Following the Savvyseafarer’s Symphony Sojourn to Costa Rica

The Crystal Symphony, Sweet 15 and Still Sailing Strong…..

 We flew American Airlines from LAX to Miami a day early just to be safe even though the Crystal Symphony was scheduled to depart the next day at 9 PM.  Just wanted to avoid any flight delays and missing the boat. 

Obviously this entailed an overnight and we found the perfect place to overnight, the EPIC Hotel, a 54-story, 411-room boutique property located in vibrant downtown Miami at the edge of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay just a short hot from the port. They offer a special pre-cruise package that includes room, breakfast and taxi fare to the port. Check it out www.epichotel.com . The hotel had everything we needed, a fully-stocked fitness center, great restaurant and large pool and we took advantage of it all.

 Refreshed from a swim and rooftop breakfast at the hotel, we jumped in a cab ($9 with tip) and headed to the Port of Miami.

This is a view from our balcony at the EPIC, the Crystal Symphony sits due left……

Check-in moved along seamlessly.  We were escorted to our  Penthouse Stateroom 1038—just aft of mid-ship, perfectly centered and endowed with the best cabin staff afloat: Greg our Polish butler and our Hungarian stewardess Brigetta who truly pampered us for the next 11 days and nights. Butler service is one of the perks offered on premium Penthouse decks 9 and 10 along with complimentary clothes pressing, reservations at the alternative dining venues, Prego and Silk Road, one free set-up of adult beverages (two bottles of wine and two bottles of liquor, and unlimited beer). Soda and bottled water is free for all passengers.

We were welcomed with a bottle of the cruise line’s 20th anniversary commemorative champagne a wonderful Billecart-Salmon. We sipped the bubbly and unpacked. The smartly-decorated cabin comes with a flat screen TV, King bed, sofa, lots of storage, walk-in closet, bathroom with twin vanity sinks, shower, Jacuzzi tub, large bottles of Aveda products, Frette robes, slippers, personalized stationery, binoculars (to borrow), big balcony (to enjoy and we did). “Let the party begin,” as said often by butler Greg each time he delivered dinner to our stateroom: Life on board is one big party (or not). You can hole away or join the fun. There are never annoying announcements or interruptions to your day.

Deck space is ample and stunningly appointed like a country club or upscale hotel. Although she’s 15 years old this year, the Symphony looks like a new vessel after several face-lifts and top-notch maintenance. She reaches 12 decks, can hold 922 passengers in 461 stateroom and boasts of passenger to crew ratio of 1.64:1—and it showed.

Head Spinning Activities:

 There were 5 days at seas during this cruise and we used them well hitting the gym, running jogging track, doing laps in the large swimming pool, playing paddle tennis court and ping pong table, going to see movies, hitting the spa (just for a steam), trying my luck in the casino (I actually won on slots), and of course eating and drinking. One of the few cruise lines that doesn’t nickel and dime, Crystal offers complimentary fitness options to keep guests in tip top shape like Pilates, Spinning, Yoga, Nordic Poles walking, water exercises, paddle tennis, golf driving range, jogging track and a nicely-equipped but under-sized fitness center that gets too cramped during workouts. For doubters who think there’s nothing to do on a cruise, here’s a sampling of one day’s activities on the Symphony: Team Trivia, free gaming lessons, lecture on acupuncture, Crystal Vision Enrichment Program with futurist and author Barry Minkin, movie: “Beyond Reasonable Doubt”, Introduction of Computing Using Windows 7, needlepoint, bridge, salsa dance class, golf clinic, art program, skincare seminar, tea time, fitness classes, Berlitz Spanish lesson, entertainment, shows and in-between breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Our ship stopped at  Tortola, Antiqua and  Aruba, before transiting the Panama Canal  and ending up in Caldera, Costa Rica.  We took the ship’s snorkel excursions ($52 each for what I consider a fair outing)  in the first two ports.  Let me explain. The Savvy Seafarer isn’t a fan of tour operated excursions. The Tortola boat ride to various snorkel spots was okay, but not enough time in the water. The Antiqua tour left much to be desired. Way too much time in a bus, little snorkel space, late arrival back at the ship. We ventured off on our on in Aruba ($5 for two roundtrip on the  local bus( white sand beach where we swam in balmy seas, snorkeled and strolled along the water’s edge. Much better.

