Crystal Cruises Overview
Crystal Cruises was founded in 1988 by parent company, NYK Lines of Japan - the largest shipping company in the world. Her three ships are among the most spacious and luxurious vessels cruising the seas of the world.
From the moment you step on board, you will experience Crystal Cruises' dedication to making your cruise a perfect one. Crystal's Six-Star Commitment means each instant must be memorable, every detail sublime. From the grand designs of Crystal Cruise Line ships to the right vintage wine, a turned-down bed, or even a simple smile, singular attention is paid to every detail of your cruise.
For everyone at Crystal Cruises, Six-Star quality means more than awards and accolades; it means the constant pursuit of a single goal: to create the best, then make it better. They are not just aiming to provide a fabulous vacation, Crystal Cruises is aiming to create an experience that will enrich your life and provide memories to cherish forever.
Extraordinary space has been dedicated not only to the staterooms and suite accommodations but also to the public spaces extra-wide 360 promenade decks, lavish fitness and spa areas, full-sized cinemas and nightclubs, and various learning centers. Choices are numerous, from which stateroom on which deck, and where and when to dine, to how much to do or how little. A wealth of onboard activities - including unique educational programs, enrichment lectures and world-class entertainment - set the Crystal fleet apart from all other luxury lines.
Crystal's three ships travel the world, looking for the best it has to offer. Crystal's itineraries include sailings to Africa, Alaska, Asia/Orient, Australia/New Zealand, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean, Mexican Baja, the Pacific Coast, the Panama Canal, Scandinavia/Russia, South America, the South Pacific and a 106-day World Cruise as well.
Crystal Cruises Accommodations
Your stateroom on Crystal Cruises will become your home away from home. It is spacious and airy, with tasteful furnishings. For their many guests with private verandahs, your room takes on an added dimension that stretches to the horizon. And all guests are welcomed by the soft lighting in the marble bathroom, by the thick softness of their towels and robes, and by the luxurious feel of Scandinavian down duvets.
Your stateroom also has a television with up-to-the-minute international news, worldwide sports, feature films and educational documentaries. A data port for Internet access and a direct ship-to-shore telephone in your room keep you in touch with friends and family. Whenever you feel like it, you can check out a video or DVD from the ship's well-stocked library, and order complimentary room service - it's available around the clock.
For the highest level of comfort and style, consider cruising in Crystal's Penthouse accommodations. Depending upon which ship you choose, Penthouses range from approximately 400 square feet to 1,300 square feet. Some are equipped with guest bathrooms and personal gyms. Quite a few offer a separate living room, dining area, and bedroom, plus a master bath with a Jacuzzi. They also feature a complimentary beverage bar, and include CD players, DVD players, cordless telephones and Internet data ports. Best of all, every Penthouse comes with a private verandah, and the service of a personal butler, who is there to make your stay even more welcoming.
Crystal Cruises Dining
When you sail with Crystal, you may choose from a variety of restaurants, offering the world's greatest cuisines, created and served at the highest level.
Crystal's love of variety is even more apparent when you sit down for breakfast. You can choose the country club-like Lido Cafe, the Crystal Dining Room, or The Bistro for breakfast. There is also a Late-Riser Breakfast seating by the pool or opt for breakfast at any time of day from Room Service.
For lunch, you can visit the Crystal Dining Room, select from the buffet at the Lido Cafe, order something sizzling at the Trident Bar & Grill, or enjoy sophisticated comfort food from Tastes aboard Crystal Serenity.
For dinner, you have even more choices. Crystal's Dining Rooms serve classic European cuisine, along with regional specialties inspired by the ports they visit. Crystal's reservations-only specialty restaurants offer alternatives to the traditional cruise line dining experience. Prego features traditional Northern Italian cuisine, plus an original menu created by the best young chefs of Italy. It all comes together under the direction of Piero Selvaggio, owner of Los Angeles' well-known Valentino restaurant, considered by culinary experts to be the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy.
On Crystal Symphony, Jade Garden brings you the best of new Asian cuisine, featuring entrees created by Wolfgang Puck. On Crystal Serenity, enjoy Tastes for poolside dining, and both Silk Road and the Sushi Bar, where world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa has created an innovative menu of classically styled Japanese food with distinct Peruvian and European influences.
But dining is not limited to breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each afternoon, tea service presents a selection of savories and sweets served in the sunlit charm of the Palm Court. A selection of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres is served in the various bars and lounges during the cocktail hour before dinner, and snacks are always served in select lounges during the late-night cocktail hour. Of course, complimentary Room Service is available 24 hours a day.
Crystal Cruises Kids & Teens
Kids have a variety of great activities to choose from on every Crystal cruise! Crystal offers a children's playroom and babysitting services on all cruises. During holiday cruises selected sailings, additional children's activities are offered under the supervision of experienced Junior Activities Directors.
Crystal's Junior Activities Program is three-tiered: 3-7 year olds, 8-12 year olds, and 13-17 year olds. Activities are determined by age and the number of children on board, and a detailed schedule of events is created at the beginning of each cruise. Once on board, you'll receive "Surf Runner," the daily newsletter for kids with details for the following day's schedule and other pertinent information.
The children's playroom, Fantasia, offers supervised activities and arts & crafts, popular Sony Play station game titles, a large screen television set and board games. Crystal Serenity also features a teenager's video arcade, Waves. The library offers children's books and videos for the televisions/VCRs available in all staterooms.
Kids can also choose from a special Junior Cruiser's menu, and Crystal's executive chefs and other culinary staff can prepare custom dishes. The Trident Grill serves complimentary hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and more. Baby food, high chairs and booster seats are available.
For a small fee, all vessels offer in-stateroom baby-sitting. Guests should contact the concierge onboard for this service at least 24 hours in advance. Crystal Cruises is unable to accommodate children less than six months of age and reserves the right to restrict the number of those less than three years of age aboard the ships.
