Archive for the ‘Crystal Cruises’ Category

Photographed Tuesday, Silver Shadow (in the distance against the mountains) anchored in Akaroa, New Zealand, with no other cruise ships in sight. The day before, two ships disgorged a few thousand passengers into this town of 700. Why the Steinlager sign? It was my favorite beer when I traveled the north and south islands more than 20 years ago. It is good to be back in New Zealand.

This week, we pose a question: Are you a big-ship cruiser or a small-ship cruiser?

Earlier this month Cruise Specialists staff attended a conference aboard the beautiful Crystal Symphony. We sailed from a sunny San Francisco, up the coast to Victoria and concluded our trip in Vancouver, BC. Trips such as these allow us to remain familiar with the cruise lines and experts in our field.

Cruise Specialists is offering a variety of theme cruises this fall for travelers looking to explore and indulge in their favorite passion while cruising.  Taste distinct wines from all over the world on our wine lovers cruise through the Mediterranean, play 10 days of Bridge on your way to and from Hawaii, dance your way through the Caribbean or the Panama Canal, and get in tip top shape on your way to Mexico on our new Zumba Fitness® Cruise.

Crystal Serenity

Any traveler who has experienced the luxurious ambiance and energy of a Crystal cruise will sure to be delighted at the exquisite service and pampering they will receive on the Crystal world cruise 2012.  For the first time, the Crystal world cruise 2012 on the Crystal Serenity will conveniently sail roundtrip from Los Angeles on their “Epic Islands & Empires” journey at sea.

Sail to Alaska and Send a Child to Camp

Alaska humpack whale

It is that time of year when Cruise Specialists clients can make plans to set sail on an exciting 12 night cruise to Alaska on the luxurious Crystal Symphony and at the same time help send a child affected by childhood cancer to an uplifting and spirited camp.  For each reservation on this special cruise sailing roundtrip from San Francisco on June 2, 2011, Cruise Specialists will donate the funds to send a child to Camp Okizu.

My husband and I had the great pleasure of sailing aboard Crystal Symphony to Mexico for 7

Aft Deck

days departing November 28, 2010 from Los Angeles. It had been 13 years since my last Crystal cruise aboard the Harmony, so I was anxious to see if it would be as wonderful as I remembered…I am happy to report that my expectations were exceeded and then some!

Last month my friend and I traveled aboard Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony through Canada and New England. Let me just say that Crystal Cruises delivers an excellent product from start to finish.

Beginning with my private transfer, booked through Crystal Cruises, we were picked up from JFK airport in New York City in a very large SUV and taken to the New York cruise pier. The driver was friendly; the vehicle was clean and extremely spacious for just the two of us. Once at the cruise terminal the check-in process was a snap!  No waiting in lines, since we had an overnight in port we were able to arrive later than normal, about 8:30pm and were escorted right to our stateroom.

Aghios Nikolaos

I joined the Crystal Serenity on May 11, 2010 for the Seaways of Antiquity cruise sailing from Rome to Athens via Sorrento, Taormina, Aghios Nikolaos, Kusadasi, and Mykonos!  My friend and I were able to board early in Civitavecchia (port for Rome) and leave our carry-on bags with an attendant while we enjoyed lunch in the dining room with welcome glasses of champagne.  Off to a good start! 

Many seasoned travelers dream of one day visiting Antarctica, but now a handful of Crystal Cruise guests will get to experience the below freezing temperatures first-hand by embarking on a new two-day excursion to King George Island.

Six brave Crystal guests on the Symphony’s 19-day Antarctic Holiday cruise departing December 20 from Buenos Aires will get to take part in the “Extreme Overnight Adventure in Antarctica”. These bold adventurers will trek through remote villages and a petrified arctic forest once covered by glaciers, to scientific research bases, and to the breeding and stomping grounds of three species of penguin, elephant seals and fur seals.