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Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Celebrating the Holidays on Crystal Serenity

Caribbean - 12/2012

Nobody celebrates the Holidays like Crystal!  From the decorations to the party's, it's all first rate!

Having just returned from a 14 day cruise in the Caribbean aboard the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity, I can tell you they did a marvelous job!  The upgrades to the cabins reflect a rich addition to them.  The door bells on each cabin are a great addition as well.  The public rooms have been redesigned to offer warmer colors and a more intimate feel.

This being a Holiday Cruise afforded Crystal to do what it does best.  The decorations were everywhere.  Every detail was taken care of.   The ship was decorated in an "old world" Christmas motif, which was a nice change.  When the Christmas decorations were taken down, up went the New Years balloons and confetti!  It put you in a very festive mood.

Of course a review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the service!  It was impeccable.  There was not a "want" that went unfulfilled.  The staff was present without being intrusive.  Job well done Crystal Serenity!

Pros: Outstanding Service, Good Food

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Thru the Panama Canal

Panama Canal - 1/2012

What a relaxing, educational experience aboard this 6* ship. 

If you haven't transited the Panama Canal, you are in for a feast for the mind as well as body when you cruise thru on Crystal.  Onboard there is a specialist who gives the history of the canal as you cruise the calm waters of the cabibbean.   It is quite amazing to realize that this engineering masterpioece was completed in just 10 years.

The  three island days included St Thomas, St Maarten and Curaco.  Walking, shopping and mingling with the locals gave us a chance to savor the many caribbean flavors.  At each stop we could take a ship tour or just wander around and discover the history and culture and sample the local foods.  

Crystal is equipped with many dining options, a well equipped fitness center, spa, shops, movie theatre, casino and show rooms.   One of the wonderful ways to spend the sea days was lounging by the pool and being entertained by the dolphins and sea turtles.

Pros: Full transit of canal- lots of sea days

Cons: Open dining difficult to book.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Symphony Mexican Riveria Cruise December 11-21

Mexico - 12/2011

As always we thoroughly enjoyed this cruise as we have many others we have taken on Crystal over the past 15 years.

This cruise was very relaxing and mainly attended by people who just wanted to cruise and relax and were not so much interested in the Ports.  The speakers were excellent led by Sam Choy a master Chef from Hawaii that did a great job.  The most interesting speaker was Lou Zamparini who unfortunately had to leave the ship after his first presentation due to illness. What a story he had to tell.

The crew of the Symphony is what makes Crystal and this ship one of the best sailing today.  We are greeted by many of the crew who remember our name even if we have not been on for over a year.  In talking with other guests this is what makes the cruise experience special.

We tried the Open Seating for the first time and it was excellent.  We normally like to eat around 7:00 -7:30 so this worked out perfectly and even though you may not have the same waiter every night you are in the same section of the restaurant each day.

Pros: The Crew and the Food

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

20 Nov 11 Coastal Escape

West coast of California - 11/2011

7 day west coast round trip Los Angeles. Port calls in Santa Barbera, San Francisco, Ensesnada, Mexico and San Diego.

The Crystal Symphony is an immaculate ship with a staff devoted to customer service. The amount of personal space is impressive and even with 894 passengers, it never felt crowded.

The main dining room offered many delicious choices, including a full vegetarian menu, caviar , steak and fresh fish available every night in addition to the varied nighlty choices. . Specialty restaurants were hard to get into on this cruise. Prego is Italian and Silk Road is Asian fusion. In addition, there is the Lido buffet and the Trident Grill offereing casual fare. The wine list is extensive and they now offer their own Crystal brand from a Napa winery. There is also 24 h our room service.

The entertainmentis equal to any Braodway show and the guest lectureres on this cruise were timely and well informed.

Fitness Center and Spa immaculate with friendly, helpful staff.

Pros: Spacious luxurious ship

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Private Collection Med Sailing October 2011

Mediterranean - 10/2011

As always, Crystal service was superb.

The recently (June) redesigned cabins are beautiful with a few new features including door bells with electronic "Do Not Disturb" or "Make up Room" displays.

Several guests noted the "Crystal difference" in ports on shore excursions. Buses used by other cruise lines were older and packed with each seat full. Those utilized by Crystal were newer and had room for people to spread out.

October weather for these ports Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Rome, Sorrento, Kusadasi, Mykonos, Athens was lovely. Guests were not impressed with port area in Kusadasi.

A few guests complained about the sound system during shows was too loud. The quality of the entertainment was excellent.

Pros: Overnights in Barcelona and Monte Carlo, service, food, weather

Cons: Port intensive itinerary didn't allow for much rest for older guests

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Empires and Odysseys Cruise on the Crystal Serenity

Mediterranean - 9/2011

The Crystal Serenity is even more beautiful after her twenty five million dollar makeover.  There is good reason Crystal Cruises has been voted tops by both Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure more than any other cruise line!

