Crystal Cruises To Feature Master Photographers

Crystal Cruises is putting its trademark unique spin on cruise holiday memories by featuring award-winning Master Photographers to shoot guest portraits on eleven 2012 sailings. “The Master Collection” line-up consists of top-tier professional portrait photographers who have the distinction of being Fellows of the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP) and the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

During their voyage, travellers can arrange private photography sessions on Crystal Symphony, Crystal Serenity or at exotic destinations on land with pros renowned for their portraiture. Individuals, couples or families/groups can opt for different wardrobe, locations and activities to customise their shoots.

Reservations include pre-planning consultation, unlimited shoot time, unlimited number of pictures and photo review. Final, retouched photographs will then be printed in a handcrafted, custom-bound 16”x12” embossed-aluminium album. Other framed photo and presentation product options are available for those looking to celebrate a special occasion, create a family treasure or simply treat themselves.

All products are created at Europe’s leading professional photo laboratory and shipped anywhere in the world four weeks after the end of the cruise. Operated by esteemed photography company Paragon Pixels, the programme is an expansion of the popular “Crystal Celebrations” Private Portrait Programme.  Each Master Photographer will also host an informal talk giving trade tips and insight into their life and work, as well as mentor staff photographers while on board.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Crystal Now On Offer To 2014

Adding to its previously-released early 2013 schedule, ultra-luxury Crystal Cruises has announced 63 more exciting itineraries, filling the rest of 2013, plus early 2014 - the cruise line’s earliest-ever advance schedule announcement.

In all, 269 ports are featured in 75 countries, with more than a dozen maiden calls and 146 local overnights, comprising the May 2013-May 2014 schedule, which will be open for booking later this autumn.

Take a look at these highlights:
· A 7-/12-/9-night Mediterranean route rotation, offering back-to-back combination possibilities with minimal repeat ports.

· 75 per cent of summer cruises lasting seven to ten nights, with more than half weekend departures.

· Two- to three-night stays in 53 different locations, including such stunners as Tokyo, Cape Town and Bali, with the majority of overnights on embarkation or debarkation days.

Crystal Symphony (above) will spend the summer throughout Northern Europe, followed by a North American autumn, returning to Antarctica for the festive season then traversing the South Pacific and New Zealand/Australia for seven Asian-centric voyages in early 2014.

Crystal Serenity will be in the Mediterranean from April to December, returning to North America for a Caribbean/Central America holiday before heading westward around the globe for 2014’s World Cruise.

For booking details, be sure to check with luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on this link.

Big Bands and Ballroom with Crystal Cruises

With classic dance moves currently taking centre stage on “Strictly Come Dancing”, Crystal Cruises has expanded its live Big Band and Ballroom Dance theme cruises for 2012. Guests will feel like stars themselves as they swing, cha-cha and tango across the Atlantic accompanied by two old-school favourites: the Glenn Miller Orchestra on Crystal Symphony’s 19th March Miami-Madeira-Lisbon voyage, and the Artie Shaw Orchestra on Crystal Serenity’s Barcelona-Canary Islands-St Maarten-Miami cruise on 9th December.

Whether a dancer or just toe-tapping listener, guests will be surrounded by live 17-20-piece orchestras with vocalists, plus complimentary daily dance sessions, including: Professional group dance lessons for all levels of experience; Advanced dance workshops for more proficient dancers; Twice the usual number of professional dance instructors; Extra Ambassador Hosts to lead women without dance partners; and Dancing both in the afternoon and late into the evening.

“Book Now” prices (if booked by October 31) start from £1,862 per person for Symphony’s 10-night 19th March voyage and from £2,290 per person for Serenity’s 12-night 9th December voyage. Price includes complimentary return economy flights, overseas transfers and accommodation on an all-inclusive basis including all meals, complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff.

Crystal's entertainment offerings include a range of venues and performances, from cabaret nightclub to piano bar saloon; acclaimed productions to headline entertainers; and sophisticated enrichment activities to in-room Blu-ray-viewing.

For further information, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Experts Enrich Crystal's Autumn Med Cruises

Atlantis...the “Old City”...Constantinople...the modern Middle East conflict. Throughout time, the eastern Mediterranean has been an epicentre of historic significance. This autumn, former Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, historian and National Geographic author Dr Jean-Pierre Isbouts and Persian winemaker Darioush Khaledi are among the distinguished experts helping to illuminate that significance onboard Crystal Cruises’ October 24 sailing through the region.

