JUNEAU The newest cruise ship in Alaskan waters this summer isthe 960-passenger, $200 million Crystal Harmony. It's the firstJapanese-built passenger vessel to call in North America since beforeWorld War II - and the most elegant ship seen here in many seasons.
Built in Nagasaki, Crystal Harmony is owned by Japan'stransportation giant NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha). But the greatmajority of passengers - probably 90 percent - are expected to comefrom North America, with the remaining 10 percent split betweenEurope and Japan.
On its inaugural sailing, the ship attracted many veterans ofRoyal Viking Line, Princess Cruises and the former Sitmar ships -mostly upscale middle-aged and older couples who take one or morelonger cruises a year. Its combination of classic, almostconservative luxury and European service will appeal to cruisepassengers who know what they want and are prepared to pay for it.
Space is one of the greatest luxuries available these days, andCrystal Harmony provides one of the best ratios of passengers tovolume of any cruise vessel. It also has some interestinginnovations. Besides the two-seating Crystal Dining Room, passengerscan choose to dine at no extra charge in one of two specialtyrestaurants: Prego, which serves Italian cuisine, and Kyoto, offeringa variety from many Asian countries.
Crystal Harmony's Gottlieb Oberweger is the first cruise-shipchef to use the new "super chill" long-term storage system developedby NYK, which can hold fish, herbs, berries and other perishableitems without freezing for much longer than conventionalrefrigeration.
Other novelties include the first seagoing branch of Las Vegas'Caesars Palace. Veteran gamblers gave the casino high marks for "LasVegas odds" and professional dealers, noting that it may be the onlyseagoing casino to serve free drinks at the tables.
Crystal Harmony also incorporates many features that have provensuccessful on other ships - a golf simulator similar to that on theRoyal Viking Sun; plenty of private verandas and generous expansesof teak decking reminiscent of the Royal Princess; a sliding glassroof over a pool and deck area like Holland America's Westerdam;handsome, gray-haired hosts for dancing and card-playing like thosefrom Royal Cruise Line; 24-hour room service and full dinners servedin passenger cabins from evening menus like Sea Goddess and Seabourn.
There is a sense of subdued luxury from the marble, wood andbrass used throughout. Pianists, harpists and violinists fill theship with music, and well-mannered European staff members, 526 ofthem, seem to be everywhere.
Crystal Harmony is a fairly dressy ship, with this 12-day cruisedivided into three formal nights with gentlemen expected to wear darksuits or tuxedos, five informal nights that call for jacket and tie,and four casual nights.
Some art selections on the ship are puzzling, especially abigger-than-life bronze-colored sculpture of a dancing couple besidethe crystal, mirror and waterfall wall in the entrance lobby.
Largest accommodations are the 948-square-foot Crystal Penthousesuites, priced from $950 to $1,200 per person, double occupancy, perday. The 19 spacious inside cabins cost as little as $245 perperson, double occupancy, per day.
Deluxe outside staterooms come with or without private verandas.They are all comparable in size and furnishings - king-size or twinbeds, sofas, built-in desks with chairs - so that those withoutverandas seem more spacious and have somewhat larger closets. Itwould be a good idea before booking to decide which is moreimportant: more space in the room or your own private veranda.
Most bathrooms are on the small side, with a tub that is shorterand deeper than normal. All cabins have bathtubs, hair dryers, safesand TV sets with built-in VCRs.
The best buys would appear to be the standard outside stateroomswith portholes, which are somewhat larger than the deluxe outsidestaterooms with windows but cost around $255 a day per person, doubleoccupancy.
Crystal Harmony will make a series of Panama Canal transitsbetween Acapulco and San Juan this winter, then reposition to Europein April. Crystal plans to have a second new ship in operation byearly 1993. Specifically
For information, see a travel agent or call Crystal Cruises,(213) 785-9300. We traveled as the line's guests.
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