Cruising with The Boss: Dining with Geoffrey Kent aboard Crystal Symphony
The opportunity to meet the president of a cruise company is something many regular guests relish. To this end, a select band of head honchos are happy to leave the cosiness of their ivory towers once or twice a year and climb aboard for a cruise where they can mix and mingle with the people that matter – fare-paying passengers.
In June, connoisseurs of travel had a unique opportunity to sail with Geoffrey Kent, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Abercrombie & Kent. This travel luminary and renowned luxury tour operator grew up in the foothills of the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya. In 1962, he and his parents pioneered the first modern luxury safari with the credo “Shoot with a camera, not with a gun”.
Over the following six decades, he built his family's start-up into the world's leading luxury and adventure travel company with a portfolio of tours in over 100 countries on all seven continents. Now fully owned by the Monaco-based Heritage Group, Abercrombie & Kent continues to set the gold standard for trailblazing experiential journeys.
Not content to rest on his laurels, in February 2019 Geoffrey Kent formed a strategic partnership with his long-time friend, cruise industry tycoon Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, Chairman of Heritage Groups. They jointly acquired 100 percent of the Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies S.A. Together, they took ownership of A&K, launching the A&K Travel Group.
The following year, A&K Travel Group acquired the Crystal brand and its two lodestars of luxury cruising, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, at auction in June 2022. These were part of the Crystal Cruises fleet that foundered in the crucible of Covid. Both ships underwent a parallel stem-to-stern modernisation at Fincantieri's shipyard in Trieste. The work took five months and cost $164 million. With an inspired, sophisticated ambiance, the ships re-entered service in the summer of 2023 to great acclaim.
Integral to the dynamic vision for both vessels was a reduction in capacity. Crystal Serenity decreased from 980 to 740 guests; Crystal Symphony dropped from 916 to 606 guests. This has resulted in very impressive space-to-guest ratios of 1 to 93.1 and 1 to 84.2, respectively, making the two ships among the most spacious at sea. The number of crew members remained the same.
It's not surprising that such a venerable name in luxury cruising is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year with four milestone voyages. An eight-night Mediterranean cruise (10th to 18th July) on board Crystal Symphony will feature former Cruise Director Paul McFarland, Broadway actress Christine Andreas, and singer and multi-instrumentalist Salvatore Hasard. The journey begins in Thessaloniki on Greece’s Halkidiki Peninsula, with stops in Mykonos, Santorini, and Heraklion, before visiting Lipari and Naples, then culminating in Civitavecchia for Rome.
Also in July, but aboard Crystal Serenity, a seven-night sailing (15th to 20th) includes an overnight stay in Copenhagen and features long-time Crystal partner Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, plus former Captain Egil Giske and Cruise Director Gary Hunter. While onboard, Chef Nobu will take part in cooking demonstrations and an exclusive Vintage Room dinner. A nine-night Québec City to New York City voyage (22nd to 31st October) on Crystal Serenity will showcase the colourful tapestry of the fall foliage of Canada and New England, featuring an overnight in Québec City, stops in Baie-Comeau and Gaspé, the historic charm of Halifax, plus overnight stays in Boston and New York City. This special sailing will also be a reunion with veteran Cruise Director Gary Hunter.
The inaugural 35th-anniversary cruise was a nine-night Mediterranean journey in June from Tarragona. Stops included Palma de Mallorca, Mahón, Cinque Terre, Livorno for visits to Pisa and Florence, and Porto Santo Stefano, as well as an overnight stay in Civitavecchia. Taking guests down memory lane on this cruise were former captains Helge Brudvik and John Oekland, as well as renowned Cruise Director Paul McFarland. However, the biggest attraction was none other than Geoffrey Kent, who hosted a celebratory party in the Crystal Plaza. He also took to the stage in the Galaxy Lounge for a Q&A session which was moderated by BAFTA award-winning former Sky News anchor, Kay Burley. Not surprisingly, the house was packed.
