Name it the as soon as and future queen of luxurious cruising.
For years, Crystal Serenity was one of many world’s most beloved luxurious ships. Some would even say it was on the pinnacle of luxurious cruising: The ship that delivered the final word luxurious cruise expertise.
However then, in early 2022, it was unexpectedly gone — a sufferer of the collapse of the dad or mum firm of Crystal Cruises.
Now, after an 18-month absence from the posh cruising scene, Crystal Serenity is again and — dare I say — higher than earlier than.
The corporate that purchased Crystal Serenity and the rights to the Crystal model title from the liquidators of the previous firm has relaunched the vessel. However not earlier than it poured tens of millions of {dollars} into an enormous overhaul of the ship that has left it glowing — nearly as if it have been new.
King Arthur could not but have returned to rule his kingdom. However Crystal Serenity is again to rule hers, and he or she is trying higher than ever.
For those who’re a luxurious cruise lover (or a Crystal fan), that is thrilling information.
Overview of Crystal Serenity
Crystal Serenity is the brand new flagship for Crystal, a luxurious cruise model that’s on the identical time all-new and a long time outdated.
Crystal is technically a start-up luxurious cruise firm — one which simply debuted this yr and is being constructed from the bottom up. Its homeowners don’t have anything to do with the outdated homeowners of Crystal Cruises. That firm ceased to exist when its dad or mum firm, Genting Hong Kong, collapsed in early 2022 and was liquidated.
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And but the brand new homeowners of Crystal Serenity and the rights to the Crystal Cruises model are creating a brand new cruise line that’s about as near the outdated Crystal Cruises as could be. Its title is simply barely completely different (observe it is simply Crystal, not Crystal Cruises), and it is working the identical two principal ships that after sailed for Crystal Cruises. You will additionally discover most of the identical senior employees and crew on these ships as earlier than.
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If it isn’t a rebirth of Crystal Cruises, it is a minimum of a reincarnation. The outdated soul of Crystal Cruises is again in a brand new type.
Nonetheless, it is a reincarnation that comes, as famous above, with an enormous transformation for Crystal Serenity and the opposite former Crystal Cruises ship that’s relaunching — Crystal Symphony.
Unveiled in 2003, the 68,870-ton Crystal Serenity has been made much more luxurious throughout an overhaul in dry dock that was so lengthy — round six months — that it allowed for an nearly full rebuilding of great components of the ships.
For starters, two complete cabin decks have been fully gutted to tear out comparatively small cabins and substitute them with a lot greater suites. This was on prime of an overhaul of different cabin areas a number of years in the past. Because of this, the ship now has far fewer however far greater cabins than it as soon as did.
Initially constructed for 1,080 passengers, Crystal Serenity is now configured to carry simply 740 passengers — whilst the scale of its public areas (lounges, bars, eating places, and many others.) hasn’t modified. Which means its “house ratio” — a flowery cruise world time period that refers back to the quantity of house on the ship per passenger — is at an nearly unprecedented degree for a cruise vessel. Particularly, it is at 93, far above the 60 to 75 that’s typical for luxurious ships.
With its passenger rely down, its crew-to-passenger ratio can be by way of the roof at round 1-to-1.
These are the constructing blocks on which true luxurious cruising is constructed.
What I beloved about Crystal Serenity
The exceptional crew
There was at all times one thing particular concerning the crew on Crystal ships. It was what made the road. And the massive information for Crystal followers as the road restarts is that greater than 80% of the crew has returned.
For those who guide a cruise on Crystal Serenity, you may principally discover the identical butlers, room stewardesses, wait employees and entrance desk employees which have wowed clients for years with their next-level service — a service degree so beautiful and intuitive that it has lengthy been the speak of the cruise world. It’s the interaction of this crew with Crystal’s common clients — and 80% of Crystal’s clients are regulars, in keeping with its new homeowners — that creates an onboard expertise that many luxurious cruise lovers discover unmatched.
For longtime Crystal followers, one of many nice joys in returning to the model’s ships, repeatedly, is to see the identical crew members they’ve come to know and love through the years. I skilled this myself upon boarding Crystal Serenity in July as I ran into one crew member after one other with whom I had sailed earlier than and, at instances, developed deep bonds.
Actually, one of many first staffers I met after boarding, the butler for my room, was Prince Jose, who I referred to as out by title for his nice service within the final story I wrote from a Crystal ship in 2021. That was practically two years in the past, however he acknowledged me, and I acknowledged him, and we instantly obtained to speaking as if no time had passed by.
