Jan 22 2008

Crystal Symphony to Get Two Nobu Restaurants

Crystal Cruises announced that master chef Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa will travel aboard the Crystal Symphony this spring to officiate the opening of two new restaurants. Silk Road and The Sushi Bar were conceived in partnership with Crystal Cruises and will feature Nobu's cuisine. On March 21, at the start of Crystal Symphony's Hong Kong-to-Beijing cruise, Nobu will preside over a traditional sake ceremony for all guests. During the cruise, he will personally oversee the launch of both restaurants and will continue to work closely with his Nobu-trained chefs on his cuisine, a blend of Japanese foods with Peruvian and European influences.

Occupying the former Jade Garden space, Silk Road and The Sushi Bar will accommodate 68 guests and will be open most evenings. While there is no additional charge, reservations are recommended for Silk Road; dining at The Sushi Bar will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The new restaurants represent an expansion of Nobu's culinary alliance with Crystal. Since 2003, his cuisine has been featured on the Crystal Serenity. All the head chefs in Silk Road and The Sushi Bar have held key positions at one of Nobu's restaurants. In the case of Crystal Symphony, the head chefs were chefs at his Los Angeles or Tokyo establishments. The 15-day cruise program (12-day cruise plus three-day land program) includes two ports of call in Japan, including an overnight stay in Kobe and a full day in Hiroshima. China is explored with two days in Shanghai, a call at Dalian and an inclusive three-day overland adventure to Beijing. Fares start at $5,495, per person, double occupancy.  For more information please call 800-300-4567 or visit www.all-travel.com/crystalcruises