Crystal Cruises has released a new series of design renderings illustrating several of the specialty dining venues planned for its forthcoming vessel, Crystal Grace, which is scheduled to enter service on June 11th, 2028. The images follow the earlier presentation of the ship’s suite categories and provide an initial view of the culinary spaces that will form part of the vessel’s onboard offering.
The restaurants have been designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden in collaboration with Crystal’s culinary partners. The concepts emphasize open sightlines and a close visual relationship with the surrounding sea. In particular, the restaurant Umi Uma will incorporate a full-height glass wall overlooking the ocean, while Beefbar and Osteria d’Ovidio will extend their seating areas into covered outdoor terraces. A shared bar linking the two latter venues has been planned to create a continuous flow between the spaces.
The restaurant Umi Uma, developed in partnership with Nobu Matsuhisa, will return as one of the vessel’s principal specialty dining venues. The menu will present Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine characteristic of the chef’s international restaurants, including dishes such as Nobu-style black cod, grilled Chilean sea bass and a selection of sushi. Located on Deck 5, the venue will accommodate 84 guests and will feature both a reservation-based dining room and a sushi bar designed for more informal drop-in service.
Another restaurant, Osteria d’Ovidio, continues Crystal’s collaboration with Massimiliano Alajmo and restaurateur Raffaele Alajmo. Positioned on Deck 10, the venue will provide seating for 68 guests indoors together with a further 20 places on an outdoor terrace. The concept reflects contemporary Italian dining, and its menu will be organized into sections presenting regional Italian dishes, selections from the Alajmo family’s Michelin-starred restaurant Le Calandre, and Venetian-inspired specialties such as vitello tonnato, saffron risotto with licorice powder and pistachio gelato.
Adjacent to this venue will be Beefbar, created through Crystal’s partnership with restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi. Known for restaurants in destinations such as Monaco, Paris and Mykonos, the concept focuses on a contemporary steakhouse format combining premium cuts of meat with a relaxed dining environment. The shipboard restaurant will seat 56 guests indoors and will be complemented by an outdoor terrace accommodating a further 58 diners beneath a covered area.
Gunter Lorenz, Vice President of Food and Beverage Operations for Crystal Cruises, explained that the design approach for Crystal Grace was intended to strengthen the company’s long-standing culinary partnerships while providing each venue with a renewed identity and flexible design. He indicated that the restaurants had been developed in close collaboration with the chefs and partners involved, allowing for future adjustments to menus while preserving recognizable elements of the brands. Lorenz also noted that the inclusion of extensive outdoor dining areas had been a deliberate feature of the design, enabling passengers to enjoy meals in open air while at sea.
Crystal Grace will represent the cruise line’s first new ocean-going vessel in approximately 25 years and will accommodate around 650 passengers in all-suite accommodations. The ship forms part of the company’s effort to expand its ultra-luxury fleet while maintaining a strong emphasis on high-quality dining and personalized service at sea.