From Athens to Istanbul, the 12-night Crystal Serenity sailing visits Santorini and Mykonos in Greece; Ashdod, Israel (overnight); Limassol, Cyprus; Iraklion, Crete; and Kusadasi, Turkey. As a Wine and Food Festival cruise, the sailing also boasts an impressive line-up of gastronomic pros sharing their trade

Prices for this 12-night Epicurean Discoveries voyage start from £2,176 per person, including return scheduled flights, overseas transfers, 12 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window, all meals and soft drinks, and port taxes.

For further info, see www.crystalcruises.co.uk or the UK's luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Crystal's Maiden Slovenia Call

With 2011 marking the 20th anniversary of Slovenia’s foundation as an independent nation, it’s only fitting that Crystal Cruises is making a maiden call there this autumn.

As part of its November 16 “Italian Splendour” sailing, ultra-luxury Crystal Serenity (above) 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. Guests can explore Koper, full of historical charm from centuries of Venetian rule…or join a Crystal Adventure to:

Ljubljana: The country’s picturesque capital and a former centre of Yugoslavian music and arts, full of cobblestone streets and architecture ranging from the Baroque to the neo-classical of famed local architect Joze Plecnik.

Bled & Miramare Castles: Two majestic, storybook castles - one, the oldest in Slovenia (dating to 1011); the other, a 19th century Austro-Hungarian relic of the Habsburg era.

Postojna Cave: Twelve miles of underground stalactite-filled passages, galleries and cathedral-like chambers, with the world’s only operating cave train.

Wine Region: A wine-tasting visit to Slovenia’s most prominent winemaker (out of 40,000 in the country), where the vines pre-date those of Italy, France and Spain.

Piran: A quaint, Mediterranean-style coastal town, full of Venetian Gothic buildings and narrow, atmospheric streets.

Portorož: A modern, beachside resort hub for sunbathing, swimming and thermal spas.

Trieste: A crossroads of Germanic, Latin, Austro-Hungarian and Slavic trade and culture, situated just over Slovenia’s border in Italy.

This 11-night “Italian Splendour” sailing starts with an overnight in Venice on November 16 and visits Koper, Dubrovnik, Sicily, Naples, Rome and Florence before finishing with an overnight in Barcelona. Prices start from £1,854 per person (a saving of £419 per person) including return economy flights from London, overseas transfers, 11 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks and port taxes.

For further information, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Crystal's World-Class Guest Speaker List

Television legend Regis Philbin, sporting Hall of Famers Hank Aaron (baseball) and Don Shula (American football), Olympians Dorothy Hamill (ice skating) and Kathy Rigby (gymnastics) and astronauts “Hoot” Gibson and Rhea Seddon join a line-up of political insiders, military leaders and foreign correspondents on Crystal Serenity’s 94-night 2012 World Cruise.

In addition to dozens of guest entertainers, Crystal Cruises has tapped top experts from varied fields to enrich and inspire via complimentary presentations throughout the epic voyage, including:

· General Hugh Shelton - Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under two US Presidents.
· Deborah Fallows - Linguistics expert, whose book, Dreaming in Chinese, was one of Oprah’s 2010 “Books to Watch.”
· Major General Pat Brady - Chief US Army spokesman and top helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.
· Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin - Former US Ambassador to Laos and Pakistan who played a key role in the post-9/11 campaign against al Qaeda.
· Tom Faranda - Global trend forecaster who predicted China’s rise.
· Farhana Qazi - Counter-terrorism expert and most prominent American-Muslim woman to study al-Qaeda and Muslim conflicts.
· Shelby Coffey III - LA Times, CNN Business News and ABC News management veteran.
· Neil Leifer - Considered the greatest sports photographer in history.

Also back by popular demand is “Ocean Views,” where noted panellists debate issues of the day.

Departing January 18, 2012, the grand round-trip Los Angeles itinerary consists of five 16-22-night segments through Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Alaska, and Canada, with numerous port overnights (including a 3-night Beijing exploration) en route.

Prices for the full World Cruise start from £33,356 per person, including complimentary World Traveller Plus flights, onboard accommodation in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes, complimentary gratuities, a complimentary three-day package to Beijing and $4,000 per person onboard credit.

Prices for the cheapest segment of the World Cruise start from £8,090 per person (based on the 19-night Los Angeles to Sydney leg departing January 18), including return scheduled flights, overnight in Los Angeles pre-cruise, 19 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and $1,000 per person onboard credit.

For more info, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the luxury cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Sample Luxury Cruising With Crystal

One of our favourite cruise lines, the all-luxury of Crystal Cruises, is inviting cruisers and non-cruisers alike to experience the outstanding service and value of one of their stylish voyages on two brand new three and four-night sampler cruises in the Mediterranean this October and November.

