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Crystal Cruises Just Relaunched With the Only Nobu-Concept at Sea, and Will Take You to Some of the Most Spectacular Locations on Earth

Get ready to savor every bite.

Courtesy of Crystal

There it is. My absolute favorite dish in the world: chef Nobu Matsuhisa's black cod with miso . As it's set before me, I can't help but feel a tiny grin form on my face, knowing I'd be biting into a familiar but ever-delicious dish in mere seconds, made sweeter by the fact that I wasn't eating it in one of his famous haunts in Malibu, New York, or London. I was eating it in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

On a balmy summer day in July, I boarded the brand-new Serenity, a ship by the freshly relaunched Crystal Cruises . And when I mean fresh, I mean new with tags, paint barely dry, and a pool filled to the brim mere moments before I stepped aboard. Usually, I'd damper my expectations for a first-on cruise, but in this instance, I didn't have to. Because from bow to stern, including its flawless interior crew, it was already spectacular.

The journey back for Crystal Cruises has certainly been an epic one. In 2022, the cruise line's parent company was forced to auction off its two ships to settle debts, Maritime Executive reported . They were purchased by cruising and shipping icon Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio. Lefebvre d'Ovidio purchased the ships through his other investment in Abercrombie & Kent (A&K Travel Group), an already well-known and beloved brand for luxury land excursions, bringing together two powerhouses for one stellar new product. However, Lefebvre d'Ovidio didn't give his team years to develop and renovate the two ships. He gave them exactly 12 months. And nearly to the day, the ships were launched.

Stacey Leasca

“Some whispered, some shouted ‘they will not make it,’ but here we are,” Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, shared at a group event the night of our departure. “What happened in the last 12 months, in my opinion, is exceptional.”

The cruise certainly has a lot of new going on, from updated, more spacious rooms and suites to new itineraries all over the world, including voyages through the Mediterranean, Europe, Canada, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Australia, and a newly revamped gym and pickleball court on the top deck. Its interiors now look more akin to a 5-star hotel out of the Belmond or Dorchester collection than a cruise ship. However, there are a lot of classics returning too, like some 80% of the company’s previous staff, including the return of Crystal veteran Günter Lorenz, the vice president of food and beverage operations, who’s been with the company since 1991. 

“There’s been a big evolution,” Lorenz shared about the refreshed menus onboard as we sit basking in the sun through the floor-to-ceiling windows at Tastes, one of the ship’s eleven distinct dining venues, this one a bit more low-key than the others. “Firstly, people now know more about food,” he said, crediting social media for that, adding because of just how snap-happy travelers are these days, “plating is even more important.”

Though Lorenz noted that the company likes to stay on top of food trends, it’s also focused on providing its guests with mainstay classics, including buffets where guests can find almost any dish they’re dreaming about. In fact, according to Lorenz, the chefs onboard have developed nearly 6,000 menu items, making it entirely possible to spend a lifetime eating onboard and never have the same thing twice. And as much of that as possible is sourced locally in port. 

“Our chefs can go out and get the freshest fish or seafood or vegetables they need,” Lorenz explained, noting that, of course, this is still a cruise line, so mass orders are natural. However, regionally sourced cuisine “is all possible.” 

And yes, all the dining here is outstanding, from the grab-n-go style buffet at Marketplace and the sit-down dining at Waterside to the Italian fine dining at Osteria d'Ovidio, right down to its ice cream shop, Scoops. However, if you were to book this cruise for one reservation and one reservation alone, it would have to be for Umi Uma, a restaurant and sushi restaurant by chef Nobu Matsuhisa that, much like the staff, has returned to Crystal bigger and better than ever. 

"Nobu always says, 'If the guests want something, please try to do it. Even if we don't have it on the menu,'" Tokunaga Takashi, the executive chef at Umi Uma, said. "The most important thing is the guest." 

As for what's refreshed at the restaurant, other than the decor, not much. And that's exactly what guests want. "We always put a Nobu signature plate on the menu," Takashi shared. 

Here, those signatures include the aforementioned black cod with miso, which I tried to eat as slowly as possible, enjoying every morsel of the sweet meets savory, buttery smooth dish. This dish, after all, requires marinating the fish for at least two days, thus earning more than a mere moment on your tastebuds. 

"We try to get guests smiling," Takashi says. "The yellowtail jalapeno dish is a signature to us. We make maybe a thousand plates a day of it. But for the guest, it may be a special day. This is maybe someone's birthday, a special event, a special date. That's why we always think this one single dish is the most important dish." 

crystal cruises restaurants

The bites from Umi Uma were, without question, the best onboard, but I'd be hard-pressed to find a meal I didn't devour with unadulterated glee throughout the sailing. I ate breakfast from the buffet on the back deck, watching as dolphins chased our ship from Italy to France, dug into freshly grated truffles over homemade pasta on an Abercrombie & Kent curated excursion in Tuscany after searching for the high-end mushroom alongside a local farmer and his truffle dog, Bianca, and went back for a personal record number of cones brimming with gelato at Scoops. And found myself surprised with bite after bite, thinking, really, this is all found on a cruise ship? Yes. And luckily for me, and you, it's all included in the cost of a ticket. (Sans excursions, of course.) 

"My goal is when you leave the cruise, you should have gained two kilos,” Lorenz says with a laugh." And it's duty-free.” 

Related Articles

The Roaming Boomers

Dining on crystal cruises serenity: our experience.

Posted by David Porter on Thursday, September 15, 2016 · 2 Comments  

Carol with the sommelier at Prego

Carol with the sommelier at Prego

Understanding the Dining Options on Crystal Cruises Serenity

Before we share our personal dining experiences sailing on the Crystal Cruises Serenity, the first question that usually pops into the mind is the dress code.

Therefore, you might want to hop over to our article that explains the dress code when sailing with Crystal Cruises: click here .

Dress codes on luxury cruise lines have become far more relaxed over the last decade.  So, I think you’re going to like it.

The Crystal Dining Room

First, we’ll start our discussion with Crystal Cruises main dining space, the Crystal Dining Room.

Warmly decorated with rich wood paneling, brass railing, crystal chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows, the grand Crystal Dining Room is one of the most elegant dining facilities at sea.  Sophisticated décor is enhanced by the finest of tabletop appointments, including Schott Zwiesel stemware, Villeroy & Boch porcelain, Sambonet silver, and Frette or Garnier Thiebaut linens.

Innovative menus boast a variety of international specialties, with regionally inspired dishes based on the itinerary, presented in either a “classic” style or “modern,” molecular gastronomy style.  Guests always have multiple courses to choose from: appetizers soups and salads; the highest quality meats, such as prime rib or pheasant; fresh fish, including lobster and salmon; indulgent and sugar-free desserts; and premium international wines and champagnes to accompany it all.  Remarkably, the Crystal Dining Room never repeats a menu during a cruise.

crystal_cruises_modern_cuisine_scallop_duo

I really enjoyed having essentially two menus each night.  Carol enjoys a more classic menu when she’s dining, where I love to explore new and innovative dishes.  So, I found myself selecting off of the modern menu most nights.