My all-time favourite bartender from any ship at sea, Ana, is also on board, now promoted to a place on the entrance desk. We hugged once we noticed one another — it is that sort of crew.
The spacious suites
The outdated knock on Crystal ships was that lots of their cabins weren’t sufficiently big — a minimum of for an ultra-luxury ship. Newer luxurious ships lately have been constructed with extra massive cabins and suites, which put Crystal’s older vessels at an obstacle.
That is now not the case, because of the overhaul of the cabin decks talked about above. The 2 decks have been fully gutted, with smaller cabins changed by suites which might be twice as massive. I am going to go into extra element on this beneath within the cabins part, however the result’s a game-changing transformation for Crystal Serenity’s lodging that give it a few of the finest luxurious cabins within the enterprise.
The promenade
It is a bit of factor, however the promenade on Crystal Serenity is attractive. It wraps all the way in which across the ship — one thing that’s more and more uncommon on cruise vessels. It is lined with stunning teak boards which were refinished to look nearly model new.
On Deck 7, not far above the waterline, the promenade is also extensive and blissfully uncluttered. If you find yourself on board Crystal Serenity, don’t miss a morning stroll round it — 3.35 laps equals a mile — or a night stroll to soak within the salty air and watch the waves. It is what promenades was within the grand outdated days of cruising.
What I did not love about Crystal Serenity
The shortage of a on line casino
I’m not a gambler, and you will not ever discover me in a cruise ship on line casino. For me, personally, an absence of a on line casino isn’t any loss in any respect. However Crystal has historically drawn a vigorous crowd that likes to remain up late ingesting, dancing and soaking within the onboard leisure, and for some, a minimum of, that features dropping a bit of cash at a on line casino.
Crystal Serenity used to have a modest on line casino space simply exterior the primary theater on Deck 6. Theatergoers would spill out of the theater into the on line casino on their strategy to the ship’s different leisure venues on the other facet of the deck, with some lingering for a recreation or two. However the on line casino was taken out throughout the 2023 overhaul.
For now, the outdated on line casino house has been revamped as a lounge. Nonetheless, it is a lounge and not using a bar, and it comes off as a useless house on the ship — a room that’s not often used. Over six days on board, I hardly noticed a soul sitting in it.
Crystal executives say they nonetheless are determining what to do with the house, and it may turn out to be one thing completely different over time. One proposal referred to as for it to turn out to be a cooking classroom, although executives stated that might be exhausting to do correctly within the house. One Crystal government talked about to me there was speak of utilizing the house for an onboard distillery.
No matter occurs, my take is that the on line casino’s elimination was one of many uncommon misses of the ship’s overhaul.
Sapphire suite space for storing
It is tough to seek out fault with a lot on Crystal Serenity within the wake of its makeover. It is that nice a ship. A comparatively minor quibble is that the various massive (and beautiful) new Sapphire Verandah Suites the road added to Crystal Serenity do not have fairly as a lot space for storing as I might have anticipated. These are enormous suites at greater than 500 sq. ft, so there isn’t any lack of house so as to add shelving, drawers and different storage models. However the quantity of space for storing put into the rooms appears modest, given their measurement.
That is not to say that there is not quantity of storage in these rooms. There’s sufficient for a typical seven-night cruise, however it is a ship that may typically sail longer cruises the place you will have further storage.
Crystal Serenity cabins and suites
Crystal Serenity’s array of cabins and suites is comparatively easy to grasp. It options simply 9 classes of rooms, with simply two of these classes accounting for the overwhelming majority of lodging.
About 40% of the ship’s lodging (151 out of 377) are Sapphire Verandah Suites. Measuring a whopping 537 sq. ft together with balcony house, these are unusually spacious suites for a principal cabin class on a cruise ship. Every of those suites, notably, has a separate sitting room and bed room, a walk-in closet and a big toilet, in addition to a 107-square-foot balcony.
The considerably smaller however nonetheless spacious Aquamarine Verandah Suites make up one other 28% of the ship’s lodging (106 suites). Measuring 409 sq. ft, together with balcony house, these suites lack the separate sitting rooms present in Sapphire Verandah Suites however nonetheless are impressively massive.
Add in 4 extra Aquamarine Verandah Suites with balconies which might be ADA compliant and 4 Aquamarine Suites with out balconies which might be ADA-compliant (each units of that are thought of their very own cabin classes), and that is 70% of all lodging on the ship.
The remaining 30% of lodging embody a handful of bigger penthouse and junior penthouse suites, and roughly 100 smaller double and single rooms (extra on these in a second).
For longtime Crystal followers, the factor to know is that a big proportion of all these lodging have been massively overhauled and enlarged upfront of the road’s relaunch this yr. Actually, two of Crystal Serenity’s 4 principal cabin decks — decks 8 and 9 — have been primarily gutted and rebuilt, with practically all their smaller cabins ripped out and changed with the a lot bigger Sapphire Verandah Suites.
It was an enormous enterprise that concerned knocking out dozens of partitions — and one which has profoundly modified the vessel. As soon as criticized for not having sufficiently big rooms, Crystal Serenity now presents some of the spectacular arrays of massive suites of any luxurious ship.
My very own cabin was one among these all-new Sapphire Veranda Suites on Deck 9, and it was among the many most pretty cruise ship suites I’ve stayed in lately. Along with being splendidly spacious, it had a complicated, up to date vibe with soothing mild grey and beige furnishings, materials and wall coverings sprinkled with ocean-inspired blue velvet accents.
As one would anticipate on a luxurious ship, the bedding on my Sapphire Veranda Suite mattress was ridiculously luscious, with super-high-end, embroidered Italian-made Jesurum 1870 sheets that have been so comfortable and cozy that I simply wished to snuggle beneath all of them day. Generously sized, Fior di Pesco marble-topped nightstands flanked the mattress, with completely positioned activity lighting floating off the wall simply above them.
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The bed room space of a Sapphire Verandah Suite. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
I additionally appreciated the tidy cluster {of electrical} retailers (each U.S.- and European-style) and USB ports on each side of the beds. On some ships, you solely discover these on one facet of the mattress — if in any respect.
As well as, the lavatory in my Sapphire Verandah Suite was spacious and chic, with a Fior di Pesco marble-topped self-importance embedded with two upscale Duravit sinks on one facet and an unusually massive walk-in bathe on the opposite facet. The bathe itself was a showpiece, with high-end Grohe fixtures that spouted water from three instructions. These included an enormous rain bathe head on the ceiling that shot water straight down, two back-wall bathe heads that shot out horizontally (hitting you midbody) and a separate hand-held wand. There have been separate controls for every of those, so I may combine and match the water supply gadgets to my liking.
One small gripe: In an ideal world, the hand-held wand would have been positioned larger on the bathe wall, so it may double as a principal bathe head for many who aren’t followers of ceiling-mounted rain showers.
The toilet toiletries, too, have been high-end, made by Italian luxurious purveyor Ortigia Sicilia with scents of Italian wildflowers.
I significantly preferred that the lavatory had an unusually great amount of space for storing, with two lengthy open cabinets constructed into the marble self-importance beneath the sinks and a floor-to-ceiling tower of matching marble cabinets subsequent to the bathe (a few of which home the lavatory’s towels).
All that further space for storing within the toilet was in distinction to what some could contemplate an absence of sufficient space for storing exterior the lavatory. Whereas the suite featured a walk-in closet for storage, as I discussed above, I discovered it oddly small for a collection of this measurement, at round six ft by six ft.
The storage obtainable in Sapphire Verandah Suites is definitely sufficient for the storage wants of a pair on one of many ship’s occasional week-long sailings. However it is a vessel that always does for much longer sailings of 10 nights or extra, together with around-the-world journeys that final greater than 4 months.
Provided that, there would have been logic to utilizing extra of the suite’s ample room for storage. I may need tucked one other built-in storage unit alongside the wall within the seating space that at present homes a tv, with the tv inset into it, or within the slim inset space on the entrance to the room the place there at present is a second door to the lavatory (a door that may be a “good to have” for these uncommon instances when a visitor is visiting however not essential).
Notably, the walk-in closet is so small that the 4 pull-out drawers alongside one among its partitions cannot be opened all the way in which except the inward-swinging door to the closet is a minimum of partially closed. This makes for a clumsy time making an attempt to entry objects put in these attracts.
The walk-in closet is also tucked away in an odd location in a nook of the sitting room as a substitute of adjoining to the bed room. Nonetheless, that is simply one other small quibble.
General, the brand new Sapphire Verandah Suites are a pleasant addition to Crystal Serenity, which has lengthy wanted a much bigger array of suites to please its well-heeled passengers.
