Crystal unveils design for Crystal Mozart, the company's first river ship
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 03 May 2016 03 May 2016
After months of anticipation and several groundbreaking announcements about its tremendous luxury travel brand expansion, Crystal today unveiled the ultra-chic design for the first vessel in the Crystal River Cruises fleet. Crystal Mozart will set sail on July 13 on its maiden voyage round-trip from Vienna, with spacious and stylishly outfitted guest suites, public lounges and dining venues. Beyond the stylish décor – fashioned by London’s AD Associates and Toronto’s II by IV Design – the “Queen of European Rivers” will also boast innovative entertainment spaces, adventurous amenities and the luxurious appointments that the world’s most discerning travelers have come to expect from Crystal.
“The experience awaiting guests when they step aboard Crystal Mozart will be true to the superior standard of luxury for which Crystal has always been celebrated, with some additional and original offerings that will be exclusive to Crystal River Cruises,” says Crystal’s president and CEO, Edie Rodriguez. “We’re bringing what was already a grand dame of European rivers up to the superlative Crystal level, with a modern but ‘classically Crystal’ twist.”
Among the more exceptional touches on the reimagined river ship will be pop-up bar area on the top “Vista” deck, complete with a vanishing movie screen for al fresco evening show times. Also on the Vista deck will be a living rooftop garden area with teak bench seating areas for guests to enjoy nature as they sail along the Danube River. Two custom tender boats will be available on board for more intimate exploration of the waterway’s picturesque locales, plus abundant outdoor space will ensure that travelers don’t miss any of the magnificent views.
Crystal Mozart will be cloaked in a timeless color palette intended to transcend seasons and complement the stunning surroundings found in the destinations throughout Austria, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Croatia and Serbia. Calming foundations of cream, gray and white are accented with rich jewel tones in deep blue, green and the occasional vibrant print. The furnishings offer equally contemporary and welcoming comfort for guests to enjoy during cocktail hours and musical performances.
The soothing color palette and plush fabrics continue into the guest suites, all of which will feature king-size beds, Nespresso machines, 40-inch flat-screen televisions and sparkling marble bathrooms. The 158-guest capacity Crystal Mozart will have window suites of 219 square feet, deluxe suites with French Balcony of 219 square feet, penthouse suites of 330 square feet and a two-bedroom Crystal Suites of 883 square feet, the largest suite on any river vessel afloat. One-bedroom Penthouses and the two-bedroom Crystal Suite will feature French Balconies, walk-in closets and separate showers and oversized bathtubs. Crystal’s acclaimed butler service will be available with every guest suite.
The ship’s four main decks – named, from bottom to top, Harmony (homage to Crystal’s first ocean ship), Seahorse, Crystal and Vista – will offer numerous public areas for guests to enjoy onboard enrichment, fitness and wellness, and world-class dining. A newly installed elevator will be located mid-ship to take guests between the Harmony and Crystal decks. Crystal Mozart will offer guests an array of elegant and casual dining options throughout the day, including:
– Waterside – The main dining area with an indoor/outdoor setting, which will serve elaborate breakfast and lunch buffets, followed by upscale evening dinner service.
– Palm Court – Reminiscent of the Palm Court on Crystal Symphony, the venue will be a main hub for dancing and live local entertainment, as well as casual cocktails and tea.
– Blue – This aft indoor dining area will offer a casual atmosphere and a menu of global comfort food, similar to Tastes aboard Crystal Serenity.
– Bistro Mozart – Often the go-to spot aboard Crystal vessels for freshly baked pastries, fruit and snacks, plus coffee, espresso and tea, Crystal Mozart’s bistro will serve light bites throughout the day.
– The Pantry – A self-service wine and beverage bar, ideal for a quick snack on the go.
– The Vintage Room – As aboard Crystal’s ocean ships, the intimate dining room for approximately a dozen guests will host winemakers’ dinners and special occasions.
In addition to the expansive menu of dining options, lounges and bars aboard Crystal Mozart will foster camaraderie among guests as they share stories, cocktails and music. The Cove will be a main hub, housing a Yamaha AvantGrand Piano, manned by the vessel’s entertainment host. On the upper Vista deck, the pop-up bar area will set the scene for celebrations under the stars.
