The first Crystal ship to sail since the company’s relaunch has successfully completed its sea trials and is on schedule for its inaugural cruise from Marseille, scheduled for July 31.
Crystal Serenity is in the final stages of a refurbishment undertaken after the company was acquired by A&K Travel Group, parent of Abercrombie & Kent, last year.
Crystal promises updated and larger suites “with artisanal finishes, refreshed specialty dining venues and cutting-edge onboard wellness, including the completely renovated and renamed Aurōra Spa,” a collaboration with Tillberg Design of Sweden.
There also is a new pickleball court and “re-energized entertainment and events—but what hasn’t changed is the exceptional service and one of the industry’s best staff-to-guest ratios,” the company said.
Also onboard is UMI UMA, the only dining experience by Michelin-Star Chef Master Chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) at sea.
After the July 31st cruise, Crystal Serenity will spend the rest of the summer in the Mediterranean. Then it will reposition to North America in September, where it will sail Canadian and Caribbean itineraries for the remainder of 2023 before hosting the 2024 World Cruise.
For those still smarting from the costs of Crystal’s bankruptcy in 2022, the company last week extended its plan to compensate guests and travel advisors. Originally offering credit only to guests booked on its two ocean ships, it now has been extended to Crystal’s expedition ship and its five river ships. To be eligible, guests must apply directly for the credit by August 1; applications filed by travel advisors will result in a delay of the verification process. They must hold a verified claim in the Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors process in the Crystal Cruises LLC case.
Travel advisors may be eligible to claim lost commissions if they are named in the customer’s claim and registered with the new Crystal brand.
