Crystal Symphony Completes 30 Years of Service

Crystal Symphony recently completed its 30th year of service after being delivered by Kværner Masa-Yards in early 1995.

Then, a subsidiary of Japan-based NYK Lines, Crystal Cruises, took delivery of the vessel on April 18, 1995. Upon crossing the Atlantic soon after, the luxury ship was christened at Pier 88 Cruise Terminal in New York in early May where actress Angela Lansbury served as the vessel’s godmother for the ceremony.

The Crystal Symphony then set sail on May 4, 1995, offering a 24-night cruise to the West Coast via the Panama Canal. Sailing from New York City to San Francisco, the open-jaw itinerary featured visits to ports of call in Bermuda, the Caribbean, and the Mexican Riviera.

Over the years, the 50,000 ton ship offered cruises to a wide range of destinations around the world.

The Crystal Symphony also changed hands twice, being first sold off by NYK Line along with the Crystal brand and other assets and a second time to in mid-2022 to Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group who also acquired the Crystal Cruises brand and in addition, Symphony’s larger sister ship, the Crystal Serenity.

After undergoing a major refurbishment in Italy, the Symphony re-entered service under the new owners of Crystal in mid-2023.

As she turns 30 years old, the ship is set to offer a series of cruises in the Mediterranean this summer before repositioning to Africa and the Indian Ocean in November.