Revamped second Crystal ship makes debut in Europe
The second ship to be relaunched under the newly owned and reinvented Crystal brand has begun its inaugural voyage from Athens.
Crystal Symphony underwent an extensive year-long refurbishment since being purchased by A&K Travel Group last summer.
The 606-passenger ship follows in the waves of sister ship Crystal Serenity, which was showcased to travel trade partners at the end of July for the first time.
Following Crystal Symphony’s inaugural voyage from Athens to Istanbul, the ship will sail to the likes of Santorini, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai, then for the remainder of 2023, destinations will include Sydney, Auckland, Papua New Guinea and Bali.
Crystal said it had managed to bring back 80% of the line’s original crew, many of whom were dispersed when the line’s previous owners went bust. The company and its two ships were acquired for $128 million in 2022 by A&K Travel Group, with a reported $170 million spent on the refit.
“We are so proud that Crystal Symphony has officially joined Crystal Serenity back in the water, signalling 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.
Crystal Symphony has larger, revamped suites, with the line collaborating with marine architectural firm GEM on the project. As part of the ship’s refurbishments, there are two new guest room categories – the Junior Crystal Penthouse Suite and Single Guest Room with Ocean View, which serves as an option for solo travellers. These new categories also increase the availability of the Sapphire Suite category.
The ship offers 10 dining options, including 24-hour in-suite dining service, and restaurants including Umi Uma under the direction of Nobu Matsuhisa, with Crystal offering the only Nobu dining concept at sea.
New for Crystal Symphony – as with Serenity – is Osteria D’Ovidio, an Italian restaurant named for Crystal’s executive chairman, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio.
Other dining options include Waterside Restaurant, Crystal’s main dining room and the poolside Trident Grill, as well as Tastes Kitchen & Bar with tapas-style cuisine and Marketplace, a buffet-style dining venue with floor-to-ceiling windows and open-air dining.
Aurora has also made its way onto Crystal Symphony, after its roll-out on Serenity for the first time, and it represents an impressive wellness space, in addition to the ship now offering a full-sized paddle tennis and pickleball court and a revamped fitness centre.
Future developments will see the cruise line tap into Abercrombie & Kent’s ground arrangements and DMC network for shore experiences under its shared ownership.
Crystal is also currently working with advisors, lenders and export credit agents to sign a memorandum of agreement with two European shipbuilders to build four new ships in the next six years, including two classic ships and two expedition vessels.
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