An artist rendering of one of Crystal’s upcoming luxe river yachts. * Photo: Crystal River Cruises
Sometimes two just isn’t enough. Crystal has announced it’s building four new all-suite luxury river boats to enter service in June and August 2017, doubling its original order. Most suites will measure 220 to 250 square feet, and each vessel will also have a 500-square-foot penthouse and a two-bedroom 750-square-foot Crystal Suite. Lux features will include a library, fitness center, spa and sporting equipment such as electric assisted bicycles, kayaks and jet skis. The four will be named after famous European composers: the 110-passenger CRYSTAL BACH and CRYSTAL MAHLER will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while the 84- passenger CRYSTAL RAVEL and CRYSTAL DEBUSSY will cruise along France’s Seine, Garonne and Dordogne rivers and also navigate the Gironde Estuary.
And there’s more: a fifth riverboat. Crystal has just purchased the German-built 160-passenger MS MOZART and it will debut in July 2016. CRYSTAL 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, double the width of an average industry river boat. Most suites are 203 to 215 square feet, with a pair of two-bedroom Crystal Suites measuring 860 square feet, the largest suite on any river vessels. MOZART has multiple dining venues, a wraparound promenade, a spa and fitness center, indoor pool, beauty salon, and library.
Bookings for the five riverboats open November 30, 2015 via www.crystalcruises.com, 888-799-4625 or a travel agent.
HEIDI SARNA
