Cruise Report
IT HAS been an exhilarating year for luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises: from expanding its presence in Australia with its first dedicated office in the country opening in Sydney to debuting Crystal Mozart, the line’s inaugural riverboat.
Crystal’s new regional branch down under, which opened its doors on August 1, is headed up by industry veteran Karen Christensen, most recently of Silversea Cruises where she worked as general manager and director of sales during her decade of work there.
The office represents Crystal Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises and Crystal River Cruises with staff responsible for sales, marketing, finance and reservations for all of Australia and New Zealand.
Crystal’s CEO and president Edie Rodriguez said she was thrilled to further solidify the company’s presence in Australia and New Zealand as it “grows and offers more options for travellers throughout the world”.
“Karen’s depth of knowledge of the Pacific market and its travellers’ wishes, habits and preferences will help ensure that our vast portfolio of luxury travel offerings is effectively communicated and expertly sold,” Rodriguez continued. The move winds up Crystal’s partnership with Wiltrans International, which had represented the line in the region for the past 26 years.
Just prior to the office opening, Crystal Cruise Line officially welcomed Europe’s largest and most luxurious river cruise ship Cyrstal Mozart as the first vessel in its Crystal River Cruises fleet. A ceremony was held at Vienna’s Millennium Tower Dock in mid-july where Godmother Elisabeth Gurtler christened the 120 metre, 158-guest ship which had just emerged from its impressive stem-to-stern redesign.
“This is an extraordinary time for our company, as our expansion from the world’s oceans to its rivers and air allows for numerous new opportunities and ways for travellers to explore the world with us,” Rodriguez said of the new addition.
The vessel, which now operates a series of 10 and 11-day Danube River roundtrips from Vienna, is the height of luxury with its wrap-around promenade deck, spa, indoor pool, butler service and rooftop bar and four dining venues.
Last month also saw the line release further details on its first four newbuild river yachts Crystal Ravel, Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Mahler which are set to join Crystal River Cruises’ fleet in spring and summer next year.
Sailing on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Bach will be 135 metres in length with 53 suites for 106 guests while the 110 metre Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel which takes 78 guests between its 39 suites will sail voyages on the Seine, Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde Rivers.
The company has also announced new summer incentives including ‘Crystal Clear Choices’ with savings and perks for bookings made on their ocean ships Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity before August 31.
Guests booking select voyages this year and next will be able to choose from three key offerings: cruise fare savings of up to $1,000, up to $1,500 off air credits for air travel booked through Crystal’s air department or up to $2,000 in shipboard credits.
“The added incentives available to travellers for an already value-packed, allinclusive luxury vacation makes Crystal the clear choice for guests seeking an enriching adventure in some of the world’s most coveted destinations,” Rodriguez said.
The Crystal Clear bonuses are available on sailings leaving from Oct 2016 through to Dec 2017 including voyages to The Caribbean and Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada, the Baltic and Northern Europe, Mediterranean, South America and Africa.