Crystal Cruises vs Regent Seven Seas

The core difference

Crystal and Regent Seven Seas represent the two poles of ultra-luxury cruising — and the choice between them reveals what you value most in a holiday at sea.

Crystal’s argument is quality. The line went through bankruptcy in 2022 and emerged under A&K Travel Group — a partnership between the man who built Silversea and the founder of Abercrombie & Kent. Over 80 per cent of the original crew returned, bringing a service culture that reviewers consistently describe as the warmest in the segment. The dining programme — anchored by the only Nobu restaurant at sea and a collaboration with three-Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo — is rated the finest in ultra-luxury by multiple independent assessors. The headline fare is lower than Regent’s. But flights, shore excursions, and transfers are not included.

Regent’s argument is completeness. The line bills itself as “the most inclusive luxury experience” — and the claim is legitimate. Business-class air from Australian gateways on Emirates, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines. Unlimited shore excursions at every port. All dining at all restaurants with no caps, no surcharges, no reservation fees. Airport transfers. A pre-cruise hotel night. Valet laundry. The suites are the largest in the segment at every category level. The fleet includes three ships built since 2016, with a fourth — Seven Seas Prestige — arriving December 2026 at 77,000 gross tonnes.

For Australian travellers, this is not an abstract comparison. The practical question is whether Crystal’s superior food and service warmth justify the additional AUD $12,000–$24,000 per couple you will spend on business-class flights that Regent includes in the fare, plus AUD $2,000–$5,000 on shore excursions that Regent provides for free. The answer depends entirely on your priorities.

What is actually included

This is where Regent has no peer in the ultra-luxury segment — and where the comparison with Crystal is most consequential.

Regent includes: roundtrip business-class air from most international gateways (including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide on Emirates, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines); unlimited shore excursions at every port (over 4,500 options across 550+ destinations); all dining at every restaurant without reservation fees, caps, or surcharges; premium spirits, wines, and cocktails; complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi; all gratuities; valet laundry (wash, press, fold); airport-to-ship transfers; and for Concierge suites and above, a one-night pre-cruise luxury hotel stay with breakfast and a private chauffeur credit of up to USD $500 via Blacklane. Butler service is available from Penthouse Suites upward.

Crystal includes: premium spirits, wines, and cocktails throughout the ship; butler service in every suite and guest room category (including the smallest cabin); Starlink Wi-Fi (standard tier); all gratuities; 24-hour in-suite dining; and all enrichment programming. Dining at most venues is included, but speciality restaurants Umi Uma and Osteria d’Ovidio are subject to reservation caps — one to three complimentary visits depending on voyage length, with additional visits costing USD $50 each. The Vintage Room wine dinner carries a surcharge of USD $220–$1,200 per person.

Crystal does not include: flights (no air programme whatsoever — not from any gateway); shore excursions (all at additional cost, including the Abercrombie & Kent curated experiences); airport-to-ship transfers (except for Crystal Penthouse guests); valet laundry (except at higher loyalty tiers); or pre-cruise hotel stays.

The difference is structural, not cosmetic. Crystal’s model assumes you will arrange your own travel to the ship and explore ports independently or at your own expense. Regent’s model assumes you want every element of the journey handled. For a traveller flying from Sydney to Barcelona for a two-week Mediterranean cruise, Regent’s fare covers the business-class flights, the transfer to the ship, the hotel night before embarkation, excursions at every port, and laundry during the voyage. Crystal’s fare covers what happens once you are on board — getting there is your responsibility.

Dining and culinary experience

This is Crystal’s strongest competitive advantage, and the dimension most consistently cited by travellers who choose Crystal over Regent.

Crystal offers nine dining venues across both ships. Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa is the only Nobu restaurant at sea, serving Japanese-Peruvian fusion with signature dishes including miso black cod, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, and Wagyu beef filet. Osteria d’Ovidio is a collaboration with the Alajmo brothers — Massimiliano Alajmo was the youngest chef in history to receive three Michelin stars, a distinction held for over 22 consecutive years. Beefbar brings the Monte Carlo steakhouse concept to sea with a shared-plates format. Waterside is the main dining room with open seating and rotating menus. Scoops serves artisan gelato by Badiani of Florence. Multiple independent reviewers — including Gary Bembridge of Tips for Travellers, who has sailed Crystal, Regent, Silversea, and Seabourn extensively — rate Crystal’s post-relaunch dining as the best in the ultra-luxury segment. Crystal won U.S. News Best Cruise Line for Dining (2026).

