Crystal Syphony's $23 Million Dry Dock Refurb

Ah, to be a fly on the wall aboard Crystal Cruises Symphony during her nine-day, $23 million dry dock refurbishment at BAE Systems Norfolk Shop Repair on the Elizabeth River in Virginia!

In less than two weeks, a team of 1,295 people (750 contractors and 545 Crystal crew from 40 different countries) will renovate 411 staterooms, create an entirely new nightclub and casino, redesign the shopping boutiques, update the Bistro Cafe, and install new computers and wireless Internet access in the ship's Computer University@Sea. It's a whopper of a job, and that's not even taking into account all of the technical tweaks being made to the ship's hull, rudders and propellers.

These upgrades are part of Crystal's long-term plan to keep the Symphony an exciting and relevant option for cruisers. Remember, the line spent nearly $35 million refurbishing the Symphony over the past few years. Now add another $23 million and you've got one stunning ship!

The last round of upgrades two years ago included the creation of a Feng Shui-styled spa, the Vintage Room, an expansion of the ship's Computer University@Sea, redesign of the specialty restaurants and a complete refurbishment of all penthouse staterooms and suites.

Symphony's November 2006 dry dock tackles the following improvements:

• Refurbishment of 411 staterooms with new Murano glass bedside lamps, Rubelli fabrics, leather headboards, LED reading lights, new 20-inch flat-screen TVs, and newly designed bathrooms with contemporary oval glass sinks and granite countertops. It takes workers about two days to reinvigorate each stateroom and every day the crew should complete about 40 cabins.

• Complete overhaul and redesign of the Tiffany Deck (deck 6), the main entertainment area on the Symphony. You'll find new color schemes and lighting that will help guests shift moods as the day moves to night.

The Tiffany Deck includes...

• the new Starlite Club with an open environment, Swarovski crystal-studded walls and panoramic sea views.

• the new black and silver motif Crystal Casino with black jack, roulette, baccarat, Texas Hold-em and slots.

• Luxe, a sophisticated nightclub with polished aluminum Phillipe Stark bar stools and glass Bizzaza mosaics.

• new boutiques and shops.

• the recreated Bistro Cafe with new decorative tiles, wall finishings and upholstery in warm earth tones.

• new computers and wireless Internet service in Symphony's Computer University@Sea.


Crystal Cruises vice president of marine operations, Knut Aune, oversaw the complex dry dock operations. "The whole thing here is planning, planning, planning," Aune told The Virginian-Pilot. "To prepare for this has been months." And, indeed, Crystal Cruises jump-started the Symphony's makeover on October 20 when contracted workers boarded the ship in New York to begin work on stateroom upgrades on Deck 7. The Symphony's New England cruise for that week was purposely undersold so work could begin without impacting guests in a negative way.

Waiting in Virginia were 140 shipping containers packed with the materials for the changeover, including lamps and mirrors, carpet, and more.

It's truly amazing what will be accomplished aboard the Symphony in a mere nine days! I look forward to sailing her soon to see the improvements in person!

Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises