Shore Excursions
SHIP TO SHORE
Innovative Tours, Once-In-A-Lifetime Crystal Adventures, And
Tailor-Made Shore Excursions
Each year, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity visit more than 150 ports in more than 50 countries, offering a choice of exciting and unique Crystal Adventures® in every destination. With a tour selection that is leisurely and intimate, active and adventurous, or simply once-in-a-lifetime experiences, an extensive range of outings is designed to meet Crystal’s guests’ varied interests. Crystal Adventures’ Signature Collection shore excursions is a selection of unique programs specially crafted for a limited number of guests. Working with the most knowledgeable and engaging guides in each port, Crystal extends its renowned Six-Star treatment from ship to shore.
In addition to intimate programs such as visiting private homes throughout the world, a sampling of the scope of Crystal Adventures might include:
Active
- Flying in a MiG fighter jet over Moscow
- Walking on the ocean floor in Bora Bora
- Kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean
- Scuba diving in Rhodes, off-roading the slopes of Mt. Etna or mountain biking in Corfu
- Kayaking the canals of Copenhagen, biking in Stockholm or high speed sailing in Corfu
Cultural
- Private cooking lessons at Le Moulin de Mougins in Monte Carlo
- An unforgettable performance of Russian ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre, formerly the Kirov, where Nureyev, Baryshnikov, and other legendary Russian artists launched their careers
- A trip from Honfleur to the landing beaches of Normandy for veterans or history enthusiasts of World War II. Arromanches-les-Bains will echo memories of D-Day, June 6, 1944, when the assault landing of the Allied forces took place on these shores
- Tango performances at a leading nightclub in Buenos Aires, the birthplace of this popular and sensuous dance
Signature Collection
- A tour of the private workshops of some renowned Venetian artists, including a private lunch at the Seguso family glass factory in Murano, one of the few still closed to the public
- An evening at the Imperial Russian Court where one is greeted by Royal Guards at Catherine Palace; enjoy a gala champagne reception in the Great Throne Hall
- A breathtaking view of Côte d’Azur, the French Riviera, and the Principality of Monaco by helicopter
Unique Overland Adventures
Within the cruise itinerary, longer and more extensive day tours by plane or helicopter are available to:
- Huashan Mountain Adventure, which takes guests to the top of China’s 7,000-foot South Peak – the highest point of the five Sacred Mountains.
- Lapland and the Arctic Circle from Helsinki
- Antarctica with visits to Chilean, Russian and Chinese science stations, or Torres del Paine National Park, one of Chile’s most fascinating parks with natural granite towers surrounded by a network of rivers and lakes, Southern Beech rainforests, and scrub steppe from Punta Arenas, Chile
- Iguazú Falls, which is taller than Niagara Falls and four times as wide. Iguazú spans almost three miles of a crescent-shaped cliff on the Argentina-Brazil border
- Moscow with visits to Red Square, Moscow Metro, The Kremlin, and the Cathedral of the Assumption
An innovative pre-reservation program enables guests to research and pre-select shore excursions up to a year before they set sail.
“Crystal Cruises is always looking for new ways to make our guests’ vacations as seamless and convenient as possible,” says John Stoll, Crystal’s director, land programs.
Crystal Private Adventures
The Land Programs Department will also create unique, customized individual excursions. Whether guests wish to scale the cliffs on the Nova Scotia coast, take a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Vatican or visit the lacquer painting villages near St. Petersburg with a Russian art expert to find the most beautiful hand painted boxes, no request is too challenging for Crystal’s capable excursion specialists.
“We strive to offer more of the destination to our guests in true Crystal style. Crystal Private Adventures provide guests with an alternative to group touring and an opportunity to see the sites in a more personal, intimate manner,” says Stoll.
Extended Land Programs
For those who have the luxury of extra time, the Crystal Cruises Extended Land Program maximizes visits to faraway lands with exceptional pre- and post-cruise adventures. Promising the same standards of luxurious comfort, fine cuisine, and attentive service of a Crystal cruise, the exclusive trips include such options as a:
- Six-night adventure to the isolated Kingdom of Bhutan
- Five-night adventures to Central European capitals, including Vienna, Salzburg, Prague and Budapest.
Crystal Classic Hotel Program
In keeping with their commitment to create the perfect experience from beginning to end, Crystal Cruises offers programs in partnership with some of the world’s finest hotels. The Classic and Classic-Plus Hotel Programs provide the opportunity to begin or end an ocean voyage with a stay in the world’s most fascinating cities. The program includes luxurious accommodations in five-star hotels, meet and greet assistance at airports, transportation between airports and hotels, specially designed sightseeing transfers between hotels and the ship and a dedicated hospitality desk at each hotel. Crystal Cruises works closely with hotels that reflect its own dedication to their guests’ experience. These properties include such notables as St. Regis Grand, Rome; The Berkeley and Renaissance Chancery Court, London; Hotel Danieli and Hotel Cipriani, Venice; Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens; Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon; Hotel Hermitage, Monte Carlo; The Grand Hotel, Stockholm; The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul; and The Peninsula, Hong Kong.
In 2009, Crystal will add acclaimed Atlantis, The Palm Hotel & Resort, Dubai; W Istanbul; Imperial Hotel Tokyo; InterContinental Sydney; and others to its venerable list of hotels.
Credit to Crystal Cruises for information on this page.
