Expert review of Crystal Cruises Retired 17
Best For
Travelers who want luxury without stuffiness or formality — Crystal is not your grandparents’ cruise line.
Not For
Families with children who require extensive entertainment; many parents who bring the kids also bring the nanny.
We Love
- Service on Crystal is mind-blowingly good, from custom baby food pureed in the kitchen to made-to-order ice cream flavors whipped up on the pool deck.
- Silk Road, the Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant, serves up great sushi and Japanese cuisine — and sources some seafood from markets as the ships circle the globe. (Would you expect anything less from a line with Japanese owners?)
- Prego, the Italian restaurant helmed by Piero Selvaggio of L.A.’s Valentino, offers great Italian food that reminds us that Crystal is headquartered in California.
- Exotic around-the-world itineraries go way beyond the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
- The medium size of Crystal ships results in attentive service without crowds or loss of privacy.
We Could Live Without
- Cabins are smaller and less over-the-top than luxury competitors.
- Crystal maintains some traditional touches — such as the march of the flaming Alaska on formal night — that younger travelers may raise an eyebrow at.