Cruise Holidays Irish Cruise Blog

Crystal Cruises to visit Slovenia

Crystal Cruises has now added Slovenia to its cruise itinerary.

As part of its November 16 “Italian Splendor” sailing, ultra-luxe Crystal Serenity will visit medieval Koper, Slovenia’s largest coastal town. 

Six new shore excursions, spread throughout the tiny Italo-Slavic nation, provide an in-depth exploration of the history and culture well beyond the Adriatic port. 

Fairytale castles, oenophile indulgences, coastal hamlets, and underground geological wonders are all part of the authentic local experiences planned.

“Slovenia is a largely-undiscovered European gem that has suddenly become trendy in the travelsphere,” says Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president operations. 

“Offering travellers new, intimate global experiences, delivered in our signature luxury style, are at the heart of Crystal’s six-star ethos.”

Crystal’s 2013 sailings go on sale

Crystal cruise itineraries for the first half of 2013 have gone on sale including Serenity’s first world cruise circling South America.

The ultra-luxury mammoth 74-day voyage will visit fourteen countries and will feature multiple stops in Ecuador, Peru and Chile, plus two weeks of sailing through Patagonia.

Cape Horn is among the maiden ports of call, and the ship will stay overnight in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

The 922-passenger Crystal Symphony will begin 2013 with an all-Australia cruise, followed by sailings through the Pacific and Asia before heading back to the U.S. via Russia, Alaska, and Canada.

Crystal Cruises Launches Private Adventure

Crystal Cruises is introducing a private shore excursion alternative for personal adventurers. 

Crystal’s new “Private Adventure Option” enables cruise holiday guests to take already-organized group excursions – in a more intimate fashion.

Beginning this August/September, parties of two, four or six can opt for a personal guide and private vehicle to tour Ephesus, Pompeii or the city of Barcelona, for example – on a shore-side itinerary already carefully crafted by Crystal’s Land Programs team and its worldwide tour operators.

Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, Thomas Mazloum, was inspired to create the program by his own Crystal cruise vacation.  “While I heard how much guests appreciated the ‘creative content’ of our Crystal Adventures, some said they would love to take the same tour by themselves to make it even more personal,” says Mazloum.  “At Crystal, we are committed to giving our guests choices.  Being able to really personalize your experience is the hallmark of a perfect luxury vacation.”

For several years, Crystal has offered guests a “Crystal Private Adventure” program, which offers the opportunity to design customized land itineraries for individuals, their families and friends.  The new “Private Adventure Option” is similar, but follows established excursions in a private way.  If guests prefer to modify their “Private Adventure Option” or expand the group, the trip would then become a custom “Crystal Private Adventure.”

Launching August 14 and September 13 on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, respectively, the “Private Adventure Option” can be pre-reserved at least one week prior to embarkation by emailing crystaladventures@crystalcruises.com.

Prices will be at least 25% more than group tour fares, but vary depending on excursion length, vehicle size, guide costs and sites visited.

Crystal’s passion for creating exclusive, eye-opening luxury shore-side experiences is a cornerstone of its Crystal Adventures program, helping earn the line top ratings for two decades.

Crystal Serenity gets €25 million upgrade

 
Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

$25 million later and Crystal Cruises’ largest ship, Crystal Serenity is looking fantastic.

The round-the-clock remodel at Germany’s Blohm + Voss shipyard was the company’s longest ever. All 535 staterooms, retail areas, outdoor pool deck, corridors and other spaces received a dazzling facelift, in addition to general sprucing of the entire outside and inside of the vessel.

“In the past year and a half, we have invested well over $50 million in our ships,” says Crystal Cruises’ President Gregg Michel. “The striking new spaces serve as a stunning backdrop to the incomparable service and choices that always characterize a Crystal vacation.”

Interior designer, Keith Rushbrook, principal at the Toronto-based II BY IV Design Associates summarizes the vision: “We wanted modern classic elegance. We wanted Fifth Avenue – crème de la crème New York-inspired living and retail spaces that people love and look forward to spending time in.”

All of Crystal Serenity’s luxury accommodations received new appointments. While Crystal Penthouses were refreshed with new soft goods, Deluxe Staterooms, Penthouses, and Penthouse Suites were completely transformed with new, floor-to-ceiling tufted headboards, bedside cabinets, sofas, curtains, pillows and custom carpets in contemporary lines and classic stone, silk, velvet, leather and crisp linen textures. The new sofas also offer more third berths – a nice feature for Crystal’s growing family clientele. Blu-ray players and flat-screen televisions were added, and new modern lighting features, plus an electronic “do not disturb” and doorbell system throughout the ship, allow guests greater personalization of their chic accommodations.

