Crystal Serenity – A Jewel in the Cruising World!
Crystal Cruises are classed amongst some of the best cruise lines in the world, winning countless awards and capturing many hearts along the way.
On Friday 5th September, I was invited on-board the Crystal Serenity whilst she was in Southampton. Crystal never tend to dock in the same port more than once a year but on this occasion it was the second time she’d been to Southampton in 2014.
After experiencing what Seabourn, Regent and Silversea had to offer I was really intrigued to see how Crystal would compare It really much of a par if I am being honest, but then the Luxury Market is outstanding anyway. The main difference between Crystal and many offer Ultra Luxury brands is the size of the ship. Crystal are much bigger where as Silversea and Regent are much smaller but, Crystal Serenity weighs in at 68,870 gross tons, Oriana at a 69,840 gross tons but the difference is that Oriana carries 1,880 passengers where-as Crystal Serenity can cruise with only 1,070.
This is one of the biggest selling points to Crystal is that they have larger ships but only cruise with half the passenger capacity therefore giving passengers on-board some of the biggest passenger to space ratio at 64:4 and not only that the Guest to Staff ratio is pretty impressive to at 0:61.
And not forgetting that Crystal are All Inclusive.
So let me take you on-board the Crystal Serenity and let me know what you think and if she is a contender for your next cruise.
It is also worth noting that Crystal have two ships and each are refurbished every other year, they are also fully inclusive.
One of the advantages of cruising with Crystal is that there is no accommodation on the very bottom decks, most of cruise lines have Ocean view and inside staterooms on deck 3 or 4 but these decks are for crew so this gives you an idea in comparison to quite how many staff there are on-board.
Deck 5 is the first passenger deck, Crystal Plaza is really where it’s all going on and this is the lower level of the Atrium, towards the front there is a feature wall with water feature and I could sit there all day and listen to the sound of the water trickling down. You will also find Guest Relations here and this is everything from Concierge to Shore Excursions. I thought this was nice as normally these are in different areas.
You do also have the Crystal Cove Bar which is a fantastic place to sit, have a drink and watch the buzz of the ship, or grab a window table for some great sea views.
In the middle of this deck you have the Crystal Dining Room, now as there was embarking guests we were only allowed to have a quick look in here, rather disappointing from Crystals part as this is where you spend most of your evening so showing agents this would have benefitted.
Now other that the medical centre there is nothing else on this deck.
Deck 6 is next and at the front of this deck you have the Galaxy Lounge, this is the main entertainment venue, there is not a full size theatre on-board, so it’s much more low key however they still have many interesting and exciting shows going on in the evening, just on a smaller scale. The Galaxy Lounge will seat 400 guests.
Next up you have the Crystal Casino and for an American ship I expected this to be bigger but then again what is the point in having a large casino and not enough guests to fill it. Here you have an array of slot machines and gaming tables.
You do also have Captains Choice which is where you will find majority of the Cruise branded items.
In the middle of the ship you have the upper level of the Atrium, it’s very pretty but I felt it lacked the Grandeur of a bigger ship but at the same time it is still a lovely area with a chilled atmosphere to sit and relax. Oceania Marina is a prime example on what you can do with a ship of this size.
Around the edge of the upper level you have the shopping, with a selection of Jewellery, handbags and clothing so you can shop till you drop.
You also have the Bistro up here which is one of the café areas. You can get a lovely cup of coffee here and there is a selection of light lunches and cakes to keep you going to diner time.
As we venture further back we come to the Hollywood Theatre which is a lovely touch, similar to the Oriana, this is where you can come and watch a late night film and the staff will serve you Ice creams and popcorn. They will also offer have guest speakers in here from Money Guru’s to Sport Stars.
Then will have the Photo Gallery, this is where you can come and buy a $50.00 picture of yourself! Well I know that what we all think when it comes to the Photo area on the ship although It also nice to get one just to have it as a memory of your time away.
The Back of this deck is what I would call the main entertainment hub of the ship, the Connoisseurs Club is first, this is now the only place on-board where you can smoke. You always used to be able to smoke in the staterooms but this ruling has now stopped, so if you like a smoke this is the only place inside.
