Heidi Sarna
By Heidi Sarna
Crystal Cruises' 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity debuted nearly a decade ago but it looks as good as new -- thanks to the line's recent $25 million retrofit. The facelift included revamping the cabins and adding new sunbeds around the pool.
The line made another big move earlier this year with its new all-inclusive policy, bundling all drinks and gratuities into the cruise fare for both Crystal Serenity and Symphony.
"Crystal offers some of the best value luxury cruises out there, with their fares dipping below $300 per person for their lowest-category standard cabins during off season periods --- not bad considering all drinks and gratuities are now included," says Mike Driscoll, editor of the Cruise Week.
In 2013, Crystal's two ships sail to ports around the world on cruises ranging from 5 to 98 nights, with nearly half less than 10 days and nearly 90% with overnight stays, giving passengers more time to explore.
Still, the line is smart enough to know what works and shouldn't be changed. Here 9 reasons, both old and new, to choose the Crystal Serenity for your next cruise.
Photo Caption: The recently refurbished Crystal Serenity
By Heidi Sarna
Crystal Cruises' 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity debuted nearly a decade ago but it looks as good as new -- thanks to the line's recent $25 million retrofit. The facelift included revamping the cabins and adding new sunbeds around the pool.
The line made another big move earlier this year with its new all-inclusive policy, bundling all drinks and gratuities into the cruise fare for both Crystal Serenity and Symphony.
"Crystal offers some of the best value luxury cruises out there, with their fares dipping below $300 per person for their lowest-category standard cabins during off season periods --- not bad considering all drinks and gratuities are now included," says Mike Driscoll, editor of the Cruise Week.
In 2013, Crystal's two ships sail to ports around the world on cruises ranging from 5 to 98 nights, with nearly half less than 10 days and nearly 90% with overnight stays, giving passengers more time to explore.
Still, the line is smart enough to know what works and shouldn't be changed. Here 9 reasons, both old and new, to choose the Crystal Serenity for your next cruise.
Photo Caption: The recently refurbished Crystal Serenity
Silk Road -- one of Crystal Serenity's six dining venues offered at no extra charge -- may serve the best Japanese food at sea. Featuring more than two dozen of Master Chef Nobuyuki "Nobu Matsuhisa's signature Peruvian- and European-influenced Japanese dishes, enjoy Nobu-style lobster with truffle-yuzu Sauce, black cod With miso, grilled Wagyu beef rib-eye and other delicious options. Or choose from Nobu's signature yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, tuna tataki with Ponzu sauce, or a dozen standard options along with sushi rolls. Wash it all down with the complimentary house wines or a range of sake available for purchase The extensive menu includes Japanese soups and salads, and creative desserts like a trio of crème brûlée -- sweet ginger, pink guava, and passion fruit.
Crystal makes sure there is always one Nobu-trained chef on board at all times. Reservations are recommended due to the restaurant's popularity, though it can't hurt to stop to check and see if they can squeeze you in without one.
Photo Caption: Fresh sushi on Crystal Serenity
Silk Road -- one of Crystal Serenity's six dining venues offered at no extra charge -- may serve the best Japanese food at sea. Featuring more than two dozen of Master Chef Nobuyuki "Nobu
The Crystal Serenity excels in food, and its Valentino at Prego is proof. A seasonally changing menu features popular Italian dishes and wines that are served at Piero Selvaggio's Los Angeles and Las Vegas restaurants, Valentino.
Meals start off with a selection of hearty breads baked daily on board along with a trio of dips -- olive oil, garlic butter, and sea salt. Starters include warm lobster poached in sage butter and served with white bean, zucchini and tomato salad; insalata caprese; and Prego's signature cream of mushroom soup. For mains, choose homemade potato gnocchi, linguine with lobster and grilled zucchini in a light tomato sauce, grilled marinated prawns served with capellini, osso buco, or a juicy steak. Finish off the feast with a lemon soufflé or rich Tiramisu.
Most tables have a sea view (reservations are recommended). The best part? Feasting at Prego is included in the cruise fare.
