Adriatic & Croatia
Venice, Dubrovnik and Kotor in a week, on ships small enough for the old harbors.
ResearchLines, ships and destinations, in detail
Cruise line
Crystal cruises
Two mid-sized luxury ships of around 600 to 740 guests, relaunched in 2023 with fewer cabins and more space per guest.
Crystal returned in 2023 under new ownership with two refitted ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. Capacity was cut so suites could grow, the service style is attentive and traditional, and the itineraries are long and port-rich.
Crystal was for years the name American luxury cruisers mentioned first, and the relaunch kept what people loved: a butler for every suite, a formal main dining room with Nobu Matsuhisa's Umi Uma on board, and a crew that remembers your name by day two. The refit removed cabins to make larger suites, so both ships now carry fewer guests than they were built for.
For grandparents who cruised Crystal in the past and want the same feeling with better suites, it is an easy recommendation. For families with young children it is less natural: the ships are elegant and adult in tone, and children's facilities are modest.
What's included
- Butler service in every suite
- Wine, spirits and soft drinks
- Specialty dining including Umi Uma
- Wi-Fi and gratuities
Ships
2 ships in the fleet. See the fleet, ship by ship
The ships
The Crystal fleet, ship by ship.
2 ships: 1 written up ship by ship (suites, dining, children, grandparents, accessibility, our verdict), a licensed photograph of each one we have pictured, the rest by name. Tell us which you are drawn to and we will say whether it is the right one for your party.
Crystal SerenityPhoto: Rob Mitchell · CC0
- Crystal Symphony
On board
On board with Crystal
Four honest notes, in our words, on the things people ask us about most.
- Suites
- After the 2023 refit every cabin is a suite with a butler, from around 25 square meters up to the Crystal Penthouses. Single-occupancy Solo Suites exist on Serenity, which is rare at this level.
- Dining
- Waterside is the main restaurant, Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa is included at least once per voyage, and Osteria d'Ovidio serves Italian. The food is good rather than the best in class.
- Facilities
- A ballroom with a dance floor and gentlemen hosts, a casino, a cinema, a large spa and fitness room, and a lap pool with a retractable roof on Serenity.
- Children
- A small playroom and vacation-season activities only. Crystal is an adult ship in tone, and we say so to families who ask.
Who it's for
- Grandparents who want classic, attentive service
- Couples who like a formal dining room and a ballroom
- Travelers who want long itineraries with many ports
Who it isn't for
- Families with children under ten
- Travelers who want a very casual ship
- Anyone who wants a yacht-sized ship
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Crystal is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistNot sure Crystal is the right fit?
Tell us who's traveling and what matters most. We'll say honestly whether we'd book this line for you, or which one we'd choose instead.
Where they sail
Destinations
Baltic & Northern Capitals
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki in a week, with culture the whole way.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Greek Islands
Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.
Japan
Kyoto, Hiroshima and the Inland Sea without the trains, hotels and luggage.
Mediterranean
The easiest great cruise there is: short flights, famous ports, and a ship for every kind of family.
Where they take you
Explore the regions with Crystal
A sense of the places in the regions this line sails. These regional photographs are inspiration; the itinerary confirms your ports and ship.
Silversea's Silver Wind sailing the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, with mountains rising behind the townPhoto: Gzzz · CC BY-SA 4.0 
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Evrima alongside at Katajanokka in HelsinkiPhoto: Ilkka Simomaa · CC BY 4.0 
Approaching Gustavia harbor, St Barts, red roofs and yachts in the CaribbeanPhoto: David Broad · CC BY 3.0 
The old harbor of Mykonos town, whitewashed houses along the quay, Greek islandsPhoto: Olaf Tausch · CC BY 3.0 
The floating torii gate of Itsukushima shrine at Miyajima, near Hiroshima, JapanPhoto: Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 
Port Hercule, Monaco, yachts moored below the hillside apartments of Monte CarloPhoto: Nick Karvounis nickkarvounis · CC0
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
Good to know
Crystal cruise FAQs
Is Crystal the same line it was before 2022?
Same ships and much of the same crew and style, but a different owner since 2023. The main changes are fewer cabins, larger suites and a slightly more inclusive fare.
Plan your Crystal cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Suites we would book: A Sapphire Veranda Suite on Crystal Serenity for a couple; an Aquamarine Veranda Suite if you want more room for the money.. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which ship, which sailing and which deck, or whether another line would suit you better.