The Apropos boutique was redesigned into three dramatic shopping spaces, against a backdrop of rich Zebrano wood and herringbone rosewood, arresting black-plum-magenta carpeting and tufted leather seating. Massive sculptural aluminum screens graphically pop against gray smoked glass walls. A new area is dedicated to Christian Dior cosmetics. The Dior shop is exclusive to Crystal and is the largest of its kind that isn’t land-based.

Cruise holiday guests can now lounge poolside on bright lime green, azure and mango sofas , lounge chairs, and circular pod beds, a la those recently added to Crystal Symphony’s pool area.

Lighting played a major role in the redesign. Dramatic new mood lighting enhances the romance of spaces, showcases the drama of the headboards, and warms the ship corridors, which also received new, custom carpeting on the floors and engaging art work on newly-textured walls. Thoughtful attention was given to conservation as well as style.

“We were looking to balance the luxurious interiors of Crystal Serenity with saving energy,” says Nick Hogget of DPA Lighting Consultants. “Like the Crystal product, even the lighting provides the guest with choices. We wanted to make sure the guest has a wonderful experience in all the different spaces.”

Furnishings, electronics, and accessories removed from Crystal Serenity were donated to needy communities around the world. Donations began during the ship’s final, pre-dry dock voyage up the western coast of Africa when bedspreads were donated to Senegal during the ship’s call there. An extensive donation plan was instituted in Hamburg, with hundreds of sofas and televisions loaded onto eight 40-foot containers, and shipped to the Salvation Army in New Jersey.

Crystal Announces Golf Theme on Hawaii Holiday Cruise

 

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Are you a keen golfer? If so then Crystal Cruises may have just combined your two greatest passions in life, cruise holidays and golf!

With 51 PGA tour wins, many consider Casper the best putter of his era and on each cruise, guests can absorb stories and tips with this legend as well as other athletic stars, such as Emmy-winning sportscaster Jim Huber. They can also mingle and play with the PGA pros at some of the most stunning championship courses in the world, including:

• Poipu Bay (Kauai)—top Hawaiian course surrounded by ancient places of worship
• Royal Portrush (Belfast)—designed by course-architect great, Harry Colt
•  Carden Park (Liverpool)—Jack Nicklaus/Golden Bear “thinking golfer’s” fairway with spectacular views
• Royal Dublin (Dublin)—Ireland’s second-oldest link
•   El Saler (Valencia)—one of Golf Magazine’s “100 Greatest Courses in the World”
• Golf Club Del Sur (Canary Islands)—home to several PGA European tour competitions, surrounded by 8,000 palm tree
•   Palheiro (Funchal)—coastal ridge greens on a 200-year-old estate.

Crystal provides transportation, caddies, warm-up time, lunch, ‘19th hole’ get-togethers, TaylorMade club rentals or cleaning of your clubs and shoes, team-pairing, parties, awards, and private clinics with PGA instructors like John Clark and Bill Stutzer.

“We make it all easy,” says John Stoll, vice president land and port operations. “We sail everyone to paradise in luxury, where golf enthusiasts can pursue their passion at world-class locales, while loved ones see the sites or indulge their own vacation desires.”

Crystal offer Stieg Larsson tours

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

 

If you’re a fan of Stieg Larsson you’ll be happy to know that Crystal Cruises will soon be offering related tours in Stockholm.

The deceased author has sold more than 46 million books worldwide and all three novels in his Millennium trilogy have been adapted into critically acclaimed films.

A Hollywood adaptation of the first in the series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, is underway, directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and Robin Wright.

Crystal Cruises announced that it will be offering shore excursions on the Stockholm island of Sodermalm this year, taking guests on walking tours inspired by Larsson's books.

John Stoll, the operator's vice president of land and port operations, said: "Stockholm and Sweden play such a starring role in the novels, we thought this tour was not only a great new way to showcase the area for Larsson fans, but also something different for those who've visited the city before.

"This excursion puts you in the plots and really brings the Millennium stories to life."

The tours will be available on three Baltic voyages departing on May 22nd, June 2nd and June 27th, which will also feature visits to St Petersburg, Copenhagen and other cities in the region. 

Pacific Coast Adventures on Crystal’s spring itinerary

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Crystal Cruises has announced dozens of Crystal Adventures ashore for its spring voyages along the Pacific Coast.  Designed to suit a broad range of interests, excursions explore the historical, culinary and outdoorsy culture of the area.

