Crystal Cruises, a cruise line, announced its bankruptcy last year. The company was purchased by Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group subsequently. Along with the sale came two vessels from the cruise line. The Crystal Serenity, after a year of renovations, is set to sail again for a new voyage after being docked for a year on July 31, to Marseille and Lisbon.
After the acquisition, Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group (A&K) has rechristened Crystal Cruises to just “Crystal.” Cristina Levis, the Chief Operating Officer of A&K has announced that they are planning to expand the Crystal line from two ships now to four ships by 2029. This ambitious endeavor was revealed during the press conference given by A&K for today’s inaugural sailing of the Serenity. She said, “We have ambitious growth plans for Crystal and are proud of what we have accomplished with the relaunch of Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony in just under a year following the purchase of the brand. We are now thrilled to formally announce that we will be growing our fleet and continue to offer the most exceptional cruising experiences in the industry.”
But let’s talk about Crystal Serenity. After A&K took over, it spent a fortune on a multi-million dollar renovation and refurbishment of the vessel before its new maiden voyage. The Serenity now boasts a 740-guest berth with amenities that have been likened to the legendary restaurant, Nobu.
Although the room capacity on the Serenity has been lessened from 1,080 guests to just 740, the amenities and space in the rooms have been expanded drastically. The renovations merged small rooms into larger suites. There are two room categories on the ship now.
Crystal Cruises is now Crystal with Upgrades
The Junior Crystal Penthouse Suites have a wide 806 square feet of space. It also now has a separate bedroom, dining room, and living room to boot. To add to that, this accommodation type also has a walk-in closet, a balcony, and a 1.5-bath area.
Aside from the rooms, the common areas have also been upgraded. They did away with the old Crystal Cruises decor and refurbished the spa, the fitness area with pickleball courts, and the restaurants.
The ship now has two fine-dining restaurants for its guests. There is a Northern Italian restaurant called the Osteria D’Ovidio. But one of the main attractions is the Umi Uma restaurant which was conceptualized by iconic Nobu restaurant chef, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. This is the first dining-at-sea experience that Nobu has initiated.
Crystal Cruises being purchased by the A&K Travel Group is probably the best thing that happened after the bankruptcy announcement. Although A&K Group focused on Crystal, the company is still going to continue its existing expeditions to the Arctic with its other ships. Levis said, “When it comes to cruising, the companies will continue to operate as separate entities, with Crystal being a part of the A&K Travel Group family. Abercrombie & Kent will continue to charter Ponant ships for their expedition sailings.”
The other ship from the old Crystal Cruises line is also being renovated and is scheduled to set sail in September.