T+L’s Cruise Ship Evaluation of the Crystal Symphony

Aboard the Crystal Symphony not so way back, our butler was fretting about matzo balls. My husband needed a lightweight snack, so we’d referred to as for some room service rooster soup—maintain the dumplings. However, our butler mentioned with some concern, we’d be lacking out on one thing “actually good.”

That’s the form of on-the-ball service you may count on when touring with Crystal, a line famend for its old-school service, together with butlers assigned to each suite. The truth is, earlier on our voyage, our suite attendant had managed to place a shine on my husband’s well-worn sneakers after which, a lot to my delight, politely identified one other pair additionally wanted a polish.

In a manner, we had been trying ahead to the trademark service, since my husband and I honeymooned on this ship in Southeast Asia a couple of decade in the past. Being again for a sail within the Adriatic Sea felt like coming dwelling—albeit a house that had lately been spruced up.

That’s as a result of the Crystal Symphony was extensively refurbished and relaunched in 2023, with a appear and feel that’s each up to date and reversion. Suppose cool kidney-shaped couches beneath the true, retro waterfall within the atrium foyer, as an example. The overhaul got here after the luxurious tour operator Abercrombie & Kent bought the Symphony, and its sibling ship, Crystal Serenity, in 2022, after Crystal Cruises had declared chapter. In doing so, A&Okay revived the much-loved model and employed again greater than 90 p.c of the workers that helped make the road so particular within the first place.

One factor that’s now not retro, fortunately, is the costume code. Whereas there are nonetheless so-called formal nights, few on our crusing confirmed off the tuxes, ballgowns, and household jewels which was a “factor” on Crystal ships. As a substitute, the principally over-60 crowd went for a extra resort-y look, together with just a few pairs of darkish denims that will’ve been out of bounds even just a few quick years in the past. That could be an evolution for the Symphony, but it surely’s one I’m pleased to see.

Right here’s a better have a look at what makes Crystal Symphony so particular, together with extra particulars on the ship’s suites, eating places, and different facilities.

Staterooms and Suites

Most friends on the ship keep in correct suites. Ours was a 430-square-foot Sapphire Suite, with a walk-on closet, sofa, eating desk, an alcove with queen-size mattress, and a giant marble lavatory with double sinks and huge bathe. On the 110-square-foot balcony was a cocktail desk and two chairs. The suite was so snug we lingered there greater than we usually do whereas on different ships. On the excessive finish, a 909-square-foot penthouse suite with a 107-square-foot balcony fits these with deep pockets. After all, these premium suites additionally include extra perks: whereas we loved free laundry, together with our alternative of in-room bar choices, fancier suites include all kinds of extras, together with the choice to have Nobu “takeout” delivered.

One current addition to the ship are a handful of 215-square-foot ocean-view cabins, which had been designed (and priced) for solo vacationers.

Bars and Eating places

There are a powerful 10 eating choices on Crystal Symphony, and plenty of of them are glorious.

On the high of the checklist is Umi Uma, a restaurant from acclaimed chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa that’s unique to Crystal ships, serving Japanese-Peruvian delicacies, sushi, and his signature miso black cod. Then there’s Osteria d’Ovidio, which is called for Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, who owns Abercrombie & Kent and, by extension, Crystal. It has the form of pasta you dream about; my favourite was a home made casarecce with basil pesto and aged Grana Padano. Everybody will get a complimentary meal at each venues, and friends pays an extra charge for repeat visits. Many do.

However meals in the primary Waterside restaurant are maybe simply as extraordinary. I discovered myself selecting between Alaskan crab legs, Beef Wellington, and roast pheasant. After my cruise, the ship turned its informal sit-down restaurant right into a Beefbar, that includes bao buns and different international road meals from the buzzy restaurant model. The poolside Trident Grill serves tasty burgers at lunch and the Market buffet impressed me by that includes native delicacies, together with a full Greek buffet as we docked in Crete.