Crystal Mozart will also feature fully-equipped fitness, spa and salon facilities at the Crystal Life Spa, marking the first time ever the spa on a Crystal ship will be operated and staffed by Crystal’s own trained crew. An indoor pool will complement two treatment rooms, and male and female sauna and steam rooms.
Says Rodriguez, “At the heart of every Crystal Experience is the genuine service and expert attention to detail our guests enjoy. With our newest vessels, we’re upping our own ante by making every possible effort to ensure these components of a Crystal vacation are unparalleled.”
This includes offering a crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1.75 – that is, 91 expertly trained crew members to attend to Crystal Mozart’s 158 guests.
Crystal Mozart is named after the famous Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and is designed to fit into the wider locks of the Danube River from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary, and holds the record of being the largest river cruise vessel on European rivers, measuring 75.1 feet wide (22.9 meters), which is double the width of an average industry river boat.
Viking announces World Cruise for Viking Sun
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 02 May 2016 02 May 2016
With just days before its second ship, Viking Sea, is christened in Greenwich on the Thames River in London on May 5, Viking Ocean Cruises today announced that its fourth ship, Viking Sun, will spend her maiden season sailing the company’s first-ever World Cruise, spanning 141 days and visiting five continents, 35 countries and 66 ports, with 12 port overnights.
Departing on December 15, 2017, this epic journey from Miami to London will allow guests to explore Cuba and the Caribbean; sail the Panama Canal and the South Pacific; call upon ports in Asia, from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City; and see the Arabian, Red and Mediterranean Seas, before concluding in the North Atlantic. Like on all Viking itineraries, World Cruise guests will enjoy a complimentary shore excursion in each of the 66 ports and free unlimited Wi-Fi; they will also receive Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees, along with an extensive list of added-value inclusions in their cruise fare.
“Ever since our first ship set sail last year, we have been focused on bringing the destination back to ocean cruising. Our unique, award-winning approach allows our guests to explore comfortably, with experiences that enrich their lives along the way,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “This World Cruise is the most extensive and culturally immersive itinerary we have ever offered, and we are pleased by the early interest in pre-sales we have seen from our guests and industry partners.”
MedCruise ports and cruise lines to meet at the 48th MedCruise GA
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 29 April 2016 29 April 2016
Cruise line executives and MedCruise members have set their appointment for this summer: this is the 48th MedCruise Assembly to be held 22-25 June 2016 in Odessa, Ukraine – now the major cruise event of this summer.
Leaders of itinerary planning and port representatives will meet in one of the most neuralgic cruise ports to jointly shape the future of the sector in the Med and the Black Sea – via B2B meetings.
Registration is now open – whereas the confirmation of more cruise lines executives presence continues.
The event will also celebrate 20 years MedCruise.
Carnival Cruise Line takes delivery of 133,500 gross ton Carnival Vista
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 28 April 2016 28 April 2016
At a traditional maritime handover ceremony held earlier today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Cruise Line took delivery of its newest, largest and most innovative ship, the 133,500 gross ton Carnival Vista.
The 3,954-passenger ship will reposition to Trieste, Italy, where it will depart on its maiden voyage May 1, kicking off a summer schedule in Europe that runs through October 2016. Following a 13-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Vista will operate a pair of 11-day cruises from New York in November 2016 then launch year-round Caribbean service from Miami later that month.
Carnival Vista offers a number of unique features, including a groundbreaking suspended cycling experience called SkyRide, the first IMAX Theatre at sea and the RedFrog Pub & Brewery offering three different kinds of beer brewed on board.
Also new is Family Harbor with special family accommodations and a family concierge, along with the tropics-inspired Havana staterooms and suites featuring a dedicated pool area. The ship’s outdoor spaces include a massive WaterWorks aqua park, highlighted by the 455-foot-long Kaleid-o-slide, the longest slide in the fleet.
“Carnival Vista is a spectacular addition to our fleet and we can’t wait for our guests to experience all of the ship’s exciting new features,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival Vista will provide our guests an opportunity to create a lifetime of wonderful vacation memories while offering our valued travel agent partners another exciting vacation option to market to their clients,” she added.
