A year in advance, Crystal Cruises released more than 350 Crystal Adventures for its 2015/20th annual World Cruise -- a 30 percent increase in shore-side options over 2014’s voyage. Half-day, full day and multiple-day excursions, more than 40 of them new, can now be previewed and pre-reserved at crystalcruises.com.
Outings to date include multiple-night Overland Adventures in Africa, the Galapagos and Andes; visits to Aboriginal, Incan and Catholic spiritual centers; nighttime visits to South American hotspots; outdoor sporting activities through rivers, oceans, jungle and skies from Tahiti to Turks & Caicos; cultural liaising with Zulu, Amazonian and Easter Island villagers; and more. The 108-day voyage celebrates Crystal’s 25th year of sailing with Crystal Serenity’s first-ever circumnavigation of the globe, sailing to 44 ports of call in 23 countries, roundtrip from Miami starting Jan. 25.
Excursion highlights include:
17 Overland Adventures that include overnight trips away from port, including:
- A four-day Galapagos Islands cruise on luxury expedition ship
- An Andes immersion, including UNESCO World Heritage cities and a hairpin-turn train ride through the mountains
- South African “glamping” safaris
Spiritual centering at holy sanctuaries, such as:
- Peruvian temples, including Machu Picchu
- Ayers Rock, Aboriginal Australians’ most sacred site
- Private mass at Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, an exclusive Crystal Boutique Adventure
South American rhythms of the night, thanks to overnights in port and late departures. Private performances, classes and nightclub visits showcase the:
- Tango in Buenos Aires
- Samba in Rio
- Salsa in Santa Marta
Extreme land, air and sea adventures, including:
- River rafting down New Zealand’s Rangitaiki River
- Trekking through the jungle of Ecuadorean wildlife reserves
- Deep-sea fishing or advanced scuba diving in Turks & Caicos
- Helicopter-ing over Tahiti, Australia’s Great Ocean Road, South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains, The Hobbit locations and New Zealand’s only active marine volcano
Venturing off the beaten path to learn the culture from locals, who will teach ancient traditions and welcome guests into their homes and villages in:
- Easter Island
- The Amazon
- South African Zulu country
- Napier, New Zealand
Regional arts and crafts, wherein guests can:
- Be personally guided through Mozambique sculptor Alberto Chissano’s life and work by his grandson
- Visit the Montevideo, Uruguay home and atelier of artist Carlos Páez Vilaró
- Make their own Panama hat at an Ecuadorian weaving school
Philanthropic opportunities to give back with complimentary You Care, We Care excursions, like:
- Assisting with daily activities at children’s organizations in Durban and Cape Town
- Planting trees at New Zealand’s Penguin Place
More excursions for locales like Madagascar and Macapa (both 2015 maiden calls) are expected to be added online in the coming months. Crystal will also host two grand-scale shore-side events showcasing local culture, complimentary for all guests sailing the full voyage.
The 2015 World Cruise, which many travelers consider the ultimate luxury travel experience, is comprised of six, 15- to 21-day segments sailing through Central and South America, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa and the Caribbean. Fares for World Cruise Crystal Adventures range from just $29 to $5,699 per person.
For more information, visit www.crystalcruises.com.