Crystal Serenity Cruise Ship Review On A Panama Canal Cruise
In spite of the fact that I have been a supporter of Crystal Cruises for many years, I have never had the opportunity to participate in a “Crystal Experience.” Even though I had read a great deal of information about the Crystal Cruises Serenity cruise, I still had no idea what to anticipate.
For a significant number of years, the only thing I was ever told was that Crystal Cruises was the best. There is nothing more. Really? It was necessary for me to investigate on my own.
It wasn’t the first time I’d sailed with a luxury cruise line, but it was the first time I’d ever been on a Crystal Cruise. In addition, this trip was taken on the Crystal Serenity, which had just undergone a refurbishment. This was also the first time that I sailed through the Panama Canal in its entirety, going from the Atlantic to the Pacific. A significant number of “firsts”
A Look at the Cruise Ship, the Crystal Serenity
The Finer Points of Crystal Serenity
FAST FACTS
Construction began in 2003.
2018 is the year of the refurbishment.
68.970 metric tonnes in weight
Decks: 9
980 passengers assuming two people each room.
Crew: 655
Total staterooms: 548
Our journey began in Fort Lauderdale and ended in Los Angeles after an 18-day trip through the Panama Canal. A significant amount of time spent at sea, nine days in all. This trip would be one for the record books because it was scheduled to stop at eight different ports.
During our port visits, we were able to:
• the city of Key West in Florida;
• Cartagena, Columbia;
• Panama City, Panama;
• Acapulco
• Puerto Vallarta
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• San Diego, California.
When we were at Caldera, Costa Rica, we had to skip a day due to the strong winds. After that, the schedule was followed precisely by all ports.
Finally, we disembarked in Los Angeles. Even on the Crystal Serenity, a cruise lasting eighteen days would be considered to be quite lengthy. Or so I thought at the time. The days seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye for some reason.
The Cruise Ship Crystal Serenity: Some Information
The Crystal Serenity, which debuted in 2003 and has a total of 14 decks, has the capacity to host up to 1,070 passengers. The majority of the amenities that you might anticipate to be provided on a luxury cruise ship actually were. Included in the price are free bottles of wine, beer, and premium spirits, as well as speciality coffees, teas, and gelato, and a laundromat that guests can use on their own.
You will be required to pay an additional fee in order to purchase your images from the photo gallery, dine at the Chef’s special wine dinners, or participate in shore excursions. I never once had the impression that I was being taken advantage of in any way. Best part? The cost of the cruise does not include any additional fees or gratuities. It goes without saying that a member of the crew who has gone above and beyond to assist you in any way deserves a token of your gratitude in the form of a monetary tip.
Crystal Cruises provided passengers with access to a diverse selection of shore excursions that ranged in price from that of a typical excursion to that which was considered quite excessive. However, you should learn from my mistakes and not be as frugal as I was. Crystal provided guests with the opportunity to spend the evening ashore in Cartagena, Colombia, which included a stroll through the city, a drink at a rooftop bar, and then a spectacular supper.
It had a price tag of $209, and I thought that was just too much money for it. There were only 12 people that signed up for the event, and I was familiar with six of them. When everyone got back to the ship at around 9 o’clock in the evening, they were absolutely ecstatic with the most amazing experience they’d ever had during a beach trip. What a fool I once was.
A Place Where Everyone Will Know Your Name
I believe that the staff should be provided with a reference document that includes photographs of each of the guests. It’s incredible that they could remember everyone’s name like that. My expectations were completely blown away by the personalised care. However, the crew did have a marginal advantage in this situation.
Although the ship had the capacity to carry little over a thousand passengers, there were fewer than 550 people on this particular cruise. Imagine there are 550 guests and 655 crew members. It was wonderful throughout the entire stretch of 18 days.
My Standard Balcony Stateroom on the Crystal Serenity is Featured in This Review
My stateroom was a basic balcony stateroom, and it had a king bed that could be separated into two twin beds, a refrigerator and a complementary mini-bar, a flat screen television, reading lights on both sides of the bed, and lots of drawer and storage space.
The bathroom was enormous, and even though I was there by myself, I liked having the option of utilising one of the two sinks. The water pressure in the shower in the bathtub was the highest I’ve experienced on any ship. There are multiple handles on the tub’s side that can be used to step in and out of the water. Because the majority of guests are over the age of 60 and maintaining equilibrium might be difficult, this is a positive development. Etro manufactures all of the bath goods that are provided, including some lovely soaps.
On board the Crystal Serenity, nearly all of the staterooms include a balcony. On Deck 7, often known as the Promenade Deck, there is a small selection of staterooms that have ocean views; these are the most cost-effective options. If you upgrade to a suite, you will have a butler who will cater to your every wish.
The Crystal Serenity offers something they call a “Pure” stateroom to passengers who suffer from severe allergies. Although you may have to pay a little bit more, we really hope that there is nothing in the room that you are allergic to.
The comfortable chairs on the balcony were a wonderful addition. The plastic straps and mesh panels have been replaced with something much better and more comfy.
You don’t need to bring a magnifying mirror with you because the one you need is already in the restroom.
In case all of that wasn’t enough, the two ships operated by the cruise line each have a dedicated kosher area within the kitchens of the ship. No more pre-ordered frozen dinners if you keep kosher.
Crystal Cruises has found a way to successfully mix numerous eating places into a smaller space, which is particularly impressive given the size of its ships.
