Exceptional at Sea and Ashore: The Latest News From Crystal

The dining continues to be a stand-out experience in Nobu Matsuhisa's Umi Uma, and in the main Waterside restaurant. We are looking forward to sampling the new menus created by the renowned Alajmo brothers in Osteria d'Ovidio which have just been launched. The new Beefbar on deck 11 with its 'Beef, Reef and Leaf' menu is a great option at lunchtime as well as in the evening, and the tempting Marketplace's array of beautiful fresh salads, amazing made-up dishes, and superior cheeses, not to mention the mouthwatering desserts, stands out as one of the most impressive buffet offerings at sea. Crystal has also partnered with the Alajmo brothers, Massimiliano and Raffaele, to feature their Michelin-starred culinary expertise on board the ships' Italian restaurant, Osteria d'Ovidio, on both the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, which began this summer.

Crystal continues to stand out for the quality and variety of its onboard entertainment, unusual on an ultra-luxury ship, enabling guests to pick and choose how they want each evening to pan out. In its constant bid for excellence, Crystal is always aiming for the stars: ad maiora, as CEO Cristina Levis likes to say. Hence the recent announcement of an extensive additional refurbishment for Crystal Symphony, to take place in November, which will include an upgrade of the Atrium and Crystal Cove. If, like me, you feel sad about the removal of the water feature we have loved for so long, just take a look at the renderings of the new space - I think we will be happy.

It has been an exciting few months for Crystal as they continue to go from strength to strength since their relaunch less than two years ago. In November it was announced that an order had been finalised for a brand-new ocean ship which will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, marking the first step in exciting expansion plans for Crystal. Plans continue for the new ships, and financing is now finalised, with the first of the pair expected in 2028.

January saw the release of their 2027 World Cruise on board Crystal Serenity which will visit 83 destinations across Central America, the Pacific Isles, Southeast Asia, and Alaska, and Crystal's shoreside offerings continue to be enhanced by the expertise of parent company A&K Travel Group, with pre- and post-cruise extensions and overland tours available on select itineraries and several A&K curated immersive experiences featuring on the 2027 World Cruise.

Now the company has turned its sights to experiences ashore, a logical move given its sister companies Abercrombie & Kent and Cox and Kings have established credentials in luxury touring. The offerings include extraordinary mid-cruise land adventures to such exciting and varied destinations as the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and Uluru; and pre- and post-cruise extensions including Angkor Wat, Whistler and the Maasai Mara. Speaking of Abercrombie & Kent, exciting developments are on the horizon this year as their A&K Sanctuary (previously Sanctuary Retreats) portfolio of African safari lodges and Nile riverboats expands into South America for the first time with the addition of a brand-new vessel operating in the Peruvian Amazon. The 22-guest Pure Amazon riverboat will be a luxurious base as guests explore northern Peru's Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, offering an incredible opportunity to learn more about this diverse and remote wilderness.

Meanwhile at Mundy we have teamed up with Cox and Kings for exclusive options such as a Maasai Mara safari with Mombasa beach stay; a land exploration in Japan including a journey on the bullet train and stays in Hakone and Kyoto with private guides; an extraordinary journey to Rajasthan to tour the Golden Triangle; or a Brazil programme including two nights in Rio and a visit to Iguassu Falls staying at the Belmond Das Cataratas.