Crystal Symphony - All Inclusive Luxury

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The Crystal Symphony is a ship I have been anxious to do a ship tour on for a long time.  As travel advisors we have the privilege to be invited by the cruise lines to come aboard their ships while they are in port to conduct a half day tour to see the staterooms and public spaces.

 

Why was I so excited?  Crystal is a luxury cruise line and they have two ships, the Symphony and the Serenity.  Since these ships sail around the world, they are not in a Florida port that often, so being able to visit one on November 23, 2013 was a real treat for me.

 

As I neared the port of Miami, the usual drove of large cruise ships were tied up on the north side of the port as usual and it was a hub of activity as guests were disembarking and embarking.  The fact that the Crystal Symphony was berthed on the south side of the port, by herself was just the first inkling I had that this was going to be a special treat.

 

While parking at the cruise port is not the most important thing, it was interesting to note that the parking garage for the terminal was the closest I had ever parked to a cruise ship.  And then there were no line ups.  I am not sure if this is the case everywhere, but at the Port of Miami, guests are allowed on board the ship where they do their check-in once they are on board.  I loved it.

 

Where to start?  The ship is elegant; with lots of open public spaces and a rich warm feeling everywhere we went.  The ship was decorated for the holiday season and I mean well decorated.  Not one or two token items in one area; there was lots of holiday decorating throughout the ship.

 

The Lido deck houses the Trident sun deck area with lots of comfortable chairs and a sliding glass roof if the weather is not co-operating. This is all next to the Lido Café where they serve breakfast and have themed lunch buffets. 

 

For light snacks there is The Bistro European Styled Café, the Trident Bar and Grill and Scoops Ice Cream or drop into Palm Court in the afternoon for tea, sandwiches and pastries.   For evening dining there is the Crystal Dining Room as well as specialty restaurants; Prego, Silk Road and the Sushi bar.  Celebrate a special event at The Vintage Room with wine pairings and culinary masterpieces.

 

The lounges were abundant from the Crystal Cove near the front desk to The Avenue Saloon, Connoisseur Club, Starlite Club and Luxe Nightclub.  Most are smaller more intimate places to enjoy a beverage with old friends or make new ones. 

 

For entertainment there is the Crystal Casino, Hollywood Theatre, the Bridge Lounge and Galaxy Lounge.

 

At the end of the day, you will retire to luxurious accommodations.  Here was where I found another treat.  No Interior Staterooms.  All guests have an Ocean View or a Verandah Stateroom. The largest is the 982 square foot Crystal Penthouse with Verandah, followed by the 491 square foot Penthouse Suite with Verandah and the 367 square foot Penthouse with Verandah.  There is also the 246 square foot Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah and the 202 square foot Deluxe Stateroom with Large Picture Window.  No matter what you choose, you will be met with luxurious finishes throughout, including 100% Egyptian Cotton linen, Frette Bathrobes, kimonos and slippers, as well as a menu of pillow options.

 

Cruising with Crystal means enjoying an all-inclusive experience while on board.  Included in your crusie are gratuities, all beverages including fine wines, an open bar service, concierge services and more.

 

If you have not sailed on a luxury cruise line, put it on your list of things to do.  You will not be disappointed.   Here is a link to a still picture video I created of my tour.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVAwzm606AY  If you have any questions, please contact us at esaltarelli@cruiseplanners.com