Last week Crystal Cruises held a party in New York onboard Crystal Symphony to celebrate the line’s 20th anniversary. I joined some 250 guests, including top performing travel agents, press and other partners, who came to congratulate President Gregg Michel and other key Crystal executives. What we also got to see was the newly revamped Crystal Symphony after a $25 million renovation.

As if Crystal had demanded it, the weather in New York was perfect and unusually warm. A close to 70 degree day started with a tour of the Crystal Symphony. Groups were divided into 10 or 15, so Crystal could adequately show off its renovated beauty. Most of my group had cruised on Crystal Symphony before and were busy comparing the changes from the last time they sailed her. They seemed genuinely impressed. They spoke about Crystal Symphony as if they were visiting a family member’s home, almost in a prideful “this is my ship” way. And I can imagine that most were thinking about the next time they would sail on her.

This was my first time on a Crystal ship and I was able to get a small taste of Crystal’s high level of service and cuisine that night and the next morning with an overnight stay. It was a bit surreal, and a big tease, but now I can have a bit of that feeling of pride that those in my tour group felt.

The three-hour anniversary party included food from guest Chef Azmin Ghahreman, of Laguna Beach’s Sapphire, and 20-year veteran Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, who were both onboard as a prelude to Crystals’ Wine & Food Experiences of Discovery cruise departing New York for Bermuda, the Caribbean and Miami the next night.

Following the two-hour party, I was treated to dinner in the newly renovated Prego, the alternative Italian restaurant. The service and food was excellent, and a number of other guests from the party were treated to the same.

Crystal Symphony’s recent renovation included all Penthouse suites on Deck 10, and I stayed in one of these lovely suites, which offers plenty of room, including dual sinks and a separate shower and Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. Too bad I didn’t have much luggage since it was just overnight, because the suite featured a large walk-in closet.

Other renovations to the ship include a larger Jacuzzi at the Seahorse Pool. The Lido Café now offers an alterative to the traditional buffet, with no lines and no trays. A waiter seats you, goes with you to different food islands and then carries the food back to your table. Elsewhere on the ship, the Neptune Pool was eliminated to make room for an area for relaxation, food and beverage, and new residential sofas and lounge seats. All staterooms now have sofas, replacing the upholstered chairs, as well as new flat-panel TVs.

Crystal’s 20 years have been good ones as one of the leading luxury cruise lines. The company is proud of the fact that it has been voted “World’s Best” by readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler more than any other cruise line. It has been honored for a record 14 consecutive years as “The World’s Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. It also has been named “Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” 16 times by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers.

Crystal’s parent company, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), is one of the largest and most successful shipping firms in the world. Headquartered in Tokyo, it operates more than 800 ships. NYK entered the luxury cruise business in 1988 and launched its first ship, Crystal Harmony, in 1990. In November 2005, Crystal Harmony left the fleet to join NYK’s cruise division catering to the Asian market. Crystal Symphony, Crystal Harmony’s sister ship, was launched in 1995. A third ship, Crystal Serenity, made her debut in July 2003.

Crystal also has launched a number of industry firsts during its 20 years. These include its Computer University@Sea; dedicated children’s facilities (previously unheard of in the luxury cruise segment); a Feng Shui-designed spa at sea; multiple specialty dining options; and excursions that have included a Mount Kilimanjaro climb, a Tibet overland adventure and a visit to King Herod’s tomb.

Crystal’s anniversary year also means big savings for those sailing in 2010. For example, Crystal’s Birthday Bonus rewards those who celebrate their own birthday on board in 2010 with a savings of 50 percent on a second cruise before their next birthday. But the big pricing initiative, made just a few weeks ago, is that two-for-one fares are available on all cruises in all categories for all 2010 cruises, which means sailings can be as much as 20 percent less than comparable cruises in 2009.

Guests also can receive an onboard spending credit of up to $1,000 per person on every cruise to use “As You Wish,” to cover the cost of such items as wine, spa services, excursions and more. They also can get complimentary economy air from more than 20 North American gateways for cruises in Australia/New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Middle East, India, Europe and New England/Canada, plus complimentary business-class air in Europe for Penthouse guests. World Cruise guests on two or more back-to-back segments also receive complimentary air. Another offer, the Crystal Family Memories program, features two savings options for Family Reunions booking six full-fare berths or 10 full-fare berths.

During its 20th year in 2010, Crystal will cruise to six continents with itineraries that range from seven to 108 days. Two sailings will celebrate the christening of Crystal’s first ship, Crystal Harmony, on July 20, 1990. On July 13 Crystal Symphony will feature a special Nordic Navigation cruise, while on July 13 Crystal Serenity will feature a Black Sea voyage. There will be special anniversary celebrations onboard both of these cruises.

I’m sure those that sail both the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, whether for the first time or as a repeat guest in 2010, will feel as I do now. As Michel put it in his speech that special night, I’ve been “Crystallized.”

For more information on Crystal, visit www.crystalcruises.com.

Stacey Zable is the executive editor-Custom Publishing for Performance Media Group.
 

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