Walter Littlejohn

Hi NJCruiserBoy,

Thank you for your interest in Crystal River Cruises for your reunion.

Our 2020 itineraries will be announced within the coming months.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear cab7,

Crystal River Cruises welcomes travelers from all over the world and river cruising appeals to all demographics.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

As "the new kid on the block", how will Crystal try to be different to comparable luxury all-inclusive river cruise offerings such as Uniworld and Scenic which are more established European river cruise firms?

Dear JohnKen3,

Crystal River Cruises offers over 30 points of differentiation from among out closest competitors, but most of it all can be summarized by the fact that Crystal River ships are in a category unto themselves. Our ships are like 5-star floating luxury boutique hotels with an emphasis on fine cuisine, genuine, personalized service, spacious accommodations in a casually elegant atmosphere that is warm, friendly and unregimented so that you can vacation as you choose.

We entered the river cruising market with nearly 27 years of expertise in 5-star luxury and award-winning service aboard our ocean ships. When we first launched Crystal River Cruises, it was imperative that we remain true to that Crystal standard of excellence and offer a consistently superb experience to travelers. Rather than modeling our river ships after other river ships, we took the best of the Crystal Experience that travelers have loved aboard our ocean ships and applied it to the rivers. Specifically, this means distinctive differences in the following ways:

Service: With twice as many crew members as other river ships, Crystal can deliver personalized service for each guest, with the highest crew-to-guest ratio in the industry. Crystal Mozart carries 154 guess with 92 crew and our other ships carry 106 guests with 68 crew. Each crew member is solely dedicated to his or her area of expertise – the European butlers in each suite focus on the individual wishes of guests, certified wine sommeliers advise during meals and host pairing dinners, massage therapists work solely in the Crystal Life Salon & Spa – no one is doubling up duties, to ensure that guests’ receive the most specialized service available. Our Destinations team consists of three destination experts plus each of our ships have a full-time fitness director who not only leads daily yoga, stretching and circuit classes but also leads our active shore excursions. Each of our employees is an expert in their craft and have the passion and necessary training to do their job well. Another key difference is that ALL of the crew onboard our vessels are CRYSTAL employees, handpicked using exacting standards to make sure our crew delivers exceptional, polished, warm and genuine service. We are one of only three river brands that employ all of their own staff, no part of our operation (including the spa!) is outsourced.

Cuisine: All Crystal River Cruises cuisine is Michelin-inspired, farm-to-table cuisine using fresh ingredients sourced locally*. Unlike most river cruise ships, nothing is brought onboard our ships frozen or pre-prepared. Each dish is prepared to order. This allows us to offer true flexible open-seating dining so that guests may dine where, when and with whom they choose. The standard of cuisine we prepare onboard our river ships is simply unparalleled in the river cruise business and is supported by the largest galleys on the river and recipes and skills that have been perfected by Crystal’s expert culinary team. We also offer 24-hour room service with hot and cold selections from our room service menu as well as the ability for guests to order dinner from the menu of our Waterside restaurant. *The only two items that are not locally sourced include fresh lobster that we fly in from either Maine or Canada once per voyage and fresh oysters that we bring in from France, also once per voyage.

Accommodations: Crystal offers the largest accommodations in the river cruising industry, with every suite featuring spacious design, plush amenities and king-sized beds. Our largest suites are two bedrooms, two and half baths measuring 883 sq.ft. in size, twice as large as the largest suites of our closest competitors. In addition to private butler service all of our suites feature evening canapé service, Nespresso machines, stocked mini refrigerators, sitting area, Etro Italian fashion house amenities (bath gels, bar soap, lotion, conditioner, shampoo, slippers), two types of bathrobes, two hair dryers, 40-inch HD TVs, iPads from which guests can order a variety of services including room service, pillow menu, shore excursions, weather information, port information, over 20 international newspapers and magazines, etc. On our four identical sister ships: Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel over 70% of the suites feature walk-in closets and double-vanity bathrooms and all suites are located above the waterline on decks 2 and 3.

Shore Excursions: In 2018 we launched an entirely new – and truly innovative – shore excursion program designed to cater to smaller groups and individual interests. With the Crystal Collection, guests can tailor their shore excursion experiences around their personal tastes and preferences, rather than what we feel is best. Within our program, guests can choose from more than 200 complimentary shoreside experiences from the following categories:

Tantalizing Gastronomy for those who want to savor the local foods, wines and beers;

Exhilarating Adventures including hiking, biking, kayaking, snow-shoeing and other choices for those who want an active experience;

Personal Connections for people who want to mix and mingle with locals and learn more about their life;

Crystal Signature Events including musical concerts held in unique, breathtaking venues;

Epicurean Experiences, restaurant experiences in Michelin-star, highly-acclaimed or popular locals restaurants;

Cultural Discoveries, comprehensive insight from expert guides into historical landmarks, museums, iconic sites and architectural marvels;

Design Your Time shore excursions - custom-curated experiences that are unique for each guest.

Additionally, all of our shore excursion programs are supported by each ship’s own fleet of Crystal luxury motor coaches that would normally hold 52 passengers but are outfitted to seat only 40 guests with plenty of legroom, power outlets at every seat and complimentary wi-fi.

Entertainment: In addition to our onboard entertainer who performs nightly with life piano and vocal stylings, Crystal River Cruises hosts local entertainers when we’re in port late or overnight (often). Examples include a tenor from Barcelona and a violinist trio from Vienna. New in 2018 on select sailings we will present the “Crystal on Broadway” program, which features performers, producers and other “insiders” from Broadway who come aboard for performances and engaging presentations about their experiences on the stage and screen.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Thanks Walter! But it is a little bit disappointment for us as we really want to attend a classic concert in Vienna since it is the city of music, like the signature evening last year for Crystal Mozart, that is also one of the main reason we want to choose Crystal river cruise. :)

 

If we still want to attend a classical concert in Vienna, can Crystal arrange that? I know there will be an overnight stay in Vienna, right?

