Crystal Cruises has unveiled a series of ultra-luxurious 2004 global itineraries featuring visits to 178 ports in 56 countries on six continents, punctuated by a 106-day World Cruise from Los Angeles to New York aboard the newest member of its fleet, Crystal Serenity.
For the first time, the luxury line is offering a selection of seven-day cruises on all three ships -- including destinations in the Mediterranean and Canada/New England, as well as in the Caribbean. Also new is a winter series of 10-day Hawaiian island cruises, roundtrip from Honolulu. In all, 28 cruises will sail roundtrip from domestic ports and 33 cruises will begin or end in domestic ports, convenient options for even the most seasoned travelers.
Guests who like to spice up their vacations with world-class events can experience the Cannes Film Festival during Crystal Symphony's overnight stay in Cannes, or the acclaimed Military Tattoo during two summer calls in Edinburgh, or the majesty of Cutty Sark's Tall Ship parade in Antwerp. Among the maiden calls scheduled for Crystal's 2004 worldwide program are visits to Christmas Island in the Republic of Kiribati, Nuuk in Greenland, Calvi on France's island of Corsica and Zadar in Croatia.
Further enriching the cruise experience are extended land programs and overnight pre- and post-cruise hotel stays, such as a three-day program in Beijing.
"2004 marks our first, full year with a three-ship fleet," says Gregg Michel, president, Crystal Cruises. "As a result, our guests will have more choices than ever before, either in the selection of any of our three luxuriously-appointed ships to any one of our 89 global itineraries."
Two 940-guest ships -- Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony -- will be joined by the sparkling new 1,080-guest Crystal Serenity in pursuit of the richest land and sea travel experiences ever offered by the line. Crystal Serenity debuts in July 2003 and will commence her inaugural World Cruise in January 2004.
Providing guests with the ultimate in grandeur, the 106-day World Cruise will circumnavigate the globe beginning and ending in North America via Hawaii, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, the exotic islands of the Indian Ocean, East and South Africa, South America and the Caribbean. The cruise departs Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2004 and concludes on May 5 in New York City. Spectacular overnight stays during the World Cruise include Honolulu, Hiroshima, Kobe, Yokohama, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore, Yangon, Mombasa, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. The World Cruise will also be offered in segments, ranging from 22 to 29 days.
As part of its other, far-reaching itineraries to some of the world's leading ports in 2004, Crystal is providing guests with exclusive overnight stays in Bordeaux, Venice, Cannes, Monaco, Villefranche, Istanbul, Barcelona, Acapulco, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Osaka, St. Petersburg, Edinburgh, Rouen, Quebec City, Montreal, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
The line is also complementing its 2004 itineraries with late night stays in some of the world's most exciting cities, including New York, Fort Lauderdale, Athens, Berlin, Dubrovnik, Dublin, Antwerp, Barcelona, Singapore, Acapulco, Barbados, Cozumel, Antigua, Victoria and Monaco.
Among the line's 2004 highlights:
* 28 cruises sailing roundtrip from domestic ports -- for those who appreciate the convenience of leaving and returning from a U.S. port of call.
* 33 cruises that begin or end in a domestic port -- out of 89 total cruises for the fleet in 2004, representing 37% of Crystal's itineraries for the year.
* New seven-day itineraries on all three ships -- in order to make Crystal's luxury cruise product more available for those with less time to get away. These seven cruises will call on the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Canada/New England.
* New 10-day Hawaii cruises -- sailing roundtrip from Honolulu on Crystal Harmony in the winter.
* The Inaugural World Cruise of Crystal Serenity -- a 106-day voyage from Los Angeles to New York. With even more space than Crystal Symphony and almost twice as many Penthouse accommodations, new Crystal Serenity will provide an exceptional World Cruise experience.
Ship highlights for 2004 include:
CRYSTAL SERENITY
* Mexican Riviera -- begins the year with a 14-day roundtrip Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles with a rare embarkation and disembarkation call in San Diego in order to allow guests to sail roundtrip San Diego for a 12-day cruise.
* World Cruise 2004 -- sailing from Los Angeles, this will be Crystal's Inaugural World Cruise on Crystal Serenity. She will explore Hawaii, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, the exotic islands of the Indian Ocean, East and South Africa, South America and the Caribbean. In addition, this 106-day global itinerary will conclude in New York City -- another first for Crystal Cruises. There will be 14 overnight calls in all at some of the world's most exciting cities -- Honolulu, Hiroshima, Kobe, Yokohama, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore, Yangon, Mombasa, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. Four individual World Cruise Voyages will also be offered, from 22 to 29 days.
* Trans-Atlantic -- Crystal Serenity will offer two Trans-Atlantic voyages in 2004, from New York to London and Lisbon to Ft. Lauderdale.
* Mediterranean -- will feature 16 sailings in all, featuring London to Athens (12 days), Athens to Rome (11 days), Rome to Athens (12 days), Athens to Venice (12 days), Venice to Athens (seven days), Athens to Rome (seven days). Crystal Serenity will then offer nine 12-day Mediterranean cruises featuring some of the region's most attractive ports in Italy, France, Spain, the Dalmatian coast, the Greek and Turkish Isles.
* Caribbean & Panama Canal -- after crossing the Atlantic, Crystal Serenity will offer a seven-day Caribbean cruise sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, followed by a 10-day roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale Caribbean sailing and a 15-day Panama Canal cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles.
* Crystal Serenity's Mexican Riviera Holiday -- will feature a 14-day cruise over Christmas and New Year's, with the added convenience of a roundtrip sailing from Los Angeles.
CRYSTAL HARMONY
* Unique 19-day Panama Canal/Mexico/Hawaii Grand Cruise -- begins the year from New Orleans, transits the Panama Canal, calls at Acapulco and then crosses the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu.