The Crystal Serenity is just the right size ship, large enough to have many activities without being a mega ship. 

The service is outstanding, food excellent, and there is a wonderful variety of activities.  The crew of 655 (for 1070 passengers) is very international and experienced.  Many have been with Crystal for years. 

There are many excellent options for dining and none have an additional charge (other than tips in Prego and Silk Road).  One of my favorite places on the ship is the Bistro where you can have special coffee drinks and snacks throughout the day.

Daytime activities included excellent speakers, classes (fitness, golf, bridge, computer, etc.), movies, and the list goes on.  In the evening there is dance music, piano bar, a string quartet, and the shows in Galaxy Lounge. 

The staterooms have all been newly decorated with floor to ceiling tufted headboards, sofas, curtains, pillows, and custom carpets.  The bathrooms have double sinks and bath/shower combination.  The refrigerator was stocked with water and soft drinks which are complimentary. 

Pros: Great value for luxury cruise

Cons: Can't think of any

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Canada/New England Cruise

Canada/New England - 9/2011

Recently returned from an 11 day cruise from Montreal to New York.   The leaves wern't as colorful as hoped, but the charm of the port cities and the warmth of the Crystal Symphony staff made up for this.

For me, the highlight of this trip was the drive into the countryside in St John, New Brunswick.  The landscape was enhanced by waterfalls and the mist over the parks gave a surreal quality to the trees and beaches.  Outr taxi driver gave us the history of the area and took us to eat the "best" fish chowder anywhere.  

Unfortunately, our schooner trip in Bar Harbor was cut short by rain.  That was the only day the weather prevented our sightseeing.  The hopper buses in each city were a great way to get a good overview of each port.  The Newport Mansions are not to be missed.   

Being onboard the ship is like staying at a 5* hotel that moves at night.  The entire crew went out of their way to insure that our onbaord experience was flawless.  The dining especially at "Nobu" was beyond our expectations.  Many nights found us at the piano bar in the main lobby enjoying the music and enjoying the people we'd met onboard.

Pros: Food, cleanliness of ship, staff

Cons: Late dining, returning to ship by 4:30pm, not having a balcony

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal Serenity Art and Architecture Saling August 26, 2010

Spain, France, Italy and Croatia - 8/2011

Crystal Serenity is a luxury cruise at its finest.  New decor, lovely outdoor furniture around the deck, and a crew that is dedicated to your every wish.

I had the privilege of sailing on the Crystal Serenity on August 26, 2011.  It had been 4 years since my last Crystal sailing and I was so pleased with the changes in the decor, the supmptous furniture around the pool area, and some popular favorites like the Mozart Tea still continue.  The entertainment onboard still is the best afloat with big production numbers and guest performers. We enjoyed excellent guest speakers from the Olympic world and the White House Press.  The crew is so friendly and somehow within a day, knows you by name.  Shuttles were available in each port should you choose not to go on an excursion.  The open dinning is a new option and is a welcome change.

Pros: Great ship and crew, excellent food, good array of shore excursions

Cons: Open dinning is new and you are seated in a back section of the dinning room

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Connoisseur's Collection Cruise

The Med - 8/2011

Crystal Serenity August 14-26 2011 from Rome to Barcelona. 12 night Mediterranean cruise with the added amenity of the President of Crystal Cruises being aboard.

This cruise consisted of going to 3 countries: Italy, France, and Spain. The itinerary was excellent, we had an opportunity to stay late in San Tropez (Departed at 2 AM), an overnight in Monte Carlo and an overnight in Barcelona. We had 2 days at sea, which was not quite enough. Three days is always better. The ship was entirely sold out but it was the best service I have ever had on a Crystal Cruise (I've been on about 10 Crystal Cruises.) The service keeps getting better and the food at all of the restaurants was excellent. The ship was just out of dry dock and looks beautiful. On this cruise I really enjoyed the non-production entertainment shows. The production shows on Crystal are of course the best, but on this cruise we had the Ballet Flamenco from Barcelona.We had a fabulous award-winning singer from London's West End. We had a classical pianist from Russia/London who is from the Royal Academy of Music in London. And one of the funniest comedians I have ever seen from London. Something important about Crystal Cruises which really enhances your experience: wherever your port of call if the ship is docked within a certain vicinity of a city center, Crystal provides a free shuttle into that city. This makes your visit so easy because Crystal gets you to the city center and from there you can proceed to whatever you want to do that day. It was a fabulous trip and I continue to consider Crystal the finest cruise product on the market.

Pros: d

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal Symphony to Alaska August 13, 2011

Alaska - 8/2011

Trip was wonderful from the time I stepped on board until it was time to leave.  Everything was perfect -- cabin, staff, food, lectures, and activities.

