Crystal Cruises will re-deploy Crystal Symphony to sail from U.S. homeports in Boston and New York for its new Luxury Bermuda Escapes, a series of 7-night voyages to Bermuda beginning in August. The first four voyages will depart round-trip from Flynn Cruiseport Boston beginning on Aug. 22, 2021, featuring Sunday-to-Sunday itineraries, followed by nine voyages set to depart round-trip from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal beginning on Sept. 24, 2021, featuring Friday-to-Friday itineraries.
When Crystal Symphony sets sail in August with reduced capacity, all guests and crew will be vaccinated as a requirement of the company’s