A visit to Crystal Symphony while docked in Sydney

[Stickman1990]

A day aboard Crystal Symphony in Sydney - Friday 15 December 2023

 

We were very lucky to be able to enjoy a day aboard Crystal Smphomy while she was docked in Sydney - I’m going to try and capture some of our experience and thoughts on our visit. This is one time where while a picture is worth a thousand words seeing it in person is worth a million!

 

First a big thank you to Crystal for inviting us to visit and in particular to Herbert, the hotel director for all his time in hosting us and showing my wife around and to Deb Fox and her team from A&K Asia Pacific for their hospitality and allowing me to get a look at the changes before we board Serenity in February and return to Symphony in December

 

We arrived late morning at White Bay where Symphony was moored at the #2 berth - behind a very ugly P&O ship - not that we needed reminding but Crystal Symphomys classic lines make for a beautiful sight 

 

We were greeted by Herbert and headed straight to the Bistro where the first crew member we saw was Jonathan - who was also the very first crew member to greet us as part of the Lido team back on our first Crystal sailing ten years ago - it was so nice to see his smiling face and that he had been promoted to a sommelier role

 

Then my very favourite server Sanela appeared and she too had moved up the ranks to a sommelier role. Sanela has patiently looked after my friends and I in the Avenue many a night. We’re all looking forward to sailing with her later in the year 

 

As you do when sitting having coffee you run into people and yesterday was no exception with Mario, Slavko and Bruno from the restaurant team all saying hi. Later in the afternoon we met up with Dan Davies who continues to entertain in the Avenue - we reminisced about previous voyages and joked that playing my oft requested Stairway to Heaven on the piano was a bit of a challenge we used to give him late at night - and he tells me he’s up for the challenge these days!

 

We finally decided a tour was in order and this is where I got the biggest insight over what has taken place during the dry dock - the accommodation (and many public areas) has been transformed - many decks and other areas were gutted and totally rebuilt with examples being 4 classic cabins becoming a new Crystal Penthouse or 3 becoming a Junior Crystal Penrhouse etc. These are not “make overs” these are entirely new rooms and very well appointed with all, the modern facilities you’d expect on a luxury line. We’ve sailed many of the other luxury lines over the last 12 months and I’d say these new suites from Aquamarine up are very competitive in terms of space and facilities with the entry levels of the newer ships on the other luxury lines. Turning to our normal stomping ground, the entry level Double rooms - we were very happy with the new design and even the storage areas - and the bathroom certainly passes the “big guy wants a spacious shower” test - we’ll be happy in one of these when we return to Symphony for 33 nights in late 2024 

 

Onto the public areas - the memories came flooding back as we visited favourites such as the Palm Court which has some new plants but retains the elegance that captured our hearts back in 2013 - who could not love the light feature about the dance floor and the acoustics as you stand in the middle. Plus the high backed chairs are back - the ideal spot to watch the world go by at sea 

We liked the new lounge where the old casino was - they’ve done a great job making this into a light filled lounge with lots of tables suitable for gaming or puzzling and while there is no bar there it’s a few steps to the nightclub bar or the Bistro if drink and food is required  

 

The new Italian restaurant looks lovely having been gutted and redone completely - elegant and much lighter than before. Similar thoughts on Umi Uma which is looking great too

 

We finished our tour and had lunch in Marketplace - and I even had a salad made for me by one of the servers from Osteria d’Ovidio while we chatted about where some of the old crew now were as well as the menu at the new restaurant - probably my first salad on Crystal 😉 but needless to say there were plenty of other options available at the buffet

 

After more touring we stopped by the Cove and enjoyed a few drinks and a chat with DJ Viviano and his guest visitor who we had sailed with before - we were joined by Deb, Tony and Michelle from A&K and enjoyed talking about the journey A&K and Crystal had been on since the purchase and some of the challenges that they face over the next few years as they continue to build momentum

 

My feeling is the best thing we can all do now is to support the line and the crew by getting onboard - literally! It’s a a great offering and experience awaits with lots of familiar faces ready to welcome us back. Let’s give them the challenge 

 

Maybe I’ve gone on long enough as I know I could ramble on for ages I think but I’m happy to try and answer any questions you might have

 

 

 

Welcome home 

 

 

The Avenue 

 

 

Osteria d’Ovidio 

 

 

Tastes 

 

 

Hotel Director Herbert 

 

 

Great selection of Gins 

Those tarts are back

 

 

 

The elves at work 

 

 

 

The standard double room 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2023 by Stickman1990

[oakridger]

That's great that you and your wife could go on and visit!  Thanks for the report and pictures. That double cabin with balcony is calling my name!  Love the new bathroom with larger shower!