 

Thanks!

Yes, there are quite a number of classical music houses in Vienna and we have a dedicated team that works with our ground operators in Europe to curate custom experiences for our guests for an additional charge.

Dear Happy2trvl,

Great question, thank you! Crystal’s Signature Events are different from the overall Crystal Collection of shore excursions in that there is one special Signature Event for each itinerary, offering exclusive access and experiences in some of Europe’s most significant theatres, castles and museums. We offer the largest assortment of shore excursions than any other river cruise line with more than 200 complimentary excursions ashore, designed so that you can tailor your vacation to your own personal tastes and desires.

Within our program we have seven categories of shore excursions:

• Tantalizing Gastronomy for those who want to savor the local foods, wines and beers;
  
• Exhilarating Adventures including hiking, biking, kayaking, snow-shoeing and other choices for those who want an active experience;
  
• Personal Connections for people who want to mix and mingle with locals and learn more about their life;
  
• Crystal Signature Events including musical concerts held in unique, breathtaking venues;
  
• Epicurean Experiences, restaurant experiences in Michelin-star, highly-acclaimed or popular locals restaurants;
  
• Cultural Discoveries, comprehensive insight from expert guides into historical landmarks, museums, iconic sites and architectural marvels;
  
• Design Your Time - custom-curated experiences that are unique for each guest.
  

With the abundance of choices offered on a typical 7-night Danube river cruise we can have up to 28 different shore excursions (depending on the itinerary). With that grand number of choices we are able to guarantee small group sizes and, most importantly, the opportunity for guests to vacation the way they prefer to vacation.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard Crystal River Cruises this September.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear ZYCQ,

Thank you so much for choosing to travel on Crystal Mozart, you’re going to love her, she’s simply stunning! Each of our itineraries has a different Crystal Signature Event assigned to it and since you’re traveling on a 7-night Crystal Mozart cruise in 2019 that means you’re on the Danube Serenade itinerary. For that itinerary we have assigned the following Crystal Signature Event:

Jazzy ‘Spring String Quartet’ at St. Florian Monastery

Spend an evening in a Baroque monastery outside Linz, where one of Europe’s leading jazz-rock-classical crossover groups will present an exclusive live performance. Famed for turning the sedate violin music cliché politely on its head, Spring String Quartet’s high-energy concerts have electrified audiences around the world, including at Carnegie Hall. Hearing the Spring String Quartet’s quirky, dynamic musical mastery within a classically austere monastery setting like St. Florian is exactly the sort of experience that’s earned Linz its longstanding reputation for cultural inventiveness — and Crystal, its flair for the exceptional.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard Crystal Mozart next summer.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear 8dimsum,

Thank you for your inquiry. We are seeing an increased demand for combination voyages and are in the midst of developing a program for our guests. We hope to have more information to share on this initiative within the next few months.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear Ovener:

Thank you for selecting Crystal River Cruises for your introduction into river cruising. We closely monitor the water levels on the waterways and do everything possible to adjust the itinerary to the best of our ability, if needed. Should a low or high-water scenario occur and the vessel is unable to sail the intended route, guests are still able to enjoy the places we visit as we have our own fleet of luxury motorcoaches to transport guests to nearby destinations.

When ships dock alongside one another, called rafting, views may be obstructed on the side of the ship that is alongside another. In many ports, particularly during high season, it is common for ships to be alongside one or more ships. As part of the river cruising experience, we find that most guests spend their time ashore exploring, dining in our restaurants, or relaxing in one of our social spaces on board.

We are confident that you will have a fantastic time and look forward to welcoming you onboard next year.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear cruisemaster6,

Thank you for your inquiry. For Crystal Mozart voyages, we offer guided e-bike tours in select ports. These tours are not offered in October due to seasonality and the chance of slippery weather conditions. We do carry a fleet of 30 e-bikes on board Crystal Mozart and you are welcome to use them at your leisure; no reservations are required.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard Crystal River Cruises.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear Ancientmariner,

Thank you for your inquiry. We truly value guest feedback regarding new destinations such as the Rhone. Our current river deployment will continue to sail along the beautiful Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers. We are happy to share information regarding new destinations when we are prepared to release them.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear Billy Bee,

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. Crystal River Cruises does not offer a “Kids Sail Free” program, that program is only available on our ocean cruises and is fact based on the multitude of Crystal guests who like to share the joy of travel with their children and grandchildren. As our ocean ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, are the most spacious in the luxury industry, with the only dedicated children’s and teens’ facilities in that sector, we have found that Crystal ships continue to be among the first choices of such families and groups traveling together, seeking a luxury vacation and an onboard experience that caters to everyone.

As space is a premium on river ships we don’t have the same facilities, but it has always been Crystal’s policy to welcome all luxury travelers aboard our ships, which often include multi-generational families with children, particularly during summer months and holiday sailings.

Kindest Regards,

Walter

Dear Jwsfun,

Thank you for your inquiry. We have an optimistic outlook on the future of the river cruise industry and believe that there are more opportunities to grow at the right time. At this time, the Crystal River Cruises fleet will continue to sail with five ships – Crystal Mozart, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel for the coming years. We entered the river cruise business based on strong demand for the experience and will continue to provide an exceptional luxury river vacation for our guests.

For the best rates, consult your travel professional to learn more about our special offers. We are currently offering savings of up to $1,000 per suite for dozens of 2018 river voyages when you book by June 30, 2018. More information can be found on our website at http://www.crystalcruises.com/special-offers/book-now-savings-on-river-cruises.

Kindest Regards,

Walter