Photo Caption: Pumpkin ravioli at Prego aboard Crystal Serenity
The Crystal Serenity excels in food, and its Valentino at Prego is proof. A seasonally changing menu features popular Italian dishes and wines that are served at Piero Selvaggio's Los Angeles and Las Vegas restaurants, Valentino.
Meals start off with a selection of hearty breads baked daily on board along with a trio of dips -- olive oil, garlic butter, and sea salt. Starters include warm lobster poached in sage butter and served with white bean, zucchini and tomato salad; insalata caprese; and Prego's signature cream of mushroom soup. For mains, choose homemade potato gnocchi, linguine with lobster and grilled zucchini in a light tomato sauce, grilled marinated prawns served with capellini, osso buco, or a juicy steak. Finish off the feast with a lemon soufflé or rich Tiramisu.
Most tables have a sea view (reservations are recommended). The best part? Feasting at Prego is included in the cruise fare.
Photo Caption: Pumpkin ravioli at Prego aboard Crystal Serenity
In Spring 2012, Crystal Cruises started bundling all drinks --- from wines, beers and spirits to bottled waters, soda, and fancy coffees -- in its now all-inclusive fares (gratuities are also included). Several red and white wines are offered at no extra cost in the ship's restaurants and bars, from a Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio to a California Cabernet Sauvignon. For big spenders and hard-core oenophiles, there is also an extensive menu of bottles for purchase.
Crystal joins the ranks of luxury lines such as Seabourn, Silversea, SeaDream and Regent Seven Seas (also all-inclusive), though Crystal is still regarded as a better value as its ships are larger and its fares often lower.
"Crystal Cruises' new pricing strategy offers daily rates in the $250 per person range off-season, a territory most often identified with a premium cruise line, not a luxury line," says Charlie Funk, co-owner of Just Cruisin' Plus (www.justcruisinplus.com).
Photo Caption: All-inclusive beverages on Crystal Serenity
In Spring 2012, Crystal Cruises started bundling all drinks --- from wines, beers and spirits to bottled waters, soda, and fancy coffees -- in its now all-inclusive fares (gratuities are also included). Several red and white wines are offered at no extra cost in the ship's restaurants and bars, from a Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio to a California Cabernet Sauvignon. For big spenders and hard-core oenophiles, there is also an extensive menu of bottles for purchase.
Crystal joins the ranks of luxury lines such as Seabourn, Silversea, SeaDream and Regent Seven Seas (also all-inclusive), though Crystal is still regarded as a better value as its ships are larger and its fares often lower.
"Crystal Cruises' new pricing strategy offers daily rates in the $250 per person range off-season, a territory most often identified with a premium cruise line, not a luxury line,"
Mirroring modern hotel rooms, the Serenity's revamped cabins are awash in cool shades of smoky brown, silver, and champagne, plus lots of fresh white accents. The makeover included adding lighting on dimmers and a new electronic Do Not Disturb and doorbell system. The new look complements the ship's luxe bedding -- 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, king-size goose down pillows, plush duvets, and feather bed toppers. A pillow menu offers choices from round neck pillows to hypo-allergenic pillows.
Other amenities in all cabins include mini-bars stocked with complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, and beer. All bathrooms have double sinks, a bathtub, and a shower. Enjoy the Frette bathrobes, slippers, and Aveda bath products. Flatscreen TVs come with DVD players.
Photo Caption: Recently refurbished cabin on the Crystal Serenity
Mirroring modern hotel rooms, the Serenity's revamped cabins are awash in cool shades of smoky brown, silver, and champagne, plus lots of fresh white accents. The makeover included adding lighting on dimmers and a new electronic Do Not Disturb and doorbell system. The new look complements the ship's luxe bedding -- 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, king-size goose down pillows, plush duvets, and feather bed toppers. A pillow menu offers choices from round neck pillows to hypo-allergenic pillows.
