January 6th, 2012
It’s the beginning of a new year, and a new you! If you’re resolving to be healthier this year, why not kick start your new fitness regimen on board an ultra-luxe cruise ship? Crystal Cruises is now offering complimentary Pilates and yoga programs on board both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity on nine sailings each throughout the year. Travelers can attend several classes per day during their cruise, or arrange private one-on-one sessions of either interest (for a fee), as well as men- and couples-only yoga instruction.
Every Crystal Cruise offers a host of complimentary classes such as stretch, spinning, abs, circuit training/boot camp, and more. Crystal’s state-of-the-art fitness center, the only Feng Shui spa and gym at sea, features Kinesis strength training equipment, LifeFitness® treadmills with individual flat-screen TVs, cross trainers, recumbent and upright life cycles and steppers, free weights, and other strength-training equipment. Golf instruction, tennis, Nordic Pole walking, WALKVEST® Training, personal trainers, and a bevy of dietary choices offer the perfect opportunity to kick-start, or comply with, your healthy lifestyle.
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2012 aboard Crystal Cruises!
For more information on Crystal Cruises, visit www.crystalcruises.com
December 14th, 2011
Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity rescued two rowers this morning while en route to St. Maarten from the Canary Islands. The rowers’ small boat capsized 480 miles west of the Canary Islands after a large wave sunk their boat. Twenty-three-year-old Tom Fancett from the U.K. and Tom Sauer from the Netherlands, competitors in the 2011 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge Race to row across the Atlantic, were huddled on a tiny life raft for 10 hours before being picked up by Crystal Serenity at 6:00 a.m. local time. The ship was 120 nautical miles north of the rowers when it received the rescue assist call from the Falmouth (U.K.) Coast Guard.
Sailing at full speed to the boaters, Captain Økland maneuvered Serenity through the remaining Atlantic Challenge racers and worsening weather. With lookouts posted throughout the night, Crystal Serenity located the boaters’ flare five hours later, hoisting them directly onto the ship. After a checkup in the ship’s medical center, the survivors appear to be healthy. Crystal Serenity expects to arrive on schedule in St. Maarten on Sunday.
“Both individuals are in good spirits and, of course, very happy to be alive,” says Crystal’s President Gregg Michel. “We are so proud of the quick reaction and skilled seamanship of our crew that enabled them to save these brave men. While these young men hoped to cross the Atlantic in a most basic fashion, they are certainly experiencing the crossing in the most luxurious environment – an ironic, and heartwarming, turn of events.”
December 12th, 2011
Image courtesy of cntraveller.com
Mark Bittman knows food, and he’s picked Copenhagen as the newest breakout culinary city. Serious foodies will be already be familiar with Noma, the two Michelin star restaurant run by chef Rene Redzepi (and Restaurant Magazine’s Best Restaurant in the World the last two years running), but Bittman’s recommendations don’t stop there: there’s also Relae (run by Noma alumni), Geist, Paustian, Schonnemann, and Kodbyens Fiskebar. From the Robuchon-style mashed potatoes with pickled brown crab at Geist, to the herring smorrebrod sandwiches at Schonnemann, each restaurant serves up traditional Danish fare with a modern twist.
It’s not only the restaurants in Copenhagen that are cool—the city is also home to its very own Ice Bar, where everything from the walls and furnishings to the cocktail glasses the vodka libations are served in are made from ice specially imported from the Tome River in Jukkasjarvi, 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. The bar’s kept at a crisp 23 degrees Fahrenheit—so bundle up!
If your appetite’s been whet for the latest in creative Nordic cuisine, Crystal Symphony will be making six calls to Copenhagen in 2012, including three overnights, giving you plenty of time to sample the best the city has to offer. Book Now All-Inclusive fares start at just $5,890/person, double occupancy, through December 31. And for an even greater in-depth tour of Scandinavian gastronomy, Crystal’s Wine & Food Festival-themed August 14 sailing from Stockholm to London will feature two renowned Nordic chefs on board.
November 17th, 2011
If you’ve ever dreamed of cruising around the world, your dreams are about to get even better! Explore legendary lands and idyllic isles on Crystal Serenity’s 2012 World Cruise, a 94-day round-trip Los Angeles journey circumnavigating the world’s greatest ocean. Best of all, the sailing already has quite the guest list, and includes TV legend Regis Philbin, Hall of Famers Hank Aaron (baseball) and Don Shula (football), Olympians Dorothy Hamill (ice skating) and Kathy Rigby (gymnastics), and astronauts “Hoot” Gibson and Rhea Seddon. So start the New Year off right by making your dreams come true and booking your world cruise with Crystal Cruises.
November 9th, 2011
With temperatures dipping below freezing and a snowstorm in October, it’s no secret that winter came much too soon. While we can’t control the weather, we can certainly run from it! Ditch the snow boots, pack your warm weather gear and escape with top luxury line, Crystal Cruises, instead.