When contemplating the modern menu, think molecular gastronomy where advanced galley equipment is used and expanded local sourcing of the freshest ingredients for such dishes as scallop and tuna tartare with flavored citrus foam, white miso soup poured over, and olive oil “caviar” balls that explode with cold flavor when bitten into; a Shiraz-braised oxtail ragout served with an egg poached to silky perfection after almost an hour of slow cooking; and a re-imagined Strawberries Romanoff comprising a cotton candy dome that melts immediately upon having strawberry consommé poured over it, revealing a flourless fresh berry-almond cake with vanilla anglaise hidden underneath.

While I wouldn’t call myself a food critic, we have dined in some of the best restaurants in the world, and we found the cuisine in the Crystal Dining Room to be top shelf.  In fact, I enjoyed my first meal in the Crystal Dining Room so much, I leaned over to Carol and said, “let’s just eat here every night”.  It was that good.  Of course, she gave me a disapproving look, and said “no, we need to experience all of the restaurants”.

She was right of course.  But all that to say that the cuisine in the Crystal Dining Room is superb.  Three-star Michelin good?  No.  But very good indeed.  You won’t be disappointed.   In fact, I think you’ll be very pleased.

Crystal Cruises Perfect Choice Dining

crystal-cruises-perfect-choice-dining

Crystal Cruises has solved this problem with what they call Perfect Choice Dining. This unique concept allows you to choose between a classic main seating at 6:15, a late seating at 8:30, or dining by reservation (when and with whom you wish).

Once your cruise is fully paid, you may then reserve your personal dining times. Carol and I chose to be seated each night at 6:15 at a table of eight.  This allowed us to meet new people, make new friends, and get to know our waitstaff. For us, we find this to be a far more personal experience.

However, as we’ll discuss below, we were absent from our assigned table five nights as we were also exploring some of the other dining options on the ship, and one evening we chose to make a dining reservation in the Crystal Dining Room to have a more intimate dining experience with new friends we made aboard ship.

We like options and the Perfect Choice Dining concept gave us the ability to dine how and when we wanted.  Lastly, the Crystal Dining Room is open for breakfast and lunch with open seating.

A few of our Dining Photographs

Before we move on to some of the other dining choices available on the Crystal Cruises Serenity, I thought you might enjoy a few of the photographs we shot during our dining experiences aboard ship.

We didn’t capture any photographs dining in the Crystal Dining Room as we we chose to sit at a table of eight to make new friends.  Attempting to get a good photograph on a table filled with eight people as well as all of the dining accoutrements filling the table just didn’t seem practical.  However, in our other dining experiences, we requested a table for two so that we could capture some nice photographs for our readers to see.  Hope you enjoy them.

crystal cruises restaurants

Specialty Restaurants

Crystal specialty restaurants provide an opportunity for guests to enjoy a variety of culinary experiences. In order to ensure that each guest has a chance to dine at Prego, Silk Road and the Sushi Bar at least once during their voyage, a maximum of one reservation per specialty restaurant will be confirmed per booking through their Guest Check-in/Priority Check-in and Planning Center (PCPC). All additional reservations or visits (i.e. walk-in dining) will be confirmed on board on a space available basis for a nominal fee of $30 per person, per dining experience.

While we certainly enjoyed the Crystal Dining Room, it is our strong opinion that each guest should make a complimentary reservation at Prego, Silk Road, and the Sushi Bar.  It’s best to do this immediately after your booking is completed.  However, if you ignore that advice, make it your priority to get these restaurants booked immediately after boarding.  These restaurants are much smaller than the Crystal Dining Room, are VERY popular, and if you wait too long, you’re going to be disappointed to learn that they have sold out.  Forewarned if forearmed.  Right?

Carol and I are big fans of Italian cuisine, so we gladly sprung for an additional $60 to enjoy a second night at Prego.  Yum. Yum. Yum.

prego_ravioli

Charming and romantic, Prego brings the flavors of Italy to Crystal Serenity.  The intimate European restaurant features classic and contemporary Italian dishes such as:

  • Carpaccio of Black Angus Beef, with Mustard Sauce and Caravaglio Capers
  • Minestra “Primavera di Verdura” Soup with Vegetables in Season, Tomato, Beans, and Macaroni Pasta, topped with Bread Crostini and Pesto
  • Lavender Honey-Roasted Pink Duck Breast, with Balsamic Cherries, Chestnut Cappuccino, and Salsify and Poached Radish
  • Paccheri and Swordfish with Mint, Basil, Capers, and Zucchini Ecrema

The tantalizing selection of desserts might include flavored lady fingers with light mascarpone cheese layers; a Nougatine Mousse with brandy cherries, cherry ice cream, and Frangelico schiuma; or a “Piedmontese” chocolate-almond flan.

I might also add that the Osso Buco was out of this world.  If you’re an Osso Buco fan, get it!

crystal_cruises_nobu_scallops

Silk Road restaurant features the eclectic cuisine of famed master chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa with dishes prepared by Nobu-trained chefs.  Matsuhisa redefined sushi with an innovative blending of classically styled Japanese foods with distinct Peruvian and European influences.  He personally guided The Sushi Bar’s intimate design and unveiled his own, fingerprint-proof line of fine china in The Sushi Bar and Silk Road during Crystal Serenity’s inaugural season.  While The Sushi Bar offers an assortment of Nobu’s signature sushi and sashimi, including Tiradito Nobu-style, and Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, Silk Road presents more than two dozen of Nobu’s signature appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts.  Entrée selections include such treats as:

  • Nobu-style Lobster with Truffle-Yuzu Sauce
  • Black Cod with Miso
  • Grilled Wagyu Beef Rib-Eye

The signature dessert is a Bento Box filled with Chocolate Soufflé Cake with Shiso Syrup and Sesame Ice Cream.

Carol and I enjoyed sampling all three of the entrées listed above.  All were wonderful, but I enjoyed the Black Cod the most.  If you’re a lover of fish, get it!  There a photo of my Black Cod in the photo slider above.

crystal_serenity_tastes_dish2

A custom-built open kitchen allows guests to watch.  While Tastes is open during the day for a “Late Risers Breakfast” and full lunch menu, including specialties such as traditional “home style” Chinese noodles and dumplings, a deconstructed grilled shrimp Caesar Salad, and freshly-ground Angus beef Manhattan Beach Burger. After 6:00 PM, the restaurant is transformed into a cool and casual evening eatery with dramatic lighting that showcases the trees, plants, and decorative screens.  Its new global-inspired menu was created in association with Sapphire Restaurants in Laguna Beach, CA, where acclaimed Chef Azmin Ghahreman offers cuisine with accents from around the globe.  Crystal’s talented chefs create dishes such as an Alsatian Tart, California Street Tacos, and Scottish-Cured Salmon, all designed to be shared via small plates.

