There is nothing more luxurious than the feeling of having every care in your world looked after. From the moment I arrived at the port of Civitavecchia, Rome to board Crystal Serenity, I knew that my week would be filled with the best of the best.

Having toured the glamorous ship several times during her visits to Sydney, I knew what to expect from the hardware...classic lines, lavish amenities and staterooms that put my apartment to shame.

Nothing could prepare me for the supreme level of personalised service though, or for some of the finest food I have ever had the pleasure of tasting.

The rave reviews certainly hadn't lied when it came to the Crystal difference!

Accommodation

We were calling a Penthouse Suite home for seven-nights, sailing from Rome to Athens and, for the very first time in my many years of cruising, I would have been quite happy to never leave the suite at all.

Featuring a walk-in wardrobe, two dressing tables and sizeable bathroom, complete with; twin sinks, full-size spa bath and ultra-spacious shower, there would be no concerns about getting in each other’s way during the voyage.

Our twin beds seemed deliciously created to envelop us for the best sleep of our lives and were complemented by a pillow menu so vast I had to order one of each just to experience the difference.

I will always thank Crystal for helping me to discover the wonder of a body pillow or as I liked to dub it, my boyfriend for the week!

Another benefit of booking a Penthouse Suite was our access to Sasa, otherwise known as our very accommodating butler.

From sorting out vegan friendly hors d'oevres every afternoon for my cruising buddy, to rearranging dining reservations where necessary, Sasa was a Godsend.

He even went out of his way when off duty for a few hours in Sorrento to walk us to where the ferry terminal was so that we didn't get lost en route to Capri...now that's service!

Whilst one of the most popular services a butler offers is packing and unpacking, I just didn't want to ask the man who was already doing so much for us to deal with the myriad of clothing and shoes I felt I needed on this European sojourn.

I did however feel comfortable asking for my outfits to be pressed after the long journey...just another complimentary service as part of our Penthouse experience!

For someone who has always lived by the credo, "your cabin is just for sleeping in", I certainly spent a lot of time in my Suite...it would be a tough transition to settle into my next ‘regular-sized’ cabin aboard a cruise ship!

Perhaps my favourite perk of Penthouse living (and my goodness there were a lot) was the room service breakfast.

We would speed dial Sasa, order from the delectable breakfast selection and sit on the balcony while our butler clothed the table and turned our lounge area into our own private dining room.

Could we pack Sasa in our suitcase and take him home?

Entertainment

Something that surprised me most aboard Crystal Serenity was that there really was no need for expansive theatres to ensure the calibre of lavish of productions that we were privy to on our voyage.

From the local Tarantella show whilst in Sorrento, to the production shows "Curtain Call" and "Standing Room Only", the Galaxy Lounge hosted what I would deem the epitome of world-class entertainment in intimate surroundings.

Passengers felt a part of the magic being produced on stage when in the Lounge that showcased some of the best entertainment I have ever experienced at sea.

Lead vocalists Tara Lynn Khaler and John Ellis led the way for the ultra talented Crystal ensemble of singers and dancers through performances that included musical numbers from Broadway shows including "Wicked" and "The Producers".

For a musical nut like me, it was very important that their renditions of such iconic songs truly "hit the note", and I wasn’t disappointed.

When one of my favourite number's, "Defying Gravity", was performed and I tingled with goosebumps, it was clear to me that I was witnessing some of the greatest performers to sail the seven seas.

The staging was immaculate in each production I experienced and, whilst the sets may not have been as elaborate as I have witnessed on other ships, the talent spoke for itself.

Guest entertainers onboard our voyage included West End sensation Jacqui Scott who, with her grand piano and accompaniment by The Galaxy Orchestra, transported passengers on a journey through some of the best songs ever produced.

Having starred in "Evita" on the West End, her showstopping performance of "Don't Cry for me Argentina" brought the house down and her unique medley of Beatles songs had my cruising buddy and I bopping away in our seats.

Competing with such a port heavy itinerary is always a challenge for entertainers onboard short voyages such as ours, but battling through the tiredness to witness such greatness was something that was well worth it and created some of the best memories of my time aboard Crystal Serenity. 

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