Unusual Crystal Excursions!
Ray Goldenberg
I received this press release from Crystal and thought it would be of
interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings, they are
available on my web site.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
LOS ANGELES CA, Sept. 20
A private tea with the mayor of Mombasa, flightseeing over Mt.
Everest, and a dip in your personal Phinda Rock Lodge plunge pool in
Kenya are just three of the more than 30 new shore excursions slated
for Crystal Symphony's 2001 World Cruise. In all, luxury cruise
specialist Crystal Cruises has developed a diverse roster of 120
intimate cultural experiences, exclusive safaris and historical
expeditions -- from half-day excursions to lengthier overland journeys
-- in Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa, the Canary
Islands and Western Europe.
Departing Los Angeles for London on Jan. 12, Crystal's sixth
consecutive World Cruise visits 38 exotic ports in 31 countries. While
it is sold primarily as a 104-day voyage or in four 24- to 28-day
individual cruises from Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Dubai and Cape Town,
the luxury line is also offering shorter World Cruise sailings ranging
in length from as few as eight to 17 days.
Crystal's land programs experts have crafted new shore excursions for
each of the individual World Cruise voyages. Among them are:
-- Feng Shui Highlights of Hong Kong, offered as a half-day tour,
illustrates how the capital -- from its soaring skyline to Tai
Mo Shan
Mountain -- adheres to the principles of feng shui, enabling
man to
live in harmony with his environment
-- Also from Hong Kong, a five-night overland adventure through
Thailand
and Cambodia showcases Siam's ancient capital of Ayuthaya, a
Chao
Phraya River cruise, the impressive Angkor Wat monument and the
Ta Phrom temple
-- A five-hour small craft cruise through dramatic Ha Long Bay
(from
Hon Gai, Vietnam) meanders among stalagmites, stone pillars,
and
grottoes sprinkled throughout the seascape's 2,000 limestone
and
dolomite inlets
-- The six-night, Temples and Tigers, from Colombo, Sri Lanka
combines
India's architectural masterpiece and the natural wonders of
the
region. The adventure includes visits to the Taj Mahal and
Jaipur and
overnight stays in Ranthambore National Park, one of the few
preserves
in the world where the great tiger can be seen in the daylight,
as well
as antelope, sambar, chittal, sloth bear, wild boar,
porcupines, marsh
crocodile, and leopard
-- Also from Colombo, Sri Lanka, the six-night Magnificent Nepal
program
features Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, wildlife viewing at Tiger Tops
inside
Nepal's Chitwan National Park, and weather permitting, optional
Himalayan Mountains flightseeing with close-up views of Mt.
Everest
-- Offered for the first time by any cruise line, is a traditional
afternoon tea with the Mayor of Mombasa, Kenya (and other
ranking
Cabinet members) in his private villa
-- Also from Mombasa, the three-night Exclusive Ngorongoro Crater
overland
program highlights Tanzania's abundant 102-square mile wildlife
preserve, with a descent into the crater via four-wheel drive
vehicle,
and overnight accommodations at the sumptuous Ngorongoro Crater
Lodge
offering personal butler service and views of the Crater more
than
1,500 feet below
-- Unforgettable Phinda, a three-night program from Durban, South
Africa,
features game drives and bush walks in Zululand among Kenya's
Ubombo
Mountains, home to seven distinct ecosystems. Sightings of
"The Big
Five" -- lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhinoceros --
and whale
sharks, giant leatherback turtles, antelope, and more than 350
species
of birds, are juxtaposed with luxurious overnight
accommodations in the
ultra-exclusive Phinda Rock Lodge, where each "room," is
actually a
private cliff chalet with personal plunge pools overlooking
Leopard
Rock
-- From Banjul, Gambia, a full day safari through the creeks of
the
capital's renowned River offers glimpses of the dogfacebaboon,
flamingoes, and heron
``To complement the grandness of Crystal's World Cruise, we strive to
create the ultimate program of shoreside opportunities,'' says Craig
Laforest, Crystal Cruises' director, land programs. ``As guests aboard
Crystal Symphony's World Cruise are most often experienced travelers
who have accumulated unforgettable memories of the world's top
attractions and more remote destinations, it's our goal to provide
unique adventures they can add to their collection.''
Special World Value Fares for the complete 104-day World Cruise begin
at $36,990 per person, double occupancy, and include round-trip first
class or business class air transportation (depending on stateroom
category), and a long list of luxurious perks. The 104-day sailing is
also available in 11 individual World Cruise Voyages, ranging in
length from eight to 28 days. Cruise fares for the individual segments
begin at $3,085 per person, double occupancy.
At 50,000 tons with 940 guests, the spacious Crystal Symphony, and her
sister ship Crystal Harmony, are the highest-rated large luxury ships
afloat.
Crystal Cruises is booked exclusively through travel agents. For a
complimentary 2001 World Cruise highlights brochure, please call
800.820.6663. Visit the line's website at www.crystalcruises.com.
Itinerary overview for
Crystal Symphony's World Cruise 2001
Los Angeles to London
World Voyage I
Los Angeles, California to Hong Kong, China
28 days, January 12 - February 10, 2001
Ports of call:
Oahu (Honolulu), Hawaii (overnight); Lahaina (Maui), Hawaii;
Kwajalein,
Marshall Islands (maiden call); Palau Island, Republic of Palau
(maiden
call); Apra, Guam, USA; Okinawa (Naha), Japan; Keelung, Taiwan; Hong
Kong,
China (overnight)
World Voyage II
Hong Kong, China to Dubai, United Arab Emirates
25 days, February 10 - March 7, 2001
Ports of call:
Hon Gai (Halong Bay), Vietnam (maiden call); Kompong Som, Kampuchea
(formerly Cambodia) (maiden call); Singapore (overnight); Yangon,
Myanmar
(formerly Burma) (maiden call); Colombo, Sri Lanka (maiden call);
Male,
Republic of Maldives; Cochin, India; Mumbai, India; Dubai, United Arab
Emirates (overnight)
World Voyage III
Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Cape Town, South Africa
24 days, March 7 - March 31, 2001
Ports of call:
Muscat, Oman; Victoria, Seychelles; Mombasa, Kenya (overnight);
Zanzibar,
Tanzania; Mayotte, Comoros Islands (maiden call); Nosy Be, Madagascar
(maiden call); Durban, South Africa; Cape Town, South Africa
(overnight)
World Voyage IV
Cape Town, South Africa to London, England
27 days, March 31 to April 27, 2001
Ports of call:
Walvis Bay, Namibia; Bom Bom Island Resort, Principe; Takoradi, Ghana;
Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Banjul, Gambia (maiden call); Dakar, Senegal;
Tenerife, Canary Islands; Madiera (Funchal), Portugal; Casablanca,
Morocco; Malaga, Spain; Bilbao, Spain