Crystal Serenity, from Crystal Cruises, is a 740 berth uber-luxurious cruise ship. Featuring bars, casino, cinema, gym, library, nightclub, shops, swimming pool, spa, theatre, computer university at sea and much, much more. A floating paradise of education, fun, leisure and wellness. 

Serenity’s first-class facilities put many a city to shame. Guests look forward to a day at sea when they have the time to make the most of the activities on offer. On world cruises, Serenity and her equally well-equipped sister ship, Crystal Symphony, offer more than enough activities and challenges to occupy guests for months on end. 

Crystal Serenity demonstrates that the days when cruising leisure meant little more than deck chairs and deck quoits are long gone.

1. Learn about your ports of call

On our Baltic cruise, seven ports of call and six countries, we had cultural anthropologist Dr Jim Rowe giving us insider guides to what made up the psyche of our hosts.

Dr Rowe introduced us to the Swedish concept of “lagom”, the Swedes’ key to living well through moderation. Never too much, never too little. A balanced society where the royal family reject grandeur and drive themselves, where a princess married her personal trainer.

It was more than architecture and cuisine as we learnt about the Finn’s pride in sisu, their inner resilience against brutal weather and long, dark winter days. 

2. Head for the gym

A 3,000 square foot fitness centre features Technogym equipment and panoramic ocean views on the treadmills or rowing machine. 

Raj, the Fitness Director, co-ordinates a programme of wellness that begins with early morning stretches and includes Pilates, spinning and yoga. Most guests disembark, stress-induced cortisol levels reduced and healthily nourished by Serenity’s cuisine. looking healthier than when they boarded.

3. Relax at the Aurora Spa

Roll-back the years with anti-ageing treatments provided by Dr Clare. See her presentations on holding onto youthful looks as well as hearing advice on managing your metabolism.

Use your the i-Pad in your suite to scroll through the spa’s menu: LED facials, acupuncture and an extensive menu of massages. Aurora is a serene haven of steam rooms, saunas, relaxation rooms and a beauty salon.

4. Create at a workshop

An intriguing creative arts programme gives guests, from beginners to the experienced, opportunities to explore crafting, mixed media projects and painting. 

At a tutor-led workshop, some guests decided to make necklaces, with matching earrings, for the formal evening. 

5. Improve your golf

A golf professional runs workshops and provides individual lessons to help players make the most of the driving range and putting green. 

The professional can also help guests with plans to play courses near to the ports of call.

6. Take in a lecture

World-class experts provide fascinating in-depth enrichment lectures. On our Baltic Cruise Westpoint-trained Lieutenant General (retired) Mark Hertling focused his global leadership experience on the war in Ukraine and the consequences of Finland and Sweden’s admission to NATO. Worryingly, in all his years of military experience, he felt that World War lll had never been closer. 

Futurist Dr Jane Thomason shared her visions of the Metaverse and a world where Al was changing the nature of the world of work. Then there’s also the Computer University @ Sea, an onboard digital learning centre that helps guests to keep-up with the ever-increasing pace of technological progress.

7. Outdoor leisure

Sun-loungers are spaced around the Seahorse swimming pool and two whirlpools, with waiters on hand to take drinks orders. 

Above the pools there are courts for pickleball and short tennis. 

8. Have a flutter at the casino

Operating in partnership with the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) the ship’s casino brings gaming in style, including blackjack and roulette, to the ocean.

The adjoining Avenue Saloon bar, serving cocktails, wines and top-shelf spirits provides an elegant spot to unwind.

9. Play a hand of bridge

There can’t be many more elegant places to make a three no-trumps contract nor scupper your opponents’ five spades bid than the bridge room.

Experienced instructors are available to teach beginners or to literally guide veterans on new tricks.

10. Visit the library

Plush seating and panoramic ocean views make Crystal Serenity’s library a serene retreat. 

This well-stocked library contains over 2,000 books, plus there are magazines and board games too.

11. Cocktails

Cocktails, often stretching to two hours or more for some guests, is a social highlight of the day. 

On their way to dinner, most guests stop off at the Avenue Saloon, Crystal Cove or Palm Court for an all-inclusive cocktail, often sampling the cocktail of the day.

12. An evening show

After dinner, it is the shortest of strolls to the Galaxy Lounge for a Broadway-style show.

The tiered-seating theatre hosts live music, comedians and tributes to performers such as Billy Joel and Elton John.

Disclosure: Our cruise was sponsored by Crystal Cruises.

