Crystal’s New Look Features Fewer Guests, Grander Spaces

New color scheme in Crystal Cruise suites--Crystal Cruises

It’s been a year in the making, now Crystal Cruises is being relaunched with an upgraded look to appeal to long-time fans of the line back and attract a new following of luxury cruisers. From redesigned public spaces and modern guest rooms and suites to refined in-room amenities and exclusive linens designed for royalty, the new Crystal experience will feature contemporary designs from a collection of European partners.

Tillberg Design of Sweden was chosen as the lead designer of Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony with projects including public spaces, dining venues and the recently announced Aurora Spa. TDoS was tasked with creating spaces that blended classical elements and modern materials with a dash of Mediterranean influence. The resulting design was a refined and sustainable concept that combines contemporary and traditional elements.

For the redesign of a number of guest rooms and suites, Crystal enlisted leading cruise ship architectural firm GEM to design new furnishings in neutral tones and high-end fixtures complemented with subtle hues of pastel colors and shades of gray and beige. Bigger suites will mean Crystal Serenity will now accommodate just 740 guests–down from 1,000–and Crystal Symphony carries just 606, down from over 900.

Crystal Junior Penthouse decor–Crystal Cruises

Both ships will also include two new guest room categories—the Junior Crystal Penthouse Suite and Single Guest Room with Ocean View as an option for solo travelers without having to pay additional single supplements. These new categories will also increase the availability of the Sapphire Suite category.

“As we welcome guests back to Crystal, we are delighted to unveil a look and feel that blends the best of its renowned past with a new vision fit for a bright future ahead,” said Cristina Levis, CEO of Crystal parent A&K Travel Group. “Fresh colors, unique textures and first-class tangible elements create an ambiance that evokes timeless moments of leisure and will leave guests with memories that will last a lifetime.”

Every component of the redesign was carefully considered. Project architect Adriana Granato, an adjunct professor of architecture at Politecnico di Milano, and Studio Ibsen led the team that illustrated all renderings of the new guestrooms and suites. Granato personally traveled to a quarry in the Italian Alps to choose the Fior di Pesco marble slabs, also known as peach flower, for the shade that gives the stone the name.

Suites will offer high quality lines with a custom-made collection of bedding from Jesurum 1870. Crystal is the first in the industry to collaborate and work exclusively with the Venice brand that has woven linens for private residences, mega yachts and royal families.

Guests in the Aquamarine categories and above will find made-in-Italy products of the bespoke Carol Collection, which offers an undulating, ogee-inspired embroidered border hat was chosen for its resemblance to Crystal’s logo.

In collaboration with La Bottega, a renowned hospitality curator for in-room amenities, Ortigia was tapped to supply soap and fragrance products onboard. Founded in Sicily, Ortigia features products that are indigenous to Sicily and inspired by the scents and elements of Italy’s tropical region, with notes of narcissus, wild iris and jasmine.

Crystal’s ships will sail world wide itineraries, starting with Crystal Serenity’s inaugural voyage from Marseille at the end of July and Symphony’s return with a cruise from Athens in September

About Wallace Immen 781 Articles
Wallace Immen is Executive Editor of The Cruisington Times, the Best in Cruising, Travel, Food and Fun. He's sailed on all of the world's seas to ports in over 100 countries and travelled on every continent.