Crystal River Cruises is announcing new culinary concepts and offerings that are set to be featured aboard the Crystal Bach, the brand’s first “Rhine Class” river yacht debuting in August.
The Crystal Bach will sail along the Rhine, Danube and Main Rivers, serving sophisticated menus of cuisine inspired by each different region and created by a team of expert European chefs. Each of the menus’ specialties are crafted for Crystal Bach’s individual itineraries – guests will be able to dine on fresh fish and seafood from Holland, seasonal fruits and vegetables from Germany and the Netherlands and meat and poultry from farmers in Bavaria and the Austrian Alps, all while enjoying regional wine, beer and cheese from each region.
Each of the restaurants on board – from the Waterside Restaurant, to the Bistro Café and the Vintage Room – will serve farm-to-table, Michelin-inspired cuisine. Chefs aboard the Crystal Bach will create dishes that have been favored by locals as well as nobility for centuries, while some options will be modern twists of the classics.
Uniquely European delicacies such as sturgeon caviar from Eindhoven and river craw fish from the Rhine will also be found on the menus. Dutch herring on dill mousse and German green split pea soup with smoked duck will also be served alongside Dornfelder braised oxtail ragout and boeuf Bourguignonne. In addition, the Crystal Bach will serve coffees and teas by Julius Meinl, a prestigious Vienna-based company that has crafted the beverages since 1862 and is typically found aboard the Crystal Mozart. There will also be a new section of vegetarian options for those looking to steer away from meat-based dishes.
Guests aboard the Crystal Bach will also be able to dine at Michelin star-awarded restaurants in select destinations, with each 2017 itinerary featuring at least one opportunity to experience regional cuisine from renowned restaurants on shore. The first of these will also be complimentary.
In a written release, CEO and president of Crystal Edie Rodriguez said that Crystal Bach will “introduce a new standard of luxury in river cruising on many fronts,” including its culinary concepts and experiences aboard the ship. Toni Neumeister, Crystal’s senior vice president of hotel operations, agreed, saying that the culinary experience aboard all of Crystal’s vessels is meant to “inspire travelers to discover more about the world they explore.” He added that food and the camaraderie of dining are integral parts of the travel experience.
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