Regent offers seven to eleven dining venues depending on the ship, with Seven Seas Prestige (December 2026) expanding to eleven. Compass Rose is the elegant main dining room with open seating and a rotating menu supplemented by an “Always Available” selection including Black Angus filet mignon and whole Dover sole. Prime 7 is a classic American steakhouse. Pacific Rim serves pan-Asian cuisine and is particularly praised for its lobster tempura. Chartreuse delivers French fine dining. Sette Mari at La Veranda offers Italian trattoria. The new Azure restaurant on Prestige will serve Mediterranean mezze-style shared plates. Regent has no permanent celebrity chef partnerships comparable to Crystal’s Nobu or Alajmo, but the Epicurean Perfection programme brings rotating guest culinary figures aboard select sailings.

The critical difference: Crystal’s peak dining quality is higher, but access is restricted. On a seven-night voyage, you get one complimentary visit to Umi Uma and one to Osteria d’Ovidio — additional visits cost USD $50 each. On Regent, every restaurant is available every night with no caps, no surcharges, and no reservation fees. You can dine at Prime 7 or Pacific Rim every evening of your voyage without restriction. Crystal Penthouse guests receive unlimited speciality dining, but that requires booking one of just four suites per ship.

A Cruise Critic forum member who sailed both recently summarised the trade-off: “preferred Crystal on most aspects over Regent — the service, the crew, the food, and the included wines.” But another who switched from Crystal to Regent found that unlimited open-seating dining without the friction of allocation systems created a more relaxed experience overall.

Suites and accommodation

Regent claims the largest suites in luxury cruising at every category level — and the claim withstands scrutiny.

Regent’s entry-level Deluxe Veranda Suite on Explorer-class ships (Explorer, Splendor, Grandeur) is 361 square feet with an 88-square-foot private balcony. Every single suite on every Regent ship has a private balcony — there are no interior or ocean-view-only rooms in the fleet. On Heritage-class ships (Mariner, Voyager), the entry-level suite is approximately 301 square feet with balcony. The incoming Seven Seas Prestige offers entry-level Deluxe Veranda Suites from 307 square feet, all with balconies. At the top, the Regent Suite on Explorer-class ships spans 4,443 square feet including a 1,417-square-foot balcony, with two bedrooms, a private in-suite spa (sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi), and a Steinway Grand piano. The Skyview Regent Suite on Prestige will be 8,794 square feet — the largest all-inclusive suite in cruise history — with a private elevator, floating staircase, and personal butler. Butler service is available from Penthouse Suites upward.

Crystal’s entry-level Guest Room is 215 square feet without a balcony — the smallest in the ultra-luxury segment. The Guest Room with Veranda adds a 57-square-foot balcony but the interior remains 230 square feet. Crystal’s Aquamarine Veranda Suite (323 square feet plus 86-square-foot veranda) is the realistic comparison point against Regent’s entry level, and it is still smaller than Regent’s cheapest option. Crystal’s Crystal Penthouse at 1,265 square feet is a strong top-tier offering but does not approach the Regent Suite’s scale. Crystal compensates with butler service in every category — even the smallest guest room receives dedicated butler attention, a feature Regent reserves for its upper suite tiers.

The incoming Crystal Grace (May 2028) will improve Crystal’s position with all-veranda suites throughout and an Owner’s Suite spanning 1,950 square feet plus a 1,965-square-foot private veranda. Until then, Regent has a decisive hardware advantage at every price point.

Pricing and value

This is where the comparison becomes most consequential for Australian travellers — and where headline fares are misleading.

Crystal’s per-diem runs approximately USD $500–$750 per person per night depending on voyage length and suite category. A seven-night Mediterranean sailing in an Aquamarine Veranda Suite costs roughly USD $685–$750 per night. Longer sailings drop to USD $500–$630. The 2027 World Cruise starts from approximately USD $493 per night.

Regent’s per-diem runs approximately USD $650–$1,140 per person per night depending on ship, itinerary, and suite category. A 14-night Mediterranean sailing in a Deluxe Veranda Suite on Explorer-class costs roughly USD $860–$1,140 per night. Seven Seas Prestige introductory pricing starts at approximately USD $650 per night.

