Pack your four-leaf clover, a rabbit’s foot, and a pair of lucky dice. Crystal Cruises, the luxury cruise line, is reintroducing casinos to its ships, a mere year after their removal. This exciting development marks a new chapter in the company’s history, promising to elevate the onboard experience for its guests.
In a strategic partnership with Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, Crystal Cruises will introduce Casino de Monte-Carlo locations at sea. The new casinos will feature 1,000 square feet of gaming space, offering a variety of games such as slots, blackjack, and roulette. This collaboration underscores Crystal Cruises’ dedication to providing top-tier entertainment and gaming experiences for its passengers.
Manfredi Lefebvre, executive chairman of the A&K Travel Group, which owns Crystal Cruises, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership. “We are delighted to welcome Casino de Monte-Carlo into the Crystal family as our newest collaborator,” Lefebvre said. “This affiliation symbolizes our commitment to offering our guests the finest entertainment and gaming experiences available at sea.”
After its parent company Genting went out of business in early 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, A&K Travel Group acquired Crystal Cruises’ intellectual property and two of its ships — Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Following this acquisition, the cruise line underwent significant refurbishment, which included the removal of their casinos to make room for card lounges. The revamped ships returned to service in 2023 under the streamlined brand name “Crystal.”
Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, highlighted the importance of guest feedback in the decision to reintroduce casinos. “We have listened attentively to the feedback from our loyal guests regarding their desire to have casinos back onboard, and we are proud to announce that we will deliver on our promise,” Levis stated. “We are confident the reintroduction of casinos will further enhance the overall cruise experience, providing our guests with the entertainment options they crave while sailing with us.”
The first of the revamped casinos will make its debut on Crystal Symphony during the Chairmen’s Cruise, scheduled to depart on November 14 from Venice, Italy. Crystal Serenity‘s casino will open the following month, bringing a new dimension of luxury and excitement to the cruise experience.
Each new casino will replace the ship’s existing Bridge Lounge. On the 606-passenger Crystal Symphony, the Bridge Lounge will relocate to The Lounge, where the previous casino was situated. Similarly, on the 740-passenger Crystal Serenity, the Bridge Lounge will move to the onboard library, transforming it into a multi-functional space for reading and playing cards.
This significant enhancement of onboard amenities reflects Crystal Cruises’ ongoing commitment to innovation and guest satisfaction. By bringing the Monte-Carlo casino experience to sea, Crystal Cruises is setting a new standard for luxury and entertainment in the cruise industry.
