Luxury Cruise Bible

Crystal Serenity

Itineraries

Africa & the Middle East • Alaska • Asia • Australia & New Zealand • Caribbean • Central America & Panama Canal • Mediterranean • Mexico • Northern Europe & The Baltics • South America & the Amazon • Trans-Ocean • World Cruise

About This Ship

When Julie Andrews christened this ship in 2003, Crystal Cruises had no idea how popular Crystal Serenity would become. Cruisers have embraced this ship and return to her again and again. Why?

Despite Crystal Serenity‘s size—68,870 tons with a passenger capacity of 1,070—she never feels crowded. That’s because Crystal Cruises places a high premium on its space-per-guest ratio. There are plenty of gorgeous public rooms to enjoy and the staterooms and suites are spacious compared to industry standards.

The ship’s service is another reason why so many travelers call Serenity their home away from home. Attention to detail is a hallmark of Crystal Cruises and quality service is alive and well on this ship.

Finally, even though Crystal doesn’t offer an all-inclusive experience—you need to pay for wine and liquor as well as gratuities—a special emphasis is placed on food and wine. Crystal Serenity chefs aim to dazzle passengers, meal after meal.

All of this combines to create an excellent luxury cruise experience for the cruise fare paid.

Staterooms & Amenities

Crystal staterooms and suites are some of the most lavish and comfortable in the industry. Eighty-five percent of staterooms offer a private verandah. Those that don’t, Category C Deluxe Staterooms, offer picture windows. Here are your options:

• Crystal Penthouse with Verandah—The Crystal Penthouse, Category CP, has one of the most efficient layouts of any suite in the luxury cruise market. This 1,345-square-foot suite includes a spacious bedroom with a king-size bed or two twins and a master bathroom with a Jacuzzi and ocean view and separate shower. There’s a living room with plenty of seating, a connecting dining room with a table seating six, and a guest bath. The verandah offers two chaise lounges as well as a table and two chairs so you may dine outdoors. Crystal Penthouse passengers receive the services of a butler; complimentary soft drinks, beer, and bottled water in room; and complimentary wine and choice of liquor from set menu.

• Penthouse Suite with Verandah—At 538 square feet, Category PS offers a separate bedroom with a queen-size bed or two twin beds and picture window, a bathroom with Jacuzzi and separate shower, a living room/dining room, and private verandah. This category also includes complimentary wine and liquor, as well as soft drinks, beer, and bottled water in room. You’ll also enjoy the assistance of a butler.

• Penthouse with Verandah—Category PH also offers butler service and complimentary wine, spirits, soda, and bottled water, but the stateroom, at 402 square feet, is a bit smaller than other Penthouse suites. The bedroom/living room combination offers a queen-size bed or two twins. The bathroom offers a separate Jacuzzi and shower.

• Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah—Categories AA, A, and B are all Deluxe Staterooms with Verandahs. The layouts are identical, but their locations on the ship differ. All Deluxe Staterooms with Veradahs are 269 square feet and feature a queen-size bed or two twins next to a seating area. Complimentary soft drinks and bottled water are included in room. The bathroom offers a tub/shower combination.

• Deluxe Stateroom—The snuggest staterooms aboard the Serenity are the 226-square-feet Category C Deluxe Staterooms with picture windows. You may select between a queen-size bed or two twins.

Dining

Crystal Cruises has long been known as a cruise line that puts special emphasis on the food and wine served aboard its ships. Crystal offers special food and wine sailings, but each and every voyage will satisfy the palette of any serious gourmand. Celebrity chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa have designed restaurants and menus on both the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.

Here on the Serenity, your dining choices include:

• Crystal Dining Room—Crystal Cruises harkens back to the old days of elegant service on the high seas. As such, this main dining room offers the traditional two seatings (early and late) for dinner. (Breakfast and lunch is open seating.)

• Silk Road—Fusing Asian and Peruvian cuisines, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s menus are inventive and delicious. This is a “specialty” restaurant, but there is no additional charge. View a sample Silk Road menu here.

• The Sushi Bar—Sushi lovers will be drawn to this restaurant again and again. View a sample Sushi Bar menu here.

• Prego—Tagged a “specialty” restaurant, Prego does not carry an additional charge. This is the place to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine with menus created by Piero Selvaggio, owner of the famous Valentino restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. View a sample Prego menu here.

• The Vintage Room—Yes, it’s true that a meal at The Vintage Room on Deck 7 will cost an additional $210 per person inclusive of food, reserve wines, and gratuities. But, the cellar wines and paired cuisine served at this intimate 14-seat dining room are to be savored. View a sample Vintage Room menu here.

• The Bistro—On Deck 6 you can enjoy a morning coffee or afternoon glass of wine here at The Bistro. This is definitely one of the hot social spots on the Serenity.

• Trident Bar & Grill—Sunbathing at the Neptune Pool on Deck 12 can work up quite an appetite. Just order a sandwich, hamburger, or hotdog from the adjacent Trident Bar & Grill.