Avenue Saloon is next up, this is a lovely space to come and relax, it does remind me of an American bar, although it’s very dark in here and all the furniture is deep and dark colours.
Pulse is the on-board night club and it’s a strange set up as you have to walk down a short but very dark corridor to get to it, almost felt like I was going in to an X-rated club, something that was not meant to be seen easily, but once inside the setup is great with a dance floor in the centre and I did note that the giant screens on the wall showed the dance floor so be warned. It is also worth noting that during the day they do small magic shows of around 20 people in here which is well worth watching. Tickets are completely free and can got from the Library.
Stardust Club is on the Aft and this is more of a Cabaret bar and show lounge but does turn in to a social bar with dancing on certain nights. Again quite a lot of dark woods used in here.
On the very back of the ship you have an open deck and strangely enough this homes the table tennis, putting green and golf driving nets.
Deck 7 is the Promenade deck, this does wrap around the whole ship so if you want to walk a mile you can, great to do after a large meal and get that sea breeze, nothing quite as refreshing.
The entire front end of the ship is given to Oceanview staterooms, these do have a large picture window, however again Crystal did not allow us to see there therefore if you are going to get one, my main concern is, can people on the outer deck see in? As this level has the wrap around promenade.
Starting on the Starboard side you have Computer University at Sea, this is the on-board internet café and also where you can come for various IT Lessons such as how to use an IPad. It is incredible modern in here.
Then you have the bridge lounge, for those who are a fan of card games this is a great place to spend hours keeping busy, they will also host bridge cruises where you will have an array of competitions.
Next up is Prego, this is the on-board Italian and I have to say, and I didn’t really notice until I was looking though the pictures that nearly every venue is so dark, whether someone forgot to turn the lights on, or they light candles in the evening which would be lovely, if not it could be slightly depressing. All the same it is a beautiful restaurant.
Silk Road is probably the most famous restaurant on-board Crystal as it is created by Nobu Matsuhisa, this is the Sushi Bar. Not normally my type of thing but they will serve meat in here to for those that don’t like the fish and of course vegetarian dishes for those who don’t eat meat or fish. You have two separate areas, Silk Road which is the main dining venue which does require a reservation to dine in and the Sushi Bar which is where you can come and sit at the bar and enjoy a quick snack.
The Vintage rooms is next, this is the private dining room, you can either have a meal designed in here and wines to go with each course or for the wine connoisseurs if you have a selection of fine wines you like the chef on-board can design the food that compliments the wine best. Here will seat about 10 people but does come with a cover charge of about $2000 for the evening with the waiter. Perfect if you are celebrating a special occasion as you will have mementos to take away with you including a book with photos.
Next we have the Library, which is small and boutique but still has plenty of space to sit and take in your favourite book. Remember this is also where you get the tickets for the magic show.
As we reach the Studio, this is what I imagine an typical American classroom to look like, here is where they will do lots of different lessons and talks throughout the cruise.
Deck 8, 9, 10 and 11 are given up to accommodation but each and every deck has the open deck space on the deck, again very similar to the Oriana.
Deck 12, Lido deck is the main pool deck and it is stunning, there is a large use of sun loungers and day beds to choose from, also if you don’t like the direct sunshine you have sofa’s and seats tucked under the shade.
She does only have the one pool and two whirlpools but the main pool was fairly large so I would say this is more than enough for the amount of passengers on-board. This is where you have to put the magic hat on with the pictures and imagine you are in sunnier climbs and the parasol are up, everyone buzzing around on deck. Book in one hand and cocktail in the other – Sheer Bliss!
As you can also see up on the top deck you have the paddle tennis sports court, other that at the front there is just more sunbeds for relaxing.
Crystal have a funny way with colours, they have the signature light blue and the orange but it does work as you will see from some of the furniture on the deck.
There are also two kids clubs on this deck, pretty much standard with lots of games and modern technology to keep them entertained. On some Crystal Sailings, children even sail for free.
