Crystal Cruises is preparing to introduce two new European river cruise ships to its luxury fleet, with Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel increasing the line’s river contingent to five vessels in coming weeks.
Debussy was handed over to Crystal last month at a ceremony at Wismar in Germany, while Ravel is due for delivery later in April.
Sailing itineraries between Amsterdam and Basel, the 106-guest Crystal Debussy will travel along the Rhine River, beginning with her 9 April maiden voyage round-trip from Amsterdam.
Guests will visit ports in the Netherlands and Belgium on the seven-day itinerary, with 10-day voyages also calling in Germany.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, the ship will sail routes of seven and 10 days between Amsterdam and Basel along the Rhine and Moselle rivers, visiting Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
Crystal Ravel will make its debut on 10 May and will offer a varied selection of itineraries along the Rhine, Moselle, Main and Danube Rivers, embarking from Vienna, Budapest and Basel and calling at historic locales in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland.
Having first entered the river cruise arena in 2016, Crystal’s fleet involves the industry’s first and only all-balcony, all-suite, all-butler vessels in Europe, boasting every category of accommodation above the waterline.
The ships offer the recently released Crystal Collection of more than 200 inclusive shore excursions. Each river itinerary also features inclusive Signature Events — special experiences that offer rare access and musical performances in iconic landmarks including Vienna’s Belvedere Palace, Linz’s St Florian Monastery and Rudesheim’s Monastery Eberbach, among others.