When it comes to culinary delights, my palate loves to explore.  Therefore, I absolutely loved Tastes as I was able to explore the world’s cuisine in one spot and take my palate to places it has never been.  While Prego and Silk Road seem to get all of the specialty restaurant attention, don’t miss a dining experience at Tastes.  While we loved Prego and Silk Road, if I had the chance to go back to one of these restaurants today, I would pick Tastes for the opportunity to experience a culinary adventure.

Other Dining Options

lido

For casual meals, this indoor/outdoor venue features elaborate breakfast choices with exotic fruit, authentic Swiss muesli, fresh-baked breads and pastries, as well as made-to-order regular and egg white omelets, waffles, and pancakes, and Asian breakfast options for international guests.  Luncheon options include custom-made pastas and salads, a delicious selection of soups, carved meats, fresh fish, and sumptuous desserts, including sugar-free options.

As the Lido Café was very near our stateroom, we frequented this fabulous buffet for breakfast and lunch. The Swiss Muesli is ‘da bomb, and the selection is mind-boggling.

Trident Bar & Grill

This ultimate grill with a full bar serves a Late-Risers Breakfast from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Crystal Symphony, and lunch throughout the afternoon on both ships.  Among the casual choices are grilled hot dogs, made-to-order hamburgers, veggie and chicken burgers (with fresh-baked buns), tuna melts, two different wrap sandwiches each day, and more. The space brings the outside in with lush greenery-filled “living walls” on both ships. Crystal Symphony’s 37.7-foot wall, with plants creating a world map, was the industry’s first living wall at sea. Crystal Serenity went a step beyond with four living walls plus an herb garden for chefs.

My bride enjoys a good hamburger.  While I said we can get a good hamburger anywhere, she twisted my arm and got her hamburger fix at the Trident Bar & Grill.  If you too are a burger lover, you’ll enjoy this casual fare.

Trident Ice Cream Bar

For sweets on demand, the Trident Ice Cream Bar (called Scoops on Crystal Serenity) offers Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, freshly-made waffle cones, cookies, sundaes, shakes, sherbets, sugar-free ice cream and nonfat frozen yogurt with fresh berries and other toppings.  During the course of a cruise, 20 different ice creams (including low-carb), 12 homemade sherbets, and nonfat yogurts are offered. 

While I don’t need it, I must confess to enjoying a couple of scoops of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia on three different occasions.

Distinctive to Crystal Cruises is the centrally located and highly popular European-inspired café, which is open all day—and late into the night.  In the a.m., guests can enjoy a continental breakfast with fresh croissants, breakfast pastries, smoked salmon and bagels served on The Bistro’s exclusive porcelain china custom-designed for Crystal by celebrated French artist Guy Buffet.  During the afternoon, guests can sip exotic coffee drinks or premium wines by the glass and savor rich pâtés, fresh fruits, international cheeses, charcuterie and freshly made tarts and cakes.  Wine, champagne, and digestif pairings continue into the evening, with more freshly-baked desserts, a chocolate fountain, and artisan cheese selection.

At the daily afternoon teatimes, delicious savories and sweets are accompanied by Mighty Leaf teas, the world’s finest whole leaf tea, served in special silk pouches.  The charming sunlit Palm Court, with its expansive picture windows, ‘greenery’, comfortable rattan furnishings, and soothing classical music, provides the perfect backdrop for this favored afternoon ritual.  Not to be missed are the themed specialty tea times, including the Mozart Tea, a visit to 18 th century Vienna with tea and Austrian pastries served by staff dressed in velvets and brocades, and an English Colonial Tea with scones served with whipped cream and jams, finger sandwiches and other sweets.

In-Stateroom Dining

The mark of any true luxury experience is service.  In keeping with Crystal Cruises’ commitment to providing the highest possible level of service, the line offers complimentary 24-hour in-stateroom dining to accommodate any guest at any time.  At sea or in port, guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in their rooms or on their private verandahs, served with the same precision and attention to detail found in the dining venues.  During lunch and dinner hours, guests may order their in-stateroom meals from the Crystal Dining Room, served course by course, if so desired.  Penthouse guests enjoy the added privilege of having in-stateroom dining available from specialty restaurants during dinner hours.

As I contemplate our dining experiences on the Crystal Serenity, the first thing that comes to mind is the wonderful variety of options available to Crystal Serenity cruisers.  Because this ship holds 1,000 people, and the ship was designed to give passengers a high “space ratio” ( learn more about that here ), there was considerably more space available to offer Crystal guests a variety of dining options.  So while we certainly enjoyed the dining experiences we’ve had on a smaller 300 passenger luxury sailing vessel, it was very nice to have all of these different options available.

However, I do leave the ship with one regret: for some crazy unknown reason, we didn’t make a reservation in The Sushi Bar.  Carol and I will be sailing the Crystal Serenity again next fall from NYC to Montreal. I intend to fix this problem on that sailing.

Overall, Carol and I were very impressed with the quality of the dining experiences aboard the Crystal Serenity.  When one considers the quantity of food coming out of these kitchens each day, it seems to me a modern miracle that the quality of the cuisine aboard the Crystal Serenity is equal to some of the finest restaurants in the world.

Bottom line , you’re going to love the dining experiences aboard the Crystal Serenity, and this is one of the many reasons that Crystal Cruises has enjoyed ‘best-of-the-best” ratings for decades.

__________________________________________________

And now, a shameless commercial message….

Listen, if you haven’t sailed with Crystal Cruises, you simply must. We promise, it will be an unforgettable experience. To read more about our Crystal Cruises experiences, click here .

We’re expert travel planners and know the luxury cruise industry very well. If you’d like to take advantage of our considerable knowledge of the luxury cruise industry, please give our travel agency a call at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request ( click here ) and we’ll reach out to you.

Plus, as we’re members of the $15 billion/year Virtuoso Travel Network , we’re very likely to have complimentary VIP perks to share with you that you can’t get on your own.

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Category: Blog , Crystal Cruises , Travel News & Tips · Tags: Alaska Cruises , Crystal Cruises , Luxury Cruises

2 Comments on “ Dining on Crystal Cruises Serenity: Our Experience ”

Would like to know if caviar is served on the Crystal Serenity! Is it served on every voyage and destination this ship sails to?

Hi John and Marianne,

Yes, we enjoyed caviar on the Crystal Serenity. However, I can say for sure if it is offered on every voyage and destination. You might want to ask Crystal that question. 🙂

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All Things Cruise

Crystal Cruises’ Specialty Restaurants

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises provides alternative specialty restaurants to enhance the evening dining options and provide the opportunity to enjoy a variety of culinary environments.

Charming and romantic, Prego brings the flavors of Italy to Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity . A seasonally changing Valentino at Prego menu features signature dishes such as Scaloppine Di Vitello Servite Con Capelli D’angelo and Linguine Con Aragosta E Zucchini , along with wines that are served at Piero Selvaggio’s revered Los Angeles and Las Vegas restaurants, Valentino. Valentino is considered by many to be among the finest Italian restaurants in the country.

Serving dinner only.