Other amenities in all cabins include mini-bars stocked with complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, and beer. All bathrooms have double sinks, a bathtub, and a shower. Enjoy the Frette bathrobes, slippers, and Aveda bath products. Flatscreen TVs come with DVD players.
Photo Caption: Recently refurbished cabin on the Crystal Serenity
Gracious, friendly and efficient -- without being cloying or overly formal -- defines Crystal's service ethic. At the breakfast buffet in the Lido Café, for instance, waiters not only are eager to help carry plates, but they also offer to fetch coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, and made-to-order omelettes. The waitstaff even remembers what you like and offers to get it for you the next morning. And the next. It's the same story in all of the dining venues, bars and lounges. There are 655 crew members for Serenity's 1,070 passengers (if all cabins are occupied, double occupancy), that's nearly one crew member per 1.6 passengers. Not bad.
Photo Caption: Great service is available on the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity.
Gracious, friendly and efficient -- without being cloying or overly formal -- defines Crystal's service ethic. At the breakfast buffet in the Lido Café, for instance, waiters not only are eager to help carry plates, but they also offer to fetch coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, and made-to-order omelettes. The waitstaff even remembers what you like and offers to get it for you the next morning. And the next. It's the same story in all of the dining venues, bars and lounges. There are 655 crew members for Serenity's 1,070 passengers (if all cabins are occupied, double occupancy), that's nearly 1.5 staff per passenger. Not bad.
Photo Caption: Great service is available on the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity.
Very few cruise ships these days sport Old-World touches such as wraparound promenades, or wide expanses of teak wood decking that surround the ship and provide passengers a place to stroll or jog outside (one mile equals 3.3 laps).
By day or night, enjoy the sea breezes and views, doing what ship passengers have done for more than a century before you. The Serenity also has tiered decks at the stern, providing several arcs of quiet deck space for sunbathing, snoozing, or playing golf or Ping-Pong, with the ship's wake as the backdrop.
Most cruise lines don't design ships with full wrap-around promenade decks or tiered decks at the stern (Cunard and Holland America are among the few that do), as it's considered a waste of space that could be used to build revenue-generating cabins and public spaces.
Photo Caption: The new promenade on the Crystal Serenity
Very few cruise ships these days sport Old-World touches such as wraparound promenades, or wide expanses of teak wood decking that surround the ship and provide passengers a place to stroll or jog outside (one mile equals 3.3 laps).
By day or night, enjoy the sea breezes and views, doing what ship passengers have done for more than a century before you. The Serenity also has tiered decks at the stern, providing several arcs of quiet deck space for sunbathing, snoozing, or playing golf or Ping-Pong, with the ship's wake as the backdrop.
Most cruise lines don't design ships with full wrap-around promenade decks or tiered decks at the stern (Cunard and Holland America are among the few that do), as it's considered a waste of space that could be used to build revenue-generating cabins and public spaces.
Photo Caption: The new promenade on the Crystal Serenity
The Crystal Serenity has one of the best stocked libraries at sea; only Holland America and especially Cunard have more impressive libraries. Novels, nonfiction, and reference are there in various languages, and even a section of quality children's books too -- Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles adventure series, for instance.
There are also shelves of movies for all ages and interests, from John Wayne classics to modern comedies and dramas. (The cabins have flatscreen TVs with DVD players.) In all, there are more than 3,000 books, videos, DVDs, and books-on-tape to choose from in the oceanview library. Several reading nooks with overstuffed chairs face the promenade on Deck 7 and the sea beyond.
Photo Caption: Crystal Serenity's library
The Crystal Serenity has one of the best stocked libraries at sea; only Holland America and especially Cunard have more impressive libraries. Novels, nonfiction, and reference are there in various languages, and even a section of quality children's books too -- Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles adventure series, for instance.
There are also shelves of movies for all ages and interests, from John Wayne classics to modern comedies and dramas. (The cabins have flatscreen TVs with DVD players.) In all, there are more than 3,000 books, videos, DVDs, and books-on-tape to choose from in the oceanview library. Several reading nooks with overstuffed chairs face the promenade on Deck 7 and the sea beyond.
Photo Caption: Crystal Serenity's library
From a classical string quartet strumming in the atrium to the charming piano player in the Avenue Saloon who takes requests and seems to know every show tune, ballad and pop song ever made, Serenity is for music lovers. Another well-trained pianist performs in the atrium throughout the day. A Filipino cover band is uncannily versatile and serenades ballroom dancers in Palm Court and the atrium as well as sunbathers by the pool. The ship's Big Band-style orchestra backs up the production shows and plays at various activities and events around the ship. Look for all these musicians, plus several guest headliners in the show lounge, during a typical cruise. A recent Spain voyage featured a vocalist who performs on London's East End, an Elton John impersonator, a classical pianist, a trumpet virtuoso, a local flamenco dancer while docked in Barcelona, and more.
Photo Caption: Three Man Band aboard Crystal Serenity
Crystal Cruises' 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity debuted nearly a decade ago but it looks as good as new -- thanks to the line's recent $25 million retrofit. The facelift included revamping the cabins and adding new sunbeds around the pool.
The line made another big move earlier this year with its new all-inclusive policy, bundling all drinks and gratuities into the cruise fare for both Crystal Serenity and Symphony.
"Crystal offers some of the best value luxury cruises out there, with their fares dipping below $300 per person for their lowest-category standard cabins during off season periods --- not bad considering all drinks and gratuities are now included," says Mike Driscoll, editor of the Cruise Week.
In 2013, Crystal's two ships sail to ports around the world on cruises ranging from 5 to 98 nights, with nearly half less than 10 days and nearly 90% with overnight stays, giving passengers more time to explore.
Still, the line is smart enough to know what works and shouldn't be changed. Here 9 reasons, both old and new, to choose the Crystal Serenity for your next cruise.
Photo Caption: The recently refurbished Crystal Serenity
Crystal Cruises' 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity debuted nearly a decade ago but it looks as good as new -- thanks to the line's recent $25 million retrofit. The facelift included revamping the cabins and adding new sunbeds around the pool.
The line made another big move earlier this year with its new all-inclusive policy, bundling all drinks and gratuities into the cruise fare for both Crystal Serenity and Symphony.
"Crystal offers some of the best value luxury cruises out there, with their fares dipping below $300 per person for their lowest-category standard cabins during off season periods --- not bad considering all drinks and gratuities are now included," says Mike Driscoll, editor of the Cruise Week.
In 2013, Crystal's two ships sail to ports around the world on cruises ranging from 5 to 98 nights, with nearly half less than 10 days and nearly 90% with overnight stays, giving passengers more time to explore.
Still, the line is smart enough to know what works and shouldn't be changed. Here 9 reasons, both old and new, to choose the Crystal Serenity for your next cruise.
Photo Caption: The recently refurbished Crystal Serenity
Crystal makes sure there is always one Nobu-trained chef on board at all times. Reservations are recommended due to the restaurant's popularity, though it can't hurt to stop to check and see if they can squeeze you in without one.
Photo Caption: Fresh sushi on Crystal Serenity
Meals start off with a selection of hearty breads baked daily on board along with a trio of dips -- olive oil, garlic butter, and sea salt. Starters include warm lobster poached in sage butter and served with white bean, zucchini and tomato salad; insalata caprese; and Prego's signature cream of mushroom soup. For mains, choose homemade potato gnocchi, linguine with lobster and grilled zucchini in a light tomato sauce, grilled marinated prawns served with capellini, osso buco, or a juicy steak. Finish off the feast with a lemon soufflé or rich Tiramisu.
Most tables have a sea view (reservations are recommended). The best part? Feasting at Prego is included in the cruise fare.
Photo Caption: Pumpkin ravioli at Prego aboard Crystal Serenity
Meals start off with a selection of hearty breads baked daily on board along with a trio of dips -- olive oil, garlic butter, and sea salt. Starters include warm lobster poached in sage butter and served with white bean, zucchini and tomato salad; insalata caprese; and Prego's signature cream of mushroom soup. For mains, choose homemade potato gnocchi, linguine with lobster and grilled zucchini in a light tomato sauce, grilled marinated prawns served with capellini, osso buco, or a juicy steak. Finish off the feast with a lemon soufflé or rich Tiramisu.
Most tables have a sea view (reservations are recommended). The best part? Feasting at Prego is included in the cruise fare.
Photo Caption: Pumpkin ravioli at Prego aboard Crystal Serenity
Crystal joins the ranks of luxury lines such as Seabourn, Silversea, SeaDream and Regent Seven Seas (also all-inclusive), though Crystal is still regarded as a better value as its ships are larger and its fares often lower.
"Crystal Cruises' new pricing strategy offers daily rates in the $250 per person range off-season, a territory most often identified with a premium cruise line, not a luxury line," says Charlie Funk, co-owner of Just Cruisin' Plus (www.justcruisinplus.com).
Photo Caption: All-inclusive beverages on Crystal Serenity
Crystal joins the ranks of luxury lines such as Seabourn, Silversea, SeaDream and Regent Seven Seas (also all-inclusive), though Crystal is still regarded as a better value as its ships are larger and its fares often lower.
"Crystal Cruises' new pricing strategy offers daily rates in the $250 per person range off-season, a territory most often identified with a premium cruise line, not a luxury line,"
Other amenities in all cabins include mini-bars stocked with complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, and beer. All bathrooms have double sinks, a bathtub, and a shower. Enjoy the Frette bathrobes, slippers, and Aveda bath products. Flatscreen TVs come with DVD players.
Photo Caption: Recently refurbished cabin on the Crystal Serenity
Other amenities in all cabins include mini-bars stocked with complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, and beer. All bathrooms have double sinks, a bathtub, and a shower. Enjoy the Frette bathrobes, slippers, and Aveda bath products. Flatscreen TVs come with DVD players.
Photo Caption: Recently refurbished cabin on the Crystal Serenity
Photo Caption: Great service is available on the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity.
Photo Caption: Great service is available on the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity.
By day or night, enjoy the sea breezes and views, doing what ship passengers have done for more than a century before you. The Serenity also has tiered decks at the stern, providing several arcs of quiet deck space for sunbathing, snoozing, or playing golf or Ping-Pong, with the ship's wake as the backdrop.
Most cruise lines don't design ships with full wrap-around promenade decks or tiered decks at the stern (Cunard and Holland America are among the few that do), as it's considered a waste of space that could be used to build revenue-generating cabins and public spaces.
Photo Caption: The new promenade on the Crystal Serenity
By day or night, enjoy the sea breezes and views, doing what ship passengers have done for more than a century before you. The Serenity also has tiered decks at the stern, providing several arcs of quiet deck space for sunbathing, snoozing, or playing golf or Ping-Pong, with the ship's wake as the backdrop.
Most cruise lines don't design ships with full wrap-around promenade decks or tiered decks at the stern (Cunard and Holland America are among the few that do), as it's considered a waste of space that could be used to build revenue-generating cabins and public spaces.
Photo Caption: The new promenade on the Crystal Serenity
There are also shelves of movies for all ages and interests, from John Wayne classics to modern comedies and dramas. (The cabins have flatscreen TVs with DVD players.) In all, there are more than 3,000 books, videos, DVDs, and books-on-tape to choose from in the oceanview library. Several reading nooks with overstuffed chairs face the promenade on Deck 7 and the sea beyond.
Photo Caption: Crystal Serenity's library
There are also shelves of movies for all ages and interests, from John Wayne classics to modern comedies and dramas. (The cabins have flatscreen TVs with DVD players.) In all, there are more than 3,000 books, videos, DVDs, and books-on-tape to choose from in the oceanview library. Several reading nooks with overstuffed chairs face the promenade on Deck 7 and the sea beyond.
Photo Caption: Crystal Serenity's library
Photo Caption: Three Man Band aboard Crystal Serenity