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While we don’t cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Anybody who has sailed with Crystal before knows that the biggest allure of a Crystal cruise has nothing to do with the "hardware," as people in the industry like to call the physical properties of a vessel. What always has set Crystal apart from nearly every other cruise line in the world (and justified its high prices) is the extraordinary service that you will receive on board its ships. Among other cool toys, the ship has a super-fancy, remote-controlled gimbal camera at its top that can offer real-time views of passing scenery or wildlife at a magnification of up to 90 times. It can be used, for instance, to zoom in on a distant polar bear on an ice flow, with a live feed of the sighting being projected onto screens in the ship's Palm Court lounge or on cabin televisions.
Cruise Line Working on Alternative Itineraries Due to Red Sea Tensions - Cruise Hive
Cruise Line Working on Alternative Itineraries Due to Red Sea Tensions.
Posted: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Crystal YACHT Cruises
The new builds will be kept to a family size which means that the ships will be able to retain that family-first feeling that makes Crystal stand head and shoulders above the rest. I feel I’ve been welcomed into this very select club, and I’m so thankful. As a Cruise Director, you are responsible for the ship’s entertainment and activities, and you’re always “switched on.” I want to make sure that any guest who is sailing on one of our ships has a lot of choices when it comes to activities. Even though the majority of guests may get off in port, there will always be some remaining on board and therefore, it’s up to me as Cruise Director to offer plenty of alternative options if that’s the case.
Convention Cruises
Days at sea can be spent attending insightful lectures given by well known authors, world leaders and other personalities that will provide guests with an in-depth view of the places that will be explored. Complimentary courses are offered including language lessons with Berlitz, music lessons with Yamaha, and wine tasting with the Society of Wine Educators. Guests can learn about technology with Crystal's Computer University@Sea.
MEET THE CREW: INTRODUCING VICKI VAN TASSEL, CRYSTAL'S NEW CRUISE DIRECTOR
But the line also offers many sailings to the Caribbean, New England and Canada, and Alaska. Often cruise lines offer special rates that cannot be displayed to the general public. By registering with Cruise.com you will be able to view these special rates and offers. The 2025 voyages will be available to book starting Sept. 27, 2023, at crystalcruises.com.
Where Serenity Sails
Indeed, a notable part of what you'll be paying for on a Crystal Endeavor sailing is access to an incredibly large and knowledgeable team of guides who will lead you around destinations like Antarctica. It's a trade-off and one that I personally wouldn't make if I was in charge of building the perfect expedition ship. That is, it's built extra tough to go to some of the most faraway parts of the world. Perhaps most notably, Crystal Endeavor has a large number of elegant and high-end restaurants given its size. But there's an intimacy to Crystal Endeavor that you won't find on the bigger vessels, which is its own type of luxury.
For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. As for the entertainment, while I didn’t stray much from Pete’s piano in the Avenue Saloon, there are standup comedy and musical theater shows at the Stardust Club, Galaxy Lounge, and the Hollywood Theater. Crystal Cove bar is a great spot to catch live music (classical, jazz, piano, and even the occasional rock moment). The latter part of 2025 sees voyages to the Middle East, with stops at Safaga (Luxor) in Egypt, Dubai (known for luxury shopping and modern architecture), and Salalah, Oman's third-largest city, renowned for its marine life. Extended port calls to urban centers like Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Laem Chabang, and Shanghai allow for in-depth cultural experiences.
On the Crystal Endeavor Expedition ship, all rooms are suites and every suite has a private verandah. No matter which room type you choose or what type of ship you’re sailing on, you’ll find luxury accommodations across the Crystal Cruises fleet. You’ll be able to find the dress code for your ocean or expedition voyage, either Crystal Casual or black tie optional, for each day at sea in your Personal Cruise Calendar. Crew gratuities (for stateroom attendants, butlers, restaurant, and bar personnel, etc.) are included in all Crystal cruise fares. The 3,000-square-foot Fitness Centers aboard both ships are now lined with the latest Technogym® equipment and guests can also enjoy yoga, meditation and personal training sessions. They can also head to Wimbledon Court on the top deck for Paddle Tennis and Pickleball.
SAVE UP TO 50% ON OCEAN CRUISES
The expanded itinerary's first departure was on August 7 (from Nassau) and August 9 (from Miami). This way, the 7-night itinerary offered 3x embarkation ports - Nassau (Saturdays departures), North Bimini (Sundays), Miami (Mondays). In October 2023, Crystal announced five Grand Voyages/world cruise itineraries. Ranging from 40 to 70 nights, the voyages visit exotic destinations, offering multiple overnight port calls, and optional overland experiences in collaboration with A&K/Abercrombie & Kent (Crystal's sister company).