At the Front of the ship you have Palm Court and the Sunset Bar. The Sunset bar is positioned on the very front, with the 180 degree wrap around floor to ceiling windows which is a great place to sit and watch the ship coming in to port.
Palm Court is a very casual lounge where you can grab a drink or two, maybe have a small bite to eat, and sit back and relax, this whole section is very light with lots of glass and plants.
Towards the aft of the deck is where the inside pool used to be, this has been removed as many guests commented before the last refit that they didn’t want a pool inside so this is now Trident Grill and Bar, the roof does open which means on those beautiful days you can get the breeze in, but on the less desirable days they keep it shut as they did when in Southampton – No surprise there. Trident Grill and Bar is one of my favourite areas on-board, extremely modern with again that mix in colours, there is a huge use of plants and trees in here which gives it an airy feel, and for those wanting a treat, Scoops Ice Cream bar is also located here so what more could you want, a Grill, Bar and Ice cream parlour all in one place!
On from here you have the Lido Café, this is the Buffet and it takes the entire back end of the ship up, I liked the way you had food stations, before the refit it was a long counter and I think that can be very canteen like so this made it much nice. Again you get wonderful views up here to and if you want to dine Al Fresco you can as the back of the ship is open with tables and chairs.
Deck 13 is the final deck and majority of this is open deck overlooking the lower pool area, set up with the sun loungers but you will also find the Spa and Fitness centre up here, the one area of the ship which was the most disappointing. The spa on Oriana is much better and even Oceana if we are comparing ages of the ships, There is no pool or relaxing area other than a small waiting area for treatments, there are a few treat rooms up here and a well-equipped gym. That’s is it for the Spa I’m afraid. However this could just be down to customer feedback and it wouldn’t put me off sailing on her but if you like long days in the spa, Crystal is not for you.
I will cover the accommodation on a later write up as this is vast in what each stateroom and suites offers but again we did not see the Crystal Penthouse or the Penthouse Suite so again If anyone has any photos these would be much appreciated.
So what does everyone think?
I, as ever look forward to hearing your thoughts?
www.tomstravels.co.uk – 0330 303 8243 – [email protected]
One Comment on “Crystal Serenity – A Jewel in the Cruising World!”
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About Me
Hello there, I'm Tom Harding and I have been in the Cruise and Travel industry for about 10 years. Cruising has always been a passion of mine ever since I was little. I love the elegance and sophistication that comes with cruising and to be able to see lots of places…
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We are booked on Crystal Serenity in February 2015 for the Auckland to Perth leg of its World Cruise. We have sailed on her sister ship, Crystal Symphony, twice. Crystal ships are without doubt the finest liners I have had the privelge to sail on in 40+ years of cruising (possible exception of Canberra in her hay day). We have been on P&O, Cunard, Fred Olsen, Thomson and Regent Seven Seas. Your description and photos of “Serenity” are an almost exact replica of the slightly smaller “Symphony”.
Oh what a joy it is to travel with a cruise line that genuinely go out of their way to please their guests. Yes, the majority of guests are Americans but if you can get them on their own (as opposed to some rather brash groups) you will find them charming and knowledgeable. We have made many “pen friends” on our two Crystal trips so far. What a joy as well to experience “All inclusive” that means what it says on the tin. No signing for anything other than the wife’s hair do and her purchases in the shops.
There is just so much space on these liners that at no point do you ever feel in a crowd – even on port days waiting to disembark for a shore excursion. We have not so far had a penthouse cabin as these come with a personal Butler and we just wouldn’t know what to do with him! So whilst we have been in the slightly smaller balcony suites these have been perfect for our needs and the sterwardess service here has been fantastic. The only small criticsm I would make though is that the bath tubs are a bit on the short side for someone who likes to “spread out” in the bath and feet planted half way up the opposite wall is not the best of positions!
Crystal are a complete antedote to anything proffered up by the likes of Carnival Corporation – whose ships I will never ever set foot on again. Crystal are for the descerning types who appreciate fine surroundings, unsurpassed service and who are not looked on as fodder for extracting huge amounts of unwarranted cash from in the form of “extras”.
Simply put, Crystal are unbelievably different and worth every penny.