Crystal River Cruises Named #1 River Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure's 2020 World's Best Awards

MIAMI, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crystal River Cruises has once again won top honors in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards. Crystal River Cruises has been earning the acclaim of the world's most discerning travelers since the line first launched in 2016 and, in fact, was named #1 River Cruise Line in its first year of service by Travel & Leisure readers. Crystal's oceangoing brands ? Crystal Cruises and Crystal Yacht Cruises ? both placed in the Top Two of their respective categories, underscoring the consistent standard of luxury and excellence found across Crystal's varied experiences. 

Crystal River Cruises' score of 97.14 includes #1 scores for guest suites, food, service, itineraries/destinations and value. All three Crystal brand experiences placed number one in the culinary category, highlighting the superlative, globally inspired culinary experience for which Crystal has long been known. Crystal Cruises placed number one in the service, romance and nightlife categories, while Crystal Yacht Cruises placed #1 for romance.

"Every element of the Crystal Experience is designed to exceed our guests' expectations of a luxury vacation, and it is always extremely gratifying to know that this philosophy continues to resonate with travelers 30 years after we first set sail," said Tom Wolber, Crystal's president and CEO. "The readership of Travel + Leisure represents some of the world's savviest, selective travelers who know the best when they experience it. To earn such prestigious praise is an honor."

"We are thrilled that the Crystal River Cruises Experience has delighted travelers to the extent that they have taken the time to vote and call it the best in the world, and we thank them for their incredible support," said Walter Littlejohn, senior vice president and managing director of Crystal River Cruises. "Since day one, we have strived to create an unmatched standard of luxury on Europe's rivers with beautifully spacious ships; attentive personalized service; and culinary and cultural experiences that highlight the elegance of the destinations. It is wonderful to see how closely travelers are connecting with the Crystal River Experience."

Crystal River Cruises first embarked on the rivers of Europe in 2016, winning top industry awards within its first year thanks to its superior standard of luxury that had not been previously offered in the river cruise industry. The company christened four new-build sister ships ? Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel ? in 2017 and 2018, offering travelers more opportunities to enjoy the renowned Crystal Experience on varied itineraries along the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers.

Crystal's new-build river vessels are Europe's most spacious river ships, accommodating just 106 guests with an intentional focus on maximizing personal and public spaces throughout their 135-meter hulls (a size typically designed to accommodate twice the number of guests). The ships comprise Europe's youngest river cruise fleet and are the industry's first and only all-balcony, all-suite, butler-serviced vessels in Europe, with every category of accommodation positioned above the water line.  All suites feature Panoramic Balcony-Windowstm and walk-in closets and dual vanity bathrooms are featured in most categories.

All of Crystal's river ships feature private butler service in every room category, king-sized beds, Caudalie amenities, robes and slippers, and wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs. Additional enticing features include farm-to-table cuisine in multiple, open-seating eateries: the elegant Waterside Restaurant, namesake Bistro cafés and the exclusive Vintage Room; and the Palm Court for entertainment, enrichment presentations and sweeping views of the countryside. Crystal's attention to detail reaches ashore, as guests are transported on the days' adventures in luxury motor coaches equipped with complimentary water and Wi-Fi for added convenience and comfort.

While its fleet is paused, the Crystal team is developing new procedures and policies that will support all public health and regulatory requirements and ensure that guests' vacations continue to be not only relaxing and pleasurable but safe and healthy. Details of these new measures and initiatives will be announced soon. 

Additionally, the inherent design of Crystal ships maximizes personal and public space, offering plenty of options for those who choose to keep a healthy distance during their voyage. All Crystal ships across the fleet including Ocean, River, Yacht and Expedition offer nearly double the space per person than ships of a similar size, which is among the highest space ratios in the industry and their social spaciousness will be further augmented through the new measures the company will be implementing. Further, Crystal Endeavor and Crystal's River ships are all-suite and all-balcony with most staterooms on its two Ocean ships featuring private verandas for fresh airflow. The safety of guests and crew members is Crystal's number one priority and the fleet will resume service only when the company's expert team and global health and government authorities indicate that it is safe to do so. 

About Crystal

Only the world-renowned Crystal Experience offers an unwavering, unparalleled standard of excellence and luxury across four distinct cruising options: Crystal Cruises, the World's Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line; Crystal River Cruises, the World's Most Luxurious River Cruise Line; Crystal Yacht Cruises, offering boutique luxury and bold adventure in the world's most elite harbors; and Crystal Expedition Cruises, taking Crystal's acclaimed elegance to the farthest reaches of the world. Crystal has been recognized with top honors in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for a record 26 years including, in 2019, for Best Medium-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Cruises, Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Yacht Cruises and Best River Cruise Line for Crystal River Cruises. Crystal was also voted "World's Best" by the readers of Travel + Leisure for 24 years, including, in 2017 and 2020, Best River Cruise Line for Crystal River Cruises; and won "Cruise Line of the Year" and "Most Luxurious Guest Experience" by Virtuoso for 2018 & 2019.?Crystal is proud to be a platinum partner of the advisors of ASTA.

 For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel advisor, call 888.799.2437, or visit www.crystalcruises.com. Join the hundreds of thousands who subscribe to the Crystal Insider blog, follow Crystal Cruises' Facebook page; @crystalcruises on Twitter and Instagram; @crystalrivercruises on Instagram; and engage in the conversation with #crystalcruises, #crystalrivercruises and #WhereLuxuryisPersonal.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:        

Susan Robison or Christina Baez

Crystal Global Public Relations              

(310) 203-4305; [email protected]      

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