Crystal Cruises Onboard Activities & Entertainment
Each evening, the Reflections daily program is delivered to your stateroom to help you plan for the next day. It's a valuable guide to the activities onboard, including a complete schedule of the day's events, hours for the ship's diverse venues and important announcements. Crystal's list of activities is as diversified as the guests on board.
For example, an accredited ACBL instructor on every cruise offers complimentary Bridge instruction and supervised games. They also offer an abundance of dancing opportunities and venues, each with its own style and ambiance. Professional dance instructors complimentary classes in the most popular dance steps as distinguished Ambassador Hosts await to escort ladies onto the dance floor.
Crystal Cruise's popular Computer University@Sea program is offered on all cruises. CU@Sea provides e-mail services, Internet access, group and individual instruction on use of a PC, extensive enrichment course offerings, and digital camera support on 25 state-of-the-art workstations for each ship.
The Crystal Visions Enrichment Program and Creative Learning Institute are also featured on every cruise. Lectures include destination experts who discuss the regions visited during the cruise, plus at least one other respected enrichment speaker who shares insights into his or her particular world including the fields of Art & Entertainment; Business & Technology; Lifestyle; Wellness; and Wine & Food.
If you're interested in catching up on your reading, Crystal's well-stocked libraries contain over 2,000 books, 1,000 videotapes and DVD's, and magazines and board games which may be checked out free of charge during your cruise.
Entertainment
After a memorable dinner, the pulse of Crystal's nightlife will always match your mood perfectly. There are so many ways to spend your evenings, from energetic and exciting to quiet and intimate.
The Galaxy Lounge is the venue for award-winning production shows, and a host of other evening performances. The showroom was custom-designed to offer perfect views from each of its seats, and features superior sound and lighting systems. Each Broadway-style show is a dazzling blend of music and dance performed by the finest talent in musical theatre. Costumes are individually designed and handmade, and staging is skillfully crafted to bring every vibrant scene to life.
In addition to the full-scale productions, each cruise also features a variety of cabaret-style entertainers, including vocalists, comedians, ventriloquists, instrumentalists and classical artists.
Before or after dinner hours, you'll find musical entertainment and dancing in a number of places on your ship. Each lounge features a diverse array of performances from classical artists to ballroom dance bands. A musical trio will serenade you with classical melodies during afternoon tea and play requests as they stroll through the Crystal Dining Room each evening; and soft piano melodies fill the Crystal Cove Piano Bar in the afternoon and at cocktail hour.
Ambassador Hosts
Crystal Cruises offers a host program that includes carefully screened gentlemen on every sailing with interests and backgrounds similar to those of Crystal's guests. Each distinguished Ambassador Host is cultured, well-traveled and an accomplished ballroom dancer.
Casino
Crystal Cruises exclusively features the Caesar's Palace at Sea casino, run by the world-famous Las Vegas gaming operation. The 3,000-plus square-foot facility houses blackjack tables, as well as mini-baccarat, craps, roulette, and more than 85 slot machines. The expert casino staff is employed by Caesar's Palace.
Spa and Fitness Program
Experience the sublime and the sensuous in the Crystal Spa - the first floating spa to use the principles of Feng Shui.
Your spa journey begins with cultural therapies from around the world: Aroma Stone Therapy, Japanese Silk Booster Facial and Well-Being Massage - all enjoyed in the relaxing spa with beautiful Asian artifacts and the peaceful ambiance of Feng Shui. Your spa journey continues with panoramic sea views, which surround a facility offering a sauna, steam room, full-service hair salon and well-equipped fitness center. Relax the mind, body and soul and indulge in a Pathway to Yoga class, or enhance your physique with the modern age Pilates Reformer, all under the guidance of a qualified fitness director.
Other onboard fitness facilities include: a lap pool; an indoor/outdoor pool; two Jacuzzis, an extensive Promenade Deck for walking and jogging; paddle tennis courts; table tennis; golf driving ranges and putting greens with Callaway golf equipment; and shuffleboard courts.
Wheelchair Access and Facilities for the Physically Challenged
Crystal's ships were designed to be accessible for the physically challenged, with ramp access to most decks and public areas. Ships' elevators can accommodate standard-size wheelchairs (22.5" wide) allowing access to all public decks.
Certain staterooms offer extra-wide doors, fully wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and "wheel-in" closets with low-fitted hanging rods. Some suites offer limited wheelchair access to personal facilities. Please note that these staterooms and suites are subject to availability and must be requested at the time of booking.
Wheelchair-bound guests must bring their own junior/adult standard-size wheelchair (22.5" wide) and must be accompanied by a traveling companion for access to all areas of all ships. In some ports of call, the ship may need to anchor and sea conditions may preclude guests with wheelchairs from going ashore. This decision would be made by the ship's Captain or doctor, and their decisions are binding.
For the hearing-impaired, the Hollywood Theater is equipped with a StarsSound Infrared Hearing System. Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity also offer closed-captioned programming on selected television programs.
After your first Crystal Cruise, you are automatically enrolled as a member of the Crystal Society - a part of an exclusive group who travels the world in style. And as a member, you are entitled to special savings, events and amenities every time you sail with them. With every Crystal cruise you take, the rewards become even more impressive. You may receive stateroom upgrades, credits toward air travel, onboard spending credits and much more.
If you are a Crystal Society Member, please let your Cruise Specialist know at the time of your reservation so we can make sure we check for every possible discount and complimentary promotion on your behalf.
While Crystal Cruises does offer live online booking capability, we highly recommend calling one of our Cruise Specialists directly to help you plan your Crystal Cruise Vacation, especially if you are a Crystal Society Member.
