Despite an industrywide boom in multigenerational travel, Crystal Cruises' 2007 announcement of an increase in stateroom sleeping capacity initially seemed at odds with its luxury image.
The inevitable result of adding these third berths is more children, who are now accommodated in age-specific programs on certain summer and holiday sailings.
On a recent seven-day voyage aboard Crystal Symphony from Los Angeles, I set out to determine whether Crystal's vaunted onboard product could withstand the onslaught of a few dozen kids.
Kidding around
The fear that the presence of young children would have a harmful effect on the core product was, thankfully, unfounded.
The number of guests under 18 on any sailing is limited to a number that can be practically accommodated in the age-tiered activity programs, which run until 10 p.m. daily.
Kids' dinners are also scheduled in order to maintain serenity in the dining room.
When there aren't enough children onboard to warrant an activities director (one for every 10 to 12 children in an age bracket), the kids' club becomes a play area where the young cruisers are left to their parents' supervision.
Aside from limiting the number of children aboard, Crystal effectively handles their day-to-day needs in a way that doesn't intrude on the adult passenger experience.
Herbert Jager, Crystal Symphony hotel director, assured me that "staff tries to keep them busy and out of the way of other passengers."
That assessment was borne out on my holiday sailing, when there were 90 passengers under the age of 18, 30 of whom ranged from ages 3 to 7, and nary a complaint was heard regarding their presence.
Despite the fact that Crystal's ships were built with dedicated children's facilities, the number of sailings that meet the threshold for a kids' activities director are few.
When that threshold is reached, however, management goes to great lengths to ensure that children are accommodated into the mix without collateral damage.
Crystal's principal clientele, after all, would expect nothing less.
The line essentially pioneered the concept of large-ship luxury cruising with the launch of the Crystal Harmony in 1990.
The line
When I first sailed the Harmony in early 1991, I was impressed by the level of personalized service on a 50,000-ton ship.
Although the average large-ship size has more than doubled since then, the Crystal Symphony is still large enough to ensure no crowding, no waiting and, of course, no lines.
And while the Crystal Symphony's older hardware no longer has the wow factor, it does have a more contemporary, boutique-hotel look after an extensive renovation in 2006.
The hardware, however, is secondary to the line's core clientele; they're aboard for the cuisine, the service, myriad enrichment programs and, above all, for the freedom of space.
Crystal's heralded reputation for superior service is a result of a competent, finely honed approach to ensuring ultimate passenger satisfaction.
The line's management continuity (many have been with the company since its inception in 1990) coupled with the benefit of a small, two-ship fleet enables a service delivery standard that has consistently been a model of refinement and luxury.
Never stuffy but always classy, the Crystal experience is typified by extremely personalized service, countless luxuries and a focus on comfort.
The service advantage held by luxury lines such as Crystal over mass-market and premium lines isn't limited to sheer guest-to-staff ratios (1.64-to-1 on Crystal).
The European-trained staff and crew cater to American tastes, while possessing an uncanny ability to remember guests' names and their numerous idiosyncratic wishes.
In addition, the slightly older staff and crew, as compared to other lines, possess a maturity and self-confidence that is ultimately to guests' benefit.
On the menus
Crystal's gourmet dining experience encompasses the main dining room, Lido cafe, themed deck buffets, high teas and specialty restaurants.
All venues feature consistently fine cuisine.
Skilled European chefs and pastry chefs turn out what could be best categorized as grand European hotel cuisine with modern touches.
The superior product in both Prego and Silk Road, the Italian and pan-Asian specialty restaurants, respectively, is a testament to expertly helmed kitchens under the watchful eye of shoreside celebrity chefs.
In Silk Road, food mavens enjoy the cuisine of Japanese master chef Nobu Matsuhisa, while Prego features creations from Piero Selvaggio's Valentino restaurants in Santa Monica, Calif., and Las Vegas.
Enrichment options for the mind and soul are no less impressive than those for the palate.
On the seven-day sailing, an archaeologist, an economist and an espionage historian gave lectures related to their fields.
On most sailings, Crystal also offers foreign language classes, music instruction, bridge instruction, dance classes, art appreciation and an extensive Computer University @ Sea program, all at no charge.
On every sailing, Crystal's Ambassador Hosts, carefully screened gentlemen who are cultured, well-traveled and accomplished ballroom dancers, provide companionship to unescorted women.
The quality of the nightly entertainment on my sailing was surprisingly uneven, with the highlights being a series of well-produced and -choreographed shows. An accomplished classical pianist also impressed in an afternoon concert.
But a Southern comedian's unrefined material didn't mesh with the sophisticated audience, and a ventriloquist performed a dated act that was politically incorrect for any demographic.