Crystal Cruises has unveiled itineraries for its five new luxury river yachts and opened bookings on itineraries from 2016 through 2018. The newly acquired and redesigned Crystal Mozart will sail in July 2016, and the four newly built vessels, Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler, and Crystal Ravel will embark in June and August 2017.
Crystal Mozart (The Danube River), Maiden Voyage July 13, 2016
Currently being redesigned, the Crystal Mozart will launch in 2016 with two itineraries of 10 and 11 nights along the Danube River, as well as a special 10- to 13-night Christmas and New Year's Eve voyage.
Danube’s Capital & Wachau Valley will take travelers through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Austria’s Wachau Valley, visiting Dürnstein, Melk, Linz and Vienna, Austria; Passau, Germany; and Bratislava, Slovakia. The Countries of Eastern Danube voyage will explore the eastern section of the river, including Vienna, Austria; Esztergorm, Kalocsa, Budapest, and Mohács, Hungary; Vukovar, Croatia; the Iron Gate; Belgrade and Novi Sad, Serbia; and Bratislava, Slovakia.
Finally, for guests looking for a holiday getaway, the Christmas Markets Along the Danube itinerary will sail through Austria, Germany and Slovakia, stopping at traditional Christmas marketplaces and town squares famous for their holiday singing and dancing, cuisine, shopping and holiday cheer, from Munich’s Christkindlmarkt that dates back to the 14th century to the Viennese Christmas Market at City Hall and Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace.
Crystal Debussy (The Seine River), Maiden Voyage June 4, 2017
On the Seine, the Crystal Debussy will sail five-, seven- and 10-night voyages, each exploring Paris with multiple overnights. Crystal said that the ship's smaller size (with a capacity of 84 guests) will allow it to access berths near the Eiffel Tower for guests to extend their stay in Paris.
The Best of Paris, Seine River & Normandy itinerary will highlight the villages and valleys that inspired impressionists like Monet and Van Gogh, including the garden at Giverny, Auvers-Sur-Oise and the gardens of Versailles. A double overnight will leave guests within walking distance of Honfleur and position travelers closer to the surrounding areas’ popular attractions, including the beaches of Normandy and Deauville.
Paris & The Arts will see guests visiting the Musée d’Orsay and d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, as well as the Louvre, before traveling to Rouen in Normandy before returning to Paris.
Pre-Christmas Shopping in Paris will allow travelers to get their holiday shopping done in the Marché de Noël outdoor bazaar and enjoy street performances along the Rue du Gros Horloge in Rouen.
Crystal Bach (The Rhine River), Maiden Voyage June 18, 2017
The vessel’s 14-night itinerary boasts overnight stays in cities including Amsterdam, Netherlands; Basel, Switzerland; and Ruedesheim, Germany as it travels along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. A special 10-night voyage explores the region's Christmas markets.
Classic Rhine visits the above overnight ports, as well as Antwerp, Belgium; Nijmegen, Cologne, Cochem, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Kehl, and Breisach, Germany. The voyage also allows for additional stays in Frankfurt.
Christmas Markets along the Rhine travels to the markets in Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz in Basel, as well as historic abbeys and cathedrals. Guests can also enjoy an overnight in Cologne, which has one of the largest Christmas markets in all of Europe.
Crystal Ravel (The Garonne & Dordogne Rivers, & Gironde Estuary), Maiden Voyage August 8, 2017
The 84-guest capacity Crystal Ravel explores the UNESCO-designated cultural site of Bordeaux and the wine regions of France.
On the seven-night Bordeaux, the Wine Region & Beyond itinerary, guests spend two nights in Bordeaux, before cruising on to Cadillac (overnight), Pauillac (overnight), Blaye and Libourne (overnight), France, then back to Bordeaux (overnight). The extra nights in Bordeaux afford guests the chance to visit Arachon in southwestern France for the city’s oysters, white wine and the popular Dune du Pilat, which is Europe’s tallest sand dune.
Crystal Mahler (The Rhine, Main &Danube Rivers), Maiden Voyage August 29, 2017
Crystal Mahler's 16-night Grand Europe itinerary is the longest in Crystal's fleet. On it the 110-guest capacity ship will transit the Rhine-Main-Danube locks on a voyage that ranges from Holland to Germany, with overnights in Budapest, Vienna, Passau and Amsterdam.
Fares for Crystal River Cruises collection from 2016 through 2018 are now open for booking and are subject change without notice. Inaugural voyages for Crystal Mozart (July 13, 2016), Crystal Debussy (June 4, 2017), Crystal Bach (June 18, 2017), Crystal Ravel (August 8, 2017) and Crystal Mahler (August 29, 2017) will be exclusively available to members of the Crystal Society – the line’s repeat guest program – from November 30 through December 15, 2015.