Crystal Cruises, repeatedly voted “World’s Best” in multiple categories, isn’t resting on its laurels. The ultra-luxury line continues to enhance the onboard experience for guests by bringing new features to their already impressive dining, entertainment and enrichment programs. As multi-generational family travel increases, many families choose luxury cruising for ease of travel, educational and cultural experiences, and superior service. Crystal Cruises has responded by balancing their onboard offerings for Boomers, mature travelers and Millennials.

 

Crystal Cruises Dining Enhancements

Crystal Cruises is renowned for its culinary excellence. Freshness and innovation are trademarks of all Crystal dining. The stylishly sophisticated Crystal Dining Room offers inventive menus combining regional flavors and continental favorites, featuring advanced cooking techniques and artful presentations. The tables are set with elegant crystal, china, silver and linens and the European-trained wait staff take service to a new level.

Crystal offers guest the option of the traditional Main or Late Seating, as well as the newly introduced Dining by Reservation. With Dining by Reservation, guests can make complimentary reservations in the Crystal Dining Room each night of the cruise. This option is perfect if you want the freedom to linger a bit longer on shore or dine with new friends onboard. Dinner reservations can be made any time after final payment is made.

On Crystal Serenity, Taste, which offers homemade soups and comfort foods, has recently partnered with Sapphire Laguna to offer favorite cuisines from around the world. Global Street Foods such as delicious Alsatian Tarts, Chimichurri Steak, California Street Tacos will be on the new globally inspired menu.

 

Crystal Cruises Entertainment Enhancements

Crystal took a guest survey and found that 82% of Crystal guests bring some type of electronic device on vacation. In response, they are rolling out a complete menu of digital entertainment this fall for guests who use a laptop, tablet or smart phone. Offerings will include movies on demand and a reader for press and newspaper publications. Onboard lectures will be recorded and available for replays at guests’ convenience, and the Reflections Onboard Schedule will be available digitally. All of this digital entertainment will be cached onboard, so partaking of it won’t use guests’ internet minutes – a significant value.

An additional technology enhancement is a vehicle for guest feedback available on the Crystal Computer University@Sea or a personal device. Guests can express compliments or concerns to upper management, both at sea and in the corporate headquarters, allowing Crystal to address concerns before the end of the voyage.

A new production show called 6/8 Café will premiere on Crystal Symphony in May 2014. It will feature popular music from the 60’s and 80’s that Boomers will fondly remember.

The retail shops onboard are under new management this year and will receive new merchandise as they transition to summer retail goods. Past guests will be able to shop for all new clothing and souvenirs and first-time guests will enjoy the wide range of cruise mementoes.

The Creative Learning Institute offers complimentary progressive courses by experts for guests’ enrichment. Classes include Tai Chi, Wellness Lectures, Art Instruction, Wine Tasting, Bridge and more. A knitting class was tested onboard and found to be very popular across all age groups, so knitting has been added as a new enrichment offering this year.

 

Crystal Cruises Excursion Enhancements

Shore excursions with Crystal have always been fabulous, engaging experiences, but again, Crystal hasn’t stopped at “excellent.” They now allow guest to book shore excursions once their stateroom is under deposit (previously only after final payment), so those who make early decisions run less risk of disappointment from a full excursion.

Crystal has created Extended Land Programs that are very popular pre- or post-cruise. These are multi-day land packages that feature deluxe hotels, flights or transportation, meals and sightseeing to fascinating World Heritage Sites such as Cappadocia, Iguaçu Falls, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, Xi’an and more.

For active travelers, Crystal is offering new Site Running Excursions of five to 10 kilometers in Tuscany, Arcadia National Park, St. Petersburg, and other scenic places. They’ve also added more Biking Excursions in interesting destinations for guests who enjoy sightseeing by pedal power.

Lastly, Crystal continues to offer “You Care, We Care” Volun-tourism Excursions. More travelers want to give back to the destinations they visit. Through Crystal’s programs they can help an orphanage in Cambodia, feed the poor and elderly in Belize, support a children’s burn center in Peru and more.

No, Crystal Cruises definitely doesn’t rest on its “World’s Best” laurels. They constantly respond to what’s important to their guests by providing innovative and engaging services both onboard and at their destinations. Maybe that’s why they keep winning that superlative title over and over! To make your next vacation a Crystal Cruise, contact the cruise experts at Covington Travel today.