Those that need one thing even greater than a Sapphire Verandah Suite will discover 4 huge, 1,372-square-foot Crystal Penthouses on the vessel and 6 806-square-foot Junior Crystal Penthouses. The latter is an all-new class of cabin for the road.
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Crystal Penthouse Suite. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
The 4 Crystal Penthouses, one among which I toured, are actually over-the-top. Every has a chic bed room, an unlimited toilet with mosaic-inlaid flooring and partitions that evoke a Roman bathtub, two separate lounge areas, a eating space and a butler’s pantry that’s primarily a miniature non-public kitchen with its personal sink, dishwasher and microwave.
The six Junior Crystal Penthouses, which is an all-new class of rooms for the ship, supply separate eating and dwelling areas looking over a non-public balcony, a bed room with a big walk-in closet, a spacious major toilet, and a half-bath close to the doorway for guests.
Rounding out the ship’s lodging are 46 smaller cabins for 2 with balconies that measure 269 sq. ft. There are additionally 42 cabins for 2 with out balconies that measure 215 sq. ft. Each cabin classes are formally referred to as Double Occupancy Suites, although, in my guide, cabins of that measurement aren’t actually suites and should not be labeled as such.
The ultimate cabin class on Crystal Serenity is its 14 Traditional Staterooms, that are offered as solo cabins. At 215 sq. ft, they’re primarily the identical structure because the Double Occupancy Suites with out balconies however solely meant for one passenger.
The solo cabins, which I wasn’t in a position to see, are additionally a completely new class of cabin for the ship.
Different Crystal Serenity cabin tidbits:
- Each cabin has a small hair dryer and a private secure within the closet.
- There are flat-screen televisions on the partitions in bedrooms that supply a variety of films on demand for no further cost. The televisions additionally obtain reside feeds from a restricted variety of cable networks, together with CNBC, MSNBC, BBC World Information, Fox Information, HGTV, Meals Community and Journey Channel.
- Each cabin and suite on Crystal Serenity comes with butler service (a change with the brand new line, as beforehand solely higher-level cabins acquired butler service).
- Cabins include pull-out minibars stocked with beer, wine, water and sodas.
Crystal Serenity eating places and bars
As is typical for a (comparatively) small luxurious vessel, Crystal Serenity does not have an enormous variety of eateries. Nor are there so many bars that you just will not have time to get to all of them on a typical cruise. That type of too-much-is-never-enough extra is the realm of the massive mass-market ships.
However what Crystal Serenity lacks in amount, it makes up for in high quality. The vessel has one principal eating room and two principal specialty eating places that every are about as elegant and upscale as you may discover at sea — all included within the fare. There are additionally a number of informal eateries within the neighborhood of the primary pool on the Lido Deck. Crystal Serenity’s handful of bars and lounges are also elegant and refined.
On the whole, Crystal’s delicacies and drinks choices are high-end, as you’d anticipate for a luxurious product, and served with the type of class and aptitude that’s solely discovered at the perfect luxurious resorts on land or sea.
Eating places
Whereas I used to be solely on Crystal Serenity for six nights, I used to be in a position to go to each meals outlet on board — one thing made potential by the ship’s comparatively intimate measurement.
The primary eating room on the vessel, and the spot the place you may eat a minimum of a couple of, if not most, of your dinners, is Waterside. On Deck 5, simply off the ship’s central plaza, it serves up what the road calls fashionable worldwide delicacies for dinner in a chic setting.
We’re speaking 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. Extra conventional objects, equivalent to grilled black Angus sirloin steak with Bearnaise sauce, additionally seem on the menu, which adjustments nightly.
Waterside can be open for breakfast and lunch — the place to go once you need one thing a bit of extra formal for breakfast or lunch than a fast chew at one of many informal eateries on the Lido Deck. The breakfast menu presents every little thing from eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles and different breakfast classics to a crab omelet (a Waterside breakfast signature). Lunch brings its personal attractive array of mouth-watering dishes, from pan-fried rainbow trout with almond-caper butter to lamb kofte.
Nonetheless, as fantastic as Waterside is (and for a principal restaurant on a cruise ship, it actually is fantastic), the culinary star of Crystal Serenity at all times has been and stays Umi Uma, the progressive Japanese-Peruvian restaurant created by legendary grasp chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa. It is an eatery that was on Crystal Serenity for a few years earlier than its overhaul, and it has fortunately made a comeback beneath the ship’s new homeowners — albeit with an all-new look.
