Crystal Cruises Offers New Spiritual European Excursions for 2013

 

New religious shoreside options have been added to Crystal Cruises’ roster of 2013 European voyages. The line now offers more than 20 Crystal Adventures with after-hours access, centuries-old houses of worship, Jewish heritage tours and sacred pilgrimage destinations in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Malta, France and other locales on the Continent. Most of the new and exclusive adventures visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Outings include:

New:

·         Exclusive, after-hours access to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia church-turned-mosque.

·         A half-day trip to Gaudí’s Church at Colonia Güell -- in a textile colony outside Barcelona -- offers an analysis of the architect.

·         Valetta’s first church plus the many chapels of the Maltese countryside, dating back to Roman, Medieval and possibly prehistoric times, are all visited in one excursion.

Exclusive:

·         Wander Venice’s St. Mark’s Basilica at night.

·         Enter Rome’s Vatican Museum after closing.

·         Attend a private mass for Crystal guests at Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia.

·         Listen to a organ recital at Utstein Monastery near Stavanger, Norway. 

Jewish Heritage:

·         Learn how Copenhagen’s underground resistance movement helped 99 percent of Danish Jews survive the Holocaust.

·         Visit Amsterdam’s Jewish Historical Museum, Jewish quarter and Anne Frank’s house.

·         Enjoy a local cantor performance, followed by tea with members of St. Petersburg’s Jewish community at their home.

·         Stroll through the Jewish Ghetto of Rome.

·         Observe activities of local Jewish organizations in Odessa.

·         See a range of synagogues, dating from 1795, in Stockholm.

·         Explore Jewish Berlin, from a concentration camp deportation area to the largest Jewish museum in Europe.

Sacred Pilgrimage Sites:

·         Journey to La Moreneta, one of Europe’s most hallowed pilgrimage destinations in Spain’s Montserrat.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony sail throughout Europe from April to December 2013, on cruises ranging from five days to month-long combo cruises for extended vacations.  All-inclusive fares start at $1,895/person, with additional savings if booked by April 30.  Fares for the spiritual excursion series start at $73/person.

For more information, visit www.crystalcruises.com.