 “With the wide variety of landscapes and activities the West Coast provides, we wanted to create a Six-Star program that reflected that diversity,” says John Stoll, vice president, land and port operations for luxury specialist Crystal Cruises.  “The new outings in Santa Barbara, Solvang, Seattle, and Astoria complement hit programs in and around San Francisco and Victoria.”

Departing April 10 and 17, the seven-day cruises sail between Los Angeles and Vancouver, calling in coastal cities in California, Oregon and British Columbia.

History buffs can step into the past by visiting Seattle’s underground ghost town or step into the future at Boeing’s “Future of Flight Centre” and airplane factory.

Gastronomes will enjoy Oregon wine tasting, a Northwest seafood cooking demonstration and a guided walk-through Seattle’s famous Pike Place food market - home of the original Starbucks.

With activities to suit every taste it’s just another reason to book your holiday with the luxury cruise company.

Crystal Cruises to visit Libya

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Crystal Cruises is lifting the veil on the dramatic, mysterious wonder that is Libya. Libya’s doors have been closed to American tourists since the U.S. imposed sanctions on the country almost 20 years ago.  However the authorities rceently lifted the ban on tourist visas and Crystal has added Tripoli to its November 16 “Italian Splendor” Mediterranean cruise. 

Enlarging an itinerary already steeped in wonders of antiquity and cultural immersion, the addition of Tripoli enables travellers to visit what some consider the last unspoiled country in North Africa.  Beginning and ending with overnights in Venice and Barcelona, the 11-day voyage also boasts visits to Dubrovnik and Sicily, Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome), and Livorno (for Florence and Tuscany).

“Libya is enigmatic, exotic, and incredibly rich in history,” says Bill Smith, senior vice president, sales & marketing.  “Providing a rare glimpse into this Middle Eastern nation will add tremendous depth to travellers’ experiences of ancient corners of the world.  With over a thousand miles of Mediterranean coastline to the north, Egypt to the east, and central Africa to the south, Libya is truly a crossroads of cultures, past and present, which no world traveller should miss.” 

Guests can explore Libya’s largest city, Tripoli; see some of the best-preserved cities and archaeological relics in the world from Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Phoenician, and Arab-Islamic civilizations; mix with local and tribal ethnicities; feast on traditional cuisine; and sift through the sand of the Saharan desert, which covers roughly 90% of the country. 

Would Libya entice you to visit? 

An Epic Experience with Crystal Cruises

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Would you pay almost $50,000 to sail around the Pacific on a luxury ship? Crystal Cruises is hoping you will.

The luxury line has announced plans for an epic cruise holiday in 2012 that will sail around the Pacific Rim on the 1,080-passenger Crystal Serenity.

The 94-day "Epic Islands & Empires" sailing will kick off on January 18, 2012 in Los Angeles and will include stops in 35 ports from California to Hawaii, the South Pacific, eastern and western Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Alaska, British Columbia and back to California.

The voyage will include the Serenity's maiden call in Newcastle, Australia; and a return to South Korea for the first time since 1994. The trip also comes with a three-day inclusive overland outing in Beijing.

Fares for the sailing start at $48,405 per person, based on double occupancy, for reservations made before February 28, 2011. The fares include first class air travel to the ship from select cities as well as on-board spending credits.

Ethical Travel with Crystal Cruises

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Crystal Cruises has introduced a complimentary shore excursion that enables its guests to assist with charitable projects in their cruise destinations.

Beginning in 2011, the “You Care, We Care” initiative is designed to educate participants on local community needs, as well as enhance travelers’ personal growth and their connection with a destination.

On every 2011 itinerary, Crystal has planned one “You Care, We Care” Crystal Adventure in which a limited number of guests and crew can donate their time, with Crystal covering all logistical arrangements and costs.

Voluntourism experiences to date with Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity voyages include:

• Lima, Peru – Brightening the environment of the children at the ANQUIEM Burn rehabilitation center with arts & crafts;

• Cartagena, Colombia – Creating crafts with the elderly, playing soccer with the children, or urban farming with an emphasis on organic agriculture at the Granitos de Paz Foundation; and

• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Assisting the PEACE organization in beach and neighborhood cleanup, and perhaps helping in light construction at a local green space.

 “Initially, some of our ground operators questioned whether these experiences would have enough of our typical six-star tour amenities. We reminded them that we understood that these opportunities would be less refined. The contribution is selfless – yet the wonderful byproduct is that these experiences will surely be authentically enriching and rewarding,” said John Stoll, vice president, land and port operations.

The complete roster of excursions and projects is in development and availability will be limited.

“You Care, We Care” precedes another new program the line is developing to promote awareness, preservation and support of the world’s most significant historical sites.