Magazine’s 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards recognize Crystal Cruises for a record 25th year
Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises earn top-2 honors in river- and small-ship categories
MIAMI, October 9, 2018 – The readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine have again voted Crystal Cruises the Best Medium-Sized Cruise Line in the world. Nearly half a million Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted a record-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences to provide a full snapshot of where and how they travel today.
“The acclaim of the world’s most discerning travelers is the highest praise and we are honored to have once again been chosen as the best of the best,” said Crystal President and CEO Tom Wolber. “Luxury travelers are extremely savvy, with individual preferences and high standards for their preferred travel providers, and it is very gratifying to know that Crystal’s commitment to exceeding these standards is resonating with our guests. They know that Crystal sets the bar for excellence in any destination they choose to explore.”
Crystal has continually reaffirmed its commitment to its two award-winning ocean ships, with Crystal Symphony undergoing her most dramatic redesign to date in the fall of 2017, and Crystal Serenity to follow suit in November of this year. All told, the ships will have emerged with new globally inspired dining venues including Umi Uma, Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s only seagoing restaurants, newly transformed, butler-serviced Penthouse and Penthouse Suite accommodations, and enhanced streamline technological amenities. And while the conversion of former verandah staterooms to Penthouses effectively reduces the ships’ overall guest capacities, the number of Crystal service crew will remain the same, further increasing the onboard service ratio and maximizing the celebrated personalized attention to detail for which Crystal is famous.
Having begun a significant brand expansion in 2015 with the introduction of Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, and in 2016 with the launch of Crystal River Cruises, Crystal has taken its award-winning brand of service and luxury to entirely new experiences. In the 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards, both brand experiences scored in the top-2 for global travelers in the Best Small-Sized Ship and Best River Cruise categories, respectively.
Crystal Esprit, the first yacht for Crystal, sails itineraries through the West Indies, Adriatic, United Arab Emirates and Seychelles that are designed to appeal to active, adventurous travelers. The 62-guest, all-suite, butler-serviced yacht fosters the intimate atmosphere of a private yachting getaway while exploring some of the world’s most elite and exotic harbors.
Crystal River Cruises’ Crystal Mozart is the largest ship to sail Europe’s rivers, while the four new-build “Rhine Class” ships – Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel – are the first and only all-suite, all-balcony, all-butler river ships in the region. The fleet of five immediately raised the standard of luxury in the river cruising industry when they debuted over the past two years, earning the acclaim of longtime Crystal guests as well as many new-to-Crystal guests.
Across each of its brand extensions and varied offerings around the world, Crystal’s commitment to the original hallmarks of its philosophy – incomparable service, abundant space, superior quality, numerous choices and fascinating destinations – continues to earn the company the industry’s highest accolades.
The 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards are published exclusively on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at www.cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue on newsstands nationwide on October 16.
About Crystal
The world-renowned Crystal Experience – featuring global journeys with Crystal Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Crystal AirCruises and Crystal Luxury Air – continues to be the distinctive choice of the world’s most discerning travelers.
For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel professional, call 888.799.2437, or visit www.crystalcruises.com. Join the hundreds of thousands who subscribe to the Crystal Insider blog, follow Crystal Cruises’ Facebook page and @crystalcruises on Twitter and Instagram, and engage in the conversation with #crystalcruises.
About Condé Nast Traveler
As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. Condé Nast Traveler is the most trusted and celebrated name in travel with 6 National Magazine Award wins and 26 nominations in its 30-year history. Advertising Age named Pilar Guzmán Editor of the Year in 2014 and CNTraveler.com attained 3 Webby Awards in 2015. For more, visit www.cntraveler.com. For press inquiries, please contact: awards@condenasttraveler.com