Crystal Cruises releases 2017 cruise program with unique cruises from Middle East and South Africa

Crystal Cruises is reinforcing its reputation as an innovative leader in the luxury cruise market with the release of a complete roster of cruise itineraries for 2017, which is in itself unusual in the industry, but the itineraries themselves are also unique, with firsts for both South Africa and the Middle East cruise markets.

The luxury cruise line’s 2017 cruise program will follow a 2016 season that boasts a history-making transit of the fabled Northwest Passage, plus a 102-day World Cruise circling the Pacific Rim and more maiden calls than ever before.

Looking to keep up the pressure on their competitors, Crystal Cruises two ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony will be sailing on 57 voyages visiting a total of 268 ports through the year in 84 countries. Of those 268 port calls, 150 of them will be spent overnight, the most offered by any cruise line in a single year.

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Highlights of the year will include Crystal Cruises’ first-ever South African cruise holiday with a roundtrip Cape Town cruise departure aboard Crystal Symphony that will focus heavily on South African history and the country’s wildlife, with extensive safari shore excursions offered. Departing Cape Town on December 23rd, this two weeks cruise will also coincide with Christmas and New Year.

This cruise will follow Crystal Symphony’s November 22nd 2017 cruise departure from Dubai bound for Port Louis, Mauritius. The 17-night cruise will include port calls in Doha, Qatar, making Crystal Symphony one of the first ever luxury cruise ships to call in the city, a major development for Qatar in its ambitions to compete for cruise line traffic in the Middle East cruise industry.

The cruise will also include a call in Abu Dhabi, allowing for visits to the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest in the UAE, as well as the new Louvre museum, set to open in 2015, and the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim, which is scheduled for completion in 2017 ahead of Crystal Symphony’s arrival.

“We continue to offer intrepid luxury travelers new ways to explore and experience the world, whether with a new destination or simply a new perspective on a favorite one,” says Edie Rodriguez, Crystal’s president and COO.

Other highlights of Crystal Cruises’ 2017 cruise program include:

• 32 Maiden calls to intriguing places like Maroantsetra, Madagascar; Iquique, Chile; and Djúpivogur, Iceland; along with lesser known gems such as Calvi, Corsica; Sète, France; and Santa Margherita, Italy.
• Crystal’s first-ever voyages to New Guinea, and maiden calls in Vanuatu and New Caledonia, all featured on a January segment of the 99-day Grand Pacific Explorer Grand Cruise
• A 94-day Southern Celebración World Cruise aboard Crystal Serenity, circumnavigating South America and offering exotic adventure in the Galapagos, Antarctica, the Amazon, Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and more
• A new 2-night inclusive overland program in Paris on two summer sailings in August
• European options that offer more Mediterranean cruises and variety than ever before; new itineraries beginning or ending in Portsmouth, England and Valletta, Malta; and multiples overnights on virtually every voyage
• Singular voyages include journeys to the North Cape, British Isles, Canary Islands and Holy Land
• Caribbean journeys that begin or end in Charleston, South Carolina

Itineraries designed around global events, like visiting Stockholm during Sweden’s festive Midsummer celebration, Muscat on the Sultan’s birthday (Oman’s Independence Day) and Edinburgh for the Military Tattoo

Through to March 2nd, 2015, all-inclusive “Book Now” cruise fares for 2016 and 2017 start at US $2,200 per person. Crystal Cruises is the world’s leading luxury cruise provider, having earned more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, hotel, or resort in history.