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Crystal
Symphony: Exceeding One’s Expectations
By Roger J. Ritchie
The Crystal Symphony crosses the Pacific each year re-positioning from North America to the Far East
for a late spring’s round of cruising in the Orient. This 18-day crossing was just my “ticket” to long lazy days
on one of the most “decorated” ships afloat. With but one port of call (Honolulu) over the 8,254 mile
voyage, this was a cruise to test, and luxuriate in, all the ship’s qualities.
This springtime sailing from Los Angeles attracts those ship
fans who enjoy the high seas, a clear horizon and the daily rhythms of a great
liner making a long ocean crossing. Famous for being a gold standard of cruising ships, the Crystal’s
Symphony (51,044 tons) was my
choice for a leisurely sampling of the award-wining Crystal Cruise Line
service.
Leaving on a cruise from Los Angeles is now a breeze. The
port has a cruise-ship terminal just a taxi ride away from the huge Los Angeles
International Airport (LAX) and from the Long Beach Airport as well. Taking a
taxi is really much more convenient-and probably no more
expensive-that using a cruise line transfer from the airport to the
cruise port. The Crystal experience starts--and ends--with thoughtful handling
of transfers and provision for early and late departures. The handling of the arrival transfers
in Hong Kong, with a convenient, and complimentary, transfer to the airport is
a thoughtful way of finishing the Crystal experience in a very positive light.
A reputation with great expectations . . .
From their years of chart-topping performance in the reader
polls of the major national travel magazines, Crystal Cruises certainly has a
good reputation. I was keen to see how the Crystal folk kept those accolades
coming, in spite of so many wonderful, razzle-dazzle mainstream ships being launched to snatch the leadership
crown. The line steadily stays ahead of all competitive (large ship) operations
with its clearly-at least to me-efficient handling of the small
details, everything from linen napkins, premium liquor selections, English
china, to plush sauna towels that are all thoughtfully selected as part of a
first class atmosphere. As a dedicated eagle-eyed cruise-passenger, I enjoyed
(along with 600 fellow passengers) the pursuit of my approval while the staff
steadfastly worked as a team to prevent there being any flaws in the smooth
Crystal facade.
Symphony is sized for white glove service . . .
At the threshold--these days--of the “large ship” category,
Symphony is 51,000 tons. Its layout follows the concept of an all first-class
ship--there are no inside cabins--and three quarters of the accommodations are
equipped with balconies, which was a very high proportion of balconies at the
time the ship was launched 14 years ago. Passengers find the ship size easily
manageable, for moving around the public rooms.
The ship’s (fairly modest) capacity permits all the rooms
and services anticipated on a luxury ship to be easily accessible - mostly on
two lower decks. In fact, the ship
offers so much space per passenger, that at a less that full-capacity passenger
count on this voyage can make the wide range of bars, lounges and other venues
seem a little bit too quiet! It is
interesting to see the “small ship” luxury lines are currently launching closer
to Symphony-sized ships to optimize their highest quality service on a more
practical scale.
Attention to a thousand little details makes the difference . . .
Symphony’s passenger service is quite excellent. The ship is not glitzy in decor and
makes no pretensions to deliver a “wow” experience in the layout. The staff
demonstrates a high level of enthusiasm for customer recognition-by-name and
enjoys demonstrating their excellent skills in the call-me-by-my-name
department.
Along with other small and large details and service
gestures--such as the no-surcharge policy for the two excellent alternative
restaurants and the plethora of diversions throughout the voyage. The premium
coffees served in the Bistro are also without additional charge. This small
area overlooking the Crystal Plaza is the ideal spot for those skipping
breakfast or lunch (it presents a great little snacks buffet) and the spot for
the quick caffeine pick-me-up and any time.
All the staff are committed to the Crystal’s “accessibility”
policy. The officers are very “visible” around the ship making themselves very approachable
and particularly the Captain who demonstrated a “management-by-walking-around”
style. I had a couple of demonstrations where the staff keeps an eye on you -
to follow through on questions posed to the Reception Desk, or even an absence
from the Dining Room.
Dining - Dining - Dining -
Plenty of Choices . . .
Symphony provides a flexibility to fulfill one’s dining
whims - easy options made possible by the high space-to-passenger ratio. The
spacious Crystal Dining Room is given strong competition nightly by the Italian
cuisine of the Prego restaurant and the Japanese-modern theme of the Silk
Road. Even though reservations are
requested for these Deck 6 alternative dining opportunities, there seems to be space
on most evenings to drop in unannounced.
The food preparation in all areas of the ship is excellent.