The Symphony is a beautiful ship -- very clean and nicely decorated.  Even though the cruise was sold out, I never felt it was crowded.  The staff is kind and always one step ahead of you.  I really felt pampered.

My cabin was on the Promenade Deck -- great location.  You can walk right outside for some fresh air or just walk down one flight of stairs for a specialty coffee at the Bistro.

I have been on several cruiselines, but I am now spoiled with Crystal and can't imagine being as comfortable on any other ship.

Pros: Staff, beautiful ship, delicious food, interesting lectures and shore excursions

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal Panama Canal

Panama Canal - 3/2011

A 14 day cruise from Miami to Los Angeles through the Panama Canal.  The ship stopped at Grand Cayman, Cartagena, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.     

The Crystal Symphony's facilities and staff were superb.  There were a number of excellent speakers on board covering a wide variety of topics from world affairs to space exploration. The entertainment was outstanding and displayed a wide variety of talent.  Dining was first class and menus were never boring.  The transit of the Panama Canal was narrated by an expert with extensive personal experience in the canal zone.  This was the highlight of the cruise.

Pros: Outstanding staff!

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

March Trans-Canal

Panama Canal - 3/2011

There were wonderful improvements on the Symphony since I last sailed three years ago.   As always the service, cuisine and entertainment were top notch.    Open Dining by Reservation was a great enhancement as far as the dining experience for me.

I was  impressed with the improvements on the ship especially in the Lido Cafe.  That space has been reconfigured to make it more efficient and provide more privacy for diners.  Plus the decor is beautiful.  

For me the choice between two seatings in the Crystal Dining Room was always difficult--one seating too early and one too late.  So my friend and I chose Open Dining by Reservation.  Although it does not provide open dining in the same sense that other ships do,  it did work very well for us.  We found we went at 7:00pm generally and this gave us time to dine and get to the 8:30pm show. 

Something that impresses me about the ship is the wonderful energy one feels in the evening when walking through deck six.  There is some kind of live music  coming from venues on this deck and coming up for deck five.  I especially liked the evenings when the classic group was playing at the top of the grand stairway.

Pros: The wonderful service, cuisine and entertainment. The new Open Seating by Reservation. The attractiveness of the ship

Cons: The fact that there are not separate showers in most of the bathrooms, which are very small. The fact that gratuities and drinks are not included--although I am thrilled to read of the changes for 2012. Most of the staterooms and bathrooms are quite tight.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

On board Crystal Symphony

Panama Canal - 2/2011

My experience aboard the Crystal Symphony's transit of the Panama Canal

Crystal Cruises is exceptional in so many ways!  Let me comment on my observation aboard the Symphony for 11 nights while transiting the Panama Canal.

Decor:  The ship was recently refurbished and the tones of camel, beiges, gold and reds in the staterooms and public rooms is gorgeous.

Cleanliness:  The Symphony has just received the highest award for cleanliness and it is well-deserved.

Cabins:  Lovely!  Beds are extremely comfortable and linens are of the highest quality.  The shower/tub combo is excellent and the shower head and water power can't be beat!  The Aveda amenities and the complimentary bottled water and sodas are a welcome addition.

Dining:  The food is outstanding everywhere you eat whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner and presentation is supberb.  The lunch buffet held once during the cruise is a sight to see as well as being incredibly delicious.

Entertainment:  Fabulous Broadway shows and the singer, "Jackie" from London's West End was terrific!

Housekeeping:  The best--I can see why they won the hygiene award!

Clientele:  Average age onboard was about 70 years old.  I believe this is because the voyage departs from Miami.

Service:  Generally excellent.

Speakers:  Very good. The play by play narration of transiting the canal was amazing and went on all day.

Itinerary:  Good--although we couldn't always get in to every port due to weather. 

Shore excursions:  Swimming with the dolphins was the big hit!

Pros: Cleanliness, food, comfort, broadway shows and singers.

Cons: Service at main seating in dining room @ breakfast and dinner was spotty. When I sailed on Serenity 2 years ago, the staff would address you by name. This time it was M'am or Sir even though they saw us everyday. The magician and ventriloquist were not up to par and people walked out on the ventriloquist due to his

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

South America and Antarctica

South America and Antarctica - 1/2011

Fabulous itinerary. Seas were calm, ship was full  which created some issues with shore excursions and  dining request. The shore excursions to Antarctica were cancelled due to bad weather which was disappointing.  The scientist from Palmer station coming aboard and sharing their experiences was terrific.

We were very fortunate with calm seas.  The staff bent over backwards to service clients and make sure everyone was happy. The enhancement speakers provided a wealth of information and made themselves available for guests to ask questions after the seminars.

The scenery was spectacular.

Pros: spectacular scenery, great staff

Cons: overbooked itinerary, many shore excursions sold out, Open dining is not clearly understood

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

December 22, 2010 - Hawaii - Crystal Symphony

Hawaii R/T from Los Angeles - 12/2010

As usual, the Crystal experience was outstanding.  The quality of food and  service was outstanding.  On a scale of 1 - 10 it was a 9.5. 