Take your pick from:

October 13: three-night cruise on Crystal Serenity from Barcelona to Monte Carlo. This cruise includes an overnight stay on board in the vibrant city of Barcelona and one sea day to give guests the chance to sample the vast array of activities available. Prices start from £899 per person (based on two sharing), including return economy class flights from London, overseas transfers, three nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks and port taxes.

November 23: four-night cruise on Crystal Serenity from Rome to Barcelona. On this voyage, guests will enjoy calls to Florence/Livorno, an overnight stay in Barcelona and one sea day to provide a full sample of the ship's style. Prices start from £998 per person (based on two sharing), including return economy class flights from London, overseas transfers, four nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks and port taxes.

At these prices, the 'sampler' cruises really do represent fantastic value, with numerous extras included at no additional cost, including:

· All non-alcoholic beverages
· All meals, including dining in speciality restaurants featuring the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio
· Ice cream and frozen yoghurt bar
· Gym, steam, saunas and whirlpools
· Fitness classes
· Golf lessons with PGA pros
· Yamaha keyboard, Berlitz language and art classes
· Dozens of computer/technology classes
· Crystal Visions lecture series, featuring distinguished speakers
· Award-winning entertainment
· In-stateroom movie and CD rentals
· Film screenings in the onboard cinema
· Dance lessons
· Dedicated junior cruiser facilities
· Early embarkation luncheon
· Welcome champagne
· Comfortable shuttles to town
· Pillow menus
· Self-service laundries
· Twice-daily housekeeping with nightly turndown service
· 24-hour room service.

For more info, see www.crystalcruises.co.uk or visit the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Serenity's Big Makeover Complete

One Hamburg shipyard, two weeks, several talented designers, 500-plus+ international staffers, 606 crew and $25 million. Such are the ingredients for the ultra-luxurious redesign of Crystal Cruises’ largest ship, Crystal Serenity. Just completed after a round-the-clock remodel at Germany’s Blohm + Voss shipyard, the dry dock was the company’s longest ever. All 535 staterooms, retail centres, 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.

Interior designer, Keith Rushbrook, principal at the Toronto-based II BY IV Design Associates summarises 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.”

Sophisticated Stateroom Remodel

All of 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 flatscreen TVs were added and new modern lighting, plus an electronic “do not disturb” doorbell system, allowing guests greater personalisation of their chic accommodations.

Remarkable Retail Space Re-Do

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. 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. Not be outshone, the Facets fine jewellery store also received a new, private sales area and a new, overall look mirroring a jewellery box, with mother-of-pearl feature wall and bevelled chrome display cabinets.

Serenity emerged from dry dock to begin a series of Baltic, British Isles and North Cape cruises. Come August, the ship sails to the Mediterranean for a variety of late summer and autumn cruises where guests can not only enjoy the resort’s new look, but exceptional value from a huge Autumn Fare Sale, with up to $2,000/couple spending credits and other amenities.

For more info, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd

Crystal Extend Golf-Themed Cruises

In a real “hole-in-one” for golf fans, Crystal Cruises is adding a golf theme to its 14-night Hawaiian Islands sailing this December. The round-trip from Los Angeles on board Crystal Symphony joins two other golf-themed cruises already scheduled on Crystal Serenity this year: an 11-night British Isles voyage departing July 22 and an 11-night Iberian Adventure around Portugal and Spain departing November 27, with legendary pro golfer Billy Casper headlining all three voyages.

With 51 PGA tour wins, many consider Casper the best putter of his era. On each cruise, guests can absorb stories and tips during informal lectures by Casper and 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 links

· 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 trees

· 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 clubs and shoes, team-pairing, parties, awards and private clinics with PGA instructors like John Clark and Bill Stutzer.

Crystal’s Feng Shui spa and gym, personal trainers, nutrition and exercise classes, exclusive workout equipment and dietary choices also offer guests extensive opportunities to enhance their health and fitness regimes on every sailing.

Prices for the 14-night Pacific Cost Holiday voyage around Hawaii (sailing Dec 21) start from £5,783 per person, including return flights, transfers, 14 nights in a deluxe stateroom with all meals and soft drinks, and port taxes, plus $500 per person onboard credit.

Prices for the 11-night Emerald Isles voyage start from £4,266 per person, and for the 11-night Iberian voyage from £3,174, both with $1,000 per person onboard credit.

For more info, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the UK's leading luxury cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Big Early-Booking Savings With Crystal For 2012

Crystal Cruises is offering savings of up to £1,272 per couple when booking selected early 2012 departures before the end of the month. Massive savings of up to £6,308 are also available on the full 2012 World Cruise if booked before the end of April.

