Crystal Cruises voted World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line

With its highest score in five years, Crystal Cruises has been voted the “World’s Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine for a 13th consecutive year.

Based on a first quarter 2008 survey of thousands of world travelers, the World’s Best Awards are featured in the magazine’s August 2008 issue. Subscribers, who were allowed only one vote each, were asked to rate cruise lines on cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities and value.

“We are extremely honored and gratified that the authentic warmth of Crystal’s extraordinary staff, our seamless luxury and unparalleled attention to detail make for such a treasured experience for so many discerning Travel + Leisure readers,” said Crystal Cruises’ President Gregg Michel. “This is a tremendous validation of the continual investments we make in our ships, the meaningful personalized programs we’ve introduced, and Crystal’s winning formula of superior service, choices, space and quality.”

Crystal Cruises’ luxurious, award-winning fleet consists of the 940-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal Symphony and 1,080-guest, 68,000-ton Crystal Serenity, which cruise worldwide on itineraries of seven to 106 days. In November, the line is upping its luxury quotient as several staterooms are eliminated to make way for more posh Penthouses.

Within the past two years, the luxury line completed a stylish and sophisticated redesign of Crystal Symphony and expanded the opportunities to personalize one’s experiences ashore with “extreme luxury” shore experiences, an increased collection of boutique Crystal Adventures and thoroughly customized Crystal Private Adventures throughout the world.

Based on the success of restaurants featured on Crystal Serenity, Crystal also tapped famed master chef Nobu Matsuhisa to launch his cuisine in transformed specialty restaurants aboard Crystal Symphony. Silk Road and The Sushi Bar were completed in the spring, subsequent to travelers’ completion of the survey.

Ultimate wine experiences showcasing rare vintages were introduced in late 2007 and additional culinary refinements are being rolled out in 2008. Fitness, wellness and cultural enrichment continue to be a major focus.

“In this challenging, competitive travel environment, this rating means a lot to today’s travelers. When they part with their hard-earned vacation dollars, they want the assurance that they’re getting the best,” Gregg Michel added.

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