We just returned from another fabulous Crystal transatlantic crossing (our 5th) on Crystal Serenity. Crystal seems to just get better every year and a transatlantic crossing is the best way to take advantage of all the ship (and the cruiseline) has to offer.
With only about 800 people on a good-sized ship, the ship is small enough to seem intimate, but large enough to have multiple activities ...
We have sailed on Serenity several times before and love it: huge interior spaces for the number of passengers; outstanding service; delicious food; provocative speakers; exciting evening entertainment. But, the ship has shown its age and the formal, fixed seating dinners belong to a bygone age. Thus we were anxious to see the remodeled ship featuring new dining options.
Smooth embarkation ...
In November 2018, my wife and I took Crystal’s 11-day cruise across the Atlantic aboard the Serenity (voyage OCY181110).
For some time, we’ve taken two to three cruises a year on Crystal.
This is one of two ships in Crystal’s tiny ocean fleet. Each carries around 900 passengers. The two ships are pretty much a matched set that rotates crew, routes, and entertainment.
ROUTE:
This type ...
WE love Crystal. However, when it takes 45 minutes to get served in no man's land for their dining by reservation anytime dining program, it makes me wonder what is going on with this company. Is profit driving a wedge into what was excellent service, fantastic food and beverage service at your fingertips?
Heaven help you if you make a reservation for 7:45 for the main dining room. You are in ...
It seems that the Crystal crew seems to always anticipate your needs. They keep the ship spotless. I see them late at night cleaning hall baseboards while on their knees.
Food in the regular restaurant is awesome. You don't normally see JUMBO shrimp, lobster, filet mignon, caviar, crab over and over again on the menu.
Nobo's menu in Silk Road specialty restaurant was great as was the menu ...
We selected this cruise for its destination. We have sailed frequently on Crystal and other lines over the years and always thought highly of Crystal Cruises.
There were many problems on this trip. Embarkation was only the beginning.
The most serious was the flu-like illness that many, many passengers and crew suffered. While we accept that illness can always occur on a cruise, we ...
Cruise to the Amazon. Two ports changed as a result of hurricane damage. Food equal to any 5 star restaurant and no request considered a problem. Ask for something special today and it is available at tomorrow's meal. Included wine was reasonable quality- not "two buck chuck". We even delayed departure to await a shipment of fresh seafood and raspberries which required increased speed (translate ...
We love Crystal and were interested in exploring the Amazon River. For us, this is a once in a lifetime destination both because it is so exotic and because once was great but enough. The Amazon is very hot and humid, and the blast of air conditioning was a welcome relief each time we returned to the ship.
There is not a whole lot to see from the ship itself, because the river is so wide that ...
Cruise 5331 was an Atlantic crossing (Lisbon to Miami), with only two brief stops along the way (Tenerife and Key West). My wife and I took this cruise for its long string of sea days, not the port stops.
We’ve taken the Crystal Serenity (1,000 passengers) over a dozen times in the past several years. We treat it as a comfortable boutique hotel where everyone knows your name. It’s consistently ...
We looked forward to a Crystal Big Band Transatlantic cruise with great anticipation.
Never have we been so disappointed.. The standards have slipped so far and so fast , we were bitterly disappointed by the entire experience. The cutbacks and cost snipping are getting a little too obvious under new ownership. The " Best cruise line in the world" is suffering from a severe case of self ...