Crystal River Cruises to start operations one year earlier than planned

Crystal River Cruises will launch with five river yachts – three more than previously announced – with the first luxury river vessel starting in 2016, a year earlier than planned.

Four newly built Crystal river yachts – twice the originally planned deployment – have been ordered for delivery in 2017 from the German shipyard Lloyd Werft. Crystal has also completed the purchase of the German built MS Mozart, the largest river cruise vessel in Europe. Following an extensive dry dock to create the elegant Crystal experience on board, the newly designed vessel will be renamed Crystal Mozart and embark on the Danube River on 13 July 2016.

Edie Rodriguez, President and Cheif Executive Officer of Crystal Cruises, said: “In response to travellers’ and travel agents’ enthusiasm for Crystal River Cruises, and through Crystal’s innovation, we are upping the ante once again, bringing “true luxury” to the river cruise sector with the largest guest suites and public spaces, the highest crew-to-guest-ratio and Crystal’s award-winning service. Once the transformation of Crystal Mozart is completed, it will truly be the crown jewel of the European rivers.”

Crystal Mozart – named after famous Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – is designed to fit into the wider locks of the Danube River from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary, and holds the record of being the largest river cruise vessel on European rivers, measuring 75.1 feet wide (22.9 metres). The 160-guest capacity Crystal Mozart has window suites of 203 square feet, deluxe suites of 215 square feet, a penthouse suite of 322 square feet and two, two-bedroom Crystal Suites of 860 square feet, the largest suite on any river vessels.

The vessel’s unique features will remain, such as the public area that spans a single level and exclusive yacht-like amenities including multiple dining rooms, a wrap-around promenade, a luxurious spa and fitness centre, an indoor pool, beauty salon and library.

The four new all-suite luxury river yachts will launch in June and August 2017, boasting suites of 220 square feet, deluxe suites of 250 square feet, a penthouse suite of 500 square feet and a two-bedroom Crystal Suite of 750 square feet. The suites will all feature king size beds, walk-in wardrobes and bathrooms with double vanities.

Similar to Crystal Mozart’s concept, the luxury river yacht’s public areas and dining venues will all be located on one level for convenient access. The new vessels will feature a Palm Court with dance floor and glass domed roof, a library, fitness centre, spa and sporting equipment such as electric assisted bicycles, kayaks and jet skis.

Designed with the maximum size to fit into the locks of rivers and under bridges, two of the Crystal River Yachts will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers with 110 guests. As for the other two, each with an 84-guest capacity, one will be cruising the Seine River and the other the Garonne and Dordogne rivers as well as navigating through the Gironde Estuary.

The two new builds cruising on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers will be named Crystal Bach after the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach and Crystal Mahler after the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. The two new builds cruising on the Seine River and Garonne River will be named Crystal Ravel after the French composer Joseph Maurice Ravel and Crystal Debussy after the French composer Claude Debussy.

Itineraries, fares and bookings for Crystal Mozart, Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Ravel, and Crystal Debussy will be released on 30 November 2015.

(Image credit to Crystal Cruises)