Crystal Cruises’ 2021 ‘Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders’ World Cruise Open For Booking

Luxury travellers can choose full 139-day journey or selection of segments




Crystal's 26th annual World Cruise is now open for booking to all luxury travellers. The "Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders" voyage embarks from Miami to London on January 5, 2021, sailing an epic 139-day route through the Caribbean, Hawaiian Islands, South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, the UAE and the Mediterranean, featuring transit of the Panama Canal, visits to Egypt's mysterious Valley of Kings, and the winelands of Western Europe. The full World Cruise also offers guests alternate embarkation and disembarkation cities and dates, allowing greater flexibility while still affording all full World Cruise benefits. Segments of 12-21 days are also now available for booking, with focused itineraries along the gulfs of Oman and Aden; Southeast Asia and Vietnam; springtime in Japan; and the Arabian Gulf across the Bay of Bengal.

"We are delighted to present the world's most discerning travellers with one of Crystal Cruises' most extensive World Cruise journeys ever," says Crystal's Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Australasia, Karen Christensen. "Whether guests choose the complete 139-day odyssey or any combination of segments, they're in for the journey of a lifetime, as a Crystal World Cruise is truly something special."

Named for the diverse array of destinations, cultures and monumental sites to be explored on the journey, the "Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders" World Cruise offers travellers equally tremendous value and exceptionally enriching experiences on board and ashore. Guests can choose to sail the complete itinerary from Miami to London (January 5 to May 24, 139 days); from Los Angeles to London (January 21 to May 24, 123 days); Miami to Rome (January 5 to May 12, 127 days); or Los Angeles to Rome (January 21 to May 12, 111 days). Guests booking any of these full World Cruise options enjoy special benefits and amenities, including a welcome celebration dinner aboard Crystal Serenity in Miami or in Los Angeles, "As You Wish" shipboard spending credits of up to US$2,500 per guest; complimentary private car and driver transfers between the ship and airport; a gala dinner World Cruise Extravaganza Event; an exclusive shore-side event; special World Cruise-themed onboard events; and specially curated gifts.

For More Information

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact your travel professional, or Crystal's Sydney office on:

1300 059 260 (Local Call Australia)

0800 600 108 (Toll Free New Zealand)

Or visit Crystal's website: www.crystalcruises.com

Join the hundreds of thousands who subscribe to the Crystal Insider blog, follow Crystal Cruises' Facebook page and @crystalcruises on Twitter and Instagram, and engage in the conversation with #crystalcruises.

Silversea world-first, 7-continent World Cruise 2020

. The leading ultra-luxury cruise line will enrich its pioneering 62-port itinerary with a selection of once-in-a-lifetime events, shore-side excursions and expedition-style embellishments. Over 140 days, Silversea's Silver Whisper will take guests closer to the authentic beauty of the world, unlocking unique experiences in the most spectacular destinations between Fort Lauderdale and Amsterdam.

Pushing the boundaries of ultra-luxury cruising, Silversea's World Cruise 2020 will be the first time guests will be able to step foot on all seven continents on a world cruise. In 2020, the groundbreaking voyage will incorporate many 'soft expedition' features, including an extraordinary 3-day Antarctic experience, in which guests may well witness penguins, seals, whales, and other species in their natural habitat. Led by a team of nine qualified specialists – including marine biologists, a geologist, a naturalist, an ornithologist, a glaciologist, and more – Silversea's guests will explore the final continent on Zodiac® excursions, landing for shore-side adventures, before learning more about this spectacular region through onboard lectures and workshops from industry-leading experts. Guests will also unlock a special range of immersive travel experiences in the South Pacific, accompanied by a team of nine expedition experts.

Dream Cruises expanding to Australia

source: Cruise Weekly

DREAM Cruises will operate outside of Asia for the first time in 2019/2020, with parent company Genting Hong Kong yesterday unveiling a series of 21 seven- day Australasian voyages for the newly transformed Explorer Dream (CW breaking news).

The 1,870 passenger vessel, currently sailing with sister brand Star Cruises as SuperStar Virgo (pic above), will undergo a US$30 million makeover next year prior to the down under deployment, which will offer cruises in Australia and New Zealand to its Asian-sourced passengers, according to Genting Hong Kong executive chairman, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay.

The refurbishment will incorporate all new food and beverage options combining the best of “East meets West”, a Crystal Life Spa, and Dream Cruises’ signature The Palace private luxury enclave with 50 suites and butler service.

“Explorer Dream will offer another option for our Asia-based guests to expand their travel horizons with new rail/cruise and fly/cruise opportunities to see the world,” Kok Thay said.

Prior to her Australian season, the ship will homeport in Shanghai and Tianjin during the northern summer of 2019, cruising to Japan, Russia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

The local deployment will include six Barrier Reef voyages calling at Mooloolaba, Brisbane, Newcastle and Gladstone; eight Tasmania and Melbourne cruises calling at Port Arthur, Hobart, Burnie, Melbourne, Philip Island and Eden; and seven New Zealand itineraries cruising to Wellington, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Napier, Bay of Islands, Akaroa, Picton and Gisborne. The Genting chief said the move would help accelerate the company’s vision to “develop Dream Cruises into Asia’s global cruise line”.

SeaDream first ever cruises to Cuba

SEADREAM Yacht Club has had amazing reaction to its first-ever program of sailings in Cuba from early January to April of next year, with all eight of its 7-day voyages already between 80- and 90-percent sold out.

And Australians have been amongst the keenest to book, with company Vice-President Jannicke Rognstad saying our interest has not been surprising, as we have always been to the forefront in sailing SeaDream's voyages to new and off-the-beaten-track destinations.

The mega motor-cruiser SeaDream II that carries just 112 guests and 95 crew will open the inaugural Cuba season on January 26 2019 with 9-days from San Juan in Puerto Rico, to Cienfuegos via the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Eight 1-week sailings will follow, visiting hideaway ports few holidaymakers have ever had an opportunity to experience, each sailing embracing Trinidad, Cayo Largo, Isla de Juventad, Maria la Gorda, a day at sea, and a day and overnight in Havana.

Along the way there'll be visits to one-time pirate haunts where divers still treasure-hunt today, two of the world's finest beaches opposite grand hotels and these beaches both gay-friendly and clothing-optional, ports famed both for their wildlife and exceptional seafood dining, the walled city of "Old Havana" founded in 1519… and Santiago de Cuba where Bacardi Rum was created in 1862.

Plus for classic car buffs, the streets of Cuba are something of a rolling museum of tens of thousands of American cars from the 1950s, the result of a grudge by the late-leader Fidel Castro who banned new-car imports from the USA from the 1950s to the 1990s, and today imported car prices still way beyond the reach of most Cubans.

For itineraries and prices of SeaDream Yacht Club's Cuba sailings from January to April 2019, visit www.seadream.com/cuba or see travel agents.


[] CUBA'S streets are today a rolling museum of classic American cars from the 1950s, a continuing result of late-leader Fidel Castro's four-decade long grudge-ban on cars from the USA.

[] SEADREAM II will make the company's first-ever sailings of Cuba from January to April 2019.