The Avid Cruiser

It's our last day here on Crystal Symphony. Over the last 11 days we put Crystal to the test to see if it lived up to its world's best status? We've experienced a variety of choices, including enrichment programs and Broadway-style shows, that only a large luxury ship can deliver. And the quality and level of service is what we would have expected of a world's best resort. No other large ship can match Crystal Cruises. So Kudos to Crystal.

It's a beautiful morning at sea here on Crystal Symphony. Today, I am putting Crystal to a test. Are Crystal's activities and enrichment programs the same old, same old or does Crystal have something truly fresh to offer? My day started with a watercolor class. It was fun to express my creativity and to get in touch with my inner artist. Next, I ventured outside, where I got some good tips from a PGA golf instructor. Then I spent some time playing paddle tennis, and afterward went for an acupuncture treatment, to give some relief to my paddle tennis elbow. While these were interesting activities, none were truly breakthrough, and if you're going to be the world's best cruise line, you need to have something that goes beyond the tried and true. Then I stumbled upon a Berlitz language glass. I've never had the opportunity to take a French class on a ship. Now I can say with confidence, Oui, Je parle Francais . And I wasn't expecting to learn about the latest social media trends on a cruise ship, but I discovered an afternoon lecture that was both informative and insightful. I'm not a musician, but I quickly learned to play a few notes by ear in Crystal's Yamaha music classes. ; All of these activities left me feeling more educated and enriched.

Crystal Cruises Vintage Room pairs some of the worlds best wines with specially prepared dishes. With a capacity for 12, the special dinners are served in a private dining room. Patrons, who pay on average $210 per person depending on the wines they have selected, are attended to by the ships head sommelier. Want to

When you spend $23.5 million on something, you want to show it off. That's just human nature. And that's just what Crystal Cruises did a few weeks ago for the travel trade and press. The cruise company had doled out that princely sum to upgrade its 12-year-old Crystal Symphony, and they invited us to come take a look.But has the upgrade improved the passenger experience? Crystal Cruises President Gregg Michel thinks so. I sat down with him during our sailing to talk about how the investment made Crystal Symphony a better ship.