Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Want the chance to meet a real American hero?  It’s a simple as cruising in the Mediterranean.

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords will be accompanying her husband Mark  Kelly on Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity, for a luxury Mediterranean voyage sailing from Lisbon to Rome on July 25. Kelly is scheduled to speak to guests about the power of the human spirit, with wife “Gabby” joining for a special appearance and photo opportunity at presentation’s end.

The couple quickly gained fame in January 2011, when Arizona Representative Giffords was the victim of an assassination attempt—just months before Kelly’s scheduled command of the final Space Shuttle Endeavour flight.  Following more than a year of her intensive rehabilitation for a gunshot wound to the head, and his 17-day trip into earth’s orbit, the heroic husband-wife team have now retired from their government positions while Giffords continues to recuperate. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

For those for whom football fever lingers well after the Big Game, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises is offering a showdown of gridiron greats during a spring “NFL Legends”-themed voyage.  The May 8, port-packed Trans-Atlantic sailing from New York to Dover features a football-focused “Ocean Views” panel discussion and each  guest individually sharing inspiring personal stories from decades on the field, as well as hard-won tools for success in any field, since everyone faces teams, competition, and occasional losses and victory dances in work and life.  Scheduled motivational speakers include:

Coach Don Shula: Hall of Famer who holds the most wins in National Football League history as coach of the only undefeated NFL season record-holders, the Miami Dolphins, as well as the Baltimore Colts. [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.

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’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 →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

To jump start New Year’s resolutions, best-selling fitness author and head trainer for “Dr. Phil’s Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge,” Robert Reames, along with guest specialists in Pilates, yoga, Tai Chi and even paddle tennis, will headline Crystal Symphony’s December 5 ultra-luxury Mind, Body & Spirit voyage.  The Experience of Discovery cruise, with comprehensive wellness programming and complimentary instruction throughout, departs round-trip from Los Angeles for Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. [Read more →]