CRYSTAL CRUISES: If you follow us on Facebook, you know we just finished a MED cruise on Crystal Serenity. It’s our first time aboard since the brand’s resurrection in 2023, so we were keen to get on board to determine which of our clients might be best suited to this brand.
The background: Crystal Cruises went bankrupt during the pandemic. The previous owners operated two ocean ships, four river boats, and a plane. We were invited on the Crystal Skye (a pimped-out Boeing 777) in 2019. Here’s our video: https://youtu.be/4YaJcEpBsSc
As part of the bankruptcy proceedings in 2022, Abercrombie & Kent along with Manfredi Lefevre D’Ovidio (of SilverSea and Sitmar Cruises fame) bought up the two ocean vessels. At the time, I thought this was a terrible business decision: the two ships are both over 20 years old, and the brand was badly damaged during the bankruptcy.
I was wrong. It turns out that Crystal clients are the most loyal in the industry, and they flocked back to these two vessels. The same is true of the staff and crew. Over 90% of current Crystal crew were employed in the company’s previous iteration. EVERYBODY came back. This is a come-back story the business school geeks will be writing about for decades.
Why are Crystal clients SO loyal, and what are the cherished aspects of the brand?
- CREW: All the cruise lines say this, but Crystal is clearly doing something right if it managed to get 90% of the crew to return (after two years!).
- ITINERARIES: Crystal schedules its itineraries with a series of 6 to 10 day itineraries that don’t repeat ports, so you can stitch together an itinerary that works best for you.
- BUTLERS in every suite – this personalized service is available to everyone on Crystal.
- GUEST to CREW Ratio: Crystal has only 1.1 guests to every crew member.
What’s NEW on Crystal?
- FEWER GUESTS. The 2023 refurbishment under the new owners reduced capacity by 30%. Serenity previously carried over 1000 guests, and now has a maximum of 730. This means a larger staterooms, and a near-absence of any line-ups.
- REFRESHED RESTAURANT options: BEEF BAR and UMI UMA by Nobu, are world-famous land restaurants that are included in your fare on Crystal.
- PRE & POST options: The ownership by A & K comes through MOST strongly here.
- NEW BUILD. Crystal’s ocean fleet has been limited to two ships for over two decades. There are 3 more ships on order of similar size, crew and guest complement as Serenity.
VENDOR of the MONTH PROMOTION
During the month of July, we are able to offer the following on board credits for any Crystal booking. This is over and above anything offered directly by Crystal. You can use these credits for spa treatments, purchases at the on board shops, or for shore excursions:
- $125 per person for cruises 7 or 8 nights long
- $200 per person for cruises 9 or 10 nights long
- $250 per person for cruises 11 nights or longer.
Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:
Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about Crystal Cruises, and the cruise Sue and Bob just finished with Crystal. https://youtu.be/KrxMdXk7E1o
In Case You Missed It:
GO PLACES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF: There are lots of places out there are only slightly off the beaten-track, and they’re nearby where you’re already travelling to:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/go-visit-places-youve-never-heard-of
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS have been particularly active in the last several months, but here are some ideas if you want to up your chances of seeing this incredible natural phenomenon.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/northern-lights-and-winter-solstice/
OUR BACKSTORY: While travelling with clients a couple of years ago, we learned that people wanted to learn a little bit more about us. Here’s our story:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/our-clients-and-our-backstory/
Latest YOUTUBE Post:
GREAT LAKES with VIKING. It’s right in our own backyard, and we should follow the lead of tourists from around the world that travel to the GREAT LAKES to experience incredible scenery and wildlife spotting, as well as unique urban experiences in both the United States and Canada. If locks and canals are your thing, you can also experience that on the Great Lakes.
Have something to say about this?
Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0phYvFfjmZGt2z9tYZ7dvpqg7GZw3Hbj7wA76R7DqyRP8uWZnLWQ9yt9zANcR5Cxkl?rdid=cy7mKh7ZGJtSlfGJ#
Today’s Travel Opportunities
CRYSTAL CRUISES JULY PROMO
See the grid above for the additional ON BOARD CREDITS we can get for you this month. It is also combinable with the following promos offered directly from Crystal:
- STATUS MATCH: If you’re a loyalty member on one of Crystal’s competitors, Crystal will offer 5% OFF for new guests.
- CRYSTAL SOCIETY members discount.
- REFERRAL DISCOUNT. If you’re previous Crystal guest, and you refer someone else, those new-to-Crystal guests get 5% off their cruise AND you get the equivalent discount off YOUR next Crystal Cruise.
Here are some examples:
NEW YORK CITY round-trip departing October 7 for 7-nights
- Cruise with GLORIA GAYNOR – I Will Survive! This is a great way to take Crystal out for a test drive.
- Visit Newport, Provincetown, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John.
- Fares from $5000 (with a $125 pp OBC only from our agency).
CARIBBEAN: Fort Lauderdale to Bridgetown departing November 28 for 9-nights
- Visit Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Martinique.
- Fares from $4100 (with a $200 pp OBC only from our agency).
- OR stay on board for 24-nights (and visit just about every island in the Caribbean) from $10,800
NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA: Auckland to Melbourne departing February 19 for 8-nights
- Visit Auckland, Tauranga, Lyttelton, Timaru, Fjordland NP, Melbourne.
- Fares from $4800 (with a $125 pp OBC only from our agency).