The total cost reality for an Australian couple on a 14-night Mediterranean voyage:

Regent (Deluxe Veranda Suite, all-inclusive): approximately AUD $24,000–$36,000 per couple. This covers the cruise, business-class flights from Australia, unlimited shore excursions, all dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, transfers, and a pre-cruise hotel night.

Crystal (Aquamarine Veranda Suite, cruise only): approximately AUD $14,000–$20,000 per couple for the cruise fare. Add business-class flights from Sydney to Europe: AUD $10,000–$18,000. Add shore excursions (seven to ten ports): AUD $2,000–$5,000. Add transfers and incidentals: AUD $500–$1,000. Total: approximately AUD $27,000–$44,000 per couple.

The arithmetic is clear. Once you add the elements Regent includes and Crystal does not, Crystal’s lower headline fare frequently converges with or exceeds Regent’s all-inclusive price. The further you fly from home — and Australia is about as far from Europe as you can get — the more Regent’s bundled air programme works in your favour.

Crystal offers better value in two specific scenarios: when you hold significant frequent flyer points and can redeem them for business-class flights (eliminating the biggest cost gap), or when you prefer to explore ports independently rather than taking organised excursions.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer quality spa facilities, with Regent’s newer ships having a slight edge in scale and included amenities.

Regent’s Serene Spa & Wellness replaced the previous Canyon Ranch partnership in 2020 and is now fleet-wide. On Explorer-class ships, the two-storey spa complex features a Hydrothermal Suite — aromatherapy steam room, infrared sauna, chill room, and experiential showers — that is complimentary for all guests with no booking required and no time limit. Treatment rooms have ocean views. Products are by ELEMIS (facials) and Kérastase (salon). The incoming Seven Seas Prestige will feature the most expansive Serene Spa at sea, with an infinity pool, quartz crystal healing beds, and zero-gravity massage tables. Heritage-class ships have smaller spa facilities without the Hydrothermal Suite.

Crystal’s Aurora Spa offers 10–12 treatment rooms depending on the ship, gender-separated steam rooms and saunas, a relaxation room, and a fitness centre with Technogym equipment. Skincare is by ELEMIS; hair care by Kérastase — the same brands as Regent. Crystal launched dedicated Wellness Retreat Cruises in 2025 aboard Crystal Symphony, featuring functional training, sunrise yoga, mindfulness meditation, and wellness-focused menus. Each ship has two pools with retractable glass roofs.

Both lines charge for hands-on spa treatments at similar price points (signature treatments USD $200–$400 for 75–100 minutes). The meaningful difference is Regent’s complimentary Hydrothermal Suite on Explorer-class ships — Crystal has no equivalent thermal suite offering.

Entertainment and enrichment

Crystal has the edge in enrichment depth; Regent is investing to close the gap.

Crystal retains a more structured entertainment programme. The Galaxy Lounge hosts Broadway-inspired production shows curated by a multi-Tony Award-winning producer. The Stardust Club features a seven-piece show band and transforms into the Stardust Supper Club on select evenings — a reservations-only dinner-and-show experience evoking mid-century glamour. The Casino de Monte-Carlo — the first and only one at sea — adds a social dimension Regent does not offer. Crystal’s genuine differentiator is the Creative Learning Institute: Berlitz language classes, Yamaha keyboard lessons, Cleveland Clinic wellness lectures, PGA golf training with Callaway equipment, professional bridge instruction, and ballroom dance lessons with gentleman hosts. The Crystal Visions lecture series brings historians, scientists, and destination specialists aboard.

Regent’s Constellation Theater on Explorer-class ships seats approximately 694 guests for narrative-driven production shows performed by a dedicated 12-person cast and seven-piece orchestra. Current productions include Broadway in Concert and Diamond Run — an espionage-themed musical thriller. The Observation Lounge is a highlight for pre-dinner cocktails with panoramic views. Regent’s enrichment programme features guest lecturers including former ambassadors, diplomats, and scientists. The Culinary Arts Kitchen on Explorer-class ships offers hands-on cooking classes for USD $89. The new Epicurean Enrichment Studio (debuting on refurbished Mariner and Voyager) adds destination-focused culinary lectures and chef’s table tastings.

Dress codes: Crystal retains black-tie optional evenings on sailings over seven nights. Regent relaxed its dress code in August 2025 — refined denim and dress trainers are now permitted after 6 PM under “Elegant Casual.” No mandatory formal nights on either line. Crystal’s evening atmosphere skews slightly more traditional; Regent’s skews more relaxed.

