won’t describe themselves as luxurious, their guests almost certainly will.
