The first voyage of the re-born Crystal Cruises, now under the ownership of A&K Travel Group, departed from the Venice port of Marghera yesterday afternoon, sailing to Dubrovnik. Onboard Crystal Serenity for a series of three-night shakedown voyages before the official re-launch (on 31 July from Marseille, France) are a number of key travel partners and media from Australia and around the world, including LATTE/Signature Media.
Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group referred to the cruise as a “milestone voyage”.
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“Today, we set sail on a remarkable adventure, and it is with extreme delight that we extend our heartfelt welcome aboard Crystal Serenity, on this momentous occasion.”
In a welcome letter for guests, Levis continued: “At Crystal, our unwavering commitment to excellence is embodied through the seamless fusion of our hallmarks. Three decades of impeccable service, gastronomic artistry, elegant ship design and iconic itineraries have made us renowned all over the world.
“This harmony, orchestrated with precision, is designed to elevate your journey to an unparalleled realm of sophistication and refinement,” Levis said.
Last night, a sail away party gave an opportunity for the Australian delegation to come together to toast the revitalised ultra-luxury brand, share notes and discover some of the refinements that have taken place aboard Crystal Serenity, including the reduced capacity to 740 guests (was 1,070) and the removal of the onboard casino, in favour of a new lounge, and the rebranding of the Italian restaurant, from Prego to Osteria d’Ovidio.
Stay tuned to LATTE for lots more coverage from aboard Crystal Serenity over the next week, including a photo gallery of our living quarters for the next week.
Lead image: Pictured onboard enjoying a celebratory champagne to mark the sail away from left are: Michelle Mickan, A&K Travel Group/Crystal; Robyn and Murray Sinfeld, Home Travel Company; Debra Fox, A&K Travel Group/Crystal; David Brandon, Savenio; Melinda Gregor, Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel; Tony Archbold, Crystal VP of Sales Asia Pacific and Martine Hero, Clean Cruising.