On January 19, 2022, Crystal's parent company GHK-Genting Hong Kong Ltd (Malaysia) filed for bankruptcy. On Jan 10th, for insolvency filed two GHK-owned shipbuilding companies in Germany - MV Werften and Lloyd Werft. GHK also owned Genting Cruise Lines grouping two Asian subsidiaries (Dream Cruises, and Star Cruises). Last year, the A&K Travel Group acquired the Crystal brand and its two most beloved vessels, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, ushering in a new era of Exceptional Suites, Exceptional Service, Exceptional Dining, and Exceptional Experiences. Travel Advisors and guests with Open Deposits have exclusive access to an early booking window beginning Wednesday, February 1 - before bookings open to the public later this month. The Penthouse Suite with Verandah features a king-size bed, living area, and a heated storage closet for expedition gear.
So, I went to him and I said, “I’m going to do your World Cruise for you.” I never looked back. Each time you hit a new milestone, you’ll be eligible for even more benefits like unlimited free reservations at specialty restaurants, credits towards future sailings, and recognition pins. Dining is a little different on Crystal Cruises because everything is included. There are 3 specialty restaurants across the fleet and each guest is entitled to dine at each of these once or twice per cruise (depending on cruise length) at no extra cost. All beverages in the restaurants, including alcohol, are included as well.
In addition, Crystal’s enrichment program presents an array of onboard lectures by guest speakers, who in the past have included actors, sports stars, political figures, scientists, entrepreneurs and even astronauts. These vary by sailing and guests are often delighted to discover who will be aboard and speaking during their cruise. Most of Crystal's Mediterranean trips range from seven to 14 nights, although it occasionally offers much longer voyages. These itineraries include sailings focused specifically on the Western Mediterranean or Eastern Mediterranean and some that include stops across both. The itineraries are designed to allow in-depth exploration on over 165 different itineraries ranging from 7 to 107 days.
Other notable ports of call include Tórshavn in The Faroe Islands; Safaga (near Luxor), Egypt; Halong Bay, Vietnam; and Salalah, Oman. Guests can also opt for the 2025 world cruise aboard Crystal Serenity, a 123-night adventure to 31 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and North America. Crystal offers a wide range of immersive shore excursions in every port which are curated to different activity levels and tastes. In addition to classic walking tours that introduce guests to the destinations being visited, they will include more unusual offerings. For example, on a Mediterranean sailing visiting the Greek island of Santorini there might be an energetic volcano hike, wine tasting or visit to a family-owned ouzo distillery. Appealing to the line's more affluent clientele, there are also exclusive experiences such as a private catamaran sailing.
The suites and guest rooms are more spacious, with elevated detail and contemporary craftsmanship. Suites feature marble quarried from Italy, with modern furnishings and fine cotton linens. Yes, children aged 6 months and older are welcome on any Crystal Cruises ship with a few exceptions. When traveling on the Crystal Esprit, children younger than 7 are not allowed on the Zodiacs. Some ports require Zodiac transportation to disembark the yacht, so young children would have to stay on board with an adult in those situations.
In mid-March 2021 were announced plans for restarting passenger shipping with "Bahamas Escapes". Starting on July 3, 2021 (first departure), Crystal Serenity had scheduled 16x 7-night roundtrips from Nassau. Another 16x 7-night roundtrips from North Bimini Island (Bailey Town) were scheduled for Serenity beginning July 4, 2021. Crystal Serenity's 42-night Canada to the USA voyage (Vancouver to Quebec City) traverses Alaska, continues through Canada, then along the US Californian coast and Baja California Mexico. This journey also visits ports in Central and South America, with stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, the Caymans, follows Florida and East Coast USA (Miami, New York City, Portland ME) and Canada (Halifax NS and Quebec City).
Worth noting, there’s also an extensive non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktail menu at Avenue Saloon, for those looking for booze-free nightlife. Beloved brand Crystal Cruises came to an ignominious end during the pandemic. Now, new leadership has revived the line and aims to make it better than ever. Ranging in length from 11 to 19 nights, the company also had planned roundtrip departures from Ushuaia Argentina, between December 2021 and February 2022.
Both ships have extended summer seasons in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. The "Luxury Bahamas Escapes" itineraries included the call ports Harbour Island, Great Exuma Island (Georgetown), San Salvador Island and Long Island. In August, to the itinerary was added Miami as both call port and homeport/departure port.
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