There are a total of six different eating options available, in addition to The Vintage Room, which is available for a private wine dinner that costs $$$$. The Main Dining Room was where the most of the action took place during supper because it had two seatings. You are only able to visit the Lido buffet for breakfast and lunch, as well as any snacks that are offered during the day.
Alternately, there is a gelato station, the Trident Grill (both the left and the right side), and Taste located within an area that has a retractable glass dome. On cruises that are up to 14 days long, passengers are allowed two complimentary visits each to the speciality eateries Prego and Chef Nobu’s Silk Road & Sushi Bar. For reservations of 15 days or more, each guest is permitted a total of four dining visits at either establishment.
My only experience at Prego, the Italian restaurant, was a single visit. The cuisine was fine, although I was not very enthusiastic about it. Silk Road and the Sushi Bar were, out of the remaining three speciality selections, my top two picks.
Best Onion Rings Ever at Trident Grill
The Lido buffet is the sixth and final dining option on the property. There is usually a member of the staff standing by to lend a hand in transporting your plate to a table. One of the most impressive buffets available at sea. Absolutely immaculate cleanliness, a fantastic and varied choices available at each of the food stations, and amazing seating options outside. If only we could find them open at the dinner hour. It has been said that following the refurbishment scheduled for November 2018, it would reopen in the nights.
Because room service is accessible around the clock, I never went without my morning cappuccino and breakfast from room service. The table cloth that is placed over the lift-up coffee table is included when dinner is purchased from the menu in the main dining room.
The excellent onion rings are also available to order in the Main Dining Room, if you prefer to eat there. Inquire with your waiter. Your fellow diners will adore you because of it.
Once more, I was blown away by the calibre of the entertainment and the performers that provided it. From Kenny James of Star Search fame and Panamanian folkloric dancers to an upbeat production performance featuring many costume changes by the house performers and a finale featuring the cruise director and his dummy. There was nearly always something for each and every person to enjoy.
The performances were rounded off with comedic acts, violinists, and pianists. They boarded and disembarked at a number of different ports along the route.
The house orchestra was fantastic and full of energy, and they played music in a wide variety of styles, including classical, jazz, Dixieland, and more. This is the event for you if you appreciate listening to live music.
When there is a second evening performance, it is much easier to find a seat that you like because there are fewer people attending. By 10:00 PM, the majority of passengers have already retired for the night.
There was a knitting group that met every day, as well as golf lessons and trivia at noon. It was a daily tradition to have tea in the afternoon. Not like Cunard, where they have servers parading about with scones. Waiters circulated throughout the venue with tea sandwiches, scones, and of course, freshly brewed pots of tea.
On sea days, the main theatre was used by the food department to host cookery demonstrations for the ship’s passengers. On two separate occasions, we were served the most magnificent gala buffet that I have ever witnessed, whether it be on land or at sea.
There is karaoke offered in the evenings at Pulse Disco, a tennis court located on the top deck of the ship, workout courses, and a Yamaha piano (really a Clavinova) that is exclusively available for passenger use. The Yamaha keyboard lessons would take place in The Studio throughout the subsequent cruise, which would be 24 days long and travel from Los Angeles to Sydney.
As a Solo Cruiser, you should know that participating in the daily trivia is always a terrific way to meet other passengers.
It turned out that my preconceived concept of the passenger demographic—that most of them were elderly, retired, and wealthy—wasn’t too far off the mark. Surprisingly, there were cases that did not conform to the rule. Another couple had been saving their money for years in order to go on this specific trip, while the first couple had received their tickets as a present from a member of their family.
Although there were a few people who were possibly in their late forties and on their fourth world trip, the vast majority of guests on Crystal cruised between two and three times every year.
Even though the required attire is described as “resort casual,” I observed quite a few fellow passengers whose attire did not come close to meeting the required standard. It was understood that jeans were not to be worn anyplace on the ship after 6 o’clock, even though this rule was not policed.
As a first-time passenger on Crystal Cruises, I was not yet a member of the “Club.” You can constantly overhear guests on mass market cruises asking each other, “So how many cruises have you been on?” On board the Crystal Serenity, the question “So how many Crystal cruises have you been on?” served as the measuring contest.
Crystal Cruises unquestionably attracts a loyal following of passengers who choose to sail on Crystal-Only itineraries. These passengers have spent their entire travelling career with Crystal and refuse to sail with any other line.
To some extent, I get it…
Why should you switch to something different if it already meets your needs and consistently gives you a return that justifies the money you’ve put into it? For me personally, it’s fun to try out a variety of cruise lines, sailing on everything from massive cruise ships to intimate yachts. But I can well understand where they are coming from.
Nearly all of the passengers were smiling and glad to be able to experience yet another Crystal Cruise, in spite of the obvious country-club conduct that some of them exhibited. I can honestly say that I did not experience any haughtiness or impoliteness during my time there. On this cruise, I had the opportunity to meet a lot of amazing people, including one couple with whom I plan to have a friendship for the rest of my life.
Conclusions and Reflections on Crystal Cruises and My Trip Aboard the Crystal Serenity
As I reflect on my time aboard the Crystal Serenity to write this review, I have a better understanding of the cruise line’s devoted customer base. To my new friends Cherie and Michael, who I met on my first Crystal Cruise, I explained that travelling on a Crystal Cruise is like coming back to a cherished summer camp year after year.
Every time you get onboard, the staff (camp counsellors) know your name, you are reunited with former cruise pals (camp mates), and you know where the venues are located (such finding the mess hall and arts and crafts building) (find your camp cabin). The same…only at a far higher price. And if you’re very fortunate, you’ll be able to enjoy it for a full two months.
