Premier Hospitality

Crystal Symphony

Crystal Symphony
Written by Roma Publications

Crystal Symphony

Winner of the prestigious AHEAD Americas 19 ‘Transport’ category, is the breath-taking refurbishment of the magnificent Crystal Symphony – one of the most spacious and luxurious cruise ships at sea.

The ship, which has won many of the industry’s top awards during Crystal Cruises’ 29-year history, underwent her most significant refurbishment to date – focusing on several of the dining/restaurant areas and Penthouse and Penthouse Suite accommodations.

The project was carried out for Crystal Cruises as part of its “Evolution of Crystal Luxury”.

The restaurant/dining areas, designed by AD Associates, included three venues on board: Silk Kitchen & Bar (restaurant), Starlite Club (entertainment space) and Waterside (restaurant).

The month-long dry dock marked the most expansive makeover in Crystal Symphony’s esteemed history and reaffirms Crystal’s commitment to providing the most luxurious ocean experiences in the world.

The existing Trident Grill were joined by the newly created Silk Kitchen & Bar, offering modern Chinese-inspired fare with family-style dinner plates ideal for sharing, and self-service options for breakfast and lunch.

The challenge involved transforming what was once a pool deck with a retractable glazed roof, into a welcoming daytime and evening venue.

Originating as the Trident Pool Bar, the scheme involved not only remodelling the interior space, reconfiguring seating and connections/flow to the adjacent Lido, but also enhancing existing and introducing new catering facilities.

This enabled Crystal to provide guests with a new dining destination in both an informal and formal setting, throughout different times of the day.

Silk Kitchen & Bar has the widest mix of materials: from the blackened steel, aviary-style structure that surrounds the Maitre’D desk to the biophilic walls, which add a sense of serenity to the experience.

Taking inspiration from the original ink sketches produced by Edward Lear, the designers echoed the vibrant tones in the sketches as an accent throughout the space, offering a nod towards travel and the exotic, giving a layered contemporary look.

Works within the Silk Kitchen & Bar also involved the extensive redesign of existing and new catering equipment, to expand their culinary offering.

This was one of several areas in which technical changes to the vessel’s structure and services, (such as HVAC and catering) demanded close liaison with the shipboard crew and class to ensure that compliance and approval was achieved.

The strong branding, artwork and living wall, as well as accent lighting all contributed to a layered design that really delivered!

Working closely with Crystal, the design team curated the entire guest experience for the new eatery, including interior design, artwork, menus, accessories, signage and staff apparel.

Mid-ship Starlite Club, a hub for evening dancing and cocktails, was also refitted, boasting a fresh design to complement its vast sea views and brand-new technological capabilities.

For Starlite Club’s soft refurbishment, the colour palette was selected to retain the flow from adjoining venues.

Working with teal as a starting point, the designers introduced complementary and gradual tone changes, using rich velvets and tailored weaves. This was all linked by the deco inspired ombre graphic and tones from the carpet.

Elsewhere, the former Crystal Dining Room has re-emerged as Waterside, reflecting the chic décor and sophisticated ambience found in the restaurants of the same name aboard Crystal River Cruises (also designed by AD Associates).

The newly named and fully-redesigned Waterside (restaurant) has artwork that enhances the selected textiles and palette of the interior.

Taking inspiration from the movement of water, oversized framed prints were specified to create a contrasting and dramatic back drop to the entrance. A new chandelier feature is a key focal point within the dining room.

The venue was also given a striking foyer, and a reconfigured seating layout with more tables for two  and separate zones to accommodate the ‘open dining seating’ concept.

Crystal Symphony

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Roma Publications