 

~Nancy

 

 

 

[Txcotn]

What a great write-up, thank you, Terry! And such great pictures too! You've made us homesick for our favorite ship😎

[DaisyUK]

Have to agree about the general transformation, and the new suites. We were in one of the Junior CPs a few months back and will be again in a couple of week's time. It had everything we needed, was very comfortable and the layout was perfect. It didn't feel like an 'old' ship room at all. Much of the rest of the ship had that 'new' ship feel also. Thank you for your post, it has heightened our anticipation for our upcoming cruise - we just have the long journey from England to cope with first!

 

[Noggins]

How interesting, Terry! Having followed your Explora trip (in particular) it seemed that maybe your head had been turned and that Crystal would slip away in interest to you as being simply 'too old'.
'Hardware' is important but 'software' (the product / staff ) are so much more important. Your comparison notes will, in due course, make an interesting read, I'm sure.

 

(As an aside our 11 night Nov '24 trip on Serenity has just been cancelled (Ft L - Costa Rico). We've been offered a selection of alternatives. Whilst surprised to have to re-choose (and change booked outbound flights) I think we may be switching to the first leg of the WC in Jan '25. We'd be happy with that change. Anyone else booked on that - or maybe the WC?)

[travelberlin]

5 minutes ago, Noggins said:

 

 

(As an aside our 11 night Nov '24 trip on Serenity has just been cancelled (Ft L - Costa Rico). We've been offered a selection of alternatives. Whilst surprised to have to re-choose (and change booked outbound flights) I think we may be switching to the first leg of the WC in Jan '25. We'd be happy with that change. Anyone else booked on that - or maybe the WC?)

Hi, long time no see… Do you know why your November cruise has been cancelled? I will be on the previous sailing from Quebec to Fort Lauderdale. 
 

I am also joining the Serenity for a segment of the WC 2025 but not for the first leg.

 

Ivi

 

 

[Noggins]

Hello Ivi - yes, my CC visits are much reduced. When our family, who flew the nest years ago, conspired to return little did I realise that they would work me from dawn to dusk (and those are not ship names - although we have been on the dawn. Is there a dusk??) with rarely a day off!
The November cruise seemed an odd one in that, if I remember correctly, it could be booked as a 7 night cruise ending in Puerto Rico or an 11 night cruise ending in Costa Rica - but no option to book a 4 night cruise. 

I imagine the 2 canal transits (the ship was heading back in the subsequent cruise, I believe) were going to be costly - 'operational reasons' normally means 'we need to spend less money on something' doesn't it? The 7 night cruise remains and the 4 night cruise is now a 7 night San Juan to San Juan, followed by a return to Ft L. (how the 4 nights could become 7 nights is a mystery that is beyond me).

I bet you wish you hadn't asked?

Adrian

ps Quebec to Ft L sounds a fine itinerary!

 

[Stickman1990]

2 hours ago, Noggins said:

How interesting, Terry! Having followed your Explora trip (in particular) it seemed that maybe your head had been turned and that Crystal would slip away in interest to you as being simply 'too old'

It’s certainly been turned to some degree as we loved our time on board Explora Journeys back in September and we’ve booked a 26 night back to back (including a crossing with lots of sea days) on Explora I for 2025 (in a sale which priced them very nicely for us at a per diem I’ve struggled to match on only a few occasions previously). Explora has many highlights and certainly is not relying on just the hardware to impress, the dining for example is sensational as well

 

I have price points in mind as to just what pain I’m prepared to suffer to extract the pleasure of cruising so they guide many of my choices. The last 12 months have seen us cruising on Regent, Silversea, Viking (a means to an end and we likely won’t return) and Explora Journeys so we now have a good basis for comparison and as someone once said “choice is good” with each offering us something different

 

Crystal is far from slipping away from our minds with a couple of cruises booked and a keen eye checking itineraries as they roll out. Our visit has reinforced the relative uniqueness of Crystals offering onboard, the ability and intent of the new owners to invest in a way to strengthen the brand and just what the total package offers. The issue at this point is the limited choices in itineraries that a fleet of two ships can deliver as we have much of the world still to explore (although we all know cruising is not really the way to truly explore countries)