Cruise News

Crystal Cruises' Crystal Serenity just emerged from a $25 million remodeling in dry dock at Germany's Blohm+Voss shipyard, the company's longest ever. All 535 staterooms, retail centers, outdoor pool deck, corridors and other spaces received a facelift, in addition to general sprucing up of the outside and inside of the vessel.

"In the past year and a half, we have invested well over $50 million in our ships," said Crystal President Gregg Michel. Interior designer Keith Rushbrook, principal at the Toronto-based II BY IV Design Associates, summarized the vision: "We wanted modern classic elegance. We wanted Fifth Avenue-crème de la crème New York-inspired living and retail spaces that people love and look forward to spending time in."

All of Crystal Serenity's accommodations received new appointments. While Crystal Penthouses were refreshed with new soft goods, Deluxe Staterooms, Penthouses, and Penthouse Suites were transformed with new, floor-to-ceiling tufted headboards, bedside cabinets, sofas, curtains, pillows and custom carpets in contemporary lines and classic stone, silk, velvet, leather and crisp linen textures. The new sofas also offer more third berths, a feature for Crystal's growing family clientele. Blu-ray players and flat-screen televisions were added, and new modern lighting features, plus an electronic "do not disturb" and doorbell system throughout the ship.

The Apropos boutique was redesigned into three shopping spaces against a backdrop of Zebrano wood and herringbone rosewood, black-plum-magenta carpeting and tufted leather seating. Massive sculptural aluminum screens graphically pop against gray smoked glass walls. A new area is dedicated to Christian Dior cosmetics. The Dior shop is exclusive to Crystal. The Facets fine jewelry store also received a new, private sales area and a overall look mirroring a jewelry box, with mother-of-pearl feature wall and beveled chrome vitrines.

Guests can now lounge poolside on bright lime green, azure and mango sofas, lounge chairs, and circular pod beds, similar to those recently added to Crystal Symphony's pool area.

Lighting played a major role in the redesign. New mood lighting showcases the headboards and warms the ship corridors, which also received new custom carpeting and art work on newly textured walls. However, the work is not totally complete as not all materials arrived on schedule. By the end of June, the Penthouse and Penthouse Suite verandahs will have new furnishings and the stateroom design will be augmented with decorative coverlets. Silk Road will also unveil new carpets and fabrics.

Furnishings, electronics and accessories removed from Crystal Serenity were donated to needy communities around the world. Donations began during the ship's final, pre-dry dock voyage up the western coast of Africa when bedspreads were donated to Senegal during the ship's call there. An extensive donation plan was instituted in Hamburg, with hundreds of sofas and televisions loaded onto eight 40-foot containers, and shipped to the Salvation Army in New Jersey.

Crystal Serenity emerged from dry dock to begin a series of Baltic, British Isles and North Cape cruises. Come August, the ship sails to the Mediterranean for a variety of late summer and fall cruises, which are available through the Fall Fare Sale and offer up to $2,000 per couple shipboard spending credits.