Silk Road & The Sushi Bar

The eclectic–and delectable–cuisine of world-renowned master chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa is prepared by Nobu-trained chefs at Silk Road and The Sushi Bar. Regarded for his innovative approach to sushi, Nobu blends classically styled Japanese foods with distinct Peruvian and European influences. While The Sushi Bar offers an assortment of Nobu’s inventive sushi and sashimi, including Salmon Tartar , Tiradito Nobu-style and Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño , Silk Road presents his celebrated dishes such as Lobster with Truffle-Yuzu Sauce , Grilled Wagyu Beef Rib-Eye with Wasabi Pepper Sauce , and his signature dessert, a Bento Box filled with Chocolate Soufflé Cake with Shiso Syrup and Sesame Ice Cream . The famed chef enjoys a long history with Crystal and unveiled his own line of fine china during Crystal Serenity’s inaugural season.

The Vintage Room

An innovative concept in wining and dining is offered aboard Crystal Cruises. The Vintage Room promotes wine education and the vast range of fine wines available on board. In addition to tastings and discussions in this beautiful room, guests may partake in a variety of private wine-themed dinners by special arrangement with the Head Sommelier.

To pre-reserve a seating or private dinner, please visit Crystals’ Priority Check-in & Planning Center. Please note that the date of your Vintage Room dinner will be determined closer to sailing date as a minimum of 10 guests must confirm participation for the event to be offered. Serving dinner only.

Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners Crystal’s Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners are one-of-a-kind culinary experiences featuring some of the rarest wines in the world. Offered a few times each year on both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, depending on the wines selected the exceptional dinners are priced at an estimated $1,000 per person.

The first Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner was an eight-course French meal prepared by Master Chef André Soltner, former chef/owner of world-famous Lutèce, paired with, among others, a nearly impossible-to-get 1959 Château Lafite–Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux and a Screaming Eagle 1996 from Napa Valley, considered its dream year.

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Crystal Cruises Specialty Dining

Dining Onboard Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises dining options highlight the authentic and classic flavors that create your favorite dishes and reinvent those dishes for a modern twist. There are multiple casual, main and specialty dining options for all guests and some restaurants will require a reservation prior to your visit. Most menus also include 'lighter fare' options that will ensure those who are vegetarian, or on a restricted diet, a wide variety of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

From simple snacks to the most memorable dishes and desserts you can imagine, Crystal Cruises is proud to take care of the culinary desires of all guests. This accomplished staff with award-winning chefs knows how to keep you engaged and excited with multiple menus in the main dining areas. Chefs make use of local ingredients where possible, bringing the flavors of your destinations onboard the ship.

  • CASUAL DINING
  • MAIN DINING
  • SPECIALTY DINING
  • ROOM SERVICE

The Bistro

Get your favorite European coffee drinks at one of the most popular meeting places on deck. Espresso, cappuccino, lattes, it's all available for you in addition to its delightful buffet table, brimming with bagels, pastries, cakes and cheeses. You can also enjoy fine wines and cocktails in The Bistro on Crystal Cruises.

Lido Cafe

The Lido Cafe is a great indoor/outdoor spot to grab your favorite breakfast or lunch items, buffet style. Breakfast features made-to-order omelets, pancakes, waffles and more to kick off another great day. Try the soups, carved meats and fresh fish for lunch but be sure to try all of the great items, prepared fresh daily.

Tastes

If you're a late riser, Tastes is the name to remember. This charming eatery starts the day with the Late-Risers breakfast. Enjoy your favorite comfort foods for lunch. For dinner enjoy a fine glass of your favorite wine with a varied menu starring everything from tacos to fresh tuna.

Trident Grill

Trident Grill

Burgers, hot dogs, tuna melts, chicken sandwiches and more - you'll find all of your favorite cookout comfort foods and even more at the Trident Grill and Ice Cream Bar. As the name implies, you can also get a delicious ice cream treat to refresh you on those balmy travel days. Scoops ice cream bar even has Ben & Jerry's flavors.

Crystal Dining Room

Crystal Dining Room

The Crystal Dining room is an elegant and inviting dining venue. Breathtaking ocean views, sumptuous décor, European trained wait staff and acclaimed chefs make each meal an occasion to be celebrated. Choose between Classic Main dining, Classic Late, and Perfect Choice Dining. Select your perfect meal from two menus for dinner. A "Modern" menu includes such innovative dishes as Snapper Sashimi, Celeriac & Crab Cold Soup, Duo of Salmon and Mai Tai Sherbet. "Crystal Classics" menu offers such familiar fare as Gratinated Seafood Crepe, Borscht "Pravda", Whole Roasted Duck and Espresso Trifle.

Prego

This charming and modern Italian restaurant is the one you'll likely hear guests buzzing about on your ship. Intimate table side service is provided for your pleasure. Here you'll dine on exquisite Italian cuisine with a modern twist including signature dishes by Piero Selvaggio. The menu at Prego changes seasonally and often features local ingredients. Enjoy Fritto Misto di Pesce, Slow-Poached Lobster Tail, Nougatine Mousse and other culinary delights in this romantic venue. Reservations Required.

Silk Road and The Sushi Bar

Silk Road and The Sushi Bar

Master Chef Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa brings the delicate tastes from his world famous restaurants to your Crystal Cruises voyage. Sushi, sashimi, Nobu Style Tacos, Spicy Creamy King Crab, Kelp Salad, Nobu-Style Lobster with Truffle-Yuzu Sauce, Suntory Whisky Cappuccino and your favorite Asian dishes mesh in this restaurant for a culinary experience you will never forget. Reservations Required.

The Vintage Room*

The Vintage Room

In addition to tastings and education, Vintage Room hosts once in a lifetime culinary extravaganzas featuring some of the world's rarest wines. This event is offered only on a select number of voyages per year. The menu is perfectly paired with the exceptional vintages offered. Most recently guests enjoyed King Crab, Porcine Dusted Sea Bass, Seared 72-Hour Prime Beef and Paradise Chocolate Cake.

Room Service

Room Service

Crystal Cruises provides complimentary 24/7 room service to your cabin. If you're looking for breakfast in bed, they have you covered. Want a private dinner on your very own balcony? They have that covered as well. Room service may not be available on all ships.

*Additional fee applies.

All menus and dining times are subject to change without notice. Some venues are only available on select ships.

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Crystal Cruises Review — Ships, Destinations, Dining, and More

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Crystal Cruises Review — Ships, Destinations, Dining, and More

Basic Information

Crystal cruises ocean ships, crystal cruises river ships, crystal cruises yacht, crystal cruises expedition ship, departure ports, private ships/islands, complimentary dining, specialty restaurants, bars and beverages, crystal ocean cruises, crystal river cruises, crystal yacht cruises, crystal expedition cruises, crystal society, final thoughts.

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Crystal Cruises has been offering luxury cruise vacations since 1990. This all-inclusive cruise line doesn’t have a large fleet, but what they do have focuses on total luxury and intimate, small ship sailings.

With Crystal Cruises you won’t find mega-ships like Royal Caribbean or discount party ships like Carnival . What you will find are luxury ocean and river ships along with a yacht and an expedition ship.

Let’s explore what makes Crystal Cruises a unique experience.

