'New' Crystal Cruises Releases Inaugural Itineraries
by Dori Saltzman /Crystal Cruises' new website went live today, February 1, with a large selection of itineraries for cruisers to choose from including sailings to the Baltic, Mediterranean, Iceland, North America, Caribbean, Asia and Australia/New Zealand. Bookings open today for travel advisors and customers who have already put down a $500 deposit. Bookings open to the general public later this month.
Crystal Serenity will be the first of the line's ships to return to service with a 12-night Marseille to Lisbon cruise departing on July 31. Crystal Symphony will follow on September 1 with a seven-night cruise from Athens to Istanbul.
“I am delighted to announce that Crystal is reborn, with Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony reimagined and enhancements made to every part of our guests’ journey,” said Crystal president Jack Anderson. “Palatial suites, spacious verandas and guest rooms have been rolled out on both ships, reducing overall guest capacity. Personalized service – long a Crystal signature – has been elevated further.”
Serenity will operate several Baltic and Northern Ireland sailings, along cruises in Canada/New England, along the eastern U.S. coast, in the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and in Alaska. Itineraries are available through December 2024.
Symphony will spend its first month operating in the Mediterranean before repositioning to the Middle East, Asia and Australia/New Zealand. Crystal Symphony will return to the Med in April of 2024 for a season of European sailings that goes through early December 2024.
A&K Travel Group purchased Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity in June of last year, after the company went out of business in February 2022. Both ships have undergone extensive refurbishments since the purchase, and A&K brought former Crystal Cruises president and CEO Jack Anderson onboard to lead the company.