Bonnie and I have cruised on Crystal ships approximately 35 times and have always found the quality to be consistently at a very high level.  The ship was in excellent shape.  Many members of the staff (especially the Grill staff) greeted us by name (we were last on Symphony in June of 2010).  The quality of the food in all dining venues was superb and the wait staff was of the highest quality.  There were many guests in wheelchairs and there was always a crew member available to provide any necessary assistance.  If there is any negative about the Crystal experience it is the size of the staterooms compared to other luxury brands. 

Pros: Quality of food and staff

Cons: Size of staterooms

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Serenity Iberian Holiday Lisbon RT Nov 22-Dec 1, 2010

Portugal Spain Morocco Canary Islands - 11/2010

Crystal "Serenity" did not disappoint. The itinerary was very interesting, and rather unusual-Spain/Morocco/Canary Islands & Madeira. Something a bit unusual, not the traditional Mediterranean ports of call.  A great option for a return trip to Europe, with a twist.  

"Serenity" is in top form, spotless and very well maintained. The public areas  are immaculate with lovely decor and attractive furnishings throughout. The cabins are spacious with plenty of storage, and nicely appointed. Especially the large bathroom including tub with shower, double sinks, luxurious towels and Aveda products. The Crystal Dining Room service and menu variety was a joy to anticipate each day.  Casual snacks, lighter fare and complimentary coffees, juices and soft drinks offered at Trident Grill, Tastes & The Bistro are a personal favorite.  The staff is attentive and very anxious to help in every way.  Be ready to be addressed by your first name, by most staff members!  The complimentary extra-bottled water on shore excursions, shuttles to city center, self serve laundry, enrichment programs, specialty restaurants to name just a few are great added values.  With Crystal's "As You Wish On Board Credits", this is a terrific luxury cruise experience.    

Pros: Beautiful Mid Size Ship, Excellent Service, Dining, Entertainment & Attention

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Ruins and Relics Crystal Cruise Holyland

Holyland Cruise - 10/2010

When I saw this trip I thought what a great trip! I looked at this itinerary and had to go. And wow what a trip! We had the very best time in the Med and were treated like royalty on the Crystal Serenity!

Our cruise began in Athens where we arrived a day early to check out the town. We  were able to visit the Acropolis and the Plaka .The Acropolis is an amazing place where you can explore the ancient ruins of the Parthenon, you will want wear comfortable shoes as you will encounter a lot of rough terrain, but it is totally worth it! The Plaka is a fun little area just outside the Acropolis and you can find cute shops, fun restaurants and it is a great place to people watch. Athens is fun,  I think we saw the best of it.

We made our way down to Piraeus where we boarded the Crystal Serenity, we were greeted by a familiar staff, we had not been on this ship since 2004 and one of the waiters actually remembered our names! Not just our faces but our names too, wow!!! This is the type of service I recalled from our last trip but to remember our names after this much time? I was so impressed. This is the type of service that brings so many repeat cruisers or Crystal society members back to Crystal Cruises. Also this is why Crystal is named #1 with Travel & Leisure Magazine & Conde Nast Traveler over and over again.

Crystal Serenity

We set sail to the tune of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” one of my all time favorites; did you know that each time a Crystal ship sails they play this tune over the loud speakers? I love it!

So the first day was at sea on our way to Israel (one of my favorite countries in this dear world of ours) We enjoyed the ship and we were able to sleep in and get our time zones caught up and went on to enjoy the day. There are a great many things to do onboard but we always seem to gravitate to the Lido deck where the staff there is amazing and we always enjoyed our visits with them. The food up there is very good; I became addicted to the salmon sandwiches. But we also went to the bistro and of course the Crystal dining room. They do some great buffets in the lobby where we did not shy away from.

Western Wall

Ahoy Israel! Here we come! We arrived in the port city of Ashdod, where we were met by our cousins who adopted us for 2 days. We went into Jerusalem and visited the Kotel (or the Wailing Wall) you just can’t go there and not visit the wall. We had booked a really fun tour of the City of David where they recently uncovered the water source to King David and his city. King David conquered Jerusalem and lived outside of where the Temple was originally built by his son Solomon. We saw where the ruins of his Palace were and went down to see the caves that were man made and where the water source was way back in the day. The water will come as high as your middle thigh at its deepest and we went in the total dark (with flashlights) thru these caves sloshing around and having so much fun! Enjoy my pictures of this. It was so fun and so different! Reservations are strongly recommended.

