Dining Fireworks on the Crystal

Rating:

Symphony

"If I were sick and had a year to live, I would call Crystal Cruises and reserve a cabin on the Crystal Symphony...what a way to go!" I don't think I have ever heard a more enthusiastic testimonial from a guest on any cruise ship!

Throughout this transatlantic crossing, a sense of real guest loyalty to Crystal Cruises was clearly evident on board the Crystal Symphony. Crystal Cruises is very effective in cultivating repeat guests. The Crystal Society offers a very attractive series of value added perks to encourage repeat bookings. They run the gamut from shipboard credits and upgrades to free cruises based on the number of cruises the Crystal Society member has taken.

The real key, as far as I am concerned, is about the extreme variety and quality of the on board dining options. Crystal Cruises has established strong relationships with culinary masters like television personality, Jacques Pepin and Andre Soltner of Lutece in New York. Chef Andre is a regular on the annual series of Crystal Cruises on board Food and Wine Festivals. He also wrote the introduction to the impressive 170 pages, Crystal Cruises Cook Book, a beautifully photographed recipe collection that celebrates the diversity and innovation that is the Crystal Cruise culinary experience.

Having never sailed on a Crystal ship, I was curious about all the awards and accolades the cruise line has received since its inception in 1990. Standard staterooms are comfortable, have relatively small bathrooms and are quite similar when compared to other mass-market ships. However, the Crystal Symphony reflects a unique approach to large ship cruising.

At 50,000 tons, she carries only 940 guests. Similar size vessels with other cruise lines carry as many as 1200 to 1500 passengers. Public areas on this ship are expansive. As a result, there is never a line at the Lido Café buffet or for that matter a sense of crowding anywhere on the ship. The Crystal Plaza, where reception and the Crystal Cove cocktail bar are located is one of the most attractive and spacious public areas on any ship. One deck above, over looking the Crystal Plaza, is the Bistro, where guests can enjoy a delicious snack, a glass of wine or a selection of fruit smoothies and gourmet coffees (for an extra charge), while keeping current with the latest copies of Food & Wine Magazine and Wine Quarterly. The Trident Grill, located poolside on the Lido Deck, offers veggies burgers, chicken burgers, wraps and tuna melts, in addition to traditional hot dogs and hamburgers. This ship is a food lovers dream and truly distinguishes the Crystal Symphony from other large cruise ships.

The dining experience onboard the Crystal Symphony is unique and offers an exciting variety of top culinary experiences. On this ship, it is possible to enjoy a Lobster Spring Roll inspired by Wolfgang Puck, Pumpkin Ravioli flavored with apricots from Valentino's in Santa Monica and authentic Turkish Baklava with vanilla ice cream... all without even making it to the main dining room!

Although the Crystal Dining Room, which is the main restaurant, does not offer open seating, both main and late seating offer fine service and quality dining. The wait staff is superb and entrees run the gamut from Chilled Lingonberry Soup and Rack of Veal to Porcini Stuffed Baked Quail or Medallions of Canadian Venison with apple cranberry relish. Rather an impressive selection one would expect from an exclusive a la carte restaurant, let alone a main dining room with two seatings.

Jade Garden is elegant with its Asian minimalist interior. With a choice of chopsticks or western utensils, this alternative restaurant is a viable Chinese Restaurant... with a splash of Noveau, courtesy of Wolfgang Puck's Chinois on Main in Santa Monica. Only he would come up with a Grilled Mongolian Lamp Chop with Cilantro Mint Vinaigrette Sauce for a Chinese restaurant at sea! Way to go Wolfgang...it was inspired. The Seafood Lo Mein and Orange-Flavored Chicken were as good as my local Upper West Side take-out and that is high praise! If Jade Garden's peaceful Zen environment, the gracious attention and the tea collection were equaled at my local New York favorite, I would dine at the restaurant more often, rather than having dinner delivered.

Prego is a masterpiece of Northern Italian cuisine. The rich colors and cheerful space match the warm exuberance of the staff. The long thin bread sticks and fanciful focaccia served with whole roasted garlic are harbingers of tastes to come. The restaurant menu truly holds its own and is enhanced with several delightful selections from Valentino in California. The Cream of Italian Mushrooms Soup is served in an Oregano Bread Cup and was incredible. A marvelous Ossobuco Alla Milanese was accompanied by a delicious saffron risotto and the Veal Scaloppine, served in a light lemon sauce, was perfect. The evenings we spent dining at Prego were so good it just did not seem possible that we were on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic.

Reservations are required for both alternative restaurants and gratuities are recommended. Wines and beverages are available in all restaurants and bars for an additional charge (including my personal pet peeve...a charge of $1.50 for a glass of club soda!)

According to the Crystal Symphony's Executive Chef, Marcus Nufer, the annual budget for food and wine on the Crystal Symphony is, not surprisingly, well over five million dollars a year. Chef Marcus overseas a galley staff of 90 people and is responsible for all dining venues on board. He is originally from Switzerland and started his cooking career at 15, graduating from the Swiss Culinary Academy several years later. Chef Marcus honed his craft at some of the finest hotels in Switzerland, Asia and the South Pacific before joining Crystal Cruises in 1997. He currently makes his home in Fiji and is working with the local Fiji government to develop a professional cooking academy for the Pacific Islands. Chef Marcus has shared some recipes from the Crystal Symphony in Recipes of the month.

For more information about the Crystal Symphony log on to www.crystalcruises.com.