A city of firsts, Dubai has added yet another feather on its much decorated hat. The city was chosen by Crystal Cruises as the location for the company’s flagship liner to make its maiden voyage in the region after an extensive refurbishment. Crystal Symphony’s month-long dry dock redesign is the most expansive in the ship’s history, reaffirming Crystal’s commitment to providing the most luxurious ocean experiences. The decision to make Dubai the location for the regional debut of the liner’s sophisticated new look further cements the Emirate’s position as the region’s leading cruise destination, and the location of choice for winter cruise tourists from around the world.
Crystal Symphony’s new look channels the ship’s iconic classic elegance, alongside modern and high-tech upgrades (particularly noticeable in the new staterooms and penthouses). In addition, Symphony’s guest capacity has been reduced from 922 to 848 guests resulting in an increase in space-to-guest ratio of 64.7 per cent, whilst the number of crew on board remains the same. Crystal has long led the industry in abundant space and number of crew per guest aboard its ships; the increase in passenger space within Crystal Symphony is largely due to the addition of the new and luxurious Penthouses and Penthouse Suites, and the resulting reduced guest capacity enhances the atmosphere of copious space in the newly refurbished public areas and dining venues.