The waitstaff inside the Waterside restaurant onboard the Crystal Mozart are carrying small sculptures on white plates. They look abstract, a pitted gold base sprouting delicate tendrils and topped with an open egg, more artistic than edible.
But this isn't some interactive gallery show; it's the first course of the Mozart's christening dinner, and that egg, filled with white asparagus custard and crowned with a healthy dollop of caviar, is delicious.
Onboard the Mozart, Crystal Cruises' first foray into river cruising, dining is clearly a focus. Rather than build one restaurant on the 394-foot-long ship, Crystal has developed a trio of eateries, giving guests a choice of where to dine at any hour of the day.
The Waterside is the vessel's signature dining venue, an expansive, light-filled space done in black-and-white with bright-green water glasses adding a splash of color. Open for all three meals, the Waterside is open seating and serves breakfast and lunch buffet-style, transitioning to a more formal menu in the evening, with both classic and regional dishes available.
The emphasis on the Mozart is explicitly on fresh fare. Rather than rely on prepackaged or frozen items, the ship works with producers and distributors at its various ports, restocking with local produce and proteins when it docks.
The christening dinner on the Crystal Mozart featured an egg filled with white asparagus custard, topped by caviar. Photo Credit: Sarah Feldberg
"We have our own staff cooking our own gourmet food," said Crystal CEO Edie Rodriguez during the vessel's preview in Vienna, its start and end point on the Danube.
That means breads, pastries and even ice cream are all made fresh in-house.
The yacht's more casual restaurant is the Bistro, a coffee shop-style space with a full menu of caffeinated beverages, an ice cream bar, and cold, self-service snacks available at breakfast and lunch. For dinner, the Bistro adds white tablecloths and becomes a reservation-only option focused on refined interpretations of local cuisine.
Other dining options onboard include 24-hour room service (deliverable anywhere on the ship); the Pantry, which offers self-service essentials such as wine, coffee, water and snacks; and Blue, a low-key lunchtime cafe with sandwiches, salads and local specialties.
Eric Maryanov, president of the All-Travel agency in Los Angeles, pointed to the diversity of dining venues as a difference-maker for Crystal's river ship. "Nobody [in river cruising] has that," he said.
Beyond the lineup of its included onboard restaurants, the Mozart has also incorporated its luxury sensibility into the culinary program. Hidden behind the Waterside and offering a special fine dining experience, the Vintage Room seats up to 12 for an upscale tasting menu paired with vintage wines, priced at about $210 per person.
The cruise fare also includes a lunch or dinner at one of the select Michelin-starred restaurants along the Mozart's route, with food, wine, transportation and gratuity all covered. It's the icing on the proverbial cake.