#9: Crystal Cruises Minimum Age: Six months Children’s Programs: Extensive Babysitting: Yes Tickets: http://www.cruisecompete.com/lines/crystal_cruises.html
New for 2018 • Crystal Cruises has added cruises to the West Indies. Overview
Crystal Cruises consistently ranks among the top luxury cruise lines in the world, and has won an unprecedented number of major awards. They have been voted World’s Best by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler more often than any other cruise line, hotel, or resort. There are good reasons for these accolades. While other cruise lines renovate ships every few years or when the ships begin to look tired or shabby, Crystal ships are refreshed and updated often, sometimes every year. In recent years, the company has spent almost $120 million on fleet makeovers and $52 million on the Serenity alone within a two-year period. Staterooms are elegant, and the Crystal Penthouses are drop-dead gorgeous, with furnishings that wouldn’t be out of place in a Manhattan penthouse and state-of-the-art technology. Many veranda staterooms have medical-grade air purifiers; all have top quality bedding, good-sized closet space, and luxurious marble bathrooms. Multiple all-inclusive dining options include restaurants featuring celebrity chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio, as well as several casual dining venues. The award-winning Crystal Spa & Salon, where highly skilled estheticians use Elemis skincare products, equals land- based spas at top resorts. Crystal ships have excellent fitness and sports facilities offering Nordic Walking classes and other instruction. Entertainment options include something for everyone. Music programs range from classical to popular and contemporary. Celebrity performers enhance these programs to a higher-than-average level. There are multiple bars and lounges, each providing a different vibe. There’s a glittering casino and a very well stocked library. And for solo female travelers who like to dance, there are skilled ballroom dancers called Ambassador Hosts. Equally exciting are the distinguished lecturers and teachers who provide the line’s renowned cultural enrichment. Crystal Cruises sails mid-size vessels with a relaxed but sophisticated ambience. The ships have generous, well-appointed common areas; cabins at the higher levels are quite spacious. Crystal’s shore excursions are highly rated. Rather than “one size fits all,” guests may choose from the standard type (similar to what is offered by other lines), small group (more personalized), or private (for groups of four or less). The excursions cater to various interests, including culinary, active/ adventure, cultural, and scenic. Resort wear is appropriate for most daytime activities, comfortable clothes for shore excursions, and elegant/casual wear for evenings. During one-week to ten-day cruises, there is one black-tie evening; longer cruises may have as many as three. As formal wear is optional, elegant informal dress is also acceptable. Onboard enrichment is first-rate and may include classes in wine-tasting, languages, Photoshop, and more.
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2018 Sea Tales Family Cruise Travel Planner
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