* Hawaiian Islands -- featuring three 10-day roundtrip Honolulu cruises with visits to Kauai, Hawaii, Christmas Island and Maui.
* South Pacific/Orient -- including an 18-day exotic voyage from Honolulu to Auckland, featuring calls in Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Fiji; a 13-day Auckland to Sydney and a 14-day Sydney to Singapore sailing; and a 14-day Southeast Asia itinerary from Singapore to Hong Kong, featuring many attractive ports, including overnight calls in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong.
* China, Japan and the Pacific -- featuring a 15-day Hong Kong to Beijing cruise with calls in Taiwan and Japan and a three-night post-cruise land program in Beijing; a 14-day Beijing to Tokyo cruise featuring an overnight call in Shanghai and calls at three Japanese ports plus a three-night pre-cruise land program in Beijing. The Orient season concludes with a 15-day Transpacific crossing from Tokyo to San Francisco with a stop in Honolulu.
* Alaska/Canada -- Crystal is offering 10 roundtrip San Francisco Alaska/Canada cruises in the summer and fall. Calls include Victoria, Vancouver, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, spectacular Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier and Ketchikan.
* Mexican Riviera -- Crystal Harmony will offer just one 10-day roundtrip Los Angeles Mexican Riviera cruise, sailing to Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.
* Panama Canal & Caribbean -- includes a 16-day Grand Panama Canal cruise from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale with a convenient call in San Diego to embark guests. Also, the line features two new seven-day Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean cruises, both sailing roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale. Two 11-day Panama Canal sailings from Ft. Lauderdale to Caldera and from Caldera to Ft. Lauderdale are followed by a 10-day roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale Caribbean cruise and a 12-day Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to New Orleans.
* Crystal Harmony's Caribbean Holiday -- will feature a festive Caribbean Holiday cruise sailing roundtrip from New Orleans.
CRYSTAL SYMPHONY
* Winter Panama Canal -- Crystal Symphony begins the year with four Panama Canal sailings between Ft. Lauderdale and Caldera.
* 7-day Caribbean Cruises -- featuring three new seven-day roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale cruises calling in the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas.
* Spring Panama Canal & Caribbean -- these include two 11-day Panama Canal cruises (Ft. Lauderdale/Caldera and Caldera/New Orleans) followed by a 10-day Caribbean cruise sailing from New Orleans to Ft. Lauderdale.
* Mediterranean -- Crystal Symphony begins her European season with a nine-day Mediterranean cruise from Lisbon to Rome, followed by a 12-day Mediterranean sailing from Rome to London with an overnight call at Cannes, allowing guests the opportunity to visit the acclaimed Cannes Film Festival, May 13-14.
* Baltic Sea & Russia/North Cape -- Crystal Symphony will offer two 11-day Baltic Sea & Russia cruises sailing from London to Stockholm and Stockholm to London. Also offered: a 12-day North Cape cruise from London to Copenhagen with calls in Stavanger, Flaam, Gudvangen, Tromsoe, Honningvaag, Trondheim, Hellesylt and Geiranger; a 12-day Baltic Sea & Russia cruise from Copenhagen to London, followed by three more 12-day Baltic cruises from Rouen (for Paris) to Stockholm (Cutty Sark's Tall Ships arrive in Antwerp on July 21); July 31 from Stockholm to Copenhagen, including the Cutty Sark's Tall Ships regatta on August 10 in Stavanger, and August 12 from Copenhagen to London with a late night call in Edinburgh to visit the Military Tattoo on August 21.
* British Isles -- Crystal Symphony will offer two 11-day British Isles cruises from London to Rouen (for Paris) and a sailing roundtrip from London with an opportunity to attend the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh.
* Arctic Circle Crossing -- Crystal Symphony begins her 16-day grand crossing following the Arctic Circle beginning in London and calling at Leith (Edinburgh), Torshavn, Reykjavik (Iceland), a maiden call to Nuuk (Greenland), St. John's, Sydney (Nova Scotia), Newport and concluding in New York.
* New England/Canada/US East Coast -- Crystal will offer three 11-day New England & Canada cruises between New York and Montreal and a newly-created seven-day roundtrip New York sailing calling at Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax and Martha's Vineyard. At the end of October, Crystal Symphony sails down the US East Coast from Montreal to Ft. Lauderdale to position for the fall South America season.
* Fall South America -- includes two 17-day cruises along the East Coast of South America; November 10 from Ft. Lauderdale to Buenos Aires and November 28 from Buenos Aires to Ft. Lauderdale.
* Seven-day Winter Mexico/Caribbean Cruise -- for those guests who have less time to travel or for first-time guest wanting to try the Crystal experience for less than 12 days, the line is offering a convenient seven-day roundtrip Gulf of Mexico and Bahamas sailing.
* Crystal Symphony's Caribbean Holiday -- Crystal Symphony will depart for her 14-day Christmas and New Year's cruise with a convenient roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale itinerary.
The line was formed in 1988 with the mission to give its guests the best large-ship, luxury cruise experience in the world. Its two ships -- Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony -- have earned the industry's highest accolades, from discerning critics and guests alike, for exemplary attention to detail and warm and friendly personal service. This pampering combination -- which Crystal conveys in the name of its third ship, Crystal Serenity -- creates an environment for the ultimate luxury vacation experience.
The winner of the travel industry's most distinguished hospitality awards and guidebook ratings was, for the seventh consecutive year, named best large cruise line in the 2002 readers' surveys conducted by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines.
Crystal Cruises worldwide sailings are booked exclusively through professional travel agents. Visit the luxury line's website at http://www.crystalcruises.com.
