DELUXE CRUISING
These proved a popular diversion and Bobby enjoyed the Nuevo Latino themed buffet which celebrated the fiery gastronomy of South America and Mexico, as well as the American Classic Cuisine buffet. My favourite was the Mediterranean extravaganza. Some days we lunched at Tastes, the poolside open kitchen brasserie where the Tower of Crab Cake and Stir-Fried Hokkien Noodles turned out to be our favourites. On a couple of occasions we just felt like a grilled sandwich or burger in the Trident Grill, conveniently situated close to Scoops ice cream bar. Afternoon tea in the Palm Court assumed theatrical proportions one afternoon when the crew donned period costume to serve ‘Mozart Tea,’ complete with string quartet. I was very conscious Crystal Cruises has
stuck with the regime of hiring European or South African crew for key positions such as stewardesses, butlers, waiters, bus-boys, bartenders and bar-waiters.
S
ome deluxe cruise lines have made economies recently by employing more Filipino and Indian staff to key passenger interface roles. This has proved to be detrimental to these companies’ overall cruising experience and I was delighted to see service levels on my Crystal cruise were as good as it gets. The production shows such as Curtain
Call and Standing Room Only were without doubt some of the best choreographed, most lavishly costumed and technically exacting entertainment we had ever seen on board a ship. Not an aficionado of glitzy shows, this was one facet that proved memorable on previous cruises; several years on, nothing has been compromised. By day, one of the most popular
diversions was the Computer University@ Sea where it was possible to check emails 24-hours a day. Boasting the largest array of networked terminals at sea and a team of instructors, passengers quickly signed up for the variety of courses on offer to improve their computer skills. Another part of Crystal’s ‘Creative Learning Institute’ is the chance to learn a host of foreign languages, including Chinese (Cantonese/Mandarin), French, german, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian and Spanish. In association with Berlitz, these acclaimed classes take place in The Studio, a dedicated, state-of-the-art ‘edutainment’ facility. The curriculum includes an average of five, 45-minute sessions that allow passengers to return home with a new language as a lasting souvenir. Designed in accordance with the principles of Feng Shui, the Crystal Spa
offers a serene environment for doyennes of indulgence. I sampled a Japanese silk Booster Facial and chilled-out afterwards in the private, canopied relaxation area on the Spa’s aft deck – high above the ocean on Deck 13. bliss! Ultimately, it was refreshing to experience a cruise vicariously and pen my observations through the eyes of a critic who eschews sycophancy. And I can only agree with Bobby’s comments, adding that, as a Crystal Cruises veteran, it is reassuring to see standards haven’t slipped. Indeed, in many instances, they have improved. This is truly a six-star ship.
FACT FILE Built:
Tonnage: Length: Beam: Draft:
Crystal Serenity 2003
68,870 820ft 105ft 25ft
Speed:
Passengers: Crew:
Passenger decks: Registry:
22 knots 1,080 635 9
Bahamas
Itineraries: autumn, Mediterranean, transatlantic; winter/spring, Caribbean, Panama Canal, World Cruise (110 nights, Los Angeles-Dover); summer, N Europe, Mediterranean.
More info: In the UK, call 020 7287 9040 or visit
www.crystalcruises.co.uk; in the US, call 1888 722 0021 or
www.crystalcruises.com.
Autumn 2010 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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