The Executive Chef is Markus Nufer, a Swiss native with all the good taste and
international experience anyone could ask for. Chef Nufer’s main dining room
cuisine is smartly continental and the themed restaurants are right at top of
their class in food and presentation.
The Silk Road, one deck higher, presents very fine Japanese cuisine
and is also the home of the exceptional Sushi Bar. It must be said that this
area rivals any metropolitan establishment ashore and is a remarkably valuable
option as there is no additional charge. The Silk Road’s space is almost glamorous in its low-light and
high-gloss decor. This is as elegant
as it gets anywhere at sea.
The Italian restaurant Prego, also on Deck 6, is smart,
charming and simply delicious. What more need be said!
The decor of the Crystal Dining Room, on Deck 5 is warm and
restrained, creating a spacious atmosphere of quiet comfort that spans the
ship. The table placement is
notably spacious and the service, by a Euro-Continental staff is very smooth,
almost suave.
This room also serves breakfast and luncheon. The menu is always varied and the
presentation is up to the trendiest restaurants ashore.
The maitre d’hotel is a Crystal veteran with the deft touch
that yields an attentive service style with a quick solution to any dining-table
preference. The Symphony is still on the two seating program in the evening. I
think that the Line’s policy of low density is a part of the reason to maintain
this slightly out of fashion concept for a ship of such quality.
Wine service is as prompt and attentive as the delivery of
the diner time courses. The wine list is varied and priced to a level I would
call reasonable. All wines and drinks are signed d for with the use of the
one-card Identification system. The single charge card, obtained at the cruise check-in desk at embarkation, serves all needs, including cabin
access.
The Breakfast choice follows other major cruise ships with a
generous and colorful offering in the sunny Lido Cafe overlooking the stern on
Deck 11. The Cafe’s outdoor tables are always popular. A second, outdoor
breakfast and luncheon location is further forward of the café around one of
the two pools on the Lido Deck. The retractable roof over this pool keeps this
option attractive in a range of weather conditions. The special buffet luncheons on some days are a very
energetic display of choice and quality. The Trident Bar and Grill share their sheltered space with these
expansive luncheon extravaganzas--just forward of the Lido Café.
Activities--many choices .
. .
The Crystal Symphony is unstinting in the provision of
speakers, lecturers and entertainers for such a long voyage - without the
slip-on/slip-off opportunities of frequent ports of call. The sailing’s theme
of Motion Picture topics was well served and the range of speakers
impressive. The anticipated
support for bridge and golf players was excellent and the ballroom dancers were
quick stepped to heaven with demonstrations and lessons. The Gentlemen hosts
were eagerly on duty whenever the ship’s orchestra was generating toe-tapping
tunes. For the more limber set, a little disco/karaoke spot is tucked into the
Deck 6 Crystal Plaza space to create a glitzier urban nightclub.
The entertainment continues into the evenings with two
excellent piano-musicians (in different locations), and a string trio, easing
the passengers into a dancing mood or a show in the Galaxy Lounge Deck 6. While not a theater on the scale of the
latest “big” ships - the Galaxy Lounge facilities are employed to the maximum
by a very lively cast of singers and dancers. The Crystal Symphony’s wide variety of nightly
entertainments: shows, musicians and other entertainers are all really bright,
cheerful and in good taste. Not to
mention the dizzying pace of the eight singers and dancers working with the
ship’s orchestra.
The ship’s daily program of activities and service schedules
called “Reflections” is a necessarily lengthy affair with enough reading to
take you through your first morning cup of coffee. I preferred a steaming latte
in the Bistro for this time - skipping the many temptations of the Lido Café’s
buffet.
The Table-for-Eight Idea . . .
A nice thought for socializing amongst the travel-alone set
- is the scheduling of a table of eight individuals in the specialty restaurant
with the maitre d’hôtel Paolo Alario acting as host. Two such events were arranged during my voyage, but the
start time of 6:00 pm was too early for me. I assume that the early start is to
give a full evening to the leisurely tasting and sipping.
Another dining event, was the special banquet-style dinner
also offered in the handsome Vintage Room, featured a long luxury menu selected
by the Chef and a “pairing” of wines selected by the Sommelier. This ambitious
Vintage Room dinner party was offered once during my voyage, but again it started
too early to win my participation. This was the only extra-charge event in the excellent
gustatorial department. Based on the chef’s performance, I am quite confident
this event was a remarkable feast.
Activities, and more activities . . .