Name: Crystal Ltd.

Parent Company: Genting Hong Kong

Number of Ships: 8

Destinations: 800+

Loyalty Program: Crystal Society

Credit Card: None

Crystal Cruises operates 2 ocean ships, 4 river ships, 1 yacht, and 1 expedition ship.

Crystal Bach

  • Crystal Serenity
  • Crystal Symphony
  • Crystal Bach
  • Crystal Debussy
  • Crystal Mahler
  • Crystal Ravel
  • Crystal Esprit
  • Crystal Endeavor

Crystal Endeavor

Crystal Cruises sails to over 800 destinations on all 7 continents from 84 departure ports.

Crystal Cruises does not have a private island or port.

Onboard Activities

Here are some of the activities you may experience on a Crystal Cruises ship (not all activities are available on every ship).

  • 360 Degree promenade deck
  • Afternoon tea
  • Computer University@Sea
  • Crystal Life Sauna
  • Crystal Life Spa & Salon
  • Fitness center
  • Golf driving nets
  • Junior activities program (seasonal)
  • Paddle tennis courts
  • Personal training
  • Photography workshops
  • Resorts World at Sea Casino

You’ll be able to find the dress code for your ocean or expedition voyage, either Crystal Casual or black tie optional, for each day at sea in your Personal Cruise Calendar.

Crystal River Ships Dress Code

  • Comfortable and casual attire is appropriate during the day, however, swimsuits, cover-ups, and baseball hats are not permitted in the dining rooms.
  • Crystal Casual attire is appropriate for evenings on board. This is a slightly dressed up version of daytime wear.

Crystal Esprit (Yacht) Dress Code

  • Tasteful swimwear, sandals, shorts, casual short sleeves, and cover-ups are appropriate during the day.
  • Stylish resort wear should be worn for nights on board. This includes capri pants, blouses, sundresses, and sandals for women. Men should wear khakis, Bermuda shorts, short-sleeve button-down shirts, or golf shirts.

Hot Tip: Be prepared for your cruise’s action-packed days and fun-filled nights — check out our printable cruise packing list!

Dining and Beverages

Dining is a little different on Crystal Cruises because everything is included . There are 3 specialty restaurants across the fleet and each guest is entitled to dine at each of these once or twice per cruise (depending on cruise length) at no extra cost. All beverages in the restaurants, including alcohol, are included as well.

Look out for these restaurants on your next cruise; not all locations are available on every ship.

  • 24-hour room service
  • Bistro Bach
  • Bistro Debussy
  • Bistro Endeavor
  • Bistro Mahler
  • Bistro Ravel
  • Churrascaria
  • Marketplace
  • Scoops Ice Cream Bar
  • Silk Kitchen & Bar
  • Sunset Grill
  • The Vintage Room*
  • Trident Grill
  • Umi Uma & Sushi Bar*

*Denotes a specialty restaurant that requires reservations.

All locations with the exception of specialty restaurants Umi Uma, Prego, and The Vintage Room have open seating. That means you can dine anytime (usually between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. for dinner) you wish without reservations.

Silk Kitchen and Bar on Crystal Serenity

Umi Uma & Sushi Bar, Prego, and The Vintage Room are considered specialty restaurants and require reservations. You can dine at each of the specialty restaurants once per cruise for free. Each additional reservation you make at a specialty restaurant will incur a $30 per person fee.

For any cruise that is 14 days or longer, each guest is allowed 2 complimentary visits to each specialty restaurant before the $30 fee is charged. The Vintage Room wine pairing dining experience is also subject to additional charges.

All beverages are included on your Crystal cruise. Wine, Champagne, premium spirits, and specialty coffees? Yes, they’re all included!

Look out for these bars and lounges on your next cruise; not all locations are available on every ship.

  • Avenue Saloon
  • Connoisseur Club
  • Crystal Cove
  • Galaxy Lounge
  • Starlite Club

Bottom Line: Crystal Cruises goes the all-inclusive route. Beverages (including wines, Champagne, and specialty coffees), specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi, and gratuities are all included.

Accommodations

No matter which room type you choose or what type of ship you’re sailing on, you’ll find luxury accommodations across the Crystal Cruises fleet.

Every stateroom on a Crystal ocean cruise comes with standard amenities including:

  • Sitting area
  • Double-vanity bathroom
  • Full bathtub/shower
  • Bathrobes, kimonos, and slippers for onboard use
  • Luxury bath products
  • Twice-daily housekeeping
  • Evening turndown service

Here are some of the highlights:

The Seabreeze Penthouse with Verandah features butler service, a walk-in closet, private verandah, in-suite tea or cocktails, plus canapés and dining from specialty restaurants Umi Uma and Prego.

Crystal Penthouse with Verandah bathroom

For the ultimate in luxury, choose the Crystal Penthouse with Verandah. This amazing room features over 1,300 square feet of living space. You’ll find a separate living and dining area featuring a custom entertainment center. The master bathroom includes a Jacuzzi tub, flat-screen TV, heated floor, and bidet. There’s also a guest bathroom with a shower.

Sailing on a river cruise is so different than a more traditional ocean cruise. Crystal river cruises are a great way to travel if you’re looking for luxury because every room on each river ship is a suite!

The “basic” room on a Crystal river cruise is anything but basic. The Petite Suite with Panoramic Balcony-Window features a king-size bed with Egyptian cotton linens, glass shower with 2 shower heads, single vanity with halo-lit mirror, and a huge panoramic window so you won’t miss the spectacular views.

The Two-Bedroom Crystal Suite with Panoramic Balcony-Window sleeps up to 5 guests and comes with butler service. This elegant room features 2 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a fireplace with ambient lighting, a separate dining area, and an extra powder room.

Two bedroom crystal suite with panoramic balcony window

Cruising on a yacht is a special treat. Crystal Cruise’s yacht, Crystal Esprit, accommodates only 62 guests, so you’ll enjoy personalized service along with deluxe accommodations.

The Yacht Suite features a king-size bed, bed-side iPads, and large picture window. The bathroom has a glass-enclosed shower, double sink, and a natural stone floor. Personalized butler service and twice-daily housekeeping will round out your luxurious experience.

The 500+ square foot Owner’s Suite features a living area with sofa and chairs, flat-screen TV, and dining table. The bathroom includes a glass-enclosed rain shower and double vanity with a backlit mirror and integrated TV.

Owners Suite on Crystal Esprit

On the Crystal Endeavor Expedition ship, all rooms are suites and every suite has a private verandah.

The Penthouse Suite with Verandah features a king-size bed, living area, and a heated storage closet for expedition gear. The bathroom features a glass-enclosed shower with dual shower heads, double vanity, and a separate water closet.

For even more space and luxury, check out the Expedition Suite with Verandah. This expansive suite features 2 bedrooms in over 1,200 square feet of space. Each bedroom features a king-size bed, bedside iPads, and interactive TVs. Each bedroom has an en suite bathroom with dual sinks, heated floors, Jacuzzis, and separate water closets.