Fleet and destination coverage

Regent has the larger, newer fleet and significantly more itinerary choice in any given season.

Regent operates six ships (becoming seven with Prestige in December 2026): Seven Seas Explorer (2016, 750 guests), Splendor (2020, 750 guests), Grandeur (2023, 746 guests), Mariner (2001, refurbished November 2025, 700 guests), Voyager (2003, refurbishing April–May 2026, 700 guests), and Navigator (1999, 490 guests, retiring October 2026). Seven Seas Prestige arrives December 2026 at 77,000 gross tonnes and 822 guests — 40 per cent larger than Explorer-class. Three additional Prestige-class ships are ordered for 2030, 2033, and 2036. By the mid-2030s, Regent expects to operate nine or ten ships.

Crystal operates two ships — Crystal Serenity (740 guests, 2003) and Crystal Symphony (606 guests, 1995). Both were refurbished in 2023. Crystal Grace arrives May 2028, with two sister ships following in 2030 and 2032. By 2032, Crystal expects five ocean ships — still fewer than Regent’s current fleet.

Destination coverage is broad on both lines. Regent deploys across the Mediterranean (47 sailings in 2026–2027), Alaska (exclusively on Explorer — 16 voyages and the most luxurious Alaska option), Caribbean, Northern Europe and Baltic, Asia, South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, and South America. Annual World Cruises run 130–154 nights. Crystal covers the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska (returning 2026 for the first time since 2019), Caribbean, Asia, and annual 135–140-night World Cruises. Crystal’s A&K partnership adds curated overland experiences mid-cruise — guests can disembark for multi-day guided journeys to the Great Wall, Angkor Wat, or Uluru, then rejoin at a later port.

Regent’s advantage is fleet size translating to choice: more ships means more sailings in more regions in any given month. Crystal’s advantage is the A&K partnership, which integrates land-based luxury travel into the cruise experience in a way no competitor replicates.

Where each line excels

Crystal excels in:

• Dining. The Nobu and Alajmo partnerships, combined with a main dining room staffed by returning chefs with decades of experience, create the strongest culinary programme in ultra-luxury cruising. Multiple independent reviewers rate it above Regent, Silversea, and Seabourn.
• Service warmth. Eighty per cent of the pre-bankruptcy crew returned. This continuity creates an emotional warmth — crew remember your name after a single encounter, walk you to your destination rather than pointing, and greet returning guests with genuine affection.
• Enrichment depth. The Creative Learning Institute’s structured programmes (language classes, music lessons, golf, bridge) go beyond the guest lecturer format. The Casino de Monte-Carlo at sea adds a social dimension unique to Crystal.
• Intimate atmosphere. Reduced passenger capacity (740 and 606 guests on ships designed for 1,000+) creates one of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the segment.
• Lower entry point. Crystal’s headline fare is genuinely lower than Regent’s, making it accessible for travellers who can arrange their own flights and excursions efficiently.

Regent excels in:

• All-inclusive completeness. No other cruise line includes business-class air, unlimited shore excursions, all dining, drinks, transfers, pre-cruise hotel, and laundry in a single fare. The peace of mind this creates — never calculating extras, never seeing a supplementary charge — is a genuine luxury.
• Suite size. The largest suites at every category level in ultra-luxury cruising, with 100 per cent balcony accommodation. The incoming Skyview Regent Suite on Prestige (8,794 square feet) redefines what is possible.
• Fleet modernity. Three ships built since 2016, a fourth arriving December 2026, and three more ordered through 2036. Regent’s hardware is consistently newer than Crystal’s.
• Australian accessibility. Dedicated seasonal deployments to Australia and New Zealand (approximately 24 sailings 2026–2028), roundtrip Sydney options, and included business-class air from Australian gateways. For Australian travellers, Regent removes the distance penalty entirely.
• Unlimited dining. Every restaurant, every night, no caps, no surcharges. The simplicity of this approach appeals to travellers who dislike allocation systems.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Regent has a significant accessibility advantage for Australians — more ships in Australian waters, more embarkation options, and included flights for international sailings.

Crystal

World Cruise: Auckland to Melbourne (8 nights, February 2026 on Crystal Serenity) — Embark Auckland (3-hour direct flight from Sydney), sail through New Zealand’s Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Milford Sound into Melbourne. The most accessible Crystal sailing for Australians — no long-haul flight required.

