6 Reasons to Book Crystal in 2025  

Be spoiled by a personal butler, dine out at an award-winning Nobu restaurant and take advantage of a free suite upgrade; a Crystal cruise is simply exceptional.

Cruising is all about indulgence; the joy of simply unpacking once in your comfortable suite, being a few minutes’ walk to internationally recognised fine dining and having impeccable service every step of the way. Crystal aims to provide a “sanctuary at sea”, a haven where intuitive staff make sure that you want for nothing, while visiting some of the world’s most iconic places spanning five continents.

Read on to discover why your next cruise should be aboard Crystal’s luxurious fleet of ships.

1. You’ll receive a suite upgrade 

Book a Crystal Cruise voyage for a suite upgrade - Luxury Escapes

The beauty of a cruise is that you take your abode with you everywhere you go, so why not make sure that your suite is as luxurious as possible. Crystal likes to give its guests more and so when you book your voyage before February 2, 2025, you’ll be treated to an automatic upgrade*. For example, book an Aquamarine Veranda Suite to enjoy a free upgrade to a Sapphire Veranda Suite; or if you book a Double Guest Room with Veranda, you’ll instantly be elevated to an Aquamarine Veranda Suite. Every suite and guest room comes with a sea view and has the feel of a five-star hotel afloat with top-quality soft furnishing and bath products.

2. Enjoy a complimentary pre- or post-cruise hotel stay 

Whether you want to arrive early in port in preparation for your sail, or extend your holiday just that little bit longer, Crystal will offer guests a complimentary one-night hotel stay before or after a cruise if the voyage is booked before February 2, 2025. If you are fly-cruising, this is the perfect way to make sure that everything is smooth sailing.

3. Dine at Nobu’s only restaurant concept at sea 

Dine at the only Nobu at sea with Crystal - Luxury Escapes

Imagine if your local restaurant was run by celebrity Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa. That is the reality aboard Crystal, which boasts the only Nobu restaurant at sea where you can order the famous miso black cod while cruising the same ocean that supplies the key ingredient for this iconic dish. The cod is marinated for days, then caramelised, and while it may be the headline dish, the whole Nobu Japanese-Peruvian fusion experience at Umi Uma is something special to Crystal.

Guests can also try global street food at Beefbar, fine dining Italian at Osteria D’Ovidio or a sweet treat at Scoops gelato bar.

4. Your suite comes with a personal butler 

You take a cruise to relax and unwind, to have all the worries of travel taken care of for you. The personification of this is your Crystal butler who is included with every room and suite on the ship.

Crystal’s head butler, Prasanth “Rao” Ananda, says that it takes a lot of care to train butlers who are there to make your cruise dreams come true, whether it is your day-to-day garment care and dry-cleaning services or that one time that Rao helped a retired Colonel fulfil his dream of teeing off from the Great Wall of China. “As butlers with Crystal, we want to create one-of-a-kind, lasting impressions that no other cruise company can replicate,” Rao says. 

5. You’ll receive award-winning service 

Your impeccable Crystal Cruise service extends beyond the fleet of butlers to everyone on the ship. The entire crew are trained to anticipate your every need, remembering your name, your favourite drink and any special occasions. It is this incredible attention to detail that recently won Crystal the Best Luxury Service + Best for Luxury Solo Travelers at the 15th Annual Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. 

6. Itinerary options span five continents 

See Athens with Crystal Cruises - Luxury Escapes

Part your curtains in the morning and see the coastal beauty of Reykjavik, gaze upon the famous white cliffs of Dover or spot bears roaming Alaska’s Kodiak Island.

There are plenty of onshore adventures to be had as well: eat the freshest seafood you will ever have at Japan’s Furukawa Fish Market, share a plate of char-grilled octopus on the Greek Island of Santorini or visit a classic English pub in the city of Liverpool.

Crystal’s 2025 and 2026 program includes highlights like the 9-Night Athens to Thessaloniki (departing July 1, 2025), the 20-Night Oslo to Reykjavik (departing August 28, 2025) and the 11-Night Tokyo to Seward (Anchorage, Alaska) departing June 12, 2026.  Simply select the right adventure for you and take advantage of the Crystal Suite Dreams offer.

Dream by Luxury Escapes - 6 Reasons to Book Crystal in 2025  

*T&Cs apply, check Crystal for more details.

Written by Paul Chai

Paul Chai has been a travel writer for over two decades. He has dived with great white sharks in South Australia, walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival and stuffed himself with enough food and wine working on the Good Food Guide to make his GP shake his head. Chai is currently managing editor of Dream by Luxury Escapes.
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