Expedition Suite with Verandah bedroom

The Crystal Society is Crystal Cruise’s loyalty program. It’s free to join , and you’ll be automatically enrolled after you complete your first full-revenue cruise. As a member, you’ll receive special offers, upgrades, onboard credits, special events, and savings on future cruises.

Every member receives benefits including:

  • 2.5% savings on all voyages
  • 2.5% onboard booking savings when you book your next cruise on board
  • Exclusive onboard cocktail party

Plus, you’ll earn cruise credits each time you sail. Each time you hit a new milestone, you’ll be eligible for even more benefits like unlimited free reservations at specialty restaurants, credits towards future sailings, and recognition pins.

Hot Tip: Not sure which credit card to use to get the most bang for your cruise buck? Check out our guide to the best credit cards to book cruises for some guidance.

Crystal Cruises is a luxury cruise line offering ocean, river, yacht, and expedition cruises. Each of its 8 ships is designed for the luxury traveler and includes elegant accommodations and exquisite cuisine.

On Crystal Cruises, everything is included. You won’t pay extra for specialty restaurants, beverages, gratuities, or Wi-Fi.

If you’re looking for mega-ships with endless activities, check out other lines like Disney Cruises , Norwegian , or Princess. However, if you prefer smaller ships or the intimacy of a river or yacht cruise, Crystal Cruises has a lot to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a crystal cruise all-inclusive.

Yes, Crystal Cruises is an all-inclusive line. You won’t have to pay extra for beverages like wine, Champagne, spirits, or specialty coffees. The specialty restaurants are included as is Wi-Fi, room service, and gratuities.

Do Crystal Cruises include excursions in the price?

If you’re sailing on Crystal Cruises’ yacht, Crystal Esprit, Crystal Cruises’ Expedition ship, Crystal Endeavor, or a Crystal Cruises river ship, some shore excursions are included. However, if you’re sailing on a Crystal Cruises ocean ship, shore excursions will come with an additional charge.

Are children allowed on Crystal Cruise ships?

Yes, children aged 6 months and older are welcome on any Crystal Cruises ship with a few exceptions. When traveling on the Crystal Esprit, children younger than 7 are not allowed on the Zodiacs. Some ports require Zodiac transportation to disembark the yacht, so young children would have to stay on board with an adult in those situations. Children under 6 years old are not allowed on Crystal Endeavor expeditions to the Arctic or Antarctic.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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This Beloved Luxury Cruise Ship Is Back on the Water — With a Nobu at Sea, a Gorgeous Pool Deck, and a Slate of Epic Itineraries

Beloved brand Crystal Cruises came to an ignominious end during the pandemic. Now, new leadership has revived the line and aims to make it better than ever.

crystal cruises restaurants

Bars and Restaurants

Where serenity sails, shore excursions, amenities and entertainment, family-friendly offerings, accessibility.

Spending a week on Crystal Serenity feels like staying at a resort that families have been visiting for 20 years. On a July cruise in the Mediterranean Sea, most of the passengers I met had sailed on Serenity many times before. Veteran Crystal cruiser Keith Steiner regaled me with stories of the paddle tennis tournament he plays in every year, alongside the crew, on the line’s world cruises. Linda Glenn, who has been on 130 Crystal cruises, promised to show me the beautiful ring her husband, Stanley, commissioned from the jeweler who supplies Serenity ’s boutique. And the Glenns' grandson, Tate, has been sailing on Crystal Serenity since he was two. He’s 19 now.

What’s strange about all this is I met these folks on Crystal Serenity ’s inaugural journey. 

Crystal Serenity

  • Crystal Cruises has the only Nobu restaurants at sea. On Serenity, Umi Uma, a Japanese-Peruvian spot by chef Nobu Matsuhisa is one of the best restaurants on board.
  • The 740-passenger ship has all ocean-view rooms — and most have balconies — plus 24/7 butler service.
  • Crystal Cruises is known for its exceptional world cruises, and Serenity embarks on its first around-the-world tour in 2024.

Here’s what happened: Crystal Serenity first launched in 2003. To put a time stamp on that, Julie Andrews was named the godmother of Serenity , and “The Princess Diaries” had come out two years before. Fast forward 19 years and Crystal went bankrupt in fairly spectacular fashion in early 2022. Seventeen months later, the brand is known simply as Crystal and is a part of A&K Travel Group, the holding company backed by travel luminaries Geoffrey Kent, of Abercrombie & Kent, and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the onetime chairman of Silversea. Since taking the helm, A&K has invested $150 million in Crystal, giving Serenity and sibling ship Crystal Symphony stem-to-stern overhauls. Both ships returned to service in the summer of 2023.

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises

“It’s Crystal enhanced,” Steiner told me, as we sailed from Corsica to Barcelona on a particularly rocky day on the Mediterranean. The retired telecom executive has been on 120 Crystal cruises with his wife, Anne Marie. “Every person we've spoken to would say, from the moment they came on, it feels, it looks, it smells like Crystal. It is Crystal.”

That’s largely because 80 percent of the Crystal Serenity ’s crew is back on board. My butler, Jijo, who had been with Crystal for 17 years before the bankruptcy, knew every one of his guests on that first sailing — I was his only newcomer. Jijo unpacked my suitcase, handled my laundry and my airport transfer, routinely surprised me with an afternoon iced tea, and accompanied me to the IT office when my Wi-Fi went out. When I wasn’t feeling well, he brought me several rounds of chicken consumé, toast, and mint tea as I watched “Top Gun: Maverick” while hiding under Jesurum 1870 bedding. It was, due respect to my husband, even better care than I would’ve gotten back home. 

Here, everything you need to know about the new and improved Crystal Serenity — and what it was like to be one of the first on board.

My 430-square-foot Sapphire Veranda Suite — where I enjoyed my daily iced teas on the balcony, slept phenomenally well on the custom Jesurum 1870 bedding, and reveled in the spaciousness of the shower — was gutted in 2023 and completely redone by cruise ship designer GEM. But A&K, committed to keeping the returning guests happy, left some Sapphire Veranda Suites as they were — including the room Linda Glenn has booked since 2009.

There are no inside accommodations on the 545-room Crystal Serenity — even the entry-level offering has an ocean view. The smallest rooms, at 215 square feet, are the doubles with an ocean view, singles with an ocean view, and doubles with a veranda. Every accommodation comes with 24/7 butler service.

The most luxurious of Serenity' s 377 suites is the 1,275-square-foot Crystal Penthouse. The bathroom — with a full peachflower marble tub — is exquisite, as is the plentiful balcony space. And while most guests get only one reservation at each of the specialty restaurants, Umi Uma and Osteria d’Ovidio, reservations for the penthouse guests are unlimited, and they can order from both directly to their room.

Linda, like most Crystal die-hards, still accidentally calls the Italian restaurant, Osteria D’Ovidio, by its old name, but says the space, overhauled by Tillberg of Sweden, feels completely different. "I think the food's even better," Stanley adds. Umi Uma — one of two Nobus at sea, the other on Crystal Symphony — has brand-new interiors, too. The Umi Uma menu hasn’t changed, which is a relief, because it turns out nothing bonds two people on a ship quite like a shared affinity for Nobu’s black-miso cod and decadent sashimi.