Melbourne to Bali (18 nights, February–March 2026 on Crystal Serenity) — Embark Melbourne, sail via Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Thursday Island, Darwin, Komodo Island, and Bali. From USD $15,500 per person. A genuine Australian departure requiring no international flight to embark.

Alaska from Vancouver (July–September 2026 on Crystal Symphony) — Seven back-to-back nine-night roundtrip Vancouver sailings, Crystal’s first Alaska season since 2019. Fly Sydney or Melbourne to Vancouver via Los Angeles (approximately 14–16 hours on Qantas).

2027 World Cruise: Stories of the South Seas (140 nights on Crystal Serenity) — The March segment visits New Zealand fiords, Tasmania, Sydney, Melbourne, and the Great Barrier Reef. Join in Auckland and disembark Brisbane for an accessible Australian segment.

Regent

Sydney roundtrip (10 nights, December 2026 on Seven Seas Explorer) — Embark Sydney (no flight required for NSW residents), cruise to New Zealand and back. From approximately AUD $11,169 per person. The most convenient possible ultra-luxury option for Australians.

Bali to Sydney (16 nights on Seven Seas Explorer) — Via Komodo, Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, and Airlie Beach. Fly Sydney to Bali (approximately 6.5 hours via Denpasar), cruise home. Business-class flights included in fare.

Auckland to Sydney (14–15 nights, January 2027 on Seven Seas Explorer) — Comprehensive New Zealand itinerary arriving in Sydney. Fly to Auckland (3 hours direct), cruise home. Business-class flights included.

Grand Continental Sojourn (82 nights, Barcelona to Sydney) — An extended voyage home from Europe through the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia, and into Australian waters. Business-class air to Barcelona included in the fare.

Grand Asia Exploration (60 nights, Tokyo to Sydney) — Ideal “fly one way, cruise home” for Australians wanting an extended Asia experience ending at their doorstep.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Crystal

Crystal Serenity (740 guests, 2003, refurbished 2023) — The flagship, deployed for World Cruises and Mediterranean seasons. Nine dining venues including Nobu, Alajmo, and Beefbar. The ship that visits Australian waters annually. The better choice for first-time Crystal guests.

Crystal Symphony (606 guests, 1995, refurbished 2023 and 2025) — Smaller and more intimate, deployed to Alaska (summer 2026) and the Caribbean. Over 30 years old; while the refurbishments addressed suites and public spaces, some secondary areas show their age. Best for guests specifically wanting Alaska. Avoid if modern hardware matters — wait for Crystal Grace.

Crystal Grace (arriving May 2028) — All-veranda suites, approximately 650 guests, an Owner’s Suite with a 1,965-square-foot private veranda. Will finally give Crystal a vessel that matches its service and dining with contemporary hardware. Worth waiting for.

Regent

Seven Seas Grandeur (746 guests, 2023) — The newest Explorer-class ship and the most refined. All the benefits of the Explorer class with the latest design touches. Excellent choice for a first Regent experience.

Seven Seas Explorer (750 guests, 2016) — The primary ship deployed to Australia and New Zealand. Dubbed “the most luxurious ship ever built” at launch. The Regent Suite (4,443 square feet) is a genuine showpiece. Choose for Australian-departing sailings.

Seven Seas Splendor (750 guests, 2020) — Near-identical to Explorer with subtle design refinements. Choose based on itinerary rather than ship preference.

Seven Seas Prestige (822 guests, arriving December 2026) — The largest Regent ship at 77,000 gross tonnes, 40 per cent bigger than Explorer-class. Eleven dining venues including the new Azure Mediterranean restaurant. The Skyview Regent Suite at 8,794 square feet will be the largest all-inclusive suite in cruise history. Maiden voyage: Barcelona to Miami, 14 nights, 13 December 2026.

Seven Seas Mariner (700 guests, 2001, refurbished November 2025) — The Heritage-class workhorse, now fully refreshed with new suites, marble bathrooms, and an Epicurean Enrichment Studio. Good value within the Regent fleet — slightly smaller public spaces than Explorer-class but the same inclusion package.

Seven Seas Voyager (700 guests, 2003, refurbishing April–May 2026) — Book from June 2026 onward to sail the refreshed ship. Same scope of renovation as Mariner.

For Australian travellers specifically

This is the comparison where Australian-specific considerations matter most, because Regent’s included air programme directly addresses Australia’s greatest travel challenge: distance from major cruise embarkation ports.

