Spoiled on crystal serenity - Letters - Letter to the Editor

Cruise Travel, Jan-Feb, 2004 by Hugh Sutherland, Judy Sutherland

Having just returned from a cruise on Crystal Cruises' Crystal Serenity, I enjoyed Theodore W. Scun's "New Ship Review" of the vessel in the December 2003 Cruise Travel. But the article does not do the Serenity justice--this was the best cruise that my wife and I have taken, and we've sailed more than 15 times with the major lines.

Crystal does not load up the Serenity with a lot of glitzy things. They seem to put their money in service and food. I was impressed that all the employees walked with a smile. Instructions were shown and not told. There was a person at the end of the food lines that met you, took your tray, and found a table for you. The food was truly gourmet. The "Grand Buffet," with trays of lobster, shrimp, etc., was hard to believe. Soft drinks, bottled water, setups, ice cream were free. The specialty restaurants were free, with only a suggested gratuity of $6. Warm breakfasts were delivered to your room. Our cabin stewardess was new and a little slow, but did a good job. When my tux shoe lost its sole, she managed to have it fixed.

I can truly say (and I probably speak for the other two Crystal Cruises' ships), that a person sailing on the Crystal Serenity will never be happy with cruising on the other major lines. I know that our next cruise will be with Crystal.

Hugh & Judy Sutherland, Destin, FL