Hezekiah's Cave

We headed back to Tel Aviv to spend the night with the cousins; we had a fabulous dinner at their son’s restaurant Sergos. It is a wonderful place where Mediterranean fare was served and it was one of my favorite dinners I enjoyed.
The next day we explored Tel Aviv and went to a cool open market and did a little shopping. We ended up at the sea on the beach and enjoyed the sunset over the horizon and had to go back to the ship to sail to Egypt. Farewell Israel! We will miss you!

The next day was at sea and it was my birthday. Crystal has some fabulous restaurants onboard like Nobu’s Silk Road. This was exactly where I wanted to spend my special day as I love Japanese cuisine, and as we all know Nobu is the best! Prego is another dining option which is the cuisine of Chef Piero Selvaggio of LA’s Valentino restaurant, amazing!

We arrived in Alexandria a day later (and a big birthday for me later, oy!) we went on a cool excursion to the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum. We were able to ride camels at the pyramids (aren’t we exotic?) it took 3 hours to get from the ship to Giza, a long bus ride, but it was worth it to see these amazing relics. I never in a million years thought I would ever see the pyramids or the Sphinx but there they were. And there we were on camels…bonus!

Camels

King Tut's Mask

We then went to the Egyptian Museum and saw the mummy room. Who knew? We also saw King Tut’s treasure; his was the only tomb that wasn’t desecrated by grave robbers back in the day. It was lavish and there are many beautiful jewels and they really have all of the loot that was found in his tomb. It fills up several rooms there. All day that day I couldn’t help but to sing Steve Martins hilarious song, “King Tut”! How did I get so funky?

Back on board for 2 days on our way to Malta. Valletta was so nice, it is a beautiful medieval city. When you sail into the port (one of the most beautiful I have seen). If you want a great picture do yourself a favor and get up on deck with your camera at the crack of dawn to see this scene, pictures to treasure.

Valletta Malta

We enjoyed some Maltese wine, went to the maritime Museum rode a gondola and did a little shopping; and really enjoyed the day. We were lucky enough to have amazing weather and the sky as well as the water was so blue. It really is a refreshing clean and very friendly place.

Onward to Sicily. We had a special guest lecturer onboard the ship Marlon Fitzwater, press secretary to both Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush. He gave several lectures onboard and told some great behind the scenes stories of both Reagan and Bush. I really enjoyed his talks as he was telling these great behind the scenes stories . We spent a little time with him and his wife in Sicily we were on the same bus into the city center of Catania and had taken several pictures together, what an interesting man.

We did some shopping and since the shops close from 1pm in the afternoon we kicked around some more and headed back to the ship after a nice cappuccino in a street café.

Our cruise ended in Civitavecchia (about 1 hour outside of Rome), and enjoyed our last breakfast onboard, lucky enough it was raining outside and that made it easier to depart the ship

Pros:

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal Cruise to Europe

Mediterranean - 9/2010

Everything cruising should be. Excellent ship, food, and service.

This cruise happened to be one of our favorites.  Serenity is a classy, well designed ship offering something for just about everyone.  Luxury cruisers at this level want top drawer quality and Crystal comes through in all respects. The ships decor was classy, elegant, and had an upscale feel to it. 

Service was excellent in all respects.  The ships crew knew our names from the start and routinely greeted us by our names. Staff did their best to make you feel anything was possible. Make a request and it was done.

The food was outstanding. I was impressed with the regular dining room's quality and we ate there most nights. I didn't expect Prego to be a notch higher than regular dining, but they went the extra yard to accomplish it.  I came away impressed and knew that fellow cruisers would be too.

The Mediterranean itinerary was one of the best we've experienced. There were plenty of activities to keep most passengers busy.  Entertainment was very good.

The ship offered many excursions and had a wide variety of choices.  There  were a few that seemed a bit ambitious and pricey.  They did a good job of putting together interesting itineraries for the very active and also those wanting a more leisurely experience.

Pros: Itinerary, food, service

Cons: a non all-inclusive approach

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Critique from Carole Dalsimer

Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea - 9/2010

Every detail is important to the presentation of any aspect in order to provide an extraordinary journey for the clients.  I have been on 7 Crystal Cruises (in addition to many other lines) and I find that the high standards of Crystal are maintained year after year.......There is not a rust spot on that ship.....there is fine music playing in every nook and crany.......The entertainers are flown in and out constantly so that the shows are new and exciting......the food presentation is as nice as any top notch restaurant or top notch catering facility....The reception desk is always pleasant and helpful....no matter what request is made.  the cabins are kept ultra-clean .....in addition to the public areas always in tip-top condition.  ....the staff trats the passengers in the most welcoming manner and are always willing to please.

Pros: high quality in very way

Cons: none

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal Symphony

British Isles - 9/2010

The refurbishment of the Crystal Symphony is a resounding success with excellent accommodations, entertainment, food and service.  I highly recommend it for your next cruise.  

