Crystal River Cruises

German hospitality company, Seaside Hotel Collection, is reviving former Crystal River Cruises’ extra-wide ship, Crystal Mozart, with bookings now open for sailings on the Danube for 2023.

Luxury group tour and river cruise operator, Tauck, believes its relatively low number of “river boats” in Europe is ideal for its guest operation.

Crystal River Cruises’ Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Walter Littlejohn, has stood down from the company which has currently suspended operation.

Crystal has added a series of 10- to 15-night voyages visiting spectacular ports in Antarctica, South America, and Europe to Crystal Endeavor’s schedule for spring 2022.

Crystal has extended its mandatory vaccination requirement for all guests (12 and over) and crew through 2022 for its ocean and expedition cruising. The extension applies to Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, and the ultra-luxury cruise line’s newest vessel, Crystal Endeavor.

Crystal River Cruises resumed its European river cruise operations on Sunday [29 August 2021] as Crystal Ravel sailed from Vilshofen on a seven-night Danube itinerary. It was Crystal’s first river departure in nearly 18 months. The voyage was followed on Monday with the return of Crystal Debussy on a week-long sailing from Basel.

Crystal River Cruises has continued to consolidate its planned 2021 resumption, with additional sailings in Europe departing between September and December now cancelled.

Crystal is planning to recommence European river cruising from late August 2021, with all four Rhine-Class ships.

Bookings open on 18 May 2021 for Crystal River Cruises’ 2023 deployment featuring 190 voyages exploring the Danube, Rhine, and Moselle rivers along with the waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium.

Crystal appears to be aiming to make amends with guests and travel advisors in relation to its refund processes.

Crystal Mozart will return to the fleet of Crystal River Cruises, operating week-long sailings from Vienna on the Danube from late March 2022. The luxury ship will also be reconfigured to better cater for solo travellers.

Crystal has expanded its health and safety measures for its Crystal Clean+ protocols to include requirements for COVID-19 testing for guests and crew, mandatory travel insurance, in-port guidelines and more.