Crystal Serenity: 12 things you can do on board

Crystal clarity, from Crystal Tripsis an ultra-luxury cruise ship with 740 berths. Featuring bars, casino, cinema, gym, library, nightclub, shops, swimming pool, spa, theatre, computer university at sea and much more. A floating paradise of education, fun, entertainment and wellness.

Crystal Serenity’s first-class facilities put many cities to shame. Guests look forward to a day at sea when they have time to make the most of the activities on offer. On world cruises, Crystal Serenity and her well-equipped sister, Crystal Symphony, offer enough activities and challenges to keep guests occupied for months on end.

Crystal Serenity demonstrates that the days when leisure on cruises meant little more than deck chairs and deck tables are long gone.

1. Know your ports of call

On our Baltic Sea cruise, seven ports of call and six countries away, we had cultural anthropologist Dr. Jim Rowe give us insider clues about what shapes the psyche of our hosts.

Dr. Roe introduced us to the Swedish concept of “lagom,” which is the Swedes’ key to living well through moderation. Never too much, never too little. A balanced society where the royal family rejects grandiosity and leads itself, where the princess marries her personal trainer.

It was more than just the architecture and cuisine, as we learned about Finnish pride in sisu, and their inner resilience in the face of harsh weather and long, dark winter days.

2. Head to the gym

The 3,000-square-foot fitness center features Technogym equipment and panoramic ocean views on the treadmill or rowing machine.

Raj, the fitness director, coordinates the wellness program that begins with early morning stretching and includes Pilates, spinning and yoga. Most guests disembark from the ship, lowered by stress-induced cortisol levels and fed healthily by Serenity Kitchen. They look healthier than when they came up.

3. Relax at Aurora Spa

Turn back the years with Dr. Claire’s anti-aging treatments. Watch her presentations on maintaining a youthful appearance plus hear tips on managing your metabolism.

Use the iPad in your suite to navigate through the spa menu: LED facials, acupuncture and an extensive menu of massages. Aurora is a peaceful haven of steam rooms, saunas, relaxation rooms and beauty salon.

4. Create in a workshop

An exciting creative arts program gives guests, from beginners to experienced, opportunities to explore crafts, mixed media projects and drawing.

At a teacher-led workshop, some guests decided to make necklaces, with matching earrings, for the formal evening.

5. Improve your golf game

A golf professional runs workshops and provides one-on-one lessons to help players make the most of their driving range and putting greens.

The professional can also help guests plan courses near ports of call.

6. Take a lecture

International experts provide wonderful and in-depth enrichment lectures. Aboard our Baltic cruise, West Point-trained Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mark Hertling focused his global leadership experience on the war in Ukraine and the consequences of Finland and Sweden joining NATO. Worryingly, in all his years of military experience, he felt that World War III had never been closer.

Dr. Jane Thomason, a futurist, shared her vision of the Metaverse and a world in which Al was changing the nature of the working world. Then there’s also Computer University @ Sea, an onboard digital learning center that helps guests keep up with the increasing pace of technological advancement.

7. Outdoor recreation

Sun loungers are scattered around the Seahorse pool and two whirlpools, with waiters on hand to take drink orders.

Above the pools are pickleball and short tennis courts.

8. Enjoy the flutter at the casino

Operating in partnership with Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), the ship’s casino brings elegant gaming, including blackjack and roulette, to the ocean.

The adjacent Avenue Saloon Bar offers quality cocktails, wines and spirits and a stylish place to relax.

9. Play bridge

There can’t be many more elegant places to conclude a no-trump contract or spoil your opponents’ display of five spades than in the hall.

Experienced instructors are available to teach beginners or literally guide veterans on new tricks.

10. Visit the library

Plush seating and panoramic ocean views make Crystal Serenity Library a peaceful retreat.

This well-stocked library contains over 2,000 books, plus magazines and board games as well.

11. Cocktails

Cocktails, which often extend for two hours or more for some guests, are the social highlight of the day.

On their way to dinner, most guests stop at the Avenue Saloon, Crystal Cove, or Palm Court for an extensive cocktail, often sampling the cocktail of the day.

12. Evening show

After dinner, take the shortest stroll to the Galaxy Lounge to catch a Broadway-style show.

The tiered seat theater hosts live music, comedians and tribute performers like Billy Joel and Elton John.

Disclosure: Our cruise has been sponsored by us Crystal Trips.

Michael Edwards

Michael Edwards is a travel writer from Oxfordshire, UK. Although Michael published his first travel articles nearly four decades ago, he still searches for new luxury destinations to visit and write about.