The 922-passenger Crystal Symphony might be cruise line Crystal’s older ship, but she still glows like a classic starlet. A massive redesign last fall gave her an elegant, contemporary look that surprises travelers with endless luxury options.
Originally designed to hold almost 1,000 passengers, the overhaul cut that number down to 848 – giving passengers more space and bumping up the crew-to-passenger ratio, which is critical in judging service levels on any ship.
Dining
The hallmark of every Crystal Cruises sailing is world-class cuisine. From inventive new dining venues to beloved classics, a wide variety of options await you onboard Symphony.
A dazzling choice of eateries offers you the perfect place to dine for breakfast, lunch and dinner on your Crystal cruise. Indulge in innovative modern cuisine in the elegant, open-seating main dining room, which also offers a menu of classic favorites.
Savor a mouth-watering selection of dishes at the Italian venue, Osteria d’Ovidio. During lunch, choose from buffet fare including made-to-order omelets and waffles, salads, soups and more, plus carved meats, fresh catches of the day and sumptuous desserts.
Entertainment
Crystal Symphony is the largest of two luxury cruise ships in the Crystal Cruises fleet. She has undergone extensive refurbishment and returned to service in 2023, with reduced capacity and enhanced accommodations that offer an authentic luxury experience. Crystal signatures like world-class cuisine, innovative learning opportunities and spacious decks remain unchanged, but a lower guest-to-staff ratio creates an even more personal, attentive experience.
In the posh Galaxy Lounge, guests can enjoy the new show “Rocket Man” a tribute to Elton John, and the spectacular production “5-6-7-8,” a song-and-dance event that pushes choreography to the limit. In addition, a sleek cinema shows recently released movies, guest lectures and sports events.
For quick snacks, the Trident offers burgers and melts, crisp fries and a range of ice cream options. For more substantial meals, the Avenue Salon and Palm Court are both excellent venues for fine dining. If you prefer a more intimate setting, the Cove Bar is ideal for drinks and cocktails with friends.
Onboard Activities
The 922-passenger Crystal Symphony may be a few years older than its newer sister ships, but this luxury liner has had more face-lifts than a Hollywood star. It still oozes opulence, from the waterfall in the atrium to the multi-deck Fitness Garden (a great place to get your workout in).
Crystal’s signature service includes complimentary, progressive enrichment programmes offered in partnership with leaders in language, music, wellness and wine. You’ll also find more computer stations per passenger than on any other cruise ship, plus 24-hour room service and in-suite spa treatments.
The brand has a reputation for sustainability, too – Crystal is the first cruise company to use washable garment bags in laundry presentations and eliminate the use of plastic hangers on its two refurbished ocean ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. You’ll also find recycled glass ice buckets, wood lint brushes instead of disposable plastic lint removers and reusable canvas beverage bags. Crystal also uses EcoHangers in the ship’s clothing presentation, replacing the nine billion wire and plastic hangers that fill America’s landfills each year.
Cabins
Launched in 1995, Crystal Symphony is smaller than her fleet mate, Crystal Serenity, but it still oozes class and style. The upmarket line offers eight decks of cabins – 59% with a balcony view and the rest Oceanview cabins.
All cabins include a sitting area, flat-screen TV (infotainment system, Internet access, on-demand movies), luxury Aveda toiletries and a private bathroom with a tub/shower combo. Also included: a refrigerator stocked with your favorite beverages, soft drinks and bottled water, plus an in-room safe and 24-hour room service.
For more details, check out the Crystal Symphony Cabins & Suites page at CruiseMapper, which conveniently interlinks with the ship’s deck-plans and a cabin-fare matrix by itinerary. But remember that the Hotel Detective is not recommending a particular cabin type; your TouringPlans Travel Agent can help you pick the right one for your budget and itinerary. Crystal Symphony sails 7- and 14-night Bermuda itineraries out of New York City through mid-November. Then it heads to Miami for 7- and 21-day Caribbean itineraries through March.