Panache Cruises was proud to be invited to join this special cruise. As a company ambassador, I had the ultimate privilege of dining with Geoffrey in the ship's charming Beefbar. Opportunities such as this are rare, and with almost a century of luxury travel between us, Geoffrey and I talked about the impact of the altered global scenario on luxury cruising. There were several mic-drop moments when this doyen of travel talked about how he is the go-to guy when it comes to bespoke travel plans for royalty and presidents, many of whom he regards as personal friends.
For over two hours, we enjoyed the conviviality of Beefbar with its chilled atmosphere. Geoffrey lives in Monaco and has been familiar with this global culinary venture since its founding there in 2005. Last year, it became hugely popular on both Crystal ships. We started with a prawn salad of avocado, pomegranate, and green beans. Geoffrey then had a NYC Striploin with Beefbar sauce. I opted for a fillet mignon with home-made French fries, many of which surreptitiously moved across the table.
Geoffrey was keen to highlight what his company has brought to today's cruise industry. He explained, “By combining A&K's expertise in curating extraordinary land experiences with Crystal's legacy of exceptional service and elegant cruising, we can offer unparalleled journeys that seamlessly blend land and sea. We're creating immersive itineraries that delve deeper into destinations, offering exclusive access and authentic encounters that go beyond the typical cruise experience. We have the largest network of Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in the world, an asset no other cruise line can match. We've also introduced a unique element that ups the ante with land tours. We now have an A&K Ambassador aboard each ship, who is a proficient ground operations expert. Guests can enjoy land experiences personalised to their precise requirements. This way, we create a seamless transition between the ship and shore.”
In slightly more hushed tones, Geoffrey said, “We have placed an order for three classic 690-guest ships to be delivered by Fincantieri in 2028, 2030, and 2032. The ships will have the highest passenger-to-space ratio in the cruise industry - an undisputed yardstick of excellence. We are growing the company again. This will be an evolution of the brand, not a radical change.”
He continued, “We recognise the importance of minimising our environmental footprint and have committed to sustainable cruising practices. Crystal has adopted advanced energy efficiency technologies, such as shore power connections and air-conditioning optimisation. In our quest for sustainable propulsion, we'll soon start testing biofuels on our two existing ships.”
Looking to the future, Geoffrey said, “My vision is one where experiences are truly transformative, leaving a positive impact on both the visitors and the destinations we visit. Travel should be about forging meaningful connections, discovering new perspectives, and contributing to the preservation of our planet's cultural and natural treasures.” As the sun set across the western horizon, the curtain came down on an unforgettable evening.
The following day at sea, Geoffrey took to the stage in the Galaxy Lounge and addressed an audience of loyal guests who were curious to learn more about the future of their favourite cruise line. “We're building new itineraries, and every year there will be 10 to 20 new ports. We also plan to visit marquee ports on days when larger ships don't dock there. This is an important element, one which underscores our conviction to luxury, so guests feel they're the only visitors to arrive in the city by sea that day. We're also adding smaller ports where we've extended the time we stay there. In prominent destinations such as New York and Quebec, we often stay for one, two, or sometimes three nights,” he explained to the ardent crowd.
He also told them about multi-day overland excursions ranging from the unique natural sanctuary that is the Galápagos Islands and the incomparable Machu Picchu, to a stay at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti and visits to the Taj Mahal and Ranthambore National Park, known for its beauty and wildlife. “We believe in the power of travel to foster understanding and bridge cultural divides. By promoting responsible travel practices and supporting initiatives that benefit local communities, we can contribute to a more sustainable and harmonious future for our fragile earth.”
Leaving the audience with something to ponder, Kent said, “I've set a record with A&K for 'Best Of' awards and have no doubt we will continue to win every award going, both on land and at sea.” He's certainly heading in the right direction. Last year, Crystal won the medium ship category prize in the Condé Nast Traveller's 2024 Readers' Choice Awards (UK).
This incredibly fit 82-year-old travel icon, who excelled at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, has doubled down on the cruise line's luxury heritage, and guests revere him for it.
