Recommend February 2011 - (Page 14)

crystal SERENITY cruise The Promenade deck on the Crystal Serenity. O vivian holley 14 february 2011 The 300-sq.-ft. Sky Suite features a 79-sq.-ft. verandah. onboard september 2010 review On a recent perfect, pre-sunset evening, Crystal Serenity pulled out of Venice at a leisurely pace, its passengers settled in on Deck 12 around the Seahorse Pool to sip complimentary Bellinis while soaking up the incomparable view. All was accompanied by the soft jazz of the Crystal Sextet. Could a vacation begin any sweeter? And it just got more so. The voyage would lead them through waters that run deep with legend and romance–the Adriatic, the Dardanelles, the Bosporus Straits. Finally, the ship would reach the Black Sea and the culturally rich treasures of the Crimean Coast—a newsy event in 2010 when Crystal Cruises expanded its European offerings to include the Black Sea, an exotic counterpoint to the more familiar Mediterranean itineraries. Spotlighted in the Ukraine port calls was a maiden visit to compelling Sevastopol. Want still more ammunition to spur clients to beat down your door? Try reminding them that Crystal routinely sails away with awards along the lines of “world’s best.” You may not even need to remind them. If they number among your most sophisticated, selective clients, odds are they’re already rock-solid fans. Staffers say that on any given cruise, a third to half of the guests have sailed with them before. It’s the line’s famously winning formula of service, space, quality and choices that bring clients back, says Michael Siemens, who, along with his wife Rosemary, is a personal vacation planner with San Diegobased America’s Vacation Center. While both are cruise specialists, Michael has a particular focus on Crystal. “I was working in the travel industry when the company’s first ship, Crystal Harmony, launched in 1990, and I made my first Crystal FAM in 1991.” (Sister ship Crystal Symphony followed in 1995, Crystal Serenity in 2003. Crystal Harmony joined its parent company’s Japanese cruise division in 2005.) Notes Siemens, “Among the four or five luxury cruise lines, one of the things my clients like about Crystal is that the ships are relatively large. Sometimes on the smaller ships, there’s little going on at night. Also, there’s a noticeably good space ratio—you don’t see anyone standing in line or having to wait—as well as a variety of entertainment including Broadway-style productions and music in clubs and lounges. I’m impressed as well, with the quality and credentials of the lecturers in the enrichment program and the other learning opportunities. These are the kind of things that are the advantage of a larger ship in the luxury market.” Siemens also points out that, “It’s the attention to details that counts. For instance, there’s a complimentary shuttle at hand if the ship is not docked within walking distance of the central area. My clients praise the continued on page 16 Fast Facts Tonnage: 68,870 Length: 820 ft. Width: 105.6 ft. Passengers: 1,070 Decks: 13 Crew: 655 Space ratio: 64.4 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend February 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Crystal Cruises' Serenity
Flights of Fancy With One&Only Cape Town
South African Airways
South Africa Set to Score Big in 2011
Fantastical Fiji
Luxury Lands in Puerto Rico
Grenada
Barbados: High-End, Low-Key
Bermuda Scales Back
Peru is Gaga Over Luxury
Starry Arizona
Acqualina Resort & Spa, Florida
Baden-Baden, Germany
New Choices in Luxury Tweak Mexico's Landscape
Invigorating Girl Escapes

Recommend February 2011