Crystal Symphony officially re-entered service last Friday night following an extensive multi-million dollar refurbishment after being purchased by A&K Travel Group. Departing on its inaugural voyage from Athens, the vessel which now accommodates 606 guests, joins sister ship Crystal Serenity in an exciting new chapter for the renowned brand.
With nearly one staff member per guest and an impressive space-to-guest ratio, Crystal Symphony now boasts larger, revamped suites, award-winning specialty dining restaurants and expansive public spaces – all complemented by industry-leading service. Crystal Symphony’s re-entry to service marks an impressive feat; in just one year, and on schedule, Crystal revitalised two ships and returned more than 80% of the line’s beloved crew.
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“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.”
Itineraries
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.
Suites & Guest Rooms
Crystal collaborated with renowned cruise ship architectural firm, GEM, to revamp select guest rooms and suites. The refreshed design incorporates a palette of neutral shades and elevated touchpoints, enhanced by gentle pastel tones reminiscent of the ocean’s colors. As part of the ship’s refurbishments, there are two new guest room categories – the Jr. Crystal Penthouse Suite and Single Guest Room with Ocean View, which serves as an option for solo travelers. These new categories will also increase the availability of the popular Sapphire Suite category.
In addition to Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity being back in service, Crystal is close to signing a memorandum of agreement with two European shipbuilders for a fleet expansion. The agreement, flagged by Levin aboard Crystal Serenity in July, is poised to include the development of four new ships in the next six years including two classic ships and two expedition vessels.