Fortunately, the overhaul didn’t prolong to the menu. All the insanely fabulous, melt-in-your-mouth Nobu specialties, equivalent to Matsuhisa’s signature Nobu-style black cod marinated in Saikyo miso, child peach and younger ginger, and Wagyu beef filet steak, are all nonetheless there.
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Umi Uma options the delicacies of grasp chef Nobu Matsuhisa. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Be aware that whereas limitless eating at Waterside on Crystal Serenity is included within the fare, passengers solely get to go to Umi Uma as soon as per cruise at no cost for sailings of 11 days or fewer. For sailings of greater than 11 days, two complimentary reservations are included.
In order for you further reservations at Umi Uma, you possibly can join one other flip, on a space-available foundation, for $50 per individual. That is principally a crowd-control measure, as in any other case, everybody on board would wish to eat there each evening. It is that good. If you may get a second or third reservation, seize it. Matsuhisa’s eating places on land can simply set you again $300 or extra a pair, so even a $50 per individual cost right here is an unimaginable cut price.
The brand new entrant to Crystal’s scene is Osteria d’Ovidio, a high-end Italian eatery that takes the place of Prego, one other Italian restaurant that was in the identical location for years main as much as the road’s shutdown in 2022. Like Umi Uma, it was fully gutted and rebuilt throughout the ship’s overhaul in early 2023 and appears model new. It additionally has a brand new menu targeted on Northern Italian delicacies.
I sampled half a dozen of Osteria d’Ovidio’s new dishes throughout a particular evening of tastings, and there wasn’t a nasty merchandise within the bunch. The standout, if I had to decide on, was the tortello di stracotto di manzo, a wrapped pasta crammed with braised beef, fig vincotto (a kind of fig molasses) and gorgonzola cheese. It might be my new favourite pasta.
Additionally, no matter you do in the event you dine right here, order the caffe nocciola e caramello salato dessert. Run that by way of the Google translator in the event you should know what it’s upfront — or belief me. It will soften in your mouth.
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Osteria d’Ovidio is a brand new eatery on Crystal Serenity. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Crystal Serenity trivia: Osteria d’Ovidio is called after Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the brand new controlling proprietor of Crystal. A well-known title within the cruise enterprise, Lefebvre d’Ovidio owned luxurious line Silversea Cruises for a few years, till he offered it to Royal Caribbean Group (the dad or mum firm of Royal Caribbean).
Notably, Lefebvre d’Ovidio already has a collection of eating places on ships named after him, however not on Crystal or Silversea ships. Lefebvre d’Ovidio’s buddy Torstein Hagen, chairman of upscale cruise line Viking, has named the high-end Italian eateries on all of Viking’s ocean ships Manfredi’s in honor of him.
My take: Any restaurant with a minimum of a portion of Lefebvre d’Ovidio’s title in it have to be destined to be a star. The Manfredi’s eateries on Viking ships (which Lefebvre d’Ovidio had a hand in creating with Hagen) have been till now my favourite Italian eateries at sea. Now the brand new Osteria d’Ovidio on Crystal Serenity joins them atop my pantheon of all-time nice Italian eating places on ships. It is an Italian eatery that even my judgy Italian grandmother would have beloved.
Like Umi Uma, Osteria d’Ovidio solely could be visited as soon as per cruise at no cost for sailings of 11 days or fewer. After that, there is a $50 per individual cost to dine there on a space-available foundation. Once more, that is principally for crowd management.
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Market. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Different eateries on Crystal Serenity embody Market, an off-the-cuff buffet, and The Trident Grill, serving cooked-to-order burgers and scorching sandwiches. Each are steps away from the ship’s principal pool on Deck 12, as is Tastes Kitchen & Bar. The latter serves a mixture of traditional lunch dishes from all over the world at lunchtime — every little thing from stir-fried egg noodles and a grilled Reuben sandwich to rooster quesadillas and a shrimp Caesar salad. Dinnertime is when the eatery actually shines, although.
Designed as an off-the-cuff various to the extra formal eating spots on the ship, Tastes presents a dinner menu of elevated, globally impressed dishes in a relaxed, top-of-the-ship setting. All the dishes, which embody ahi tuna poke, hamachi crudo, oven-roasted cauliflower, ricotta gnocchi, California road tacos and chimichurri steak, are positioned in the course of the desk and meant to be shared.
There’s additionally a close-by counter serving handmade Italian gelato.
Trident Grill and Tastes are side-by-side on a prime deck coated with a glass magradome that may slide open when the climate is nice.