Wherever Crystal Serenity sails in the world, from Alaska to Zanzibar, whether it is a world cruise, an Asian odyssey or a voyage through the Mediterranean, dinner is a very special event. Every evening, guests face a dilemma. Where should they eat? What should they eat?

As soon as Crystal veterans set foot on board they head for the maître d’ of the speciality restaurants to book. Osteria d’Ovidio creatively and lightly reimagines the flavours of Northern Italy. Nobu Matsuhisa brings superb Japanese cuisine, with subtle Peruvian influences, to Umi Uma. While cosmopolitan Beefbar fuses global street food with comfort eating. 

On this uber-luxurious ship, reborn in 2023 after a $150 m refit, the restaurants call for a Michelin guide of the waves.  Hosting up to 740 guests, Serenity’s menus transport diners to new flavours, new aromas and new textures. The waiters are guides to a gourmet world. It is a triumph of culinary logistics over seasons, time-zones and the seas.

Waterside Restaurant

For many guests from their first breakfast to their final evening dinner, Waterside Restaurant, with its crisp white tablecloths and warm impeccable service, is the go-to destination. Offering open-dining, informed service is slick, enabling diners to head off for an evening show if they wish. 

Every evening, the menu completely changes. Some of the diners are veterans of dozens of Crystal Cruises so chefs ring the changes with invention and invention.

Think wasabi crumble with the seared tuna or an original citrus brown butter with the goat cheese hazelnut tortellini for the exciting contemporary side of the menu. Diners are free to select one of these starters followed by a classic such as grilled swordfish or T-Bone steak. Or there is an ever-changing cheese selection of eight cheeses from the Cheese Sommelier.

Osteria d’Ovidio

Immersed in Northern Italian cuisine, Massimiliano Alajmo reimagined a light renaissance of the rustic classics that brought him a third Michelin star at the age of 28. The youngest chef to ever achieve that milestone. 

Now he and his restauranteur brother Raffaele, have brought the lexicon of casarecce, risotto, spaghetti and tortellini to a new menu with a light touch of the flavours of their childhood: basil, extra virgin olive oil, oregano, rosemary and truffle.

As well as classic dishes from across the Italian peninsula such as sliced veal in tuna sauce, there are traditional Venetian dishes and signature dishes of the Alajmo’s family restaurant. Look out for the self-explanatory spaghetti aop con Bloody Mary! 

Umi Uma

Nobu Matsuhisa, the renowned Japanese chef, pays homage to his years in Latin America with Peruvian influences on a menu that owes much to his Nobu restaurants. 

Even by Crystal Serenity’s standards, Umi Uma is one of the most serene spots on the ship. As four chefs create at the sushi bar there’s a sense of temple reverence. 

Umi Uma offers many of the Nobu restaurants’ signature dishes such as yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, lobster tempura and wagyu steak. 

The near legendary black cod. marinated in Saikyo Miso and served with baby peach and young ginger, is ever popular.

BeefBar

Out of Monte Carlo, the BeefBar name is slightly misleading. Yes, this chic French Riviera eatery is a Mecca for meat connoisseurs with superb steaks, especially when served with truffle-infused sauce.

But BeefBar certainly delivers on the “Beef, Reef and Leaf” credo. Neither pescatarians nor vegans are disappointed.

A subtle blend of global street food and comfort food is surrounded by artwork that blends the stunning natural beauty of the Côte d’Azur with the glamour of its sophisticated visitors. 

Stand-out dishes such as jasmine-tea-smoked Waygu bao and Wagyu-topped quesadillas impress with both flawless presentation and intense flavour. 

Stardust Supper Club

For one night only, on shorter cruises, the Stardust Supper Club has the feel of a 1960s Hollywood evening.  Hosted on a formal evening, the 116 lucky diners who’ve booked on a first-come, first served basis head for the Sunset Club, in tuxedos and glamorous gowns. It’s the hottest ticket on board.

Of course, there’s sparkling wine, caviar, lobster and superb house wines as ever. But this is evening as much about live music from Serenity’s six-piece band and singer, plus dancing, as it is about culinary excellence.

And there’s more …

These five restaurants are part of Serenity’s all-inclusive offering.  In addition, guests can book a dinner, with wine pairings, at the intimate Vintage Room, for $300 per head. The Head Sommelier gives guests an education in a selection of fine wines from the ship’s extensive onboard cellar.

Wherever and whenever guests dine, that early evening slot before dinner tends to become “Cocktails”. And for some, a post-dinner visit to the elegant Connoisseur Club for the finest cigars and cognacs becomes part of the evening routine.

Disclosure: Our cruise was sponsored by Crystal Cruises.