Crystal Cruises: An Air Of Elegance, Presence Of Beauty, Spirit Of Adventure, And A Feeling Of Tranquility!

Written by William Lezubski


On a Crystal cruise it is not difficult to find what you seek. In fact, your search for a place beyond ordinary is over. “Splendidly Uncommon”! Ablaze with intoxicating color and high style, Crystal Cruises' Harmony, Symphony and Serenity are ships of superlatives that capturerepparttar aura of extravagant parties, big, snazzy cars and high tea inrepparttar 148887 Palm Court while Porter, Gershwin, Mozart and Bach float onrepparttar 148888 air.

The Experience:

Six-star elegance and style personified! Accommodations include ocean-view staterooms and suites, which many are with private verandahs (Crystal Harmony offers a small number of inside staterooms as well). Full 360-degree teak promenade deck, In-stateroom Internet access, and Butler Service in categories (PH, PS and CP). Choice of classic, main, or late seating inrepparttar 148889 Crystal Dining Room. Several alternatives to dining venues, 24-hour room service, and wine cellar with over 20,000 bottles (200 vintages and a special Reserve Wine List).

Nights are full of life! Award-winning production shows and a host of other evening performances await whererepparttar 148890 spotlight shines on Tony® award-winners, Julliard grads, Broadway and West End performers as well asrepparttar 148891 Crystal Ensemble of singers and Dancers. Showrooms were custom-designed to offer perfect views from each seat and offer superior sound and lighting systems. Costumes are hand made and staging is skillfully crafted to bring every vibrant moment to life. Each cruise also has a variety of cabaret-style entertainment including vocalists, comedians, ventriloquists, instrumentalists and classical artists (you may find yourself serenaded with classical melodies during afternoon tea or whispering special requests torepparttar 148892 trio which strolls throughrepparttar 148893 Crystal Dining Room inrepparttar 148894 evening).

The Crystal Spa isrepparttar 148895 first at sea to userepparttar 148896 principles of Feng Shui. Your journey begins with cultural therapies from aroundrepparttar 148897 world all enjoyed amid beautiful Asian artifacts in a restoring, peaceful atmosphere.

Crystal Cruises excels with there quite remarkable Creative Learning Institute and Crystal Visions® Enrichment Program. You can enjoy classes and workshops inrepparttar 148898 fields of Arts & Entertainment, Business & Technology, Lifestyle, Wellness, Wine & Food, attend courses as diverse as successful grand-parenting and menu planning, experience lectures onrepparttar 148899 latest advances in medicine and alternative medicine; take piano classes from Yamaha or language lessons with Berlitz. There's a Computer University at sea, fitness centre, golf driving ranges and putting greens (PGA golf instructors are on select sailing's), large lap pools, full size paddle tennis courts, and escorted and private Crystal Adventures (shore excursions).

All Crystal Cruises ships featurerepparttar 148900 Caesars Palace at Sea® Casino, which is run byrepparttar 148901 world famous Las Vegas operation (the expert on board staff is employed by Caesars Palace). The facility houses blackjack tables, as well as mini-baccarat, craps, roulette and more than 85 slot machines.

Accommodations:

It is in your private quarters where Crystal has lavished special attention. Allrepparttar 148902 essentials and an abundance of extravagances turn every accommodation style into a decidedly personal retreat. Soft lighting, Aveda bath products and 100% Egyptian cotton bath towels in your marble bathroom. Scandinavian down duvets, 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and feather and down king-size pillows on your bed. Ship to shore phones and personal voice mail.

In every stateroom a plush Frette bathrobe awaits a cool evening or barefoot breakfast on your private verandah. Penthouse accommodation deliversrepparttar 148903 highest level of comfort and can range from 360 to 1345 square feet dependent uponrepparttar 148904 ship you select. Some are equipped with personal gyms, quite a number offer a separate living room, dining area and bedroom, master bath with a jacuzzi, complimentary beverage bars, flat-screen TV's, CD players, and DVD players.

All, of course, have private verandahs withrepparttar 148905 services of a butler. Planning to entertain a few friends at a small party? He'll arrange it beautifully. Preferrepparttar 148906 appetizers, entrées, or desserts from a variety of select specialty restaurants? He'll bring them to you, along withrepparttar 148907 movie you want fromrepparttar 148908 library.

Dining:

The restaurants on board Crystal Cruises' ships are indeed worth mentioning. Allrepparttar 148909 ships offer: two seatings inrepparttar 148910 main restaurant (Crystal Dining Room), where international and regionally inspired dishes are prepared inrepparttar 148911 time-honored European tradition, and are unveiled (including "Lighter Fare" choices such as low carb, low sodium, low cholesterol and vegetarian). All ships have an excellent selection of alternative dining venues. Prego, for example, which features traditional Italian specialties plusrepparttar 148912 signature fare of Piero Selvaggio of Valentino Restaurant fame (Valentino is considered by culinary critics to berepparttar 148913 best Italian Restaurant outside of Italy)is on all ships.

Crystal Harmony's Kyoto features inventive Japanese cuisine, while on Crystal Symphony,repparttar 148914 Jade Garden is a culinary crossroads of Asia with menus inspired by exotic traditions and ingredients ofrepparttar 148915 Orient and specialty dishes from Wolfgang Puck's famed Chinois restaurant. On Crystal Serenity,repparttar 148916 eclectic cuisine of Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa(right, that Nobu) is highlighted in two restaurants, Silk Road and The Sushi Bar. In Crystal Symphony's and Crystal Serenity's Vintage Room, custom meals are paired with wine selections such as limited bottling of California's Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle, dream vintages of great Bordeaux or masterpieces fromrepparttar 148917 fleetwide Reserve Wine List which reveals 20 rare wines.

