Crystal Cruises Review

For a visual overview of Crystal Cruises, watch all of the Avid Cruiser video reviews in the player above.

Offering the best of both worlds, Crystal Cruises delivers an intimate, upscale experience but on ships large enough to provide many spacious public rooms and dining venues, plus the industry’s most extensive repertoire of onboard classes, lectures and workshops.

Adding to the great value of a Crystal cruise, the line will be going all-inclusive starting in spring 2012, bundling all alcoholic drinks (wines and spirits) in the fares along with free round-trip airfare from two dozen North American cities, plus soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees and tips.

See related article: Crystal Cruises Goes All The Way: All-Inclusive Beginning 2012

Carrying 922 and 1,070 passengers apiece, Crystal’s two ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, globetrot around the world with well-heeled mostly American couples in their 50s plus, spending significant time in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and New England and Canada, as well as the Far East, the South Pacific and South America.

Dining On Crystal Cruises

Food, and the lavish table settings and smart service that come along with it, is a highlight of a Crystal cruise. Each ship has an elegant formal dining room with two seatings as well as three chic alternative restaurants: an Italian venue and two pan-Asian restaurants featuring cuisine by renowned master chef Nobu Matsuhisa, including a sushi bar. Also see: Dining On Crystal Symphony, Perfect Choice, Prego & Other Options

See related video: Crystal Symphony’s Silk Road & Sushi Bar, But Is It A Real Nobu Experience?

There’s also a poolside grill serving everything from salmon burgers to tuna melts, plus an indoor café with a delectable spread of pastries, cheese and cold cuts. Enjoy the daily elaborate high tea service and the great themed luncheon buffets that are legendary in cruise circles.

Activities Galore On Crystal Cruises

Crystal’s impressive roster of activities is another high point. A typical Crystal cruise hosts four or five accomplished lecturers, from authors to politicians, scientists and other luminaries, as well as complimentary computer training classes, Berlitz language classes and Yamaha keyboard instruction.

Sign up for art classes conducted by the Parsons School of Design and wellness programs organized by the Cleveland Clinic and the Tai Chi Cultural Center. Further, there are dozens of themed sailings spread over the year and focused, food and wine, art, film, dance, jazz, wellness, and other subjects.

See related video: Crystal Cruises, Activities That Are Traditional, Tried & True? Or New & Fresh?

For more physical pursuits, large oceanview gyms are stocked with the latest equipment and offer complimentary classes like spinning, yoga and pilates. There are also golf-driving nets, a putting green, paddle-tennis courts, shuffleboard and walks along the 360-degree Promenade Decks.

Multiple entertainment venues include a theater for production shows, plus several romantic lounges, a dance club, a couple of bars and a spacious casino.

Family Cruising On Crystal Cruises

Of all the luxury lines, Crystal does the most for families with bright playrooms and supervised activities whenever demand calls for ages 3 and up. Teens also get their own space and you can borrow kiddy books and videos in the library. Anytime there are 10 children on the ship, there is a camp counselor, and on summer cruises, Crystal may have as many as 10 camp counselors and three different age levels for the programs – 3 to 8, 9 to 12 and teens.

Though considered the largest true luxury vessels in high-end cruise market, the cabins aren’t as roomy as they are aboard Crystal’s smaller high-end peers (ie, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Seabourn). Still, the recently refurbished cabins are comfortable, and all categories have a mini-fridge, exceptionally comfy bedding and a huge offering of in-cabin movies.

Accolades For Crystal Cruises

For more than a decade running, readers of upscale travel magazines have given top honors to Crystal Cruises. The distinction is well-deserved for Crystal, which succeeds in its goal to provide guests with the finest luxury services available.

Crystal Cruises Cruise Reviews

Crystal Symphony off the coast of Sicily

These People Will Love Crystal Cruises

  • People who like to be pampered. Staff strive to make your Crystal cruise vacation the perfect one by anticipating your needs for luxury and pampering. You can expect superior service on Crystal Cruises.
  • People who like to learn. From acting workshops to foreign language classes, Crystal Cruises offers its guests opportunities to enrich their mind, body and spirt.
  • Healthy Diners. Crystal Cruises went trans-fat free in response to a growing public health concern that associates trans-fats with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Low-carbohydrate menus also are available for all meals in all dining venues.
  • Oenophiles. On a Crystal cruise, select from more than 230 wines, including a new “Reserve Wine List,” featuring such rare vintages as 1959 Château Lafite Rothschild or 1971 Château Petrus.
  • World cruisers. Crystal Cruises offers world cruises of more than 100 days.

What’s Included On Crystal Cruises

  • All meals, from classic two-seating dinners in the main dining room to specialty dinner restaurants for more intimate evenings. Bottled water, soft drinks and specialty coffees are served complimentary.
  • Fitness Center and Crystal Spa, featuring the high seas’ only Feng Shui-inspired spa. Readers of Conde Nast Travel gave top honors to Crystal Cruises’ spas, naming them World’s Best Cruise Line Spa. Complimentary instruction in such classes as yoga and Pilates.
  • Entertainment, including dazzling production shows as well as celebrity entertainers and speakers. Watch movies on the big screen in the Hollywood Theatre.
  • Course Work. One of Crystal’s most popular programs is its Creative Learning Institute, offering a range of classes and workshops to expand your knowledge in an entertaining, hands-on style.
  • And coming in 2012, alcohol and gratuities. See related article: Crystal Cruises Goes All The Way: All-Inclusive Beginning 2012

Destinations Served By Crystal Cruises

  • Africa
  • Alaska
  • Asia
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • Canada & New England
  • Caribbean
  • Hawaii
  • Mediterranean
  • Mexico
  • Northern Europe
  • Panama Canal
  • South America
  • South Pacific
  • Transatlantic
  • West Coast
  • World Cruise

Ship Reviews

Avid Cruiser Posts, Photos & Videos Featuring Crystal Cruises

 

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