In the past two years, Crystal Cruises has invested more than $50m in its vessels. With Crystal Symphony’s completion, within the past five years every room aboard will have been redesigned with attention to ‘rich, chic details,’ according to Crystal president Gregg Michel.
For the Avenue Saloon, Crystal is bringing back the designer who created its intimate, clubby look: Kirk Nix, with KNA Design of Los Angeles. The piano, shutters and jazz-era atmosphere remain, but a reconfiguration adds seating, including antique-style, brass-tack couches and a large, red wall sofa.
Burgundies, golds, caramels, moss greens and creams weave through the swivel, embossed-leaf bar stools, hand-tufted carpets, pillows, textured wall upholstery and artwork. Wood flooring, bar front and back, stone and wood bartop, edge-lit glass shelves and pop-up ceiling finalize the new touches.
KNA is also revamping the Palm Court panoramic lounge, the venue for tea, dancing, cocktail parties and casual drinks with a view. A contemporary transformation brings the outside in, taking advantage of sweeping ocean views, while keeping emblematic room elements like palms and wicker.
In addition to a new entrance, the bar and dance areas expand with added seating and a larger, spiral-design dance floor with overhead ceiling feature. Conversation tables, laser-cut marble flooring and carpet, lit alabaster urns and a studded nail and leather wall design offset the chartreuse, aqua, grey and ivory color spectrum in the new sofas and chairs.
Inspired by the glamorous theaters of yesteryear, Crystal is planning a grand redesign of its Galaxy Theatre for live performances and Broadway-style musical productions. The redo features namesake-reflective motifs such as starburst lighting and carpeting and lit crystal-speckled wall panels that hint of the night sky.
Formal purple drapes, ‘old gold’ walls and a subtle diamond design in upholstery, fabric wall covering and glass doors are other elements. New mohair chairs and sofas, cocktail tables and ambient lighting underneath banquettes enhance the sophisticated supper club ambience. A new limestone floor entrance is flanked by LCD screens announcing upcoming shows and attractions. Additional touches by London’s SMC Design include artwork niches with abstract figurative sculpture and lively lilac, pink and crimson.
Crystal said London-based Adfecto’s redo of the cinema, the Hollywood Theatre, is a visual throwback to the classic Hollywood film era, with the comfort and technical advantages of contemporary cinemas. Plush leather armchairs with individual pull-out tables and an earth tone palette of aubergine, ebony, cinnamon, ash grey and ivory set the backdrop. Technical updates include boosted surround sound audio processing and an enhanced lecture and presentation control system for enrichment speaker sessions.
The Bridge Lounge, for cards, games and presentations, receives a rejuvenation via all new furniture, including game tables and chairs, lighting, floor-to-ceiling window treatments, wall coverings and ceiling feature. Also new are presentation tools including podium, white board, storage, video and sound system, and the new silver, blue and sage color scheme, all courtesy of KNA Design.
A new layout for both Fantasia kids play area and Waves teen video arcade creates separate areas for crafts, relaxation, screenings (two televisions), teens and computer usage (teens and kids separate). Designer Adfecto chose fun, asymmetrical furniture, Fatboy bean bags and vibrant colors like crimson, sapphire and various shades of green. New interactive white board, board games, video game stations and video project system further refresh junior activities options.
Other ship enhancements include new electronic, ‘do not disturb’ doorbells in all staterooms (as installed on Crystal Serenity last May) and environmentally-efficient lighting installations for all electric upgrades/changes. All remodeling, as well as bi-annual maintenance and cleaning, will take place at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, June 1-16.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Cruise News to your Google News feed.