Maya Kachroo-Levine/Travel + Leisure 

With one coveted culinary name already, Cristina Levis, A&K and Crystal Cruises CEO, told me she’s working to “bring home another celebrity chef” for Osteria. (Though, even without a Michelin-touted chef at the helm of Osteria, I loved the lobster acquasale and gnocchi blanketed in porcini mushroom ragout.) The best Italian export on board, however, is served six decks above Osteria at the gelato bar, Scoops. Levis is from a family of gelato makers, and it shows; the stracciatella and coffee gelato I savored on a poolside couch as we sailed from Portofino, Italy, was better than the cone I had in port. 

I also grew very attached to the buffet at Marketplace — it is truly next-level, with a carving station, a great salad bar, some excellent Indian food (who knew you could find phenomenal butter chicken on an Italian-owned ship?), and fresh seafood. I had terrific moules-frites one afternoon, with Rotterdam-sourced mussels in a delicate, garlicky cream sauce, seated outside in the sun, with a beautiful view of Cannes. This is not your average buffet. There’s also the main dining room, Waterside, open for three meals a day; Tastes Kitchen & Bar, with a lovely indoor-outdoor terrace that makes you feel like you’re on the corner of a charming European street; and a grill that does burgers and sandwiches for lunch — and excellent pancakes in the morning.

As for bars, I was partial to the Avenue Saloon — where Joel Spire plays piano every night and there’s a great Manhattan menu. Worth noting, there’s also an extensive non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktail menu at Avenue Saloon, for those looking for booze-free nightlife.

In 2023, Serenity will sail in North America, along the New England coast in the fall and into Canada, exploring Quebec’s Saint Lawrence River. In the winter, the ship will cruise the Caribbean, stopping in ports like St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Looking ahead to 2024, the ship will begin a five-continent world cruise — the first since A&K bought Crystal — cruising French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, South America, and in Europe, winding up in the Mediterranean Sea again next summer. The 2025 lineup was just announced, too; learn more about the sailings here .

As Crystal becomes more ingrained in the A&K family, “we will bring to Crystal what A&K does best, which is the excursions,” Levis said. Starting in 2025, the cruise line intends to roll out packages that let travelers leave the ship for a few days, knock out a once-in-a-lifetime tour, and then hop back on board.

While I had slight FOMO just hearing about travelers slipping off to Machu Picchu for an A&K adventure before rejoining the cruise in Lima, my travel envy dissipated as soon as I went on my first excursion. When we docked in Livorno, Italy, I joined a small group on a truffle-hunting excursion, following a sweet pup, Bianca, through a cluster of oak trees at Vialto Farms, a 1,000-year-old farmhouse in Tuscany. After glasses of cold vermentino, we dug into pasta in a light cream sauce topped with freshly grated truffles, followed by a truffle-covered fried egg. A few days later, on Corsica, a bus whisked a group of us to Domaine Orsini, for a wine tasting and a relaxing stint on the covered patio overlooking the island. And before I disembarked the ship in Barcelona, I crashed an evening excursion to the trendy El Born neighborhood, where our 10-person group shared a barrage of Spanish tortilla, patatas bravas , and croquetas at Tapeo.

The pool deck — in close proximity to the gelato bar – on deck 12 feels like a relaxed, exclusive Mediterranean beach club. One deck up, there’s a fitness center with Technogym equipment and workout classes, plus pickle ball and paddle tennis courts close by. The spa has a gorgeous, light-wood sauna with a picture window — perhaps my favorite place to watch the world go by — and an extensive treatment menu. I was extremely impressed with my dynamic biotech resurfacing facial and noticed the effects of the healing LED blue-light mask, which dissolves dead skin, for a full week after the treatment.

As for the entertainment, while I didn’t stray much from Pete’s piano in the Avenue Saloon, there are standup comedy and musical theater shows at the Stardust Club, Galaxy Lounge, and the Hollywood Theater. Crystal Cove bar is a great spot to catch live music (classical, jazz, piano, and even the occasional rock moment).

Also of note are the educational seminars, held daily, with guest speakers who lecture on upcoming destinations and give in-depth talks into their industries — whether that’s sports, media, or “even the occasional astronaut,” per Crystal’s website.

There is certainly a kids’ club on Serenity and children are welcome. In fact, children grow up on this ship, coming on the holiday cruise every year, and making lifelong friends — as I learned from my friend Tate. Waves and Fantasia are the kids’- and teens’-only spaces on board. Personally, though, I would come on Crystal with a spouse, longterm travel partner, grown-up family members, close friends, or even solo. 

There are eight ADA rooms on Crystal Serenity — some aquamarine veranda suites and some aquamarine ocean-view suites. According to a Crystal spokesperson, the ADA suites "are designed to accommodate guests with additional needs or who are wheelchair bound. The furniture can accommodate a wheelchair or scooter, there is extra space between beds, more room in the living area for easy movement, and the bathroom is larger with a roll-in shower, fold-down shower bench, and easy-to-reach shower head and sink faucet. Additional equipment is available upon request, such as rubber shower mats, shower stools, and a shower bench."

Should Be Cruising

Crystal Cruises Announces Return of UMI UMA Restaurant by Nobu Matsuhisa

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: March 15, 2023  - Last updated: March 20, 2023

Crystal Cruises Announces Return of UMI UMA Restaurant by Nobu Matsuhisa

UMI UMA, the specialty restaurant by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, will return to sea when the relaunched Crystal sets sail this summer.

crystal cruises restaurants

On March 15, 2023, cruise line Crystal announced that the award-winning UMI UMA restaurant by legendary Master Chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa is returning this summer.

Crystal Cruises, which shut down amidst the bankruptcy of former parent company Genting , will return as Crystal in summer 2023. The line is under new ownership and features a pared-down—but newly refurbished—fleet of two ships.

Guests will again be able to dine on signature dishes including Nobu-Style Black Cod, Grilled Chilean Sea Bass, and Wagyu Beef Filet Steak, as well as fresh sushi from the Sushi Bar .

crystal cruises restaurants

“It wouldn’t be Crystal without having one of the most popular restaurants UMI UMA back onboard when the new Crystal sets sail,” said Crystal’s Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Bernie Leypold .

“Crystal’s guests have come to know and love the exquisite offerings Chef Nobu has created specifically for UMI UMA and we are so grateful for Crystal to be the only cruise line with a Nobu restaurant at sea,” Leypold continued.

crystal cruises restaurants

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and UMI UMA

Master Chef Nobu, a Japanese celebrity chef and restaurateur, is perhaps best known for his Nobu restaurants, several of which are Michelin-starred. Nobu’s restaurants specialize in fusion cuisine, adding a Peruvian twist to traditional Japanese cuisine.