As well as, on Deck 6, simply off the central atrium, passengers will discover a Parisian-inspired cafe serving espresso drinks and lightweight snacks all through the day (that is the place to get your espresso repair). Within the morning, there is a self-serve continental breakfast right here, arrayed alongside a buffet on one finish of the room. The afternoon brings a variety of chilly cuts, delicious muffins, cannoli and different desserts, and fruit.
Lastly, Crystal Serenity has a particular 14-seat eating room referred to as the Classic Room that friends can guide for unique non-public dinners that mix a chic set menu of 5 to seven dishes with wine pairings for every course. Seven-course meals within the room, together with wines, are introduced over about three hours within the room and price $300 per individual.
A shorter five-course meals and wine pairing within the Classic Room is offered for $220 per individual. Occasional seven-course meals overseen by superstar cooks that sail on the ship value $1,100 per individual, together with wine pairings.
Bars and lounges
Some cruise ships have so many bars and lounges that you’ve bother visiting all of them on a typical seven-night cruise. Crystal Serenity is not one among them. For those who’re out for a drink on Crystal Serenity, you are most likely heading to simply one among three locations: Crystal Cove, Avenue Saloon or the Palm Court docket & Sundown Bar.
On the base of Crystal Serenity’s two-deck-high atrium, Crystal Cove is the final word social hub for the ship, the place you go once you wish to meet all the brand new mates you make on board for a pre-dinner cocktail or a nightcap afterward. Open from late morning till the wee hours, it presents reside music for a lot of the day, beginning as early as lunchtime and persevering with by way of midnight. The leisure is low-key sufficient you can preserve a dialog together with your companions.
On a typical evening at Crystal Cove, you may discover a saxophonist taking part in within the early night, adopted by a pianist and a violinist after which a pianist and a singer, capped off by a singer with a guitar.
Avenue Saloon, in the back of the ship on Deck 6, is a comfy venue. Its darkish wooden and leather-lined partitions, heavy red-upholstered barrel chairs and turned-down lights create the air of a speakeasy. You are feeling such as you wish to order a whiskey drink right here, and certainly, it is house to each a particular Manhattan menu and a Negroni menu. It additionally serves because the ship’s piano bar, with a pianist taking part in most nights.
For those who’re a cigar smoker, the adjoining Connoisseur Membership is the place for you. The clubby hideaway is the cliche of a cigar and pipe smoking den with dark-wood paneling, leather-based sofas, paisley fabric-covered wingback chairs and high-end single-malt Scotch, Armagnac and Cognac on the market in addition to hand-rolled cigars from all over the world. Sinatra performs within the background. It’s, notably, the one place on the ship you possibly can smoke a cigar or pipe.
For a bar with a view, you may wish to head as much as the fake palm tree-filled Palm Court docket & Sundown Bar, which is on the prime of the ship on Deck 12 overlooking the bow.
Whereas not staffed practically as many hours as the opposite bars (on my voyage, bar service was solely obtainable from 5 to 10:30 p.m.), the Palm Court docket presents sweeping views of the ocean from floor-to-ceiling home windows that wrap round 270 levels. Palm Court docket is also the place Crystal presents a proper afternoon tea service on sea days accompanied by a pianist and a violinist.
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Palm Court docket. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
House to one of many ship’s greatest dance flooring, the Palm Court docket typically has reside leisure and dancing at evening. One evening on my crusing, an old-timey crooner sang Sinatra tunes for a half hour, accompanied by a pianist.
Crystal Serenity actions and reveals
Among the many main luxurious strains, the unique Crystal Cruises was at all times identified for a stepped-up degree of leisure (it is lengthy been a Crystal factor), and the brand new Crystal isn’t any completely different. From the day of its relaunch, Crystal Serenity has been a ship that will get vigorous at evening in a approach that many luxurious ships do not.
The leisure hubs on Crystal Serenity embody Galaxy Pavilion, a full-blown theater on the entrance of the ship on Deck 6 that provides all types of comparatively massive leisure productions within the night. Throughout my crusing, for example, it was the location of a Billy Joel tribute live performance and a present by a comic who flew in for the efficiency.
In the back of the identical deck is yet one more main leisure venue, the Stardust Membership. It is a extra versatile leisure lounge with a stage and huge dance ground that provides a mixture of dancing, cabaret performances and different themed occasions. Moreover, on choose nights, Stardust opens its doorways as a reservations-only Supper Membership that provides a night present with each eating and dancing.
