We are very excited that we are now just a couple of weeks away from our cruise around the Portugal and Spain. We are absolutely fans of cruising, it might be our favorite way to travel. You unpack once, you get to see many different cities in one trip, and you can go on fabulous excursions to see places you may not have even known existed. All of this with outstanding service and food every time you come back on board. Really though, this is about our favorite cruise line – Crystal. For a brief period, towards the end of pandemic, they had some rough seas. But new owners, A&K Travel Group have kept all the things we loved about Crystal and enhanced it even further. We are so happy to report that Crystal is back and better than ever! Maria and Cristina took a “test” cruise back in September to see if it really was the Crystal we remember – a week from NYC to Quebec. Everything we loved was there and more. Now, all of us will be on a cruise together visiting places like Cadiz and Mallorca. So what are the things we love so much about it? Let’s go through it…
The ships themselves –
What is a cruise line without amazing ships? Crystal offers two options – The Symphony and The Serenity. Newly renovated, elegant, and with an intimate feel. They are certainly more in the mid-size range. If we can say a cruise ship is “boutique”, that would fit them best. The Symphony carries 606 guests, while The Serenity carries 740. For both ships, guest counts are down from their original numbers – a change made during the latest renovation. But the common areas were kept the same, so you never feel crowded anywhere on board. They are beautiful ships, full of wonderful spots to sit with a good book and relax or to just sit and enjoy the view. Of course, they offer many things you would expect – great pools and sundecks, theaters for amazing entertainment, restaurants with some of the best food you will have (land or sea), shopping, and of course a wonderful spa. They have interesting guest lecturers, experts in their field. Great enrichment classes such as painting and photography. What you will not find is a waterslide anywhere, no rides, no inside rooms, or the vibe of much larger ships. That is not a good or bad thing, just a personal preference. To us, all of this lends itself to a wonderfully relaxing trip. It also means most cruises are predominantly adults only. Kids are always welcome on Crystal, but you will usually only see a few kids on board and most will be a little older. The ships offer a range of room sizes, though after renovations, most are suites, offering plenty of space. Deck 7 on both ships have rooms without verandas, but a wonderful promenade deck. Almost all other rooms will have verandas, so there are plenty of options for different needs and budgets. No matter which room you choose, they are elegant, relaxing, and wonderful to come back to after a full day of excursions.
Best in class service –
As beautiful as the ships are, service is really what makes a Crystal cruise something special. It’s that intangible detail that makes them different. Let’s start with the fact that the ships have nearly a one-to-one ratio of staff to guests. That is crazy! (In the best possible way of course) This ratio allows the crew to give incredibly personalized service. It also needs to be mentioned that after the change from the previous owners, 80% of the crew returned. They are the heart and soul of the ships and this made such a difference when they first sailed again last summer. They remember your preferences down to the smallest detail. A lot of times when you have service at this level it can feel little formal or distant. That is not at all the case here. There is an ease to all of it that makes every exchange with the crew so wonderful. Many on Crystal sail quite often during the year and many feel they are coming to see family. Whether it was when the ships first returned to sailing or a passengers first time back, there have been tears of joy shed. (We are in that group too) That just shows the wonderful connection between crew and passengers. That is something nearly impossible to duplicate.
Incredible dining options –
No matter the cruise line, dining is really one of the main activities. Both ships offer the same dining options and with the exception of the specialty restaurants, times and meals served may vary a little bit depending on the itinerary for the day. But one of the great things about Crystal is open dining. You don’t need to worry about a set seating time. This gives you great flexibility for your day.
They have great casual options –
- The Marketplace – This is our go to place for breakfast. It is buffet style service, but the food offered is anything but your standard buffet. They have a wide selection of breakfast items to fit the tastes and customary offerings around the world. It’s the perfect place to try breakfast options new to you. One of Cristina’s favorites is having chicken congee and dressing it up with many toppings they offer. But there are also many familiar favorites – an omelet station, beautiful fruit, breads, cheeses, pastries, and some of the best overnight muesli you will ever have. They also offer lunch every day. All with gorgeous ocean or port views, with an option for outdoor seating as well.
- The Bistro – The perfect place when you need just a little something or maybe it’s a slightly off time for service in the other restaurants. Great if you are an early riser and need your morning cappuccino first thing. Or if you get going just a little later but still want something for breakfast. In the afternoon you will find delicious charcuterie and pastries. We have definitely enjoyed coming back from excursions and having a late lunch here.
- Trident Grill – Sometimes you just want a good burger and fries. They have you covered! Beautiful views, delicious food – what more could you want.
- Tastes Kitchen & Bar – This is your option for a casual dinner or late afternoon lunch. They have a range of items from potstickers & bao, to pizza & salads. With such a wide range of options, usually we get a few items to share. Everything we’ve tried has always been wonderful, so you will want to try as many items as possible.
- Scoops Ice Cream Bar – Tucked in between Trident Grills and Tastes you can get your afternoon ice cream/gelato fix each afternoon. It’s great ice cream, so really, what more needs to be said? Just make sure you also try the cookie of the day with your scoop.
Beautiful fine dining restaurants –
- Waterside – This is the main dining room of both ships. There is a timeless elegance to the dining room. Classic cuisine without feeling stuffy. They have wonderful options reflecting the cuisine of the ports during your cruise. So even on a sea day you still feel connected to the area you’re traveling in. And if you have special dietary needs, they will go above and beyond to accommodate you. There is a wide range of dishes that will always be on the menu, from vegetarian to gluten free options. But they can meet more specific dietary requirements from food allergies to kosher meals with advance notice.
- Osteria d’Ovidio – One of the two specialty restaurants on board. Named for Crystal’s owner, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, this is Italian fine dining at it’s best. It is Michelin Star level food with dishes from many regions in Italy. This is a change from the Italian restaurant with the previous owners. If there can be controversy over Italian food, the change from Prego to Osteria caused it. But we have to say, we love this version much more. It is closer to Italian food you will find in Italy and for that, we love it.
- Chef Nobu’s Umi Uma – The other specialty dining option created by the incredibly talented Chef Nobu Mitsuhisa. This restaurant is really a dream. Many times we leave the ordering to our sever, though you need to be careful with this, because they will bring you so many amazing options and it’s really hard to pace yourself. Everything is perfection – from the way your sake is served to the last bite of dessert. You will leave wanting to come back again.
Just in case you need a few more options –
- The Vintage Room – This intimate dining option is perfect for celebrations or if you’re a wine connoisseur looking for a tasting menu and incredible wine pairing. Dining in this room is an extra fee, but it stands out as a one of a kind experience. It seats just 12 on Symphony and 14 on Serenity. You can book the entire room for a private celebration or join in on the evenings they have special events planned. As we are not wine connoisseurs ourselves, we have not experienced this. However, everyone we have talked to who has, they feel it is worth every penny.
- Afternoon Tea – Not a restaurant per se, it is an option on many days in the Palm Court at the forward of both ships. There are gorgeous views, so every seat is perfect. Everything you would expect from a delicious afternoon tea – yummy finger sandwiches, scones (ask for extra scones, you won’t be sorry), and pastries. Hopefully you will be lucky enough to have a Chocolate tea scheduled on your cruise (usually on a sea day). Do we need to say anything more about that? It’s afternoon tea with all the chocolate desserts you could want.
- 24 Hour In-Suite Dining – Sometimes you just need to stay in. No surprise you have options on Crystal. One of the main reasons we love in-suite dining is for pre-breakfast coffee. Some ports are just so beautiful when you are coming in. If you have a chance to visit Kotor, Montenegro, wake up early to see the sailing into port. Sitting on your veranda with a cup of coffee and watching the beautiful landscape go by might be one of the best moments of your day.
No surprises (of the unwanted cost kind) –
On Crystal, everything is included! Of course, there are some extras – excursions, spa appointments, exceptional bottles of wine. But unlike a lot of cruise lines, you’re not going to see one price when you start booking and then get the surprise that somehow something as basic as bottled water is an extra charge. Another surprise you might see on other cruise ships is an extra charge for specialty dining. Not with Crystal. All restaurants are included in your room charge. Some other things included on Crystal that you will find are not included on all cruise ships – Wifi, gratuities (for housekeeping, bar & dining staff), and all wine & spirits (in your room, at all bars, & in all restaurants). Of course, you can upgrade wifi if you need to work (hopefully not 😊), you can give additional tips for exceptional service or add to the crew fund at the end of your cruise, and you can opt to get a really special bottle of wine or champagne.
As with many vacations, so much comes down to personal preferences. To us, Crystal feels like home. We are so happy they are back. We can’t wait to be on again at the end of May and already have a cruise booked for 2025, so definitely more to come!