Many drinks and wines are included on Crystal, however there’s one over-the-top expertise, The Classic Room, that comes at an additional cost. This intimate banquet–type venue is the place sommeliers exhibit the ship’s cellar—at costs that may attain 4 figures.

Afternoon tea can also be an event, served as it’s by tuxedo-clad waiters, with scones and actual clotted cream served on bone china within the skylit Palm Court docket commentary lounge.

The place Crystal Symphony Sails

The ship will spend summer time and the early fall of 2025 in Europe, together with the western Mediterranean and the Greek Isles earlier than heading to Africa and the Indian Ocean in late November. It should proceed to Asia in February 2026, providing springtime sailings in Japan. Crystal Symphony might be in Alaska in the summertime of 2026 earlier than shifting onward to Canada, New England, and the Caribbean.

Shore Excursions

Crystal’s excursions have gotten a lift because of the experience of Abercrombie & Kent. Along with metropolis walks and bus excursions, the road presents extra intensive cultural excursions and journey actions. On my cruise, friends had the choice of doing a strolling tour of medieval Kotor, Montenegro—or they might go for a by way of ferrata climbing expertise on a mountainside monitor. On a pleasant “Secrets and techniques of Greek Delicacies” tour in Corfu, about 20 passengers realized to make tzatziki and moussaka at a hillside villa, the energetic commentator suggesting utilizing leftover cucumber peels as a magnificence remedy whereas putting strips on her face.

Facilities and Leisure

There’s one thing to do on the Symphony from morning to the wee hours, and that’s some extent of pleasure for Crystal: study the cha-cha with ballroom dancers; video modifying from instructors on the line’s Pc College@Sea; get suggestions for taking higher iPhone pictures; take up pickleball on the ship’s devoted court docket; catch an enrichment lecture by, in our case, a White Home correspondent who lined President Ford. My husband beloved getting swing suggestions from a golf teacher; the ship has TaylorMade golf equipment to hire for play in port.

On my crusing, it was a tad chilly for the pool, although some nonetheless grabbed blankets and populated the soft orange lounge chairs and sizzling tub. I most well-liked the spa, with complimentary steam and sauna; therapies at further value included sizzling stone therapeutic massage or a cryofacial. The three,000-square-foot gymnasium has plenty of wellness diversions plus home windows for views; health lessons embrace yoga, Pilates, and spinning.

The leisure group is massive for a ship of this measurement and consists of, in the primary lounge, a giant group of singers and dancers performing Broadway showtunes—and my crusing we had on our crusing each Michael Jackson and Elton John impersonators, in addition to comedians and different cabaret acts. There’s a resident huge band that units the tempo for dancing—there are even gents hosts accessible for girls—and a DJ rocks the small disco late into the night time. Many friends get excited for the White Celebration, throughout which everybody is inspired to decorate in white, the champagne flows, and the environment could be very energetic.

There’s additionally a enjoyable, pub-like piano bar and a Connoisseur Membership for cigars and cognac. A brand new gaming room is the primary enterprise of the On line casino de Monte-Carlo at sea, and it has each slots and desk play. For extra sedate vibes, there’s a library with round 2,000 titles.

Household-friendly Choices

Crystal Symphony attracts some multi-generational households with kids, notably throughout vacation intervals. A chosen, brightly furnished, staffed house is split right into a lounge space for teenagers and play space for youthful youngsters. Board video games, Xbox, film nights, and crafts periods preserve children occupied. Youngsters can even get pleasure from Scoops, the ship’s complimentary ice cream store. (There are 39 connecting cabins, so dad and mom can deliver the children and nonetheless have some privateness.)

Accessibility

The three ADA-certified and wheelchair-accessible cabins are marked on deck plans with a wheelchair image: two are 215-square-foot double ocean-view visitor rooms; the opposite is an Aquamarine Suite. On its web site, Crystal means that “friends with restricted mobility ought to ideally have the ability to navigate the ship independently. Alternatively, they might decide to journey with a companion who can present help if wanted.”