Details of Crystal Symphony refit and renovation announced ahead of South African cruise

The luxury cruise ship Crystal Symphony is returning to the South African cruise market in 2018, but she’ll be cruising from Cape Town with a host of new amenities and features following a massive refit and renovation.

Crystal Symphony is due to cruise from Cape Town on April 7^th, 2018 on a 15-night cruise along the South African coast to Port Louis in Mauritius.  This 15-night cruise, with prices starting from around R40,000, is actually the first leg of a 114-day grand voyage from South Africa to Fort Lauderdale.

Recognising that most South Africans have neither the time nor the money to embark on such a trip, the decision to offer a two week cruise to Mauritius as part of the itinerary seems to be a nod to the local source market by Crystal, which is much appreciated.

Port of call on the 15-night cruise to Mauritius from the Mother City include Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Richard’s Bay and Maputo, before a two-day dash across the Mozambique Channel to Fort Dauphin, the 16^th century French trading port on the south coast of Madagascar.

The following day, April 20^th, Crystal Symphony visits Reunion before arriving in Mauritius on April 21^st.

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This voyage will come after Crystal Symphony’s first-ever roundtrip Cape Town cruise, a 16-night cruise the full length of the South African coast from Cape Town to Maputo and back again. Interestingly, Crystal Symphony will cruise directly for Maputo after departing Cape Town on December 23^rd, 2017.

This three day jaunt along the coast will be the highlight of the cruise for most South African cruisers on-board, all of whom are likely already familiar with the ports of call after Maputo (Richard’s Bay, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Walvis Bay and Luderitz in Namibia.

Crystal Symphony is a regular caller in the South African cruise market, having sailed an annual cruise from Cape Town for the past couple of years, but the 2018 cruise will mark the beginning of the rest of her cruising career.

The extensive refit, due to be carried out later this year during late September and early October, will see new penthouse apartments created out of existing suites, new dining options will be revealed and high-tech perks will be installed.

Throughout the ship, modern, elegant décor updates will be made in many public spaces. Click here to see our full review of the changes being made to Crystal Symphony and her fleet mate Crystal Serenity.