Voted World’s Best more than any other cruise line in history, Crystal Cruises offers a diverse collection of itineraries exploring the Panama Canal, South America, Caribbean, and the Pacific Coast. Book before December 31, 2011 and receive up to $4,000 per couple in additional savings! But hurry, Crystal Cruises’ Book Now Fares don’t last forever.
Other exclusive offers, available for a limited time, include 2-for-1 fares, special savings for repeat Crystal Society guests, families and friends traveling together, new-to-Crystal savings, early full payment savings, and generous savings for back-to-back combination cruises. So, pull out your bathing suits and sun block, put away your hats and gloves, and book now to save!
June 14th, 2011
Lucky fans will get the thrill of their lives upon meeting the “Queen of Suspense” herself, author Mary Higgins Clark, on Crystal Cruises’ “Beyond the Bosporus” sailing from Venice to Istanbul September 7 – 19.
Known for keeping readers on the edges of their seats, Clark will share tales of her life, her novels, and what it takes to make the suspense come to life.
Two-for-one fares start at just $7,485, and guests can save on verandah and penthouse staterooms as part of Crystal’s big fall fare sale. All bookings include air transportation from 24 North American cities and $2,000 “As You Wish” shipboard credit per couple.
Is the suspense killing you? Book today for the thrill of a lifetime!
May 17th, 2011
You won’t need a sea-parting miracle to take this Jewish voyage across the water. Interest is growing in Jewish heritage tours and Crystal Cruises has noticed! Crystal has scheduled over a dozen Crystal Adventures that explore Jewish life, past and present, all around the world! From Mumbai to Miami, Copenhagen to Rome, and of course, Jerusalem, there’s countless sights to be seen.
Each tour gives an overview of this fascinating culture within a culture through spaces, exhibits, artifacts, traditions, and people that bring the international Jewish narrative to life. There is also a Jewish heritage tour of Shanghai in the works for the 2012 World Cruise–we’ll keep you posted!
March 25th, 2011
Are you tired of constantly giving people your autograph? You’re in luck, because in 2012, vacations on Crystal Cruises‘ Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will be All Inclusive, which means no more signing for complimentary fine wines and premium spirits. Crystal’s new All Inclusive plan will also include pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff, including the Penthouse butler service and service in all of Crystal’s fine specialty restaurants and sushi bar. Now you can travel like a celebrity, without being bothered like one.
The new benefits will 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 London on May 8, 2012.
February 8th, 2011
Panama Canal Adventures
The time is now to see this engineering masterpiece, virtually unchanged since 1914 when it transited its first ship, before it undergoes a major expansion beginning early 2011. Connecting two great oceans, it is one of the world’s most sophisticated engineering marvels. Come and see it before the changes happen. Crystal Cruises’ five sailings in 2011 provide a unique opportunity to experience one of the greatest construction feats of the 20th century.
What’s cool: From ground breaking historical achievements to the rapid-fire progress of today’s technology, experts share insight and guidance into navigating the vast and evolving world of science.
Calls: on sailings from 11-19 days, ports can include Grand Cayman, Cartagena, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Tortola, Cabo San Lucas, St. Barts, St. Martin, Aruba, Caldera, Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles and New York City.
Pacific Coast Adventures
Seven days of coastal exploration and western sunsets are the highlights of these newly introduced itineraries. Four Pacific Coast sailings will travel along the spectacularly beautiful West Coast in April and November. This spring and fall, these 7-day sailings cover the “American Riviera” from as far south as Ensenada, MX to as far north as Vancouver, BC and everything in between!
What’s cool: Snow-capped mountains and manicured gardens meet the glitz of Hollywood and the purity of nature. Lively progressive cities follow idyllic coastal towns along with other treasures of the West Coast.
Calls: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Astoria, Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, Ensenada, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Alaska – The Final Frontier
Crystal Symphony returns to Alaska this summer for the first time in six years, offering nine 12-day voyages traveling round-trip from San Francisco, making Alaska virtually a drive-in summer holiday idea! Sailings run May 9th through August 25th.
What’s cool: traveling the Inside Passage; walking on a glacier; ziplining in Haines; or rafting on Mendenhall Lake with the glacier towering over you. Especially cool is the Mind, Body & Spirit themed sailing (May 9th) with celebrity trainer Joel Harper. Joel’s unique workouts have been seen on programs such as Oprah and The Dr. Oz. Show, and featured in publications like O magazine and Esquire.
Calls: San Francisco, Victoria, Vancouver, Sitka, Juneau, Haines, Skagway, and Ketchikan
North Cape Voyage
North Cape Panorama: June 13 -27, 2011 – spend the longest day of the year onboard Crystal Serenity while sailing the incredibly scenic Norwegian Sea. Enjoy the sight of the towering fjords at sunset – at midnight!