We sailed from Dover and after one day at sea, sailed into Edinburgh for two full days of sightseeing.  Most of the passengers attended the Tattoo and it was a spectacular event ending with the sky alit with fireworks.  Another day at sea brought us into Belfast, a charming city with many options to enjoy the sights.  We then enjoyed a full day in Dublin with again many tour choices followed by a nice change of pace with small island port visits to Holyhead, Waterford, Portland and St. Peter Port.

While dining in the Compass Rose offered gourmet choices, the alternate dining excelled  with either Prego for Italian and Mediterranean options or Silk Road for Asian Fusion selections. 

Crystal is known for prime entertainment and on this cruise it was varied and professional - from "Million Dollar Musicals" to "Curtain Call".  The dance sets were popular as well, either before dinner or after the shows.  Dancing seems to be a favorite pastime for passengers and the dance floor was always full.

The cabins have been attractively refurbished but what really catches the eye is the outside deck near the Palm Court with bright melon , green and blue umbrellas and comfortable lounges.   It was a popular destination every afternoon where passengers read or napped after the day's excursions.

In all, it was an excellent cruise - great ship and itinerary, with excellent food, service and entertainment.

Pros: Successful refurbishment, fine dining and entertainment

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Baltic Cruise on the Crystal Symphony

Baltic - 8/2010

Fabulous cruise and a superb itinerary.  Excellent food and service, as always is the case on Crystal.

When I go on a cruise it is all about the itinerary first and then see who goes there. When Crystal has either of their two ships going where I want to go, it becomes a win-win situation.

This cruise started in Stockholm which is a very nice city to visit on a pre-cruise stay as there is so much to see and do. The sail-away is beautiful as you sail past what seems like hundreds of islands on the way to Helsinki. Here the city tourist board provides visitors with maps outlining various walking tours if you are so inclined.

The next stop on the cruise was St Petersburg where we spent three full days and two nights, just about the perfect amount of time to see all the palaces, museums and churches this wonderful city has to offer. Of course, you can spend days in the Hermitage as it is so large.  We had our own private tour in this city for the three days which is the only way to go as we never had to wait in lines or wait for other members in a group.

Next on the itinerary was Tallinn, Estonia which is very nice. Some parts of the city go back to the 1400's.  A day well spent walking around the old town.

After these first five days in ports it was nice to have a day at sea to relax and enjoy everything the Crystal Symphony has to offer, from computer classes, language classes, lectures and of course, the fabulous food and service that has no match in the industry!

Copenhagen was our next stop and after some beautiful weather in the 70's it rained all day which took a little luster off the visit to this nice city. Oslo was next and the weather could not have been nicer. The entry to Oslo is beautiful as you are sailing in a rather narrow inlet with beautiful scenery all around. Reminds you of some of the Norwegian Fjords from previous cruises.  The new Opera House is amazing as most of it is under water! Bergen is still my favorite Norwegian city!

One more day at sea after Oslo and we had some rough seas on the North Sea due to a storm that passed which made for a fun ride for some of us. Others were not as complimentary of the seas!  More time learning about some computer programs on this day.  If I have one complaint it would be the cost of the internet access on the ship.  It just seems rather high as compared to other cruise lines I have been on.

We arrived in Dover, England on our final morning and had our van waiting for our ride to Heathrow and our flight home and the end of another great cruise on Crystal.  I am looking forward to my next one in February from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia and the Fjords and Sounds of New Zealand (I will have seen all the Fjords in the world after this cruise - some people go on cruises looking for all the penguins species!)

Pros: Itinerary, food, service, ship size, quality and cleanliness.

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Gaudi to Gondolas, Barcelona to Venice

Western Mediterranean - 8/2010

A remarkable voyage aboard a beautiful ship sailing to some of the most exciting ports of call with industry-best service and innovative dining.

The Crystal Serenity is a beautiful vessel carrying 1080 passengers and one of the largest in the luxury segment. The defining features of Crystal are the consistent service which is out-of-this-world, and 5 star dining.

All of the staterooms on Crystal are ocean view with the majority having balconies. The staterooms are spacious with large bathrooms, Egytian cotton linens, complimentary mini-bars, and impeccable twice daily maid service.

The public rooms on the Serenity are impressive starting with the beautiful atrium with waterfall sculpture and baby grand piano upon entry. The generously sized Creative Learning Institute is a highlight  which features a range of subjects including foreign language courses, art workshops, computer skills classes, cooking, and music.The Vintage Room is a wonderful option for large groups or families who want to experience a wine-themed dinner.  The ship also includes an extensive wine cellar, Lectures and classes from the Crystal Visions Enrichment program, Casino, Boutiques for shopping, several entertainment areas, a movie theater, 2 pools, a childrens area, 3 self service complimentary launderies, Spa, and fitness center.

