what makes it special, and ear-marking it as the kind of voyage that holds real appeal for those who treasure a deep and lasting cruise experience. So you will have to forgive me if I focus primarily for now on our travel vehicle and the sumptuous style of Crystal Cruises, one of the handful of genuine deluxe operators who continue to impress with attention to detail and an unabashed personable approach.
It is amazing to reflect Symphony is
now 16 years old. Crystal’s original ship, the Harmony, made her debut way back in 1990 and the follow-up five years later
like an unnecessary frivolity, our man Igor added a level of sophistication that was ultimately easy to enjoy (and miss once ashore again!). The ship slipped comfortably into a relaxed daily routine and the ease with which we docked at each port, strolled into the heart of every city and soaked up the autumn splendours throughout the voyage were recurring highlights that lingered long in the memory. True, embarkation in Montreal could
have been smoother and the traffic-choked drive from the airport to the port wasn’t the most serene, but the overnight stay ensured
faithfully followed the luxury blueprint, so much so the Serenity in 2003 was merely a slightly larger version of the original well-tried pattern.
T
hree careful refurbishments have ensured the second ship maintains her youthful charms, with a 2009
makeover adding a Penthouse-level remodel, Lido Café redesign, pool deck overhaul and a chic new look for the alternative Prego restaurant that all serve to keep the ship at the forefront of stylish but refined design. There is no flash and glitz in Crystal’s repertoire; no soaring atriums or gimmicky attractions; no rock-climbing walls or bowling alleys. This is a more timeless, traditional cruise ethos but still on a decent scale (50,000 tons), with a fine array of onboard choice and an expansive feel that belies the 900-plus passenger capacity. The European cabin staff have just the right amount of formality and enough personality to ensure there is nothing formulaic about their daily interaction with passengers and, while a butler may seem
we had plenty of time to soothe that minor ruffle, providing easy access to the Old Port, with its superb array of shops, bars and restaurants. Our early arrival in Quebec, with a full moon setting over the Chateau, was outrageously scenic and again afforded the easiest pedestrian access to the full range of delights in this compact and cosmo- politan bastion of western Europe, with its heady mix of French, British, Irish and German influences. A full day there was followed by two
days cruising the Seaway and Gulf of the St Lawrence, an impressive body of water
Spring 2011 I WORLD OF CRUISING 23
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