What’s cool: A spot in this world where a picture is worth 1000 words! Witness stunning fjords and the mystical beauty of the Norwegian archipelago as you travel beyond the Arctic Circle into the land of the midnight sun. A new Steig Larsson-themed shore adventure!.
Calls: Copenhagen, Helleysyit, Honnningsvag, Longyearbyen, Alesund, Bergen, and Stockholm
…to the shores of Tripoli
In a very first, with Libyan authorities lifting its ban on American tourist visas, Crystal Serenity has added the North African capital city of Tripoli to its November 16 “Italian Splendor” Mediterranean cruise. The ship will spend a day in Tripoli, offering a rare opportunity to explore the city and its environs, which represent a true crossroads of cultures, past and present – an experience no world traveler should miss.
What’s cool: everything! While shore adventures have not been finalized, it may be possible to venture to the frontlines of the Sahara! However, highlights will include the ancient ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha, the Medina for shopping; the Red Castle Museum, old “khan” hotels and mosques, and tribal culinary arts.
Calls: Venice (overnight), Dubrovnik, Tripoli, Sicily, Naples, Rome, Florence, and an overnight stay in Barcelona.
February 8th, 2011
Alice Marshall Public Relations is now representing Orient-Express’ Trains & Cruises, including that very special icon of rail travel made famous by Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
The Royal Scotsman (left) and Afloat In France’s Amaryllis barge
From the Scottish estate of Rothiemurchus to a guided tour of “Impressionist Paris,” and from a fascinating Burmese river cruise to barging through Burgundy’s Grand Crus, here is a roundup of the latest news and updates from its stellar collection of luxurious rail and river adventures.
News Hot Off the Rails:
Eastern & Oriental Express
- Chronicles of South-East Asia: this quartet of new rail voyages features classic departures between Bangkok and Singapore and vice versa. The NEW itineraries feature excursions ranging from an elephant camp to the jungles of Laos. Voyages are limited to just 60 guests (normal capacity is 132) per journey, and all are accommodated in spacious State and Presidential cabins. Prices for the new Chronicles of South-East Asia journeys start at $3,900 per person. One journey is in February; the rest are in October and November. Book any Chronicles of South-East Asia journey departing in 2011 and receive two complimentary one-night stays in 5-star hotels, one before and one after your journey.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Travel with the National Gallery, London: in the company of a National Gallery expert, all tours begin at the National Gallery where specialist lecturers will introduce guests to selected masterpieces, matching them to places and people the group will encounter on its journey in the following itineraries:
- “The Venice of Canaletto” is the highlight of the new program, giving the opportunity to experience Venice through Canaletto’s eyes. Limited to 20 guests, it promises to be the ultimate way to travel to Venice and to rediscover it in a fresh and revealing way. There are three departures for 2011: one in April and two in October. Prices start at $7,980.
- “Impressionist Paris” departs from London and takes guests on a special tour of the French capital, shedding light on Claude Monet – one of the founders of Impressionism – through excursions to Giverny and the Musee Marmottan-Monet. Prices start from $5,240 per person, and the first tour commences in April, continuing on a monthly basis through October.
- Venice to London, via Krakow and Dresden: for the first time, this will be offered exclusively with Cabin-Suite accommodation only, enabling guests to enjoy the seven-night journey in the comfort of a luxurious suite. This trip will depart Venice on July 14 and is priced at $7,500 per person.
Other Items to Note:
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Paris and Istanbul: will depart on September 2, wending through Europe including Budapest and Bucharest. The trip costs from $9,470 per person.
The Royal Scotsman
- Grand Tour of Great Britain: Due to the success of the launch in 2010, this seven-night exploration of Great Britain returns again in 2011. The train travels counter-clockwise from Edinburgh to towns, cities, stately homes, and castles including Inverness, Chester, Llandudno, Bath, Cambridge, Alnwick and York; this special itinerary also includes a visit to Orient-Express’ Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, departing Edinburgh Waverley on July 8 and costing $13,180 per person.
Afloat in France
- La Semaine Des Grands Crus: a must for wine lovers to taste the 33 Grand Crus of Burgundy; after its success last year, a second date has been added to the 2011 schedule. This special trip is hosted on board the Amaryllis barge, which sleeps up to eight people, and departs from St Leger on July 17th and from Dijon on July 24th and costs $10,000 per person.
Road To Mandalay
- Every year, the Road To Mandalay heads as far north as Bhamo, just 50 miles from the Chinese border, for an 11-night journey. It will depart four times in 2011 from Mandalay on August 3 and 17 and September 7 and 21, returning to Bagan. It costs from $3,330 per person.
Reservations: Toll Free Reservations: 800 524 2420 or email greatjourneys@oeh.com.