The Crystal Dining Room offers traditional dining with two seatings offered until the end of 2010. Crystal will be offering Perfect Choice Dining in 2011 with new Open dining by Reservation. In addtion to the main dining room Crystal offers 2 specialty restaurants, Prego, and Silk Road which are complimentary except for a mandatory gratuity of $7.00 per person. The experience, and quality of food in Prego and Silk Road were incredible. These two restaurants should be a must on each passengers list. The Lido Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch and serves basic entrees. A more casual choice is offered pool side at Tastes for late breakfast, and dinner. The food was excellent and this was a nice choice for evenings when getting back to the ship late or not wanting to dress for dinner. There were two buffets offered onboard, an Asian buffet pool side, the well known Oceans Buffet in the Atrium, and both were amazing.

The entertainment onboard was good which included several dance performances, a flutist, a comedian, and a mind reader. I didn't feel this was a strong point for Crystal, and felt the selection of entertainers could have been better. On the days at sea the onboard activities were limited and often similar. I would have preferred a bit more choice.

Overall the experience on Crystal is outstanding which is attested to the fact by the majority of the passengers onboard who are repeat passengers. Crystal is for those passengers who want and appreciate the combination of big-ship activities and amenities with luxury food and service.

I highly recommend Crystal as a top choice in the luxury cruise market.

Pros: Customer service, outstanding cuisine, large spacious staterooms.

Cons: Quality of shore excursions for the price, more onboard activity needs to be offered during sea and at sea days.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal Serenity July 31st, 2010 Istanbul to Barcelona

The Mediterranean - 7/2010

This is an overall review of "Becoming Crystalized".

Crystal Serenity remains wonderful. I have been aboard this ship every year for the last 4 years and find that the experience only gets better. The overall impression (for past and new cruisers, alike) is that you are aboard a beautiful floating resort that effortlessly delivers you to your next adventure; until you return to your wonderful "home at sea" to be pampered by a staff that is genuinely happy to see you! Once back onboard, there are many complimentary enrichment opportunities offered, or you may do nothing at all, whatever pleases. 

The dining room is at once elegant and comfortable with the best waitstaff at sea. The cuisine is wonderful and served in smaller portions so that you may try more of the delicious courses. Healthy food regimens are very easy to keep and special dietary requests are easily accommodated. Also offered are the complimentary Specialty Restaurants; Silk Road (by Nobu) and Prego (by Piero Selvaggio). A small gratuity is additional and charged to your shipboard account.

The entertainment is the most elaborate at sea, especially Crystal's famous productions shows. There are also plenty of music  and dancing options offered in the venues around the ship.

The Crystal experience still exceeds expectations. I continue to believe that bad days in the the world of Luxury Cruising simply do not exist.

Pros: The itinerary was incredible, the service was impeccable and the dining was elegant.

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Review of Crystal Symphony White Nights of the Baltic

Scandinavia and Russia - 7/2010

Ports and Excursions

This was a very interesting, historical cruise that covered many ports.

Each day offered excellent options and comprehensive excursions.

The port speakers were very interesting and available for questions. Very well informed.

Food, entertainment and shuttle service were the best!

The room steward worked very hard and kept the cabins clean and neat.

Pros: Great food, comprehensive shore excursions, exceptional service

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal Symphony Baltic Cruise - July 28 through August 7, 2010

Stockholm, Sweden - 7/2010

Great shipboard experience and very interesting ports of call.   St. Petersburg, Russia was full of interesting sights and the guides were well versed in their knowledge of historical facts.  The docents in the museums were very unfriendly, but the overall experience of seeing the art collections overcame this one issue. 

The ship staff was very helpful, professional and always at the ready when needed.

Pros: Ports were most interesting and beautiful

Cons: Weather was very warm and many sights in this part of the world do not have airconditioning.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Crystal experience does not disappoint

Rome to Dover - 6/2010

Gleaming refurbishments keep the ship looking sleek and up to date.  Food is excellent and service, for the most part, effortless and  gracious.

Crystal continues to provide not only an accomplished product but also provides a great balance between service and "being left alone."

We would like to see deck 11 mid ship space used for casual evening dining as they have done on the Serenity. 

Sailing experience does not disappoint in any manner.

Pros: Great Sailing experience..does not disappoint

Cons: Needs some added dining venues

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Iberian Idyll 2010

Europe, Iberian, Mediterranean - 5/2010

The Crystal product was new to us so we did a lot of research and used the Crystal Experience 3 page fold-out we received from our local rep to prepare. 

The itinerary was very unusual visiting Portugal, Gibraltar, Spain, France and Italy so this is what made it attractive to me.  Having not sailed with Crystal, and knowing that it has 5 star appeal to many, I was anxious to try it and was not disappointed. 

Many are afraid of planned dining and we usually do open seating so we were a little afraid.  We were seated with a wonderful group at our table for 8 that included the french teacher on board.  We were happy to meet with everyone each night, but did take time to sample the Prego and Silk Road restaurants as well.  Fabulous food, decor and service in both alternative restaurants.  There was only one bad meal in the main restaurant and it was the king crab legs that were previously frozen and served very dried out.  The wine list was well presented in the restaurants and the bars and what we did not purchase on the ship, we were able to bring on board from the local regions with a small corkage fee. 