The worse part of any cruise is the end. We hate to see it finished. It also amounts to a long travel day home when you’re as far away as we were. Which is why we’re grateful we bought first class tickets on American through the cruise line. Because we purchased them directly from the company we got bus transfers to San Jose, Costa Rica Airport, with a nice stop-over for lunch on the way (included in the fare). 

Los Angeles-based Crystal Cruises operates two luxury liners, the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity defined by elegance, rich touches of Egyptian linens, down pillows, feather beds, Frette robes, English mohair lap blankets, sophisticated service, fine dining on expensive china.

Our cruise was unusally smooth with nary a rough sea and so was the service onboard.  The food had its ups and downs, with more wins than misses, especially in Prego and Silk Road, stylish alternative dining venues which are actually free save for a suggested $14 a couple tip. Many ships charge double or triple for this option.

Like it sounds Prego is Italian based on LA’s primo ristorante Valentino’s.  A veal chop proved exceptional as did every pasta we sampled (all freshly made) and the scaloppine di vitello on angel hair. . Silk Road created by master chef Nobuyuki  Nobu Matsuhisa,  also one of LA’s finest, does Asian-fusin  and does it well.  The black cod with miso was outrageously good, as were the grilled waygu beef rib eye.

The signature Bento Box dessert with chocolate souffle cake and shiso sysrup and seame ice cream provided the perfect ending to a special evening.

We dined in the stateroom a few evening. Greg served our meals in courses, poured our wine and made up feel pretty special. “Voila,” said Greg each time he served our meals, “let the party begin.” And it did for 11 glorious days and nights.

That’s a rack of lamb that Richard enjoyed in our stateroom, perfectly prepared and beautifully served.

Luxury comes with a price and Crystal Cruises’ fares are normally pretty high, however thanks to the current economic situation deals are out there.  Like a special 2 for 1 fare  available through April 30, 2010 with free air, with a variety of amazing perks from shipboard credits to free air– check out www.crystalcruises.com.

Our itinerary, Miami-Costa Rica, was one of Crystal’s global cruises. Get a full schedule at www.crystalcruises.com for 2010 and 2011–there’s some pretty awesome cruises on the horizon.

The Savvyseafarer’s Crystal Symphony Odyssey

 Just got back from 11 sun-drenched days and balmy nights on the spiffed up Crystal Symphony (www.crystalcruises.com). It was quite a voyage that began in Miami and ended in  Caldera, Costa Rica.

Loved everything about the ship from the refurbished deck and long, lap-friendly pool, where we sawm every morning and afternoon…to the food–below the galley staff struts their stuff at a gala 20th Anniversary Buffet put on in the lavish lobby. The Los Angeles-based cruise line is celebrating two decades of seafaring which began with the introduction of the Crystal Harmony in 1990. She’s gone now, but well replaced by her sister the Symphony that made her bow in 1995 and the Serenity which debuted in 2003.

Our  Polish butler Greg was about the best in show…personable, sophisticated and unflappable to any request. He’s been with the cruie line since 1993 and says he plans “to stay.” Greg started as a senior waiter and two years later moved on up to the Penthouse deck as a butler. 

Transiting the Panama Canal is always a thrill.

Even though your Savvy Seafarer has done it several dozen times…. 

The newly redesigned Palm Court open for lunch, ice cream, yogurt, drinks,  light lunches or for plotzing.

Highlights of the cruise:  snorkeling in Tortola and Antiqua–where we booked the ship’s shore excursions for about $100 for two. Swiming in Aruba where we took a bus for $5 roundtrip (for both of us)  to a white, sandy beach and played around in transparent azur seas.

Dining in our Penthouse Verandah stateroom with Greg serving us in courses, pouring the wine and treating us like royalty.  While butlers are in attendance on the two Penthouse decks 9 and 10, every passenger can order room service at no extra charge. But with the PH cateogry comes other privileges such as free pressing, a one time mini-bar fillup that includes wines, two bottles of booze and limitless supplies of bottled water, soda and beer–all soft drinks are complimentary on board to every pax.

We also enjoyed dining in the restaurant at our table for 2 attended to by  tall, handsome Erik with his bedroom eyes and coy smile (don’t tell Richard, my husband, I said this okay).

Generally the food was very good, with an occasional miss. Most of the fish dishes were superb. Caesar salads didn’t pass muster,not even in the alternative dining room, Prego.   The desserts were phenomenal.

There are two optional dining venues, Prego (Italian and based on LA’s famous Valentinos), and Silkroad (Asian fare from Nobu also of LA), both are exceptinal and cost $14 per couple which is billed as a “tip”.

