On August 29, the ultra-luxury brand Crystal River Cruises celebrated the resumption of European river operations and its restart on European rivers as the line's Crystal Ravel sailed from Vilshofen an der Donau (Germany) on a 7-night Danube itinerary featuring visits to Hungary, Austria, and Germany, overnights in Budapest Hungary and Vienna (Wien) Austria, and sailing of the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley.
Officers and crew members welcomed guests back to Crystal Ravel in Vilshofen after an ~18-month pause in operations.
On August 30, sister ship Crystal Debussy set sail from Basel (Zurich, Switzerland) on a 7-night Rhine itinerary with visits to Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands and overnights in Amsterdam Netherlands and Koblenz Germany.
In 2021, Crystal will offer 32 river cruises ranging from 7 to 11 nights exploring the UNESCO World Heritage sites, historic cities, and cultural treasures of the Danube, Rhine, and Moselle rivers with a focus on the most popular and destination-rich 7-night Danube and Rhine itineraries of the line, as well as cruises showcasing the beauty of the Mosel Wine Region.
Each 2021 river cruise is also highlighted by at least 2 overnights, with many cruises offering 3 overnights, allowing passengers to further immerse themselves in the charm and history of the ports, or venture to nearby port towns for broader experiences.
The 2021 deployment of Crystal River Cruises reflects the gradual return of service and the consolidation of voyages from Crystal Mahler and Crystal Bach to similar voyages on the identical sister ships, Crystal Ravel and Crystal Debussy.
Crystal Ravel is due to ring in the New Year in Austria (Vienna) during an extended 3-night call, while Debussy will celebrate New Year’s Eve in The Netherlands (Amsterdam) with a 2-night call to enjoy the festivities.