Immerse Yourself In New England With Crystal

To celebrate the wonders of New England and Canada, Crystal Cruises has announced details of some fabulous Crystal Adventures focusing on the neighbouring countries’ early histories and architecture. These shore excursions span four 10- or 11-night Crystal Symphony (above) sailings between New York and Montréal in September and October, and include a dozen new historical experiences.

The Crystal Adventures excursions, which can be enjoyed as group or “Private Adventure Options,” include:

Boston

Plymouth Rock - 1627 pilgrim village life, plus the Mayflower.
American Revolution Revisited - Boston, Lexington and Concord, where America’s independence began (and authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau lived).
Marblehead and Salem - Federal architecture, Yankee Doodle painting and the Salem witch trials.

New York

Brooklyn Bridge - Construction tales of this 19th century engineering marvel animate a 1.5-mile bridge walk.

Bar Harbor

Victorian Era Stroll - Costumed guides, period “cottages” and accounts of extravagant parties from yesteryear.

Newport

Colonial Historic District - This formerly rundown neighbourhood of 18th century and Georgian houses became a model of historic preservation.
Gilded Era Mansions - Homes of the 19th century’s wealthiest Americans, including the Astors’ Beechwood and Vanderbilts’ Marble House and Breakers, with period family and staff lookalikes.

St John

Geopark by Foot - Some of Canada’s most architecturally important streetscapes, many built from ancient stone.

Halifax

Afternoon Tea at the Citadel - Victorian tea at the former seat of British control over North America.
Lighthouse and Lobsters - Lobster lunch and drive through the “Lighthouse Route” (150 lighthouses).

Montréal and Québec

Foot, Coach, or Horse-drawn Carriage Tours - Highlights include neo-Gothic structures and historically-preserved neighbourhoods.

Prices for Crystal's New England & Canada voyages start from just £3,619 per person (based on the October 14th 12-night fly/cruise from Montreal to New York) including return economy flights with British Airways, overseas transfers, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Montreal, 10 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window including all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $500 per person onboard credit.

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

PS: You can also see Issue 50 of World of Cruising for a full review of a typical Crystal Canada & New England voyage by editor Simon Veness last year.

'Anything Goes' On Crystal's Film & Theatre Voyage

Broadway greats both current and classic will be featured in more than two dozen performances and presentations on Crystal Cruises’ “Film and Theatre”-themed voyage from San Francisco and Tinseltown to the Big Apple departing August 25 on Crystal Symphony.

Present musical revival, Tony-nominated hits “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and cruise ship-set “Anything Goes” will be honoured with special guest lecturers and an exclusive alliance with the Roundabout Theatre Company, donating Broadway show tickets and merchandise for guests.

The star of the original “How to Succeed…,” Michele Lee, and theatre impresario John Loesser, the son of the play’s composer/lyricist, will be featured guest presenters. Performance highlights include the late Zero Mostel and Ethel Merman reincarnated on stage by actors Jim Brochu and Rita McKenzie in their respective hit biographical shows about the stars.

Guest vocalists will pay musical homage to celluloid memories using authentic costumes from Hollywood legends and screening room matinees with live introductions and post-film discussions are scheduled in the ship’s surround-sound Hollywood Theatre. Guests can also watch exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews from Broadway’s “Anything Goes” (now at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre) from the comfort of their staterooms.

The 19-night “Sea to Shining Sea” voyage starts in San Francisco on August 25 and visits Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Caldera, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Miami and Charleston before arriving in New York. It will also transit the Panama Canal. Prices are from £4,997 per person including return scheduled flights, transfers, 19 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $500 per person onboard credit.

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

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 Cancels Mazatlan

Amidst increased reports of violence in Mazatlán, Crystal Cruises are the latest line to cancel calls to the Mexican port town, scrapping its scheduled 4th April visit there on Crystal Symphony. The round-trip Los Angeles “Treasures of Mexico” voyage will now adjust its itinerary to allow guests more time in other ports of call.

The new schedule switches travel days so guests will now have an overnight call in popular Cabo San Lucas, with Crystal being the only cruise line in town for those two days. Subsequent days will provide travellers with a full day in Loreto and a half day in La Paz. Full days in Puerto Vallarta and San Diego are still on the schedule.

“The safety and security of our guests and staff is always our top priority,” says Crystal’s International Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Philip Ordever. “After monitoring the situation in Mazatlán for weeks, we simply feel far more comfortable with other ports of call in Mexico.”

The “Mind, Body, and Spirit” theme of the 31st March to 10th April sailing will remain unaffected, with numerous complimentary classes and presentations still being offered on board throughout the 10-night cruise.

For more information, visit http://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.