Consider a Crystal Wine & Food Festival sailing where guest chefs superviserepparttar 148918 preparation of a special five-course dinner to be matched with wine pairings selected by a participating wine expert. Each chef presents cooking techniques, offers tips and shares their favorite recipes at special demonstrations.

Silversea Cruises! Committed To Elegance, Luxury, And Gracious Hospitality

Written by William Lezubski


Committed to elegance, luxury and gracious hospitality, Silversea Cruises isrepparttar “Ultra Plus” inrepparttar 148886 elite cruise domain. Their promise is to always go above and beyond. Their passion is to exceed your expectations. Their reward is achieving excellence in your eyes. “Faultless”!

Silversea offers flexible "Personalized Voyages" where guests chooserepparttar 148887 length of their voyage and ports of embarkation and disembarkation. Prices are based on a simple daily rate. For as little as US$100 per person, guests on all ships may embark earlier thanrepparttar 148888 standard 3PM and disembark as late as 5PM.

Atmosphere:

Genuinely hospitable, and sociable withrepparttar 148889 emphasis on excellence. Each and every special touch is introduced with such style and finesse you'll quickly feel like a preferred member ofrepparttar 148890 world's most intimate country club. A ceremonious white gloves greeting and flute of chilled champagne welcomes you. Available in your suite is Bvlgari toiletries and plush robes. Placed on your pillow, Godiva chocolates.

Service:

Silversea's mission is to deliver guest comfort and benefits at a level unparalleled inrepparttar 148891 hospitality industry. Which is whyrepparttar 148892 crew to guest ratio is (1.34:1). Expect to be treated with loving care with your space and privacy respected (there is no ship photographer to insist upon a pose). Dining staff is handpicked fromrepparttar 148893 very best hotels and restaurants. Gratuities are not required.

Accommodations:

All accommodation is in ocean-view suites (80% with private teak (verandas). Beautifully appointed with a rare degree of finesse and refinement, every suite features a marbled bath with a full-size tub (double sinks on Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper). There are seven different types of suites ranging in size from 240 square feet (Vista Suite) up to 1400 square feet (Grand Suites).

All suites include Bvlgari soaps and lotions, continuously restocked cocktail cabinets, direct dial phones, TV/VCR, personalized stationery, private safe, refrigerator, sitting area with desk, terry cloth robes, walk-in closet. Larger suites have living areas, and some offer two bedrooms and two bathrooms with jacuzzis, and even two or three verandas. The sky isrepparttar 148894 limit! For families and friends, there isrepparttar 148895 opportunity to travel in separate suites yet share a semi-private deck area.

The emphasis on excellence is shown to impressive effect inrepparttar 148896 sumptuous furnishings and fine appointments in majestic suites like no other. Spacious, classic sanctuaries, over 80% have teak verandas. Selection ranges fromrepparttar 148897 240 square foot Vista Suite through torepparttar 148898 pinnacle of good living -the Royal, Grand and Owner's Suites. The latter three suite styles were designed for those whose standards for luxury are higher than most. Guests enjoy such perquisites as afternoon canapés, valet service, complimentary laundry, and dinner atrepparttar 148899 Officer's Table (on Silver Shadow® and Silver Whisper®, a plasma TV and Bang & Olufsen sound system join two other TV/VCR combinations). Fresh flowers and a bottle of prestigious, award-winning Philipponnat champagne await all suite arrivals.

Dining:

Accompanied by an extensive selection of fine wines certain to amuserepparttar 148900 palate ofrepparttar 148901 most discriminating connoisseur, dining is a wondrously engaging affair with an open seating policy where guests dine with companions of their choice atrepparttar 148902 time they prefer. Inrepparttar 148903 intimate Le Champagne (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper) and Saletta (Silver Cloud and Silver Wind) guests will relish an incomparable gastronomic experience underrepparttar 148904 culinary eye of Joachim Koerper, chef-owner of Spain's Relais & Chateaux - Relais Gourmands Michelin Two-Star Restaurant Girasol. Oenophiles and gourmands might wish to arrange a private dinner in Saletta or Le Champagne where a personalized menu is crafted by Silversea's Executive Chef and Head Sommelier (an additional charge will apply).

Entertainment:

In The Bar, music is live andrepparttar 148905 dance floor beckons as it does in The Panorama Lounge where favorite songs of yesterday and today invite you ontorepparttar 148906 spacious floor (select voyages feature gentlemen dance hosts). The Show Lounge presents a full spectrum of colorful shows, andrepparttar 148907 stylish casino, alive with energy, is reminiscent ofrepparttar 148908 Riviera.

On Silver Whisper and Silver Shadowrepparttar 148909 "fine art ofrepparttar 148910 smoke" can be practiced in The Humidor whererepparttar 148911 finest cigars and cognacs may be enjoyed (created by Davidoff it has a dedicated ventilation system). The elegant, refined Champagne Room isrepparttar 148912 perfect venue for a glass of bubbly. On many itineraries a complimentary shoreside excursion is featured for your interest - "The Silversea Experience."

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