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Serenity Cruise
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By: Caroline Gladstone, Issue 39 – Winter 2009
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(Crystal Serenity)
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CAROLINE GLADSTONE HOPPED ONBOARD THE SYDNEY TO SINGAPORE LEG OF CRYSTAL SERENITY’S 106-DAY WORLD VOYAGE.
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They call themselves the “Crystal Family”, those passengers who would never contemplate travelling on anything but Crystal Cruises. I meet them during my short sojourn on the five-star Crystal Serenity, particularly when doing laps on the promenade deck. I strike up a conversation with one spritely American, who literally scoffs when I dare mention a couple of other cruise lines. He’s a dedicated Crystal fan, as are many of the 220 other folk who boarded in Los Angeles and are a third-way through their 106-day world voyage when I join the cruise in Sydney.
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While the ship can take 1070 guests, it is only half full on this 18-night sector from Sydney to Singapore – one of seven sectors ranging from 12 to 22 days on the world voyage. Many people know each other and I meet passengers taking their third or fourth world cruise and hear tales of one man who’s on his 200th Crystal sailing. The 68,800-tonne, 13-deck ‘Serenity’ is a mid-size ship by today’s standards. It cuts a striking figure with a nicely raked clipper bow and all-white exterior, while the interiors are spacious and exude a refined elegance rather than overwhelming grandeur.
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The abundance of space and the high staff-to-passenger ratio (one crew member to 1.6 guests) are two reasons it has been rated five star by the industry ‘bible’ Berlitz Guide to Cruising since its launch in 2003.
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This is my third Crystal cruise, having sailed on Crystal Harmony (now transferred to sister company Asuka Lines) and Crystal Symphony in the 1990s; my memories are of excellent food, stylish surroundings and fun activities. While Serenity is slightly bigger, with one more deck and 70 more cabins, it has the same selection of elegant lounges and chic bars, lavish main dining room and two specialty restaurants, indoor and poolside casual eateries, two pools, showrooms, casino and a huge spa, salon and gym that take up almost half the top deck. Added to this list is a feature that only a small percentage of the world’s 280-odd oceangoing ships have these days: a wide teak wrapround promenade deck.
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The array of activities and ‘enrichment classes’ has also been expanded and I note you can now take piano lessons in a studio equipped with dozens of the latest Yamaha portable grand keyboards, learn to paint and sculpt, have your golf stroke corrected by a PGA professional and even earn credits from a US university when taking computer classes. This selection of superior activities, shared with likeminded folk in sophisticated surroundings is no doubt one of the reasons passengers return to the bosom of the Crystal family.
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Another is the sheer quality of the product and the attentive service. Tables in the Crystal dining room are set with spectacular show plates painted with a design that matches the ceiling fresco, and you can always hear the strains of a string quartet or the tinkling of a grand piano somewhere in the background. One of the classic treats is afternoon tea in the Palm Court, a leafy salon decorated with wicker furniture, at the very top of the ship. White-gloved waiters dressed in tuxedos serve delicate sandwiches and cakes on bone China and transport you back to another, more genteel era.
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On special occasions they stage Mozart-themed teas, complete with waiters in velvet breeches and powdered wigs, and recreate a 18th century Viennese salon. Dining has always been a standout feature on Crystal ships, from the line’s inception in 1990 when it embraced the concept of speciality restaurants and introduced two alternative restaurants – one Asian and one Italian – at no extra cost to guests.
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The tradition continues on ‘Serenity’ with the superb Silk Road and Prego, where passengers can sample exquisite dishes created by US master chefs including the acclaimed Japanese restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa. During my stay I am cocooned in a penthouse veranda stateroom, one of six different accommodation categories. There are a total of 544 staterooms of which 85 per cent have private balconies. The very top suites – four Crystal Penthouses – are incredibly spacious, with an additional dining room, guest bathroom and small workout room.
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Mine is one of 72 similar staterooms on the 10th and 11th deck and is furnished with queen bed, sofa and winged arm chair and large balcony. A mahogany wall unit with desk and vanity separates the sleeping area from a walk-in wardrobe and a lavish bathroom with Jacuzzi, separate shower and double sink. It has the services of a butler who will arrange complimentary pressing and delivers pre-dinner canapés every day.
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Details:
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Crystal Serenity
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