Crystal still adheres to dining hours for dinner with two seatings at 6:30 and 8:30. Many pax prefer the free form style offered on most ships now where you can dine when and with whom you want. However if you want to eat sooner or later you can always order in or try to get a table at Prego or Silkroad. We ate at both and made our reservations for 7:30, which  is when our tummy’s react best. However we did opt for late seating as 6:30 is way too early for us.

We sampled the shows which for most audiences were entertaining and certainly well-costumed and choreographed. The Savvy Seafarer just isn’t a major fan of shipboard entertainment and is a tough critic. There were Broadway productions, a soloist performer who apparently plays the Crystal often and well the usual songs and dances.

Crystal also had a variety of daytime activities from cultural and topical talks and lectures to computer classes, exercise classes (all free including Pilates, Yoga and Spinning that many ships charge for), Bridge, gambling in the casino, Bingo and beyond.   There’s something for everybody all day long.

There’s a spa and fitness center. Didn’t partake of the treatments this cruise a I found them too pricy and dicey–as a long time spa and beauty writer I tend to be exceptionally fussy about facials, massages and beauty treatments and didn’t want to take the chance with Steiner’s stiffly priced offerings (Steiner fyi has a monopoly on shipboard spas. While I’ve had a few good rubs and facials on ships, the majority have been so-so).

Fares for Crystal’s global itinerary cruises tend toward the high end. But in today’s economy deals are out there, best bet is to check on line at www.crystalcruises.com or any discounter. Our cruise had two for one fares along with shipboard credits and more. Top cabin normally $17,000 a pax was half that. But tips and drinks and wines are not included and that adds up big time, especially Crystal’s wine pricing — nothing good under $50.

But when you care to sail the best, Crystal’s right up there among them and is well worth the extra bucks because you get a really good bang for them. The crew, staff,  accommodations and publi rooms are among the top of the line.

Questions? Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

The Savvyseafarer Heads to Sea on the Crystal Symphony

    

 The Savvyseafarer  packed her  Titan bags for a 12-day cruise from Miami to Costa Rica aboard the super luxurious Crystal Symphony.  One of two mid-sized luxury liners operated by Los Angeles-based Crystal Cruises (www.crystalcruises.com), the newly refurbished Symphony offers an upscale experience for 922 passengers–the perfect size for the Savvyseafarer who just can’t get her sea legs around those mega ships that carry thousands at a time. Not that she hasn’t sailed on the bodacious boats, but she prefers more compact vessels. 

Being a “savvy” seafarer, I booked our shore excursions in advance–basically snorkel tours in Tortola and
Aruba– my husband Richard are major snorkelers. I also pre-booked a few massages for us in the ship’s feng shui spa.  Can’t wait to step on board.

We’ve been on this ship before, but not since her most recent facelift (Dec. 09) so we’re looking forward to seeing how she’s changed, not that there was anything wrong with her before, but we all need nips and tucks as we age. So stay tuned for more on our Symphony experiences. You will also find my Symphony musings at www.savvyseafarer.wordpress.com and on my LA Travel Diva at Examiner.com:  http://bit.ly/2P9nFf

 I love this luggage. My newest acquisition is the  feisty little 20″ 2-wheeled 9.3  lb. Business Trolley. Perfect for a  17″ laptop  it’s available at www.titanluggageusa.com  for $320

 The Axxiss series is styled in classic black nylon with genuine leather trim and ncludes a business trolley, and business cases that accommodate 15.4″ and 17″ laptops. All products feature laptop compartments and are thoughtfully organized to cater to the needs of business travelers who demand both function and style. TITAN® Axxiss is covered by a Titan® 5 year warranty.

 Because we live in Los Angeles we decided to fly to the ship a day earlier to avoid any delays, even though the Symphony sails at 9 PM. We just wanted to be sure. So we surfed the web and came up with what sounds like an ideal hotel for our overnighter, Kimpton’s EPIC–Hotel–a  boutique waterfront hotel, is locate at the edge of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay.  The 54-story, elliptical-shaped high-rise has 411 guestrooms and suites, including two luxury corner Presidential Style Suites, 24 one-bedroom corner suites and 24 junior suites.  All suites feature custom furnishings and fine fabrics, as well as private balconies with glimmering views of Miami and the bay.  Additional in-room amenities and services include: Fine Italian linens with luxurious triple sheeting and throw blankets, LCD flat screen televisions. Spa-inspired luxury bath amenities from Acqua di Parma, twice-daily housekeeping service, High-speed wireless Internet access.