Regent’s Australian proposition is exceptionally strong. Included business-class air on Emirates, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Approximately 24 sailings in Australian and New Zealand waters between 2026 and 2028, with dedicated seasonal deployments and roundtrip Sydney options. A dedicated Australian reservations line (1300 883 501, seven days a week). Active partnerships with Australian luxury travel agencies. For an Australian couple flying business class to a Mediterranean embarkation port, Regent’s included air is worth AUD $12,000–$24,000 — a saving that eliminates most or all of the apparent price gap with Crystal.

Crystal’s Australian proposition is improving but remains limited. Crystal visits Australian waters annually during February–March as part of the World Cruise, with embarkation options in Auckland and Melbourne. The Melbourne-to-Bali segment is a genuine Australian departure. Crystal has an Australian reservations team (1300 503 640) and is distributed through Virtuoso and Ensemble Travel Group agencies. But there is no included air programme, no regular Australian seasonal deployment beyond the World Cruise, and no roundtrip Australian sailings. Crystal’s ownership by A&K Travel Group — which has Australian representation — provides a platform for growth, but Regent’s Australian infrastructure is substantially more developed.

Loyalty pathways for Australians: Regent’s Seven Seas Society offers cross-brand status honouring with Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises (all under NCLH). Crystal’s Crystal Society offers a Welcome Aboard fare discount for guests with loyalty status on competing lines. Neither line has a direct Qantas Frequent Flyer partnership, though Regent’s use of Qantas as a preferred carrier for Australian guests means status credits may accrue depending on fare class. Bookings through Qantas Cruises earn 1 Qantas Point per AUD $1 for either line.

The onboard atmosphere

Both lines attract a similar demographic but create distinctly different social environments.

Crystal’s atmosphere is warm, personal, and tinged with nostalgia. The average passenger age is approximately 61 for new guests and 68 for returning loyalists — predominantly American, with British, European, and increasingly Australian guests. The crew’s long tenure creates a familial quality: returning guests are greeted with genuine affection, and first-timers report being drawn into what feels like an exclusive community. Black-tie optional evenings appear on sailings over seven nights. Afternoon tea with live music is a daily ritual. The signature farewell — Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” played during port departures — captures the sentimental quality Crystal loyalists adore. The Casino de Monte-Carlo adds evening energy that Regent cannot match. One reviewer described the difference in service style as “being looked after by a favourite uncle” — warm, intuitive, and personally invested.

Regent’s atmosphere is polished, relaxed, and quietly confident. The passenger base averages 58–65, also predominantly American and British with strong Australian representation on southern hemisphere sailings. Service is professional, attentive, and anticipatory — but more reserved than Crystal’s emotional warmth. Regent’s all-inclusive model creates a particular kind of relaxation: there is never a moment of calculation about what costs extra, which removes a subtle source of friction that exists even on other luxury lines. The dress code relaxation in 2025 (refined denim and dress trainers now permitted after 6 PM) signals Regent’s move toward a more contemporary, less formal evening atmosphere. There is no casino. The Observation Lounge — at the ship’s bow with panoramic views — is the social heart of the evening.

The bottom line

Crystal and Regent are both exceptional, but they optimise for different things — and the right choice depends on what you value most.

Choose Crystal if the quality of what happens inside the ship is your highest priority — the food, the service warmth, the enrichment programming, the Nobu reservation, the returning crew who remember your name. Accept that the ships are older, the entry-level suites are smaller, and you will need to arrange and pay for your own flights, excursions, and transfers. Book at least an Aquamarine Veranda Suite. If you hold significant frequent flyer points that can cover business-class flights to the embarkation port, Crystal can deliver the best per-dollar dining and service experience in ultra-luxury cruising.

Choose Regent if you want everything handled — flights, excursions, dining, transfers, laundry — in a single fare with no supplements. Choose it if suite size matters (Regent is larger at every category), if ship modernity matters (three ships built since 2016 versus Crystal’s 1995 and 2003 vessels), or if you want to sail from Sydney without an international flight. For Australians specifically, Regent’s included business-class air on Emirates, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines eliminates the distance penalty that makes every other cruise line more expensive from Australian gateways.

The most honest summary comes from an experienced cruiser who tried both: Crystal wins on food and service but loses on cabin size and dining restrictions. Regent wins on hardware and convenience but cannot match Crystal’s culinary peaks. The question is whether you would rather have the best meal of your cruising life in a smaller cabin, or a very good meal in a suite nearly twice the size with the flights already paid for.