New Six-Day Travel Segments Offer Guests Culinary Festival in Smaller Bites
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- An unprecedented number of wine and
food-themed excursions and onboard presentations by the culinary world's
brightest stars set the stage for Crystal Serenity's May 2008 Wine and Food
cruise. Highlighted by a two-day overnight call in Bordeaux, the 12-day
voyage from London to Rome offers 18 epicurian Crystal Adventures in the
French wine country, Portugal, Spain and the French Riviera, as well as
onboard events with Master Chef Andre Soltner and Master Sommelier Evan
Goldstein. Connoisseurs short on time can experience new six-day segments of
the cruise.
"From cooking lessons in Barcelona and the South of France to 'from the
barrel' tastings at Chateau Mouton Rothschild, the region is rich in
opportunities for authentic wine and food programs," says John Stoll, director
of Crystal Cruises' land programs. "To visit the wine regions of Bordeaux,
Cognac, St. Emilion, and Pomerol, as well as Spain's La Rioja region and
Lisbon's Port Wine Institute on the same voyage is a rare treat. To pair that
experience with onboard instruction and a multi-course dinner prepared by
James Beard Award-winning Master Chef Andre Soltner, former owner of New
York's famed Lutece, is extraordinary."
Whether guests opt for the complete 12-day voyage or one of the two
six-day segments, nearly 10 carefully crafted boutique excursions in each port
of call help travelers make the most of their time ashore. Of the 57
shoreside experiences featured, a full one-third are devoted to fine wine and
food, including:
-- New -- Wine making and explore the cellars at magnificent Chateau
Margaux;
-- New -- Enjoy a tour, tasting and dinner at historic Chateau Smith
Haut-Lafitte;
-- New -- The famed Medoc wine road to visit the village of Soulac and
its basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
-- New -- The Cognac region and learn how the fine liquor is crafted
-- Wine tasting and the reserves at Spain's coastal Txakoli Cellar, the
underground El Fabulista Cellar and the architectural marvel Ysios
Cellar
In addition, new outdoor adventures allow guests to:
-- New -- Experience a mountain safari in the Serra Sintra region outside
Lisbon
-- New -- Sail on a dolphin and whale watching expedition off the coast
of Gibraltar
-- New -- Bicycle through Barcelona
-- Visit Bilbao's stunning Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry
-- Scuba dive around Gibraltar for certified divers and beginners alike
Departing London on May 7, 2008, Crystal Serenity will call in Bordeaux
and Villefranche, France; Bilbao and Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and
Gibraltar, United Kingdom; before concluding in Rome. The cruise can be
experienced as a full 12-day journey or in two six-day segments (London to
Lisbon / Lisbon to Rome). Fares for the full 12-day Epicurean Adventure from
London to Rome begin at $4,595. Fares for the six-day segments begin at
$2,530. All fares are listed per person, double occupancy.
Crystal's unwavering commitment to a superior wine and food experience is
evidenced by the line's extensive wine cellars offering more than 230 wines
and as many as 25,000 bottles, a reserve wine list featuring such rare
vintages as 1959 Chateau Lafite Rothschild and 1971 Chateau Petrus; Crystal's
own proprietary label, C Wines; and intimate Vintage Room dinners. All of the
line's sommeliers have been recently certified by the Court of Master
Sommeliers, enhancing a fine dining experience highlighted by collaborations
with world-renowned Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio for its
specialty restaurants.
The Crystal Difference
Aboard the ultra-luxurious Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, refined
elegance meets casual simplicity. With an emphasis on innovative product
differentiation, the renowned Crystal experience is distinguished by classic
service, abundant space, extensive choices and superior quality, providing
worldwide vacations that bridge the best of land and sea. Grounded in more
than a decade of accolades, Crystal has been voted "World's Best" by the
readers of Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler more than any other cruise
line, hotel or resort in history.
For additional information, please contact a travel agent or call
888-799-4625. Visit the luxury line's website at crystalcruises.com.
CONTACT: Mimi Weisband (310) 203-4302
publicrelations@crystalcruises.com
SOURCE Crystal Cruises
Mimi Weisband of Crystal Cruises, +1-310-203-4302,
publicrelations@crystalcruises.com
