December 18, 2007 - World-class master chef Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa is partnering with Crystal Cruises for two new restaurants on Crystal Symphony.

Silk Road and The Sushi Bar will debut during Crystal Symphony's March 3 Trans-Pacific cruise from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Nobu will join the ship in March to personally oversee the launch.

Nobu-trained chefs will showcase some of Nobu's most popular specialties at The Sushi Bar, including yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and tuna tataki with ponzu sauce. Among the more than two dozen menu selections at Silk Road will be Nobu-style lobster with truffle-yuzu sauce, saikyo miso black cod and beef with three distinctive sauces.

Occupying the former Jade Garden space, the restaurants will accommodate a total of 68 guests and will be open most evenings. While there is no additional charge for enjoying Nobu's extraordinary cuisine, reservations are recommended for Silk Road; dining at The Sushi Bar will be on a first come, first served basis.

Noted interior design architect Alison Clixby of UK-based AdFecto Design, who designed Symphony's Luxe nightclub and Connoisseur Club, is creating contemporary, Asian-inspired spaces in shades of sage, citrus green and aubergine, accented by golden organza sheers, plum glass tiles and a dark granite sushi bar. UK-based DPA is designing the mood lighting, which includes custom fabric chandeliers and backlit stone wall treatments.

The new restaurants represent an expansion of Nobu's culinary alliance with Crystal. Since 2003, his cuisine has enjoyed tremendous success onboard Crystal Symphony's fleetmate, Crystal Serenity.