It is quite impressive that the cruise line has staffed the
ship generously with experts in so many areas. The diversity of the activities
on a ship this size is remarkable. The number of skills on board this long
(perhaps lazy) cruise was a clear demonstration of not relaxing the high
standard of service in the entertainment department. Classes included computer-skills and language instruction as
well as daily schedules from the dance, golf and exercise specialists. The lecturers went beyond those
supporting the Motion Picture theme presented by “players” who included the charming actress Michelle Lee. To
push back the borders of our knowledge still further, lecturers also included
an economist and a conservationist.
Time for a good walk--and a breath of air . . .
The Symphony boasts a round-the-ship open Promenade Deck with
something over four circuits for the mile of exercise. The Crystal policy leaves this deck free
of deck chairs but provides for a nicely sheltered and shaded area at the
stern. The ship’s terraced stern provides several levels of most pleasant quiet
spots--a very much-appreciated feature for some travelers. This is another area
in which the Symphony’s space-per-passenger shows up.
As for the guest accommodations . . .
Perhaps the only way the Crystal Symphony shows a certain
maturity (as a ship) is in the modest size of its cabins. They are only mostly
246 square feet when including the balcony (down to 202 square feet on the
Promenade Deck). The cabin selection starts with just a few cabins on the
lowest passenger Deck 5 on the level of the Dining Room and the Crystal
Plaza. Moving up through the ship
the next passenger
deck is 7 - the Promenade Deck - where outside-but-no-balcony
cabins measure 202 square feet. All of Symphony's cabins are outside, and the
next two decks up, Decks 8 and 9 offer 246 square-feet staterooms with their
added space in the balcony as they are internally the same as the cabins on Deck
7. The top passenger accommodations on Deck 10 are called Penthouse simply
because the space, including the balcony is a commodious 491 square feet.
But there is that Crystal touch in all accommodations such
as the Pillow Menu-a selection of pillows offered by your
stewardess-that is presented to help tune the cabin’s nurturing qualities
for the peaceful night’s sleep!
Following an extensive refurbishment in recent years, the Symphony
is very well maintained and the (rather small) cabins are very nicely fitted
with all the five-star hotel features ranging from thick dressing gowns (bath
robes), umbrellas, binoculars,
clothes brushes and substantial clothes hangers. Your
menu-selected pillows assists the viewing of the TV screen (a flat panel) as
well as promoting restful sleep. There’s a full offering of film-of-the-day and
satellite down-linked material to while away any spare in-cabin hours. The
mini-bar is stocked with complimentary soft drinks and spa waters.
The marble-trimmed bathrooms (Decks 7, 8 and 9) are mostly only shower-equipped, but
offer smart glass wash-basins in a his-and-her pair. The bathroom lighting is
perfect and the complimentary toiletries properly sized--bigger packs, than the
usual fiddly little bottles. Bottled water is also provided in the bathrooms.
Below deck - a conventional set of systems . . .
The Symphony's technology is up to date but in no way
unusual. The motive plant down below is diesel electric, with all the
redundancy that safety requirements dictate. The massive electric generating power handles all the ship’s
many systems to achieve the ultimate goal: completely quiet invisibility. The
stabilizers are in the usual mid-ship location. Air conditioning is silent throughout the ship and there are
no notable technical disconcertions that a passenger might notice. Only a very
slight rhythmic shudder at cruise speed speaks of any hull characteristics.
Is it time for tea . . .
The gentility of the Crystal Symphony is best demonstrated
at 4:00 pm (tea time) when the fine china comes out. A refined white-glove
service of tiny sandwiches and other teatime items is offered with pastries in
the tranquility of the Palm Court with, of course, a discreet string trio
playing off in a corner. This forward-looking space, high up on the Lido Deck
overlooks the bow. It is the very essence of a quiet hide-away. However, its tranquility is only mildly
disturbed each afternoon by the clink of teaspoons on Royal Doulton china.
And the envelope, please . . .
And the Cruise Line Oscar goes to - Crystal Cruise Line -
for a wining performance on the highly competitive stage of world
cruising! I believe that the
absence of irritations - those little complaints that may pop up on a normal
cruise - marks the typical Crystal voyage. The elimination of little charges and the addition of really
nice facilities (such as the Bistro) nudges the Symphony to the top of the class.
The Crystal organization can be relied upon to deliver a subtle superior cruise
experience and value for the luxury dollar. No event--such as a cruise experience--can be quite perfect.
But the combination of good planning and good training works wonders on
elevating the possibility of achieving this high level of satisfaction. So, it can be said that Crystal is a
group of cruise line professionals who are truly dedicated, service-oriented
people with a couple of very comfortable ships, waiting to impress you--and
they very probably will!
-- Roger J. Ritchie is a Contributing Editor for ShipsandCruises.com
(July
2009)
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