Talking of dancing, Crystal is among the few cruise strains on this planet that also sails with “ambassador hosts” — older gents who’re available to bop with single girls on board. The phrase is that they’re at all times in scorching demand. If solely I knew how you can dance, this may be my retirement plan.
A 3rd leisure house on the identical deck because the Stardust Membership, the Hollywood Theatre is a standard cinema taking part in lately launched films and in addition broadcasting reside sporting occasions at instances. It is also used as a lecture corridor.
For the late-night crowd, there is a small nightclub with a semi-circular bar tucked again behind the Stardust Membership. Referred to as Pulse, it does not get going till round midnight, assuming anybody on board remains to be up for it.
Mix all that with the reside music at bars and lounges talked about within the part above, and Crystal Serenity is a luxurious ship the place passengers can — and do — head out for an enormous “evening in town,” so to talk. Visitors often get fairly dolled up after they hit the leisure areas of the ship at evening, trying glamorous and costly.
On loads of luxurious ships, practically everyone seems to be in mattress by 9 o’clock within the night. Crystal Serenity is not one among them.
Throughout the day, the onboard scene is extra laid again. As is typical for luxurious ships, the highest decks of Crystal Serenity aren’t loaded with the amusements you may discover on massive mass-market ships. You will not discover climbing partitions or waterslides. As an alternative, what you get atop Crystal Serenity is a trendy, refined pool deck expertise. For those who’re the sort of one that likes to lounge subsequent to a 4 Seasons lodge pool, you recognize what I am speaking about.
On the middle of the highest of the ship, a principal pool space sports activities a big pool (the Seahorse Pool — a nod to Crystal’s seahorse branding), two massive scorching tubs and rows of plush loungers of the type you’d anticipate on a luxurious vessel. Elegant fashionable white rattan sofas and chairs are sprinkled round beneath shading umbrellas.
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The Seahorse Pool. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
This principal pool deck was fully redone throughout the overhaul of the ship in 2023, with its traditional teak flooring resanded, and its pool refurbished with new mosaic tile work. Once you’re up prime on Crystal Serenity, as at so many different areas of the ship, you may really feel such as you’re on an all-new vessel.
The highest decks of Crystal Serenity are also house to 2 paddle tennis courts that may double as pickleball courts, a fancy often known as Wimbledon Court docket. Six decks down, hidden in the back of the ship, you may additionally discover a golf lover’s hideaway with driving nets, a small placing inexperienced and desk tennis. Even in the event you do not wish to use it, go searching for it, simply as a recreation. It is tucked away so nicely that it’s kind of of a treasure hunt to seek out it.
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The Wimbledon Court docket paddle tennis space in Crystal Serenity. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Different exercise areas on the ship embody a big library staffed all through the day, a pc classroom, a purchasing space that wraps across the central atrium on Deck 7 and a bridge lounge for bridge taking part in, tournaments and lessons. (Bridge is massive on Crystal ships.) The ship’s leisure employees additionally presents dance lessons at instances.
Whereas Crystal Serenity is not significantly targeted on households, it does supply a small teen middle and kids’s playroom on Deck 12, simply off the primary pool space.
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A remedy room on the Aurora spa. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
As well as, the ship has an opulent spa with 12 remedy rooms that was fully revamped in 2023.
Renamed Aurora, the spa has been recast with light-bright impartial colours, an illuminated fiber optic starlight ceiling and natural supplies equivalent to Selenite (a pure salt crystal) and silk-brushed slate stone to create a serene really feel.
Along with remedy rooms, the spa is house to a hair salon, males’s and ladies’s saunas and steam rooms, and a rest room.
Crystal Serenity itineraries and pricing
From September 2023 by way of January 2024, Crystal Serenity might be primarily based in North America for sailings to New England, Canada and the Caribbean. After that, it’s going to set off on an epic, 141-day, around-the-world cruise from Miami that may proceed by way of June 2024.
The ship will then spend the summer season of 2024 crusing to Alaska out of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seward, Alaska, earlier than returning to the East Coast of North America for an additional season of sailings to New England, Canada and the Caribbean.
The 2023 and 2024 sailings to New England, Canada and the Caribbean will depart from varied North American house ports, together with Quebec Metropolis, Quebec; New York; Miami; Bridgetown, Barbados; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
As of the publishing of this information, fares for Crystal Serenity sailings have been beginning at $3,200 per individual for the least costly cabin on a six-night crusing from Vancouver to Los Angeles. 9-night Caribbean sailings have been beginning at $3,900 per individual. These fares are primarily based on double occupancy — that’s, they’re legitimate when two passengers share a room. Solo passengers pay a better quantity.
