Crystal Serenity: Pampered and Serene Cruising of Global Seascapes

Summary: Crystal Serenity, the largest and youngest of Crystal Cruise Lines' three luxury liners, features pampered, serene cruising of global seascapes.

Crystal Serenity, moored at Antwerp, in northeastern Belgium: Port of Antwerp, third biggest port in Europe, with access to North Sea ~ bert76, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Crystal Serenity is the largest and youngest of the trio of stellar luxury liners owned by Crystal Cruise Lines (website: http://www.crystalcruises.com/).

A subsidiary of Tokyo-based shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Crystal Cruise Lines, founded in 1988, is headquartered in Los Angeles, in southern California. Crystal Harmony, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony fly the flag of the Bahamas as their port of registry.

Crystal Serenity was constructed by the South Korean shipbuilding firm of STX Europe. The liner's lead designer was Robert Tillberg (Feb. 2, 1920-March 26, 2013) of Tillberg Design. The renowned global firm specializing in marine architecture and design was founded in 1964 in Viken, in southwestern Sweden.

Signaling the start of construction, the keel was laid July 9, 2002. Construction took place at Alstom Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the firm's shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. The traditional shipbuilding port is sited on the Loire River estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean, in Brittany, northwestern France's historic maritime region.

On July 3, 2003, Dame Julie Andrews (born Oct. 1, 1935), beloved worldwide for her role as Maria in the 1965 musical film The Sound of Music, christened Crystal Serenity in Southampton on England's south central coast.

Four days later, on July 7, 2003, Crystal Serenity embarked on a 14-day round-trip cruise of Northern Europe for its maiden voyage.

On Jan. 14, 2004, the luxury liner kicked off its first world cruise, departing from Los Angeles and concluding 106 days later, on May 5, in New York City.

Crystal Serenity's gracious silhouette features 13 decks, of which nine are passenger accessible.

Encompassing five decks, its 535 staterooms feature 109 penthouses in three styles and 426 staterooms in three styles.

Its length spans 820 feet (249.94 meters), and its width measures 105.6 feet (32.3 meters). The elegant liner cruises at 21 knots (24 miles per hour; 39 kilometers per hour) and attains a maximum speed of 22 knots (25 mph; 41 kmh).

Major redesigns have taken place in 2008, 2011 and, most recently, in 2013. Twelve deluxe staterooms were converted into eight penthouses in November 2008. Outdoor pool deck, retail centers and guest rooms (penthouses and staterooms alike) underwent major redesign in spring 2011.

A $17 million redesign in 2013 created four chic penthouses and 70 PURE hypoallergenic staterooms. The redeisgn also effected a dramatic transformation of indoor and outdoor casual dining spaces, installed a new dance floor in the Palm Court lounge, initiated an industry first with a chef's herb garden, and implemented environmental upgrades throughout the liner's exterior and interior spaces.

Crystal Serenity's Seahorse pool, with sculptured trio of seahorses (left), at night: cruisedotco (cruise.co), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Crystal Serenity regales passengers with an array of entertainments and of recreational activities. Outlets for kinesthetically-inclined passengers include a fitness center, two pools (Seahorse outdoor pool with bandstand and two whirlpools; Neptune indoor pool with a sliding glass roof), a putting green, a tennis court and walking along the Promenade Deck.

Mental pursuits include a library of multi-language books, CDs, and DVDs; internet access in Computers@Sea, the ship's computer center; and lectures and lessons in the Creative Learning Institute's classrooms.

Crystal Spa on the 13th deck is a popular sanctuary with a serene atmosphere and a full range of spa services.

Entertainments include screenings with popcorn in the Hollywood Theater. Live music venues include Broadway-style shows and headline entertainers in the Galaxy Lounge. Ballroom dancing happens nightly, with gentlemen hosts, in the Palm Court lounge. Classical quartets take place in the atrium.

Crystal Serenity pampers passengers with enjoyable activities, comfortable rooms and delicious food. Everything is provided against the ever-changing backdrop of the natural beauty of earth, sea and sky.

Crystal Serenity's legendary amenities, atmosphere and customer service account for passengers who loyally return for cruise after cruise and also for year-round residency for seven years by Lee Wachtstetter.

Crystal Serenity continues to make waves as the best of the best as the incomparable luxury liner does what it does best: sailing with serenity.

sweeping staircase and crystal baby grand (right) of atrium's Crystal Cove area onboard Crystal Serenity: Gary Bembridge (garybembridge), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Crystal Serenity, moored in Antwerp, in northeastern Belgium: bert76, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crystalserenity01.jpg

Seahorse Pool at night: cruisedotco (cruise.co), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/98360501@N03/14863178936/

Crystal Cove area of atrium onboard Crystal Serenity: Gary Bembridge (garybembridge), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/tipsfortravellers/15059031739/

For further information:

Marriner, Derdriu. "Luxury Liner Home: Fairy Tale Life of Lee Wachtstetter on Crystal Serenity." Earth and Space News. Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/02/luxury-liner-home-fairy-tale-life-of.html