• Lido Café—Dine with a view at this indoor/outdoor café, aft Deck 12, which serves casual breakfast and lunch buffets.

• Tastes—Borrowing on the popularity of open kitchen dining, in the evenings Crystal transforms an aft area of Trident Bar & Grill to Tastes. This spot offers everything from Kobe beef burgers to pizza to sumptuous salads and shrimp cocktail.
  View a sample Tastes menu here.

• Scoops Ice Cream Bar—This daytime sweet spot across from the Trident Bar & Grill on Deck 12 serves ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbert, and cookies.

• Afternoon Tea in the Palm Court—Crystal excels in its sumptuous afternoon tea presentations in the Palm Court on Deck 12. Focusing on Viennese pastries and whimsical costumes, you’ll attend one of three teas: Mozart Tea, with servers in period outfits of velvet, lace, and brocade; English Colonial Tea, with servers in white-tie-and-tails; and an American Tea, highlighting old-fashion southern charm.

• In-Room Dining—Complimentary room service is at your beck and call 24 hours a day. Order from the menu or, at dinnertime, select items from that evening’s Crystal Dining Room menus. Penthouse guests may also order from the specialty restaurant menus.

Entertainment

• Galaxy Lounge—In the evenings, guests head to Deck 6 and the Galaxy Lounge for Broadway-style shows. In addition to these shows, Crystal also often invites a guest performer aboard. Carol Channing, Tommy Tune, Marvin Hamlisch, and Maureen McGovern have all performed aboard a Crystal ship.

• Hollywood Theatre—On Deck 6, Serenity offers a full-fledged movie theater showing recently released pictures as well as classics. The venue is equipped with devices for the hearing-impaired.

• Crystal Cove—Another nightspot offering live music, on occasion. This bar is on Deck 5, just off Crystal Plaza.

• Avenue Saloon—A live pianist performs here nightly. Deck 6, aft.

• Stardust Club—For those who enjoy dancing after dinner, this is the place. Deck 6, aft.

• Crystal Casino—Like most other cruise ships these days, Serenity‘s casino is well-trafficked in the evenings. You may play blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and slot and video poker machines.

Spa, Beauty & Fitness

• Crystal Spa—Focusing on the principles of Feng Shui, the Crystal Spa offers a cadre of treatments such as Aroma Stone Therapy, Japanese Silk Booster Facial, and Well-Being Massage.

• Crystal Salon—The beauty salon offers haircuts, hairstyling, and coloring; facials and skin analysis; manicures and pedicures; and barber services for men.

• Fitness Center—The gym offers exercise classes, including yoga, Pilates, indoor cycling, weight training, and more.

Internet Access

You may access the Internet at Computer University@Sea. A 120-minute connectivity package costs $50, 600 minutes for $200, and 1,500 minutes for $300. Wi-fi access is also available throughout the ship, so you may bring your laptop for easy access. Internet charges will apply. If you don’t want to bring your own laptop, you may rent one onboard.

Recreation

• Library—This is the place, on Deck 7, to pick up a book or a DVD movie to watch in your stateroom or suite.

• Enrichment Lectures—Crystal Cruises books an excellent range of speakers. A few past lecturers have included Buzz Aldrin, James Carville, Walter Cronkite, Frank Deford, Kirk Douglas, Major General Perry Smith, and Regis Philbin.

• Odyssey Art at Sea—I love this option! Crystal offers art classes to passengers, including watercolor painting and various craft projects that tie in to the arts of the cruise’s ports of call.

• Bridge Games and Lessons—Complimentary bridge lessons and supervised games are offered on every Crystal cruise.

• Dance Lessons—Crystal’s talented dance instructors offer classes so you can learn all of the popular steps before heading to the dance floor after dinner. Don’t worry if you aren’t sailing with a dance partner. There are always Ambassador Hosts on each sailing that are available to partner with you on the dance floor.

• Computer University@Sea—Check the daily newsletter, Reflections, for a list of complimentary classes offered by CU@Sea. Here you can access the Internet and check your email as well as receive group or individual instruction for becoming a better computer user. Courses are also offered to demystify digital cameras. Click here for a full list of courses offered by CU@Sea.

Children’s Program

Crystal offers a three-tiered junior activities program on select holiday cruises and most summer sailings. Children are grouped by age (3–7, 8–12, and 13–17). Coordinators plan games, arts and crafts, and other ways to pass the time. Crystal also offers a children’s playroom and babysitting services on all cruises. Children under six months are not permitted on board without a signed waiver by the parents.

Accessibility

Crystal’s Serenity is a good choice for individuals with mobility issues. You may bring a wheelchair or electric scooter onboard as long as it is less than 22-inches wide. Elevators and ramps allow you to easily access most areas of the ship. Accessible staterooms include extra-wide doors and bathrooms with roll-in showers. All guests with disabilities must notify Crystal Cruises prior to sailing.

For More Information…

…talk with your travel agent, call Crystal Cruises at (888) 722-0021, or visit their website.