21st of October 2014
Crystal Cruises had all reasons to be proud once again, as they could let the world know they had (once again) re-affirmed themselves as the World’s Best Midsize Cruise Line. After tallying all the results sent in by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, they could for the record-breaking 21st consequtive year, call themselves “the World’s Best”. The secret of their success is the passion of their Guests, and the endless dedication and commitment that each of their crew members bring to their role each and every day. Congratulations Crystal Cruises.
LOS ANGELES, October 21, 2014 –Crystal Cruises will embark on its 25th anniversary of ultra-lux cruising by celebrating a record 21 years as Condé Nast Traveler magazine Readers’ Choice No.1 “Midsize Cruise Ship Line.” Crystal’s winning score of 90.142 was the highest of all Small, Midsize, and Large-ship cruise lines. All Readers’ Choice winners and scores are listed at www.cntraveler.com/rca and will be featured in the U.S. magazine’s November 2014 issue.
“It is an extraordinary honor to be recognized as the No. 1 Midsize Cruise Ship Line by the well-traveled and discerning readers of Condé Nast Traveler for a record 21 years,” said Crystal president and COO, Edie Rodriguez. “Winning this award demonstrates how highly our guests value our commitment to creating the ultimate luxury cruise experience.”
Crystal recently revealed a new $20 million look to Crystal Symphony, following a two-week dry dock. The extreme makeover brought contemporary and elegant new design features to the ship’s Crystal Plaza and Crystal Cove Bar; a new outdoor Fitness Garden featuring a “curated self-guided Movement Journey”; redesigned spa and casino spaces, and fitness equipment upgrades in the indoor fitness center; additional PURE allergy-friendly staterooms and technological upgrades. Crystal has invested more than $140 million in extreme ship makeovers in recent years, including a $17 million dry dock renovation of Crystal Serenity in November 2013.
In addition to the extreme makeover of its vessels, Crystal has launched new guest experiences to its growing portfolio of industry firsts. Crystal introduced a collection of shore-side excursions scheduled especially for travelers who don’t want to miss the adventures ashore – or their beauty sleep. The “Late Risers” excursions offer the same enriching experiences in the world’s most stunning and significant destinations, beginning at 11:00 a.m. or noon, rather than the usual early-morning start time, depending on the itinerary. Additionally, guests can now see the sights – and maintain fitness with Crystal Site Running Adventures, a new program that meets the needs of the growing number of active travelers.
In celebration of its 25th anniversary of sailing, Crystal will be kicking off 2015 with the 20th annual Silver Celebration World Cruise in Miami on January 14, 2015. This 108-day complete circumnavigation of the globe (Crystal’s first-ever!), via six segment cruises sailing through Central and South America, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa and the Caribbean.
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are among the most preeminent in travel, honoring the best hotels, airlines, cruise lines, cities, and islands from around the world. Nearly 77,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers ranked their personal experiences with cruise lines’ Itineraries, Excursions, Service, Food, Activities/Facilities, Staterooms, and Design.
The newest “Best” award is but the latest in a string of readers’ choice awards Crystal has won it its size category this last year, including Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 and #2 cruise ships, and Travel + Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Cruise Line for a 20th consecutive year.
Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony at sea: Crystal Cruises photo.
20th of November 2014
For the second consequtive year, Crystal Cruises has been named the Best Luxury Cruise Line by U.S. News and World Report!
Crystal Sereniy at sea (Photo: Crystal Cruises)
July 24th 2020 Posted and shared on Crystal Cruises official blog:
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD: THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG
"….Close your eyes and picture it: you, champagne in hand, standing in the open breeze of your favorite Crystal ship’s top deck, or maybe you prefer strolling the Promenade. A city bustles below and beyond – is it Québec? Buenos Aires? Perhaps Sydney? The ship slowly begins to move away from the pier, marking the first currents of your luxury voyage. And as the anticipation of what’s ahead builds – the elegant evening dinners and shows, the next day’s explorations, the spa appointment you reserved later that week – you hear the unmistakable tones of Louis Armstrong…
As Crystal marks our 30th Anniversary today, we’re looking back at one of our most enduring traditions with the story behind “What a Wonderful World.”
Some things are just meant to be. It was July 24, 1990, and Crystal Harmony, was pulling away from her dock at the Port of San Francisco. With the iconic Golden Gate Bridge on the horizon, all guests were on deck for the ship’s maiden voyage Bon Voyage festivities… champagne in hand as white-gloved staff passed caviar and salmon canapés. Everything in place, cameras at the ready. Alas, as then-Cruise Director David de Haviland looked out among the faces full of excitement and anticipation, he realized something wasn’t quite right. The Viennese Waltz being piped through the ship’s loud speakers just didn’t seem to reflect the moment. It was lovely and all, but the emotional connection was missing.
Quick to recognize the importance of music at such a momentous occasion, de Haviland impulsively switched to a touchingly optimistic song about the beauty of the world – a song that everyone would know, a song that causes all who hear it to stop, pause and contemplate the simple purity of the words.
And so it came to be that despite all the planning and analysis, checklists and trial runs that typified Crystal’s pre-launch days, it was in a moment of spontaneity that Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” became Crystal’s theme song, played at every single sail-away celebration for the last 30 years.
Like travel itself, this song has inspired our guests and shoreside and shipboard crew alike as we have explored the world together. What a wonderful world, indeed…."