Prices for the early 2012 voyages start from £2,572 per person, cruise-only, based on the January 17 Panama Canal voyage from Miami to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica.

And there is still plenty of time to book for this year as the freshly redesigned, 922-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal Symphony and the 1,070-guest, 68,870-ton Crystal Serenity cruise through the Middle East, Africa, Caribbean, South America, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Black Sea, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, South Pacific, British Isles, Baltic Sea, Arctic Circle, Alaska and New England/Canada.

For further info, see www.crystalcruises.co.uk or the UK's leading luxury cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Crystal To Go All-Inclusive in 2012

This is some pretty surprising - but very welcome - news from Crystal Cruises that should make them even better value from spring 2012. Here is their official press release:

Crystal Cruises is enhancing its already expansive host of luxury services and amenities. Effective spring 2012, holidays on the award-winning Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will include free fine wines and premium spirits in all restaurants, open bar service in all lounges and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff. The complimentary gratuity amenity includes butler service and service in all of Crystal’s fine specialty restaurants and sushi bar.

“Our ‘All Inclusive’ is an evolution of Crystal’s luxury services and responds to the desires of today’s upmarket cruisers,” says Gregg Michel, president of Crystal Cruises. “As many lines throughout our industry have itemised their services for additional charges, Crystal is maximizing the guest experience by eliminating additional transactions -- further enhancing the ease and luxury of a Crystal cruise. We believe this service will offer greater convenience, simplicity and comfort.”

The new benefits begin with each ship’s first Trans-Atlantic cruise next year: Crystal Symphony’s “Beyond the Sea” sailing from Miami to Lisbon on March 19, 2012, and Crystal Serenity’s “New World to Norway” voyage from New York to Dover on May 8.

A complete list of 2012 Crystal itineraries are available on www.crystalcruises.co.uk and all are ready for wait-list.

Since its inception, Crystal Cruises has added to its experience each year with more and more complimentary amenities, services, workshops and dining opportunities.

Always included at no additional cost are: all non-alcoholic beverages such as bottled water, speciality coffee drinks, soft drinks and fresh juices; all meals, including dining in speciality restaurants that feature the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio; high tea; ice cream and frozen yoghurt bar; gym, steam, saunas and whirlpools; numerous fitness classes such as Spinning and group Pilates Reformer instruction; golf lessons with PGA pros; Walk-on-Water weighted vests and Nordic Pole walking equipment; Yamaha keyboard classes; Berlitz language classes; paddle tennis; dozens of computer/technology classes; art classes; Crystal Visions lecture series, featuring Crystal Visions lecture series featuring distinguished speakers; award-winning entertainment; in-stateroom movie and CD rentals; film screenings in the onboard cinema; dance lessons; dedicated junior cruiser facilities; early embarkation luncheon; welcome champagne; comfortable shuttles to town; pillow menus; self-service laundries; twice-daily housekeeping with nightly turndown service; and 24-hour room service.

Penthouse accommodations also include personal butler service, pressing, stocked bar and other amenities and services.

All guests enjoy Six-Star service from European-trained waiting staff, concierges who belong to the prestigious “Les Clefs d’Or,” and sommeliers certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Crystal’s passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history.

For more info, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk

Crystal's Charity Cruising Assistance

Recognising that even one day of assistance can make a difference, Crystal Cruises has introduced a complimentary, participatory shore excursion programme that enables its guests and crew to assist with charitable projects in destinations they visit during their cruise. Beginning this year, the line’s “You Care, We Care” initiative is designed to assist local projects and educate participants on local community needs, as well as enhance travellers’ personal growth and their intimate 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 Serenity voyages include:

Lima, Peru – brightening the environment of the children at the ANQUIEM Burn rehabilitation centre 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.

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

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

For more info, call 020 7287 9040 or visit http://www.crystalcruises.co.uk/

Crystal's Grand Autumn Cruise Sale

Crystal Cruises’ autumn voyages are now on sale with newly reduced fares from as little as £2,249 per person and new Penthouse and Balcony Stateroom savings up to £5,078 per couple. Starting with its August 26 Mediterranean cruise on Crystal Serenity and its September 13 Canada/New England voyage on Crystal Symphony, Crystal is offering new savings on every one of its 22 autumn cruises, including both Christmas and New Year departures.

In addition, guests will still receive up to $2,000 per couple “All Inclusive–As You Wish” onboard spending money as well as free air from London.