Crystal River Cruises unveils shoreside activities for Crystal Mozart
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 28 April 2016 28 April 2016
When Crystal Mozart, the first vessel in Crystal River Cruises’ fleet, embarks on her maiden voyage along the Danube River this July, guests aboard will be treated to dozens of inclusive experiences ashore that highlight the stunning European locales on the route. The lineup of shore-side offerings for the “Queen of European river ships’” 2016 voyages, is available online at crystalcruises.com for viewing and will open for pre-reservation through Crystal’s Priority Check-in & Planning Center starting May 3.
Crystal Mozart’s itineraries – exploring the European capitals along the Danube and the Wachau Valley, Christmas Markets along the Danube (beginning in late November) and a special singular holiday itinerary spanning Christmas and New Year’s – will offer distinct experiences designed to showcase the most popular highlights in each destination. For the first time on a Crystal voyage, most excursions will be offered complimentary. A handful of more over-the-top Crystal Adventures will be available for booking on each cruise for an additional cost; private services and excursions can also be pre-arranged.
“While many of the charming ports along Crystal Mozart’s routes are easy to explore on foot or access at one’s leisure, travelers visiting for the first time will benefit from the detailed and expertly guided excursions crafted by our team,” says Edie Rodriguez, Crystal’s president and CEO. “It is our pleasure to offer Crystal Complimentary Adventures with our river voyages as part of the ‘All Inclusive’ Crystal Experience, as we know how greatly these shore-side adventures enhance our guests’ understanding and perception of the destinations.”
At least one complimentary excursion will be offered in every port, often focusing on the “don’t miss” sites in each locale. Additionally, as choices are a cornerstone of the Crystal credo, an alternate complimentary excursion will be available in many ports for travelers who are seeking a different perspective. In select ports, a morning and afternoon option will be offered, ensuring that late rising guests do not miss out on the insightful tours.
Included in the selection of Crystal Complimentary Adventures are excursions that Crystal is the first river cruise line to offer, such as a full-day venture to Munich, highlighting Germany’s third-largest city’s Olympic grounds, BMW factory, and illustrious sites of the Friedensengel and National Theatre. Another Crystal exclusive tour takes guests to Vienna’s Belvedere Palace for a signature evening concert event and VIP access to the artists’ masterpieces in the museum. Among the dozens of other inclusive opportunities to explore the gems along the Danube are:
– A tour through the Parliament and Great Market Hall, or exploration of the Dohány Synagogue and Jewish District in Budapest, Hungary
– Full-day ventures to either Salzburg, including visits to the city’s most iconic sites, or to the lovely Salzkammergut Lake District, both from Linz, Austria
– A glimpse into the culinary treasures of Vienna, offering tastings and pairings with local beers and wines, as well as an immersion into the pastry cafés, which are known as the heart of the city
– A trip to 13th century Červený Kameň Castle in Bratislava, Slovakia, for a guided exploration of the captivating interior including beautiful Sala Terrena, plus tasting wines from the region and a falconry demonstration.
For guests seeking a high-intensity shore-side activity, Crystal is introducing its newest shore-side program called “Active Exploration Adventures,” tailored to allow guests to explore the splendid European landscapes while staying fit on their vacation. These complimentary excursions, under the assistance of a Crystal fitness instructor, range from a 1,700-foot hike to the top of Pöstlingberg for a birds-eye view of Linz, to 16-mile bike ride through the Wachau Valley, and two-mile treks through the vineyards of Vienna.
The late November/December and holiday voyages feature particularly extraordinary excursions to some of the most famous and quintessential Christmas markets in Austria, Germany and Slovakia, as well as special concerts and services in the region’s magnificent cathedrals.
In addition, the Crystal Adventures will be enhanced by the introduction of four brand new luxury motor coaches, which will follow the ships along each itinerary, and feature plush-seating accommodations for 42 guests, knowledgeable local guides, complimentary Wi-Fi and beverages including an espresso machine. The Crystal motor coaches will also provide transportation service to and from the airport on embarkation and debarkation days.
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