ONBOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY — We were sitting in the office of Scott Peterson, the Hotel Director on Crystal Serenity. The 20-year old ultra luxury ship had just left Quebec City heading to Halifax and New York on its first North American cruise since bankruptcy, legal woes, purchase by the Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group and an extensive, $150 million refurbishment of it and its 28-year old sister ship, Crystal Symphony. In early 2022, A&K purchased both ships at auction, paying $103 million for Serenity and $25 million for Symphony.

“For two old ships, the commitment the new owners made is extraordinary,” Peterson told us. “The transformation of both ships in just a few months at a single Italian shipyard was unprecedented.”

Another commitment, Peterson said, will be to travel advisors, many of whom were affected by the bankruptcy. “The new owners are adamant that those relationships must be repaired. And they will be.” He also pointed out that past guest milestones will be recognized and honoured.

Most remarkably, with its major refit, Crystal Serenity decreased the room count and lowered the maximum number of passengers from 970 to 740. When we embarked in Quebec City for our eight-day cruise it looked, for the most part, like a brand new ship. All passenger areas, even the extensive teak decking, looked new, upgraded or totally changed. The most dramatic transformation was on passenger decks 8 and 9 where all former rooms and suites were removed and the area stripped down to bare steel. Much larger, prefabricated suites were craned onboard, all with approved material for coast guard and fire safety regulations. Also, for the first time, single ocean view rooms were added.

The living area of a Sapphire Veranda suite onboard Crystal Serenity

We were in one of those Deck 9 Sapphire Veranda suites, now at a generous 537 square feet, including a double width balcony. In a word, it was stunning. The sitting room had a large sofa, a marble top work desk, a table for meals and snacks and four comfortable chairs. It included a large, walk in closet, Nespresso coffee maker and a fridge stocked with complimentary champagne, wine and beer.

Every room on Serenity includes the services of a well-trained butler and he or she can also provide spirits (vodka, rum, gin or whisky from the complimentary list) or non-alcohol wine or beer. The butler also brings hors d’oeuvres every afternoon, fresh fruit daily and can look after all needs including laundry and pressing or specialty dining reservations. Instead of paper, there’s an iPad in every room with daily programs, restaurant menus, even full copies of daily newspapers from around the world. If requested, a printed daily schedule is available.

There’s a curtain between the living room and the bedroom where guests enjoy a comfortable, king size bed with high-end Italian sheets, the most luxurious we’ve ever experienced at sea. On each side of the bed is a marble table, reading lights, USB ports and electric plugs for both North American and European devices. Both rooms include a 50”, high-res TV with a wide selection of movies and TV channels from the U.S., Canada, Britain, Japan, France, Spain and Italy. The whole ship, including each suite, is wired for complimentary WiFi with a signal equal to the best at sea.

The bathroom in our suite included two well-spaced sinks along a marble counter, both liquid and bar soap, toiletries from upscale Ortigia Sicilia and a huge shower, big enough for three people, that had a choice of four separate nozzles. There was a makeup mirror and a wide, lighted mirror above the sinks. However several guests told us that they missed a full-length mirror in their suite.

One significant difference in the refurbished Crystal Serenity is the lack of a casino. That space has now become another lounge, a bit bland, but ideal for embarkation formalities. “Crystal is not in the casino business like the previous owners were,” Peterson told us. “But a casino is especially important in the Asian market, so we’re looking at the possibility of a smaller venue for gambling.”

The seven piece Galaxy Show Band performs throughout the ship

Outstanding cuisine has always been a hallmark of the Crystal experience and the new owners intend to build on and enhance that reputation. Many of the restaurants including the Marketplace Buffet, Trident Grill and Tastes Kitchen, all on Deck 12, and the main, Waterside restaurant on Deck 5 have been refreshed and upgraded. It was a treat to see fresh squeezed orange juice and real maple syrup at breakfast.  The really significant dining changes are evident in the two specialty restaurants on Deck 7.

Umi Uma (Sea Horse), known as Silk Road prior to 2018, is Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s only restaurant at sea. It was totally gutted and refurbished in the shipyard earlier this year and is now much brighter and more modern looking with changed colour schemes, tables and fixtures. The popular sushi bar remains and table guests can enjoy Nobu’s award-winning Japanese-Peruvian specialties like Lobster with Truffle Yuzu, Sashimi Salad and Miso Glazed Black Cod.

Prego, the Italian specialty restaurant on Deck 7, has been renamed and enhanced. It is now known as Osteria d’Ovidio to honour Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, former owner of Silversea Cruises and now Executive Chairman of the Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group. His Italian influence on the menu shows. Our favourite dishes included Lobster in Aqua Sale, Salt Baked Sea Bass, Tortello Pasta with braised beef and Risotto with Scampi. Missing from the menu (to the disappointment of several guests) was a Prego highlight, Mushroom Soup in a Bread Bowl. But the main restaurant, Waterside, includes it at least once per cruise.

The elegant Palm Court, on Deck 12 with its wrap-around ocean views, has always been the relaxation and reception centre on Crystal Serenity. It has stayed much the same with daily trivia and formal afternoon tea as regular events. The popular Mozart Tea, presented once each cruise with waiters in late 18th century attire, has been dropped by the new owners. In its place, a Chocolate Tea will be featured.

Unlike many cruise lines, Crystal has not cut back on the quality of its entertainment or the number of performers hired. We were delighted with the talent of the seven piece Galaxy Show Band and the 10 singers and dancers in the ensemble. Enrichment lectures plus golf, bridge, art and computer instruction are available daily. Crystal remains all-inclusive with the exception of excursions.

When Genting Hong Kong, Crystal Cruises’ former owner, filed for bankruptcy in early 2022 the crews of Serenity and Symphony were devastated but many found alternate employment. After the acquisition by AKTG, Peterson told us that a blanket email was sent to all former crew inviting them back. “The response was overwhelming,” he said. “Over 80% of former Crystal employees have signed up and returned.” Such a response shows the loyalty and passion the staff continue to have for the company and its high quality services for guests.

In a published interview shortly after Abercrombie & Kent acquired the two Crystal ocean ships, the new owner, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, commented, “You’re going to find the same Crystal … enhanced.” In our interview with Hotel Director Scott Peterson, himself a 20-year Crystal veteran, that same optimism and commitment were evident. “For many years, Crystal was the number one cruise ship in the world,” he noted. “Our goal is to return to that status and to be exceptional.”

Crystal Serenity’s Hotel Director Scott Peterson in the ship’s bright atrium