Crystal’s autumn cruise collection includes a fabulous array of destinations, including the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Canary Islands, Morocco, Holy Land, a swinging Big Band Transatlantic sailing, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Caribbean (above), New England and Canada, Pacific Coast and Christmas and New Year cruises to Hawaii and the Caribbean with Panama Canal highlights.

Prices start from £2,249 per person based on a seven-night Mexican Riviera itinerary with departures on November 20 and 27. Price includes free return economy class flights from London, seven nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and basic gratuities. In addition, as part of Crystal's "All Inclusive - As You Wish" promotion, guests will also receive onboard spending money of $500 per person, which can be spent on shore excursions, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, purchases in the onboard boutiques, gratuities or Vintage Room experiences.

One signature example of the value inherent in the Crystal Experience is an abundance of all-inclusive fine dining options, now incorporating new, flexible Perfect Choice Dining, which allows guests to choose what time they would like to eat and where.

For more information, visit Crystal Cruises at http://www.crystalcruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line.

Libya Spices Up Crystal's Med Season

Libya is tipped as a hot destination for UK travellers in 2011, and luxury line Crystal Cruises is delighted to announce it is adding its historic capital Tripoli to its autumn season this year, making it the first deluxe company for many years to add the country to its portfolio of destinations.

Following a difficult year for international tourists hoping to visit, 2011 sees this land of magnificent and unsurpassed ancient sites accessible to the discerning visitor once again.

Crystal's November 16 ‘Italian Splendour’ Mediterranean cruise on Crystal Serenity offers the opportunity for guests to explore Tripoli; see some of the best-preserved cities and archaeological relics in the world from Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Phoenician and Arab-Islamic civilisations like Leptis Magna (above); mix with local and tribal ethnicities; feast on traditional cuisine; and sift through the sand of the Sahara Desert, which covers roughly 90% of the country.

Augmenting an itinerary already steeped in wonders of antiquity and cultural immersion, the addition of Tripoli enables guests 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 and Livorno.

Fly/cruise prices start from £3,163 per person including FREE return economy air travel from London, transfers, 11-nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks and port taxes. In addition, as part of Crystal's “All Inclusive – As You Wish” promotion, guests on these voyages will also receive onboard spending credit of $1000 per person which they can spend on shore excursions, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, purchases in the onboard boutiques, gratuities or Vintage Room experiences.

For reservations, contact Crystal Cruises on 020 7287 9040 or visit the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

From Cooking to Cage-Diving!

Here's a tempting press release from Crystal Cruises this week, highlighting the amazing range of shore excursions available on Crystal Serenity's grand World Cruise, departing Miami on January 10:

Cage diving with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa. Sicilian-style cookery classes in Italy and paragliding over the Spanish countryside are among the 400 Crystal Adventures in store for guests on Crystal Cruises’ 2010 World Cruise. The excursions, nearly 100 of which are brand new, allow guests to experience destinations in unique ways. Whether atop an elephant in Africa, via race car on a circuit track in the Middle East or by private plane over Spain ’s stunning Basque country, intrepid World Cruise guests will find pursuits for virtually any interest. The 108-night itinerary departs Miami for Southampton on 10th January onboard Crystal Serenity.

In addition to new African safaris and dozens of Crystal Overland Adventures, shore-side highlights include:

High Adventure…

NEW - Race a Caterham in Bahrain
NEW - Explore Iran ’s ancient Persepolis
NEW - See the highlights of Oman by 4 x 4
NEW - Hike Sochi ’s Mount Akhun
Cage dive with great whites

Aerial Adventures…

NEW - Take in Abu Dhabi ’s sites by Cessna
NEW - Helicopter above Durban ’s mountainous landscape
Soak up the Seychelles ’ scenery via helicopter
Paraglide above Barcelona ’s landscapes

Regional Culinary Insights…

Prepare a meal at Lisbon ’s Albatroz Palace hotel
Visit a villa in Catania for a Sicilian cooking lesson
Create Catalan cuisine at a Barcelona cooking school
Learn culinary secrets at a Michelin-starred Sorrento restaurant

Conservation…

Explore an African elephant sanctuary
Visit an Abu Dhabi Falcon care and rehabilitation hospital

As well as maiden calls to Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the World Cruise also visits South America, Africa, India and Europe, visiting 41 ports in 37 countries. The cruise is also offered in 12- to 21-night segments.

Prices for the full World Cruise start from £38,955 per person based on two people sharing a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and transfers. Also included are complimentary Club Class flight from London to Miami; complimentary gratuities; seven complimentary shore excursions; two exclusive shoreside events in Abu Dhabi and Ashdod; complimentary bon voyage gala party and $6,000 onboard credit per person.