- OR stay on board for 37-nights, travelling up the Australian East Coast to Indonesia, and then on to Malaysia and the Philippines to finish in Hong Kong from $20,000.
JAPAN: Seoul to Tokyo departing March 25 for 11-nights
- Visit Busan, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Beppu, Kochi, Kobe, Nagoya
- Fares from $5400 (with a $250 pp OBC only from our agency).
MEDITERRANEAN: Athens to Rome departing May 17 for 9-nights
- Visit Messina, Naples, Sardinia, Portofino, Villefranche sur Mer, Toulon
- Fares from $5040 (with a $200 pp OBC only from our agency).
ALASKA: Anchorage to Vancouver departing June 23 for 7-nights from $3420
- Visit Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Wrangell, Ketchikan.
- Fares from $3420 (with a $125 pp OBC only from our agency).
- OR go round-trip Vancouver for 11-nights and also visit Klawock, Prince Rupert and Victoria from $5620.
BRITISH ISLES & BALTIC SEA: Copenhagen to Liverpool departing July 16, 2026 for 10-nights
- Visit Sweden, 3 port stops in Norway, and 4 stops in the British Isles
- Fares from $5950 (with a $200 pp OBC only from our agency).
- OR stay on for 29-nights for the SOLAR ECLIPSE from $17,160 (5 port stops in France, 2 in the Netherlands, 3 in Spain and 2 in Portugal
UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION
If you’re a former CRYSTAL RIVER client, you’ll be pleased to know that Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler are now in UNIWORLD’s fleet as the SS Elisabeth and SS Victoria. Each carrying only 110 guests, here’s your chance to get back on board:
If you book with Uniworld during July we can get you an additional $150 per person on board credit.
TULIP CRUISE: Amsterdam to Brussels for 8-days
- Visit Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Dorddrecht, Gorinchem, Maastrict, Antwerp, Brussels
- March 27 from $5034
- April 3 from $5889
- April 17 from $6174
GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS: Nuremberg to Frankfurt
- Visit Nuremberg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt
- 2025: Depart November 24 from $4319
- 2026: Depart November 25, December 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 from $3869
- PRAGUE pre-cruise available
RHINE RIVER EXTENDED VOYAGE: Basel to Brussels departing August 1, 2026 for 15-days.
- Visit Lucerne, Strasbourg, Speyer, Boppard, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Bernkastel, Trier, Cochem, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Roermond, Maastrict, Antwerp, Brussels.
- Fares from $7649
- ZURICH pre-cruise available.
SEACLOUD – SALT WATER RIVER CRUISE
If you’re NOT an ocean cruiser, but DO like river cruises, then take a look at SEACLOUD. Their largest ship holds 130 (like a river boat), but they go to salt-water locations.
MEDITERRANEAN: Naples to Nice departing October 6 for 7-nights
- Visit Bastia (Corsica), Viareggio (Italy), Portofino, Menton (France), St. Tropez
- Fares from $4575
CARIBBEAN: Philipsburg (St. Maarten) round-trip departing March 26 for 7-nights
- Visit St. Barts, Dominica, Isles des Saintes, Martinique, Anguilla,
- Fares from $6495
CROATIA: Venice to Dubrovnik departing August 25, 2026 for 7-nights
- Visit Ravenna, Pula, Korcula, Split, Montenegro
- From $7495
CRUISE on the RAILS with ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
The original and most famous Rocky Mountaineer route starts or finishes in Vancouver, making it an easy add-on to many Alaskan cruises. On both the Canadian and US Rocky Mountaineer itineraries, you’ll get to see world-class scenery and wildlife spotting, all while enjoying great food and wine.
Vancouver to Banff for 5-nights
- Spend 2-nights in Vancouver, then board the train to Kamloops, and then follow on to Banff for 2-nights.
- Prices range between $2904 and $4968 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. Departures available April through October.
Circle Journey: Vancouver round-trip for 12 -nights
- Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3-nights), Lake Louise (2-nights), Jasper (2-nights), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
- Prices range between $9940 to $12,110 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. Departures available April through October.
CANYON SPIRIT: Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights
- Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
- Prices range between $5215 and $6270 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. Departures available April through October
VIKING FREE AIR FOR ASIA ITINERARIES in 2025
Viking is throwing FREE AIR and some substantial incentives at their repositioning cruise in September, so if you’re ready to travel soon, you won’t beat this deal:
JAPAN & ALASKA: Vancouver to Tokyo departing September 14 for 23-days. FREE AIR
· Visit Vancouver, Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Valdez, Seward, Homer, Kodiak, Sapporo (overnight), Tokyo (overnight).
· Avoid the long flight (at least in ONE direction!)
· Veranda Fares from $5499 (represents $1500 OFF) including FREE AIR, gratuities, beverage package, and room upgrade.
JAPAN: Tokyo to Hong Kong departing October 4 for 15-days. FREE AIR
· Visit Tokyo (overnight), Shimizu (overnight), Osaka, Hiroshima (overnight), Beppu, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Taipei, Hong Kong (overnight).
· Veranda Fares from $6999 (represents $2000 off) including FREE AIR, gratuities, beverage package and room upgrade.
Reminder: VISITING THE UK?
You now need to complete an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if you are visiting or connecting a flight anywhere in the UK. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland require US Passport Holders to complete this prior to arrival. Here’s a video we did that contains all the details: https://youtu.be/6NGfCqOsDKk
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
