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I had the opportunity to sail on the Crystal Harmony through the Panama Canal in February of this year (2003) and it was excellent.

Crystal Cruises is an upscale cruise line – but the differences that distinguish them are subtle and become more apparent as the holiday progresses.

There is a close knit atmosphere onboard since they only have 2 (soon to be 3) ships, their ships are smaller than many of the other cruise line’s ships (50,000 tons) and there are a large number of very loyal repeat passengers – so guests know many of the staff and other guests as well. For example, there was a lady on board celebrating her 50^th cruise with Crystal, there was a couple on their 35^th Crystal Cruise and there is a Crystal Cruise passenger somewhere who has sailed with them 120 times. We had lunch with a passenger who had sailed with Crystal at Christmas, was now sailing two weeks through the canal and is booked on two back to back European sailings on the new Serenity this summer.

Crystal Cruise passengers are not typically first time cruisers. They tend to be well educated, well traveled and well off. Crystal Cruises does not make it their goal to fill their ships at all costs as will the mass market cruise lines because they expect to keep a higher level of clientele. Crystal Cruise passengers are there because they can afford it and they know that the cruise line will live up to their expectations.

The cruise staff make every effort to make sure that you will have anything you need. If a staff member asks your name, chances are that they will remember it, drinks are of course offered but not hard sell, even though filet mignon and lobster is not on the menu every night it will be available anytime if you want it. And there are little added touches – for example, upon arriving back at the airport a porter was instructed by the Crystal Cruise rep to take our baggage to the appropriate airline and the rep took care of the tip. Or, those passengers leaving on flights after 1:30pm were taken to the Marriott Hotel at the airport and served a light lunch compliments of Crystal Cruises.

The cabins are all nicely decorated and well laid out in all categories. Bathrooms have bathtubs (although small) and marble countertops. I’ve always wondered why cruise ships never have clocks in the cabin – this one actually did. The cabins have nightlights set near the floor with lighted switches by the bed. The beds are bigger than they usually are on a cruise ship (twin beds shoved together are truly the size of a king size bed), there are down pillows and duvets on the beds and your bed will actually be made up with the bedspread every day – on other cruises the bedspreads disappear after the first night never to be seen again.

Entertainment was very high quality, the production shows and the individual entertainers were excellent. New entertainment staff was brought onboard at stops throughout the sailing. There were excellent guest lecturers as well, including Joe Kike who is the editor of Men’s Health Magazine and ship historian Bill Miller. Joe Kike has appeared on Oprah and Montel to promote his lifestyle books and Bill Miller has written numerous books and articles on the great ocean liners of the past and was involved in the production of the History Channel’s “Floating Palaces”. The galley tour was one of the most interesting and informative that we have participated in, and they set up a very nice afternoon tea every day in the Palm Court – the highlight is on the day of the “Mozart Tea” complete with period costumes.

Even though guests that have sailed with Crystal will do so again it is generally not to the exclusion of other cruise lines. They both serve a purpose but when you want the best and are willing to pay for it, Crystal will provide it.

Contact Marita for further information on Crystal Cruises.

•  free nights with a mimimum 4 night stay

•  breakfast included with certain room types

•  senior's upgrades start at 50 or 55 years

•  special gifts

•  dining credits plus more.