Page 41: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2011)

March 2011 www.marinelink.com 41

Crystal Cruises is set to invest $25 mil- lion to keep its largest ship, Crystal

Serenity, on the cutting edge of luxury style. More than 400 technicians from around the world, working round the clock for just 14 days, are scheduled for the massive redesign of its 531 Deluxe

Staterooms, Penthouses and Penthouses

Suites; retail centers; expansive outdoor pool deck and other design projects dur- ing a May 8-22 dry dock at Hamburg’s

Blohm + Voss shipyard. Blohm + Voss was chosen primarily for its location in relation to the ship’s itinerary, and when the company started planning the refur- bishment 18 month ago, it invited bids from both Blohm + Voss and Lloyd

Werft. “They are both excellent ship- yards, two of the best in the world,” said

Edward Carney, Crystal’s Director of

Technical Operations.

In the past two years, we have invested well over $50 million in our ships,” said

Gregg Michel, president, Crystal Cruises.

Interior designer, Keith Rushbrook, principal at the Toronto-based II BY IV

Design Associates, summarizes the vi- sion: “We wanted modern classic ele- gance. We wanted Fifth Avenue – crème de la crème New York-inspired living and retail spaces that people love and look forward to spending time in.”

All of Crystal Serenity’s Deluxe Out- side Staterooms, Penthouses, and Pent- house Suites will sport new, floor-to-ceiling tufted headboards, bed- side cabinets, wallpaper, sofas, curtains, pillows, and custom carpets in contem- porary lines and classic stone, silk, vel- vet, leather, and crisp linen textures. New modern lighting features and electronic “do not disturb” and doorbell system will allow guests greater personalization of their home-away-from-home.

At face value, lighting upgrades may not be deemed a major transformation, but according to Carney and Alexandra

Don, Crystal’s Vice President of Hotel

Services and Design, the $25m invest- ment is part of a larger plan to not only keep the ship in style, but to reduce its fuel consumption and carbon footprint. “We are changing all corridor lighting from fluorescent to LED lighting, a move that will ultimately help to save energy and fuel,” Carney said. “That’s the driv- ing factor behind everything we do, as less energy output means less energy used,” Don agreed. “It really is a culmi- nation of all the small changes adding up to big savings,” she continued. “For ex- ample, we’re changing out downlighting to infrared coated lamps. It an initial out- lay, but you save money over time.” Crys- tal is using DPA Lighting from the UK as its lighting designer. As oil hovers and exceeds $100 per barrel, these small touches carry added importance. “We constantly evaluate how we can be more energy efficient and environmentally re- sponsible,” Carney said. Don said the company is well into planning Crystal

Symphony’s drydocking for 2012, with the design team shaping up. In June 2011 the job will go out for bid, again in the

Europe/Germany area as well.

Blohm + Voss Set to Transform Cruise Ship

Crystal Serenity Set for Major Redesign