Crystal Serenity Is Back and Better Than Ever

20.02.2024 - 18:57 / travelpulse.com / Crystal Serenity / Crystal Symphony / Claudette Covey

This article originally appeared in the February issue of AGENTatHOME magazine.  Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

Since its inception more than 30 years ago, Crystal Cruises has served as a hallmark of sorts for luxury cruising, garnering a dedicated following among travel advisors and their clients. So, when the line – now known as Crystal – ceased operations in 2022 due to the liquidation of its parent company, Genting Hong Kong, its devotees were devastated.

When A&K Travel Group came to the rescue and purchased Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, both of which re-entered service in summer 2023, advisors and guests were elated. But what few foresaw was that A&K, which invested a fortune in renovations, would elevate the vessels to a new level of luxury – which is something I can attest to, at least in the case of Serenity. With three prior Crystal cruises under my belt, I sailed on a seven-night Crystal Serenity itinerary from Miami to San Juan late last year.

In short, A&K reduced Serenity’s passenger capacity from 1,080 to 740 to increase the ship’s spaciousness and added larger suites and new accommodations categories. It added a new spa and revamped two specialty eateries, Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar, and Osteria D’Ovidio, formerly known as Prego.

What has remained unchanged, however, is Crystal’s flawless service, which is friendly and highly efficient but not obsequious.

Your clients would be hard pressed to find better service on any other ship.

Two of Serenity’s four passenger decks – 8 and 9 – were entirely gutted to enlarge smaller accommodations and introduce two new categories: Single Guest Room With Ocean Views (215 square feet) and Junior Crystal Penthouse Suites (645 square feet with 161-squarefoot veranda), which feature separate bedrooms, and dining and living rooms.

The redesign also included the addition of larger versions of Serenity’s most popular accommodations, Sapphire Veranda Suites (430 square feet with 107-square-foot verandas). Now, guests can choose between the pre-existing classic configuration, which has a bathroom with a large, separate soaking tub and bidet, or the new version, boasting enormous showers with a rain shower and marble bench. Both versions are equipped with marble bathroom vanities with double sinks along with a copious amount of storage space, bedrooms with separate living rooms and walk-in closets.

In all, Serenity has nine category accommodations, which also include 1,265- foot Penthouse suites with 107-square-foot verandas, Aquamarine Veranda Suites (323 square feet with 86-square-foot veranda), Double Guest Room With Verandas (215 square feet with 54-squarefoot verandas) and Double Guest Rooms With Oceanview