Crystal Symphony completes refit and refurbishment ahead of South Africa cruise

Crystal Symphony has resumed service following a major three-week refurbishment in Genoa, Italy focusing on public spaces and accommodation.

The refit included a combination of aesthetic and functional upgrades throughout the ship. One of the most significant changes was made to the vessel’s atrium, which has been reconfigured with a more modern and fluid layout.

The redesigned space now incorporates additional seating and a refreshed visual identity, centred around a new two-storey mosaic created by DeCastelli.

As part of the atrium redesign, the bronze statue Dance by Japanese sculptor Satoru Kitago was removed from the ship and auctioned in support of Crystal’s partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center, marking a notable change to one of the vessel’s long-standing interior features.

Upgrades were also extended across the ship’s accommodation. All suites and staterooms received new carpeting and updated wall coverings as part of the refurbishment. In addition, Aquamarine and Sapphire Classic suites were fitted with new furniture and re-styled to better align with the design approach introduced during Crystal Symphony’s 2023 transformation.

Crystal Symphony’s return to service was marked by a 23-night cruise departing Lisbon on November 26th, 2025.

The itinerary is set to conclude in Cape Town and forms part of the ship’s winter deployment focused on Africa and the Atlantic. After leaving Portugal, the voyage includes calls at destinations in Portugal and Spain, followed by visits to Cape Verde before continuing south along the African coast.

Following its Atlantic crossing, the ship is scheduled to call at ports in Benin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, and Namibia, before arriving in South Africa. The itinerary reflects Crystal’s continued focus on longer, region-spanning voyages that combine European, Atlantic island, and African destinations.

After completing its Africa-bound cruise, Crystal Symphony will continue its winter season with additional itineraries in Africa, alongside voyages into the Indian Ocean. These sailings are scheduled to include calls at ports in India, such as Mumbai and Goa, as well as destinations in the Seychelles and Tanzania, extending the ship’s deployment across multiple regions.

In February, Crystal Symphony will reposition to Southeast Asia, before continuing onward to the Far East. A spring season in Japan and South Korea is planned, adding East Asian itineraries to the ship’s global schedule. The vessel will then cross the Pacific Ocean in early June, ahead of a summer deployment in Alaska and Canada.

Built in 1996, Crystal Symphony’s latest refurbishment follows earlier updates completed in 2023 and reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to modernise its vessels while maintaining established onboard layouts and itineraries.