We used the shore excursion desk and the only disappointment was that the biking trip in Mallorca used a relatively inexperienced guide who did not check that everyone knew how to use their equipment and did not wait for the whole group before he stopped and talked about where we were. 

We also used the spa and were very happy that there was not a bunch of upselling of the Elemis products that you see on other ships.  Kudos for that! 

The photo staff were respectful and also talented so that when we DID want our pictures taken, they turned out great.  I thought that they were a little pricey though. 

The entertainment was much better than what we had experienced before on other ships and the string quartet and piano soloist in the bar, respectively, were the best. 

Computer training at Sea looked like it was doing well as I spent a fair amount of time in the computer center doing business.  A big plus is that if you use the same set every time, you log into the Windows and can save templates and letters to the hard drive for use later in the cruise!  The only next step would be to be able to save to a server so that if your computer is not available, you can access your forms anywhere.  Some of us have to take our work with us and again, I was pleasantly surprised at the business center and used it a lot. 

Sad to have missed the included wine tastings because we hung out at the pool, but did enjoy the couple of times they had free champagne at sail away. 

The movie selection in the staterooms was great and to have the food channel running 24/7 on this themed cruise was great. 

Linens and amenities in the staterooms great and free water and sodas add a lot.  We used the coffee shop a lot for free latte and espresso and they almost always had a great spread of food for late breakfast and lunch.  We enjoyed the tea and the Mozart tea was especially fun.

Pros: Service, amenities, food and ship's management support were superb

Cons: Other guests commented to me that the colors were dated (aqua in particular).

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Mediterranean Food & Wine Cruise

Europe - 5/2010

First time Crystal Cruise on themed sailing.

The itinerary was a Western Med sailing from Venice to Barcelona with port calls at Dubrovnik, Taormina, Sorrento, Civitevecchia, Livorno, and Cannes.  The Food & Wine Theme was low key so if you were not a "foodie" you wouldn't feel left out.  As my first time on Crystal I was particularly impressed with the complimentary shuttles from the port to the town.  (Unavailable for interior destintions such as Rome and Florence.)  This unique service is great for the avid cruiser who may have visited the port before or not interested in the shore excursions.  The head sommelier was truly dedicated to making keen wine selections from the regions we were visiting.  The art classes had projects that were styled on the local cultures as well.  The ship was nicely appointed and the food and service good.  I would prefer the wine and spirits be included and the staterooms and bathrooms larger.  The clientele was a nice mix of ages and overall and excellent cruise.

Pros: Excellent Service, Complimentary Activities and Shuttle, Quality food and wine.

Cons: Wine and Spirits not included in the fare and the staterooms could be larger.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Indian Ocean Cruise April 2010

Indian Ocean-Singapore to Dubai - 4/2010

As always a top notch cruise experience for all passengers.  Great weather, calm seas and a half full ship made for a fabulous experience.

16 magnificent days of calm waters and blue skies, you could hardly tell you were moving.  The weather was very warm but the pool was inviting and provided a welcome relief to the heat when not inside.

Because of the limited number of passengers we had open seating which always is welcome on Crystal.  Ports are very interesting but be informed that in most of the ports shuttle service is not available due to local taxi restrictions.  However the shore excursions were great.    

The new renovations to the Symphony are great especially up on the Lido Deck with it's new food stations and expanded aft seating.  The renovations to the deck are also a plus with comfortable lounge chairs and sofas to relax.

Pros: Always our favorite Cruise Line because of service and quality of food.

Cons: NONE

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Review of Crystal Voyage 5 of World Cruise Dubai to Athens

Middle East - 3/2010

This cruise was beyond wonderful.  I have been cruising on Crystal since 1990, Some years better than others, but now they are back to being the best in all categories.  I don't know what they did with the crew but everyone knew our names and called us by our names whether they had met us before not not

The ship was in perfect condition.

There were only 450 guests on the ship due to the itinerary.  We were passing the Straits of Mormouz and Somalia which could have kept the guest compacity low, but the for  the guests on the cruise it was even more wonderful.

Crystal added security from India, giving us a more secure feeling in case of attacks from the Pirates.  There was a security drill in case of attack.  Everyone was calm and felt very grateful with all the arrangements made to secure the ship.

When we were going to Saudi Arabia Crystal provided the women on the ship with the black Abayas long dresses to wear while we were on the tours.  It really wasn't necessary, but since this was the first time Crystal stopped in this country they wanted to take all precautions with our safety. 

Pros: Crystal is the Best Cruise Line overall. Nothing can compare

Cons: Cabins could be larger

Reviewer Recommended? y