The 606-guest Crystal Symphony officially
re-entered service on Sept. 1 following an extensive refurbishment after the
Crystal brand was purchased by Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group in July 2022. Departing on
its inaugural voyage from Athens, the vessel joins sister ship Crystal Serenity
in a new chapter for the renowned brand.
With nearly one staff member per guest, Crystal
Symphony now has larger, revamped suites, noted specialty restaurants and
expansive public spaces. With Crystal Symphony’s re-entry, it’s been one year
that Crystal revitalized two ships – a combined $150 million investment – and returned more than 80 percent of the
line’s crew.
“We are so proud that Crystal Symphony has
officially joined Crystal Serenity back in the water, signaling an exciting new
chapter for Crystal – two ships refurbished and back in service in under a year
is completely unprecedented,” said Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group.
“The ship’s exceptional enhancements reflect our unwavering commitment to
providing guests with inspiration and enrichment as they sail to the globe’s
most coveted destinations.”
Following the ship’s inaugural voyage from
Athens to Istanbul, Crystal Symphony will sail eastward, towards exciting
destinations such as Santorini, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai. For the
remainder of 2023, the ship will sail throughout Oceania visiting locales
including Sydney, Auckland, Papua New Guinea and Bali.
Select guest rooms and suites were refreshed in
neutral shades, enhanced by pastel tones reminiscent of the ocean’s colors. Two
new guest room categories were added – the Junior Crystal Penthouse Suite and
Single Guest Room with Ocean View, which measures up to 215 square feet. which
serves as an option for solo travelers. The Junior Crystal Penthouse Suite is
up to 645 square feet and includes separate dining and living areas, private
veranda and butler service.
Crystal Symphony has 10 dining options,
including 24-hour in-suite service. Returning is Japanese-Peruvian cuisine in Umi
Uma from Master Chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa’s. Osteria D’Ovidio, named for
Crystal Executive Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, specializes in
traditional Italian meals.
Waterside Restaurant is the main dining room with
open seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Marketplace is a
buffet-style dining venue with floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air dining
area. Tastes Kitchen & Bar serves globally inspired cuisine and casual family-style
dining, and Tastes offers tapas-style cuisine.
In addition to now offering a full-sized paddle
tennis and pickleball court and a revamped fitness center, Crystal’s new spa
concept, Aurōra offers a fresh design with a fiber-optic starlight ceiling and
organic materials like natural salt crystal and silk-brushed slate stone. The
extensive treatment offerings include more facials, massage treatments and a
full-service salon.
With Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity now
back in service, Crystal recently announced it is working with advisors,
lenders and export credit agents to sign a memorandum of agreement with two
European shipbuilders for development of four new ships in the next six years
including two classic ships and two expedition vessels.
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