Not like many cruise strains, Crystal does not cost further for taxes, charges and port expenses assessed by authorities businesses and port authorities (to which we are saying: Bravo, Crystal). Such expenses are folded into its base fares.
What to know earlier than you go
Required paperwork
All passengers will need to have legitimate government-issued citizenship documentation to sail. For U.S. residents, that might imply both a U.S. passport or a U.S.-issued Everlasting Resident Card (also called an Alien Registration Card). You will additionally want visas for any nation you may be visiting that requires one.
Passports have to be legitimate for a minimum of six months and have clean pages obtainable for entry and exit stamps. Be aware that it’s important that the title in your reservation be precisely as it’s said in your passport or different official proof of nationality.
Gratuities
Crystal contains gratuities for housekeeping employees (together with butlers) and bar and restaurant employees in its fares. No further tipping is predicted.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi service on Crystal Serenity is comparatively quick for a cruise ship and included within the fare.
Carry-on drinks coverage
Not like many cruise strains, Crystal doesn’t prohibit the quantity of alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks passengers can convey on board for private consumption. That stated, some restrictions could apply primarily based on particular international locations that the ship visits.
Smoking coverage
Cigarette smoking (together with digital cigarettes and private vaporizers) is barely allowed outside in designated areas in the back of decks 8, 9, 10 and 11; in a small nook of the primary Seahorse Pool space on Deck 12; and on the Connoisseur Membership on Deck 6.
Cigar and tobacco pipe smoking is barely permitted on the Connoisseur Membership on Deck 6.
Smoking is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies.
Laundry
Crystal Serenity has self-serve launderettes on each cabin deck with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. You can also pay to ship out your garments to be washed and/or pressed. As of the publishing of this information, the price of washing and urgent a males’s costume shirt was $7; the price of cleansing a girls’s long-sleeve shirt was $6. The price of dry-cleaning slacks or pants was $9.
Electrical retailers
Crystal Serenity’s cabins and suites supply each U.S.-style 110V retailers and European-style 220V retailers and USB ports at built-in cabin desks. You will additionally discover each varieties of retailers and USB ports above the nightstands on each side of cabin beds. Individuals could wish to convey an adapter for charging gadgets in public rooms the place the retailers are all European-style.
Foreign money
The onboard foreign money is the U.S. greenback.
As is typical for cruise ships, Crystal Serenity operates on a cashless system, with any onboard purchases you make posting robotically to your onboard account. You will obtain a plastic keycard upon embarkation that you need to use to make expenses. This identical card additionally will get you into your cabin.
Consuming age
You usually have to be 21 or older to eat alcohol on Crystal Serenity. One exception: Throughout sailings in Europe, passengers as younger as 18 are allowed to eat beer and wine.
Costume code
Throughout the day, the costume code is “day informal,” which for Crystal means sundresses, elegant shorts, denims; T-shirts, polo shirts or blouses; or linen clothes. Swimsuits with cover-ups are also acceptable when eating close to the pool on the Trident Grill, Tastes and Market eateries.
Be aware that swimwear by itself, moist swimwear, revealing clothes, bathrobes, naked ft, tank tops, baseball caps, and garments bearing any offensive messages should not permitted.
Throughout the evenings, the official costume code steps as much as what Crystal calls “night resort.” For girls, meaning attire, skirts, pants, blouses or sweaters, dark-wash denims with no rips, or tailor-made costume shorts. For males, it is button-down shirts, collared polo shirts, sweaters or good designer sweatshirts, dark-wash denims with no rips (solely when accompanied by a jacket), chinos, and a sports activities jacket or blazer (the latter being elective). As well as, males can put on tailor-made shorts however solely when eating within the informal Tastes restaurant.
Flip-flops, swimwear and hats should not allowed within the evenings.
As well as, on cruises of seven nights or extra, there might be a minimum of one elective ship-wide formal evening the place girls are anticipated to end up in cocktail attire, robes, pantsuits or elegant skirts and blouses. For males, the formal evening costume guideline is a go well with or tuxedo, with a tie being elective.
Associated: The final word information to packing for a cruise
Backside line
Crystal Serenity is not the most recent luxurious cruise ship available on the market. However after a serious overhaul in early 2023, a part of a relaunch of the Crystal model beneath new homeowners, it is again to being one of many main luxurious ships at sea.
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