Mediterranean Cruise

Mediterranean Cruise with Crystal by Cheryl

In 2023, the Crystal Cruises brand and its two cruise ships, the Symphony and the Serenity, were bought by Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group and were relaunched, following full-scale refurbishment of both ships. 

It was an itinerary starting in Toulon, France, just along the coast from Marseille, and cruising round the ‘boot’ of Italy, stopping in Sicily and Corfu, then heading northbound and including Dubrovnik on the Croatian coast, before ending in Venice, which attracted me to this sailing. 

From the very first moment I was onboard the Crystal Symphony, I was impressed - and this first impression did not change for the entire duration of the cruise. From the spacious suites, to the various dining options (including the only Nobu at sea), from the public areas to the theatre and entertainment - everything was absolutely superb.

The space versus the number of passengers is a huge plus to me - at 51,044 tonnes, with twelve decks, the ship only carries 650 passengers, with 495 crew. Needless to say, there is so much space aboard, with plenty of quiet areas and always a choice of loungers and outdoor seating. The many restaurants coped with a gentle flow at breakfast and lunch, and the dining rooms, whichever being the preferred choice of the day.

Rome was our first stop and, having docked early, we had plenty of time to visit the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, St.Peter’s Basilica and Spanish Steps as well as having the time to enjoy a pizza in a local trattoria. It was several years earlier that I had previously visited Rome but it was my husband’s first visit and we thoroughly enjoyed our day, departing late in the evening for a continuing sail down the coast.

Sorrento next, which was a first visit for us both and we enjoyed a lovely day here, soaking up the atmosphere in the square as well as enjoying the views across the bay.

Sicily was a shorter day, but gave us a brief insight into the island which lies just off the coast at the ‘toe’ of the boot of Italy. We did a lot of walking here and enjoyed a long coastal walk in Giardini Naxos.

Corfu proved to be a pleasant surprise to me. Taking a full day excursion here, I loved every part we saw and we both agreed that it was a destination to where we would like to return for a holiday one day. We visited the working Monastery of Paleokastritsa, built atop a remote hill, Corfu’s highest peak, offering a wonderful view of the island and the sea. Corfu Town is lovely with old streets to wander, where we spent the last hour or so of the day.

Dubrovnik is a beautiful city, known for its distinctive Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls completed in the 16th century, made more famous for the filming of Game of Thrones. The pedestrianised ‘Stradun’ is lined with shops and restaurants and a fabulous place to enjoy a drink and ‘people watch’. A panoramic restaurant is located at the top of a cliff, accessed by cable car, and offers amazing views of the city and the bay.

Our final port, and location of disembarkation, was Venice, which is a very ‘walkable’ city, with easy access to St.Mark’s Square and the Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs, and easy for a leisurely stroll by the Grand Canal. 

Crystal Cruises offers a level of service which is hard to beat. Their All-Inclusive concept means precisely that - everything is complimentary from start to finish, including every restaurant and every bar, along with various taster menus and wine parings - absolutely everything is included. And butler service comes as standard for every cabin category