UMI UMA is the chef’s only restaurant at sea, and will once again be available on both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony when they return to service this summer.

crystal cruises restaurants

“Crystal is known for their award-winning food and beverage program bringing an authentic dining experience with efficient and personalized service, and we are proud to have UMI UMA feature our innovative fusion cuisine, blending traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients,” said Master Chef Nobu in a press release.

Crystal’s guests can enjoy one complimentary reservation at UMI UMA per person, per cruise, on sailings of 11 days or less. For itineraries longer than 11 days, two complimentary reservations will be included.

Related: Which Cruise Lines Have All-Inclusive Cruises

Guests will be able to make additional UMI UMA reservations once on board for a nominal charge, subject to availability.

Crystal’s return to cruising

Crystal Serenity’s  inaugural sailing will depart July 31 from Marseille for a Mediterranean cruise, and  Crystal Symphony  will depart on September 1 from Athens. Planned voyages will travel throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

crystal cruises restaurants

Related: Crystal Cruises Will Relaunch in Summer 2023

Have you dined at Chef Nobu’s UMI UMA on a Crystal cruise? Are you looking forward to the restaurant’s return? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Ratings and reviews

Location and contact.

Once we had family walkout. It was a bit frosty and we decided to take 2 cups of capuccino. We met very pleasant barmen and got delicious hot coffee. It was strong enough and we got enough power😅 . Thank you very much!

COFFEE AND THE CITY, Moscow - Mantulinskaya st. 5, Presnensky - Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

COMMENTS

  1. Crystal Cruises

    Welcome on board Crystal: curated voyages, where your every experience is exceptional. +1-800-446-6620. ... Dining with Crystal is the ultimate culinary experience. With nine distinct options ranging from the only Nobu restaurant at sea, to a relaxed poolside grill, or 24-hour in-suite dining, there's something to suit every taste and mood

  2. Crystal Cruises

    DINING WITH CRYSTAL IS THE ULTIMATE CULINARY EXPERIENCE. WITH NINE DISTINCT OPTIONS, WE OFFER THE BEST FOOD FOR WHATEVER SUITS YOUR MOOD. ENJOY EVERYTHING FROM AWARD-WINNING INNOVATIVE FUSION CUISINE AND SIGNATURE COCKTAIL BARS TO THE BEST OF TRADITIONAL FOOD AND WINE. CHEF Nobu Matsuhisa. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF CHEF NOBU ...

  3. Crystal Cruises

    The main dining room features open seating and tables for two and four guests. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No reservations are required. Sample menus below.

  4. Crystal Cruises

    Waterside is where the art of fine dining is elevated to breathtaking heights. Classic dishes are updated with a contemporary twist. The main dining room features open seating and tables for two and four guests. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No reservations are required. Sample menus below ...

  5. Crystal Cruises

    THE VINTAGE ROOM. TYPE. Gourmet. AVAILABLE ON. Crystal Serenity. Crystal Symphony. A unique gourmet food and wine pairing restaurant that offers an educational dining experience while enjoying some of the best vintages at sea. DISCOVER MORE. Welcome on board Crystal: curated voyages, where your every experience is exceptional.

  6. Crystal Cruises

    Crystal Cruises | Restaurant Details. Overview gallery more dining options menus. FIND A CRUISE. A new definition of traveling with taste. Sumptuous, regionally inspired tapas-style cuisine is the perfect combination of sophisticated style and casual dining. CUISINE.

  7. Crystal Serenity Dining: Restaurants & Food on Cruise Critic

    Waterside Restaurant. The ship's main dining room, found on Deck 5, Waterside is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner most days. The dinner menu consists of "Crystal Classics ...

  8. Crystal Cruises

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  9. Crystal Serenity Dining: Restaurants and Food

    While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on external web sites. Explore all food and dining options for Crystal Serenity from Crystal with verified reviews and photos for all speciality restaurants, dining rooms and buffets.

  10. Crystal Cruises New Ships Food and Itineraries

    The journey back for Crystal Cruises has certainly been an epic one. In 2022, the cruise line's parent company was forced to auction off its two ships to settle debts, Maritime Executive reported .

  11. Dining on Crystal Cruises Serenity: Our Experience

    Specialty Restaurants. Crystal specialty restaurants provide an opportunity for guests to enjoy a variety of culinary experiences. In order to ensure that each guest has a chance to dine at Prego, Silk Road and the Sushi Bar at least once during their voyage, a maximum of one reservation per specialty restaurant will be confirmed per booking through their Guest Check-in/Priority Check-in and ...

  12. Incredible Dining Options on Crystal Cruises

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  13. Crystal Cruises' Specialty Restaurants

    Crystal Cruises Crystal Cruises provides alternative specialty restaurants to enhance the evening dining options and provide the opportunity to enjoy a variety of culinary environments. Prego Charming and romantic, Prego brings the flavors of Italy to Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. A seasonally changing Valentino at Prego menu features signature dishes such as Scaloppine Di Vitello ...

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    Crystal Cruises dining options highlight the authentic and classic flavors that create your favorite dishes and reinvent those dishes for a modern twist. There are multiple casual, main and specialty dining options for all guests and some restaurants will require a reservation prior to your visit. Most menus also include 'lighter fare' options ...

  15. Crystal Cruises Review

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    The Vintage Room (Deck 6): Crystal Symphony's ultra-exclusive degustation dining experience is available for just 12 people at least once per cruise, and offers guided dinners paired with vintages ...

  17. Crystal Cruises' Crystal Serenity Ship Review

    On Serenity, Umi Uma, a Japanese-Peruvian spot by chef Nobu Matsuhisa is one of the best restaurants on board. The 740-passenger ship has all ocean-view rooms — and most have balconies — plus ...

  18. Crystal Announces Return of Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurants

    The new Crystal Cruises is bringing back the uber-popular Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant and sushi bar on two ships re-entering service later this year. UMI UMA blends traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients. Signature entrees include Nobu-Style black cod, grilled Chilean sea bass, Wagyu beef filet steak, and fresh sushi. "It wouldn't ...

  19. Crystal Cruises Announces Return of UMI UMA Restaurant by Nobu

    On March 15, 2023, cruise line Crystal announced that the award-winning UMI UMA restaurant by legendary Master Chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa is returning this summer.. Crystal Cruises, which shut down amidst the bankruptcy of former parent company Genting, will return as Crystal in summer 2023.The line is under new ownership and features a pared-down—but newly refurbished—fleet of two ships.

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  21. About Karlson Tourism

    Cruises CruiseLuxe is the subsidiary of Karlson Tourism which offers a wide selection of cruises all over the world on cruise liners of Norwegian Cruise Line, Star Clippers, Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean Int., Oceania Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas ...

  22. The 10 Best Restaurants in Moscow City (Business District ...

    9. Shvili. 40 reviews Open Now. Georgian $ Menu. Tasty and cozy despite the fact that it's in the mall. A good restaurant in afimall. 10. Bamboo Bar (Moscow-City) 170 reviews Open Now.

  23. Coffee and the City

    Coffee and the City, Moscow: See 5 unbiased reviews of Coffee and the City, rated 3.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #8,596 of 15,493 restaurants in Moscow.