Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Crystal Cruises has now officially begun its transition to including adult beverages into the price of its cruises. The effort launched on the Crystal Symphony’s Miami to Lisbon Trans-Atlantic cruise that embarked March 19. Crystal’s Serenity will follow suit with her spring Trans-Atlantic sailing on May 8.

This means that guests can now enjoy a generous and impressive selection of complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, as well as open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for all housekeeping, butler, bar and dining staff. The complimentary drinks on board now include Grey Goose Vodka, Hennessy Cognac and Jacquart Brut Mosaique Champagne among many more.

Dinner restaurants offer recommended pairings nightly, and sommeliers certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers remain on hand to assist with wine selections. There is no corkage fee on board if one wishes to enjoy wine purchased ashore. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Crystal Cruises’ first year of its “You Care, We Care” voluntourism program has added more excursions to wrap up 2011.  With all Mediterranean and U.S. Pacific Coastal cruises this fall, new hands-on volunteer opportunities will assist people-in-need in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Israel, the Canary Islands, and southern California—plus Mediterranean sea turtles.

Participation is free, with Crystal handling all logistics.  Both guests and crew members can help the following philanthropic organizations through December:

Luigi Scotto Foundation—Livorno, Italy (six trips through the end of November): Tend to the grounds or create holiday decorations for the residents of this home for the disabled.

Leket Israel—Ashdod, Israel (Oct 27): Gather, pack up, and/or redistribute fruit and vegetables for the country’s largest food bank and food rescue network. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Whether you think you can dance, or know you really can’t, avid and novice dancers alike will have the opportunity to show off, and hone, their dancing skills aboard Crystal Cruises’ “Big Band and Ballroom Dance” fall voyage from Lisbon to Miami. With the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra headlining, guests can waltz their way across the southern Atlantic, accompanied by the classic and retro sounds of a 20-piece live orchestra – or just enjoy the magical moves and mesmerizing music from the sidelines. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Do you love to see legendary sites, but dislike group tours? Renowned for unique and creative land tours that complement its ultra-luxury cruise experience, Crystal Cruises is introducing a private shore excursion alternative for individualistic adventurers. Crystal’s new “Private Adventure Option” enables guests to take already-organized group excursions – in a more intimate fashion.

Beginning this August/September, parties of two, four or six can opt for a personal guide and private vehicle to tour Ephesus, Pompeii or the city of Barcelona, for example – on a shore-side itinerary already carefully crafted by Crystal’s Land Programs team and its worldwide tour operators. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Ever the gourmand cruise line, this fall Crystal Cruises has cooked up more than 30 experiences throughout southern Europe that will give intimate and savory insights into the diversity of the area’s culinary cultures. New and favorite Crystal Adventure highlights include:

Cooking Lessons
Classes, with tasting and occasional market shopping, will cover:

• Spanish tapas (Barcelona)
• Romanian “sarmale cu mamaliguta” (Constanta)
• Cycladic island fare (Megalochori/Santorini)
• Turkish meze (Istanbul)
• Croatian honey-sautéed prawns and feta cheese-stuffed calamari (Cavtat/Dubrovnik)
• French flower-based dishes (Pont-du-Loup/Cannes)
• Aristocratic Italian taught by a Countess in stunning Tiepolo Palace (Venice) [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Tattoos.  Murder.  Secrets.  And Stockholm.  Only one of these things is normally associated with a luxury cruise line, but with Crystal Cruises’ new Crystal Adventure, “Stieg Larsson’s Stockholm,” guests can discover a little Scandinavian intrigue first-hand in 2011.

With over 46 million books sold worldwide, deceased Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s Millennium book series has made him the biggest novelist to come out of Europe since J.K. Rowling.  The first of his trilogy, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, has already been turned into a critically acclaimed film that is now getting a big-budget Hollywood remake by renowned director David Fincher, and starring Daniel Craig and Robin Wright.  [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

On Crystal Symphony’s first-ever Golf Experiences of Discovery to the Hawaiian Islands, golfers can tee off at three of the region’s most stunning courses, and perfect their swings with instruction from PGA pros on the way.  The 14-day itinerary conveniently sails round-trip from Los Angeles April 24, with play in Kauai, Oahu and Maui.  The courses, featuring some of the most spectacular scenery on the islands, include:

Poipu Bay Golf Course (Kauai) – Named one of the top courses in Hawaii by the likes of Golf.com and The Los Angeles Times, where one is just as likely to reach the surf as the green.

[Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

On Crystal’s debut Alaska cruise for 2011, luxury travelers will not only experience the rugged beauty of some of the Western U.S. and Canada’s most notable waterfronts—San Francisco; Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia; and Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska—but also find their Zen via “Mind, Body, and Spirit”-focused presentations.  [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Recognizing that even one day of assistance can make a difference, Crystal Cruises introduces a complimentary, participatory shore excursion program that enables its guests and crew to assist with charitable projects in destinations they visit during their cruise.  Beginning in 2011, the line’s “You Care, We Care” initiative is designed to assist a local project and educate participants on local community needs, as well as enhance travelers’ personal growth and their intimate connection with a destination.  [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Three Star Michelin chef Heinz Beck, Master Chef Andre Soltner and colorful celebrity chef Jon Ashton are among the international culinary stars set for hands-on cooking classes and other savory presentations aboard Crystal Cruises’ 15th annual Wine & Food Experiences of Discovery series in 2011.  Seven ultra-luxury cruises through South America, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska and the Mexican Riviera will spotlight the artistry, craftsmanship and practiced palettes of celebrated chefs, wine experts and mixologists.  The worldwide roster also includes Alexis Kahn, wine director at L’Ecôle French Culinary Institute, and 2010 Bartender of the Year/”Green Mixologist” H. Joseph Ehrmann of San Francisco’s Elixir, renowned for its organic, locally-sourced ingredients. [Read more →]