Crystal River Cruises
Crystal River Cruises
Crystal Cruises have a fabulous reputation for their service in ocean cruising so it is without question that their river cruise option offers the same luxurious experience. Life onboard flows to the rhythm of the rivers and offers an invitation to immerse yourself in the culture, history and wonder of the lands you will visit.
Beautifully designed, these all-suite ships transport you into the heart of Europe in style. Balconies, huge windows, skylights and walls of glass promote a feeling of light and openness and ensure the stunning river views form a perfect and intrinsic backdrop to your journey.
Featured Cruises
Crystal River Cruises Itineraries
Our Cruise Expert
Gary Buchanan has sailed the Seven Seas during his 33-year career as an award-winning specialist cruise writer. Author of four books about cruising, he regularly contributes to prestigious newspapers such as The Telegraph and magazines including American Express Departures. He is a pundit on all things cruise and is looking forward to enhancing the content library for Panache Cruises.
Gary Says...
“The four identical, all-inclusive ships in Crystal Cruises’ river fleet have a special place in my affection. Conveying just 106 guests, they are European river cruising’s only all-balcony, all-suite ships and boast the largest accommodations. It is hard to fault the Michelin-inspired menu as well as classical cuisine served in the Waterfront Restaurant; plus globally-inspired treats in the Bistro. The sophisticated entertainment is in a class of its own.”
What's included with your Crystal River Cruise?
Dining
Complementary drinks
Butler service
Excursions
Entertainment
Gratuities
Launderettes
iPad
Treatments in the spa, extra special wines and anything from the shop will all carry an additional charge.
Things to do onboard
Dining and drinks onboard
A range of dining options are all included in your luxury river cruise with Crystal. Restaurants include:
- Waterside – continental favourites and regionally-inspired menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner are served against the ever-changing backdrop of your destination. Local flavours will continually delight your palate.
- Bistro – named after each river ship, each one has this delightful bistro dining experience. It serves custom coffees, pastries and charcuterie by day, and tapas and wines in the evening in a charming Viennese café setting.
- The Vintage Room – for those seeking a truly indulgent evening, this curated and unique wine dinner is customised just for you. Vintage wines from the regions explored in addition to coveted labels are paired with foods to create perfectly nuanced flavours that blend together. You can add wines from the Connoisseur Wine List for an additional fee.
- The Pantry – if you’d like to help yourself to a snack, tea, coffee of soft drink you can do so at any time of day in this venue.
- In-suite dining – enjoy anything from the menu of the Waterside, at any time of day or night in the comfort and luxury of your private suite.
The all-inclusive nature of Crystal Cruises means that your drinks are included whilst onboard. From fine wines to Champagnes, premium spirits and specialty coffees you can indulge in whatever you desire. The onboard wine stewards are all certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers and ensure that the wines served with each meal are the perfect pair. They will be more than happy to share the details of each vintage with you, as well as those which are available for purchase from the Connoisseur Wine List.
Onboard Accommodation
Your suite onboard your Crystal river cruise is a true sanctuary but your luxury will always be comfortable. You’ll enjoy enchanting views and a feeling of indulgence that promotes wellbeing.
All Suites include:
- Kind-sized or twin beds
- Full-length mirror
- Writing desk and vanity
- Flat-screen HD TV
- Glass-enclosed shower with overhead and handheld showerheads
- Single vanity with halo-lit mirror
- Luxury in-suite amenities including Crystal's exclusive line of natural, eco-friendly bath products from renowned French skincare brand Caudalie
- Soft kimonos, plush ETRO robes and slippers
- Egyptian cotton linen
- In-suite hors d’oeuvres and canapés
- Unpacking on request
- 24-hour service provided by a European-trained butler
- Twice daily housekeeping
Take a look at the Suite options available:
- • Petite Suite with Panoramic Balcony Window – 188 sq ft
- • Deluxe Suite with Panoramic Balcony Window – 237 sq ft to 253 sq ft
- • Crystal Penthouse with Panoramic Balcony Window – 506 sq ft
- o Living and dining area
- o Custom bar
- o Marble fireplace
- o Dining table
- • Two-bedroom Crystal Suite with Panoramic Balcony Window – 759 sq ft
- o Living and dining area
- o Fireplace with ambient lighting
- o Custom bar
- o Dining table
- o Powder room
- o Two lavish bedrooms with king-size beds
- o Two stunning bathrooms
Spa, Health and Wellness
Highly trained professionals welcome you to the well-appointed Crystal Life Spa onboard your river cruise. They use the careful blend of nature and science which create a beauty and wellness philosophy that will transform you. The experts use products from Britain’s number 1 luxury skincare brand, ELEMIS, to ensure you receive the very best treatment. These will be payable onboard your cruise.
If you are seeking something more active for your physical wellbeing, you will have access to a well-equipped fitness room onboard your ship. Make use of state-of-the-art cardio machines, free weights or maybe partake in one of the daily stretching or yoga classes. These wellness activities will be the perfect complement to the active excursions you can take, whether it be biking or hiking.
You will also be able to make use of the outdoor fitness area – weather-permitting of course! You could choose to jog, walk or stroll on the open-air top deck, and some of the classes are also held here. A heated indoor pool with an innovative swim-against-the-current feature will help you to burn more calories while swimming too, to complete your fitness journey.
Excursions, Entertainment and Activities
Crystal have carefully curated a range of ‘Crystal Destination Discoveries’ which are inclusive and optional excursions, Signature Events and extended journeys. They allow you to pick from a huge range of options meaning there is something suitable for all travellers.
Crystal Collection – these are unrivalled options, some are included with others optional, and are all themed in order to help you select the one you prefer. Categories include; Cultural Discoveries, Tantalising Gastronomy, Personal Connections and Exhilarating Adventures.
Signature Event – selected voyages will offer a complimentary musical experience that combines privileged access to world class performances of classical music at Belvedere Palace in Vienna.
Extend your travels – if you’d like to spend a little longer in some of the more intriguing port cities on your itinerary, there is the option of pre- and post-cruise hotel stays with curated multi-night programs.
Luxury coaches – when taking your trips, you’ll step aboard Crystal’s own private fleet of luxury motor coaches. They are tailored to Crystal standards and even include complementary WiFi to ensure the destinations are enjoyed in comfort.
In addition to the fitness and wellness activities available onboard, you will enjoy entertainment including a vibrant piano bar, dancing and cabaret-like performances. You’ll also be treated to select locally-inspired performances throughout your voyage.
And be welcome at informative lectures.
Enrichment Programmes
If you’re wishing for something a little more personal for your river cruise, Crystal offer a service called ‘Make it personal’. This is an onboard concierge service which allows you to Design Your Time which is the ability to customise your ashore experiences to suit your tastes perfectly. If you simply describe what you prefer, they will take care of the rest.
Furthermore, Scenic river cruising days can include sommelier-hosted wine tastings, chef-led culinary classes and destination enrichment lectures hosted by local historians and visiting university professors. As your sail, individual audio guides offer a narrative of sights along the rivers for you to easily understand what you are seeing as you enjoy the vistas. This all gives you a deeper insight not only to the destinations but to the cultures and traditions of their peoples.
Sustainability
Crystal Cruises places huge emphasis on the environment and uses practices to ensure it creates minimal impact. They have a ‘Crystal Clean’ program of environmentally-friendly initiatives which is talked about throughout the ships and the cruise itineraries.
They also ensure strict adherence to all maritime rules governing impact on the waters in which they sail not only in the country of registry, but throughout all the destinations visited. In addition, Crystal Cruises is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which has established its own guidelines that exceed the international requirements which members have agreed to follow.
General practices include the considerate disposal of hazardous waste, a reduction in the use of plastics onboard, treatment of waste water to remove pollutants before expulsion, increased recycling and improved fuel consumption efficiency plus the use of eco-friendly bath products.
There are many more practices adopted by Crystal to ensure their impact on the environment is as minimal as possible.