Crystal Cruises has officially relaunched under the guardianship of the A&K Travel Group with a new website and under a reimagined name and vision: Crystal – Exceptional at Sea.
The reborn luxury cruise line has also revealed its 2023 and 2024 voyages aboard the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, launching from 31 July 2023.
The reimagined vessels will feature larger, updated suites that include artisanal finishes, cutting-edge-onboard wellness, and world-class dining and entertainment.
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The now 740-passenger Crystal Serenity and 606-passenger Crystal Symphony will offer voyages across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. LATTE exclusively foreshadowed Crystal Symphony‘s return Down Under next summer in November last year.
Crystal Symphony will arrive in Fremantle from Singapore on 6 December 2023. The local itineraries from that point include:
- 14-night Perth to Auckland (6-20 December 2023)
- 15-night Auckland to Sydney (20 December 2023 – 4 January 2024)
- 17-night Sydney roundtrip to New Zealand (4 January – 21 January 2024)
- 13-night Sydney to Bali (21 January – 3 February 2024)
The last two sailings can also be merged to create a 30-night Sydney to Bali, via New Zealand voyage (4 January – 3 February 2024).
World Cruise to come?
LATTE can reveal, a six-month deployment void in the schedule of Crystal Serenity between Miami on 23 December 2023 and Vancouver on 2 July 2024 (per below) leaves more than enough time for a World Cruise for the larger of the two Crystal ships, with Miami also a favourite cruise hub for Round the World departures. It’s expected Crystal is holding out on the release of a World Cruise to a later date.
The lack of programming over those six months also bodes well for Crystal Serenity‘s previously flagged visit to Sydney, assigned for 16 March 2024.
Onboard experience
Among the overhaul, Crystal will feature more spacious suites, achieved through knocking out walls between two and three former cabins and suites. The new Suites feature marble quarried from Italy, with modern furnishings and fine cotton linens.
Crystal promises exceptional service, offering a ‘what you want when you want it’ ethos, which is delivered via industry-leading staff training synonymous with Crystal. An award-winning complimentary food and beverage program will also be delivered, featuring a series of guest chefs connected to the destinations visited, adding diversity and local flavours.
Both the spa and the gym will be revamped, and the Wimbledon courts will host both paddle tennis and pickleball. A refreshed approach to entertainment and events programming has been developed with more information to follow.
On the ground
As expected, Crystal will also benefit from the ground arrangements offered through sister brand Abercrombie & Kent. Operating on every continent, they have been regarded as the gold standard for even the most discerning traveler for more than 60 years.
“I am delighted to announce that Crystal is reborn, with Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony reimagined and enhancements made to every part of our guests’ journey,” said Jack Anderson, President at Crystal.
“Palatial suites, spacious verandas and guest rooms have been rolled out on both ships, reducing overall guest capacity. Personalised service – long a Crystal signature – has been elevated further. Dining is a journey through culinary specialties, with authentic food from around the globe. Local experts at Abercrombie & Kent have planned memorable experiences in each destination to guarantee beyond-the-guidebook access,” he said.
Travel Advisors and guests with Open Deposits – revealed by LATTE in December – have exclusive access to an early booking window, before bookings open to the public later this month.
The first sailings will be a Mediterranean cruise of Crystal Serenity on 31 July from Marseille and Crystal Symphony is scheduled to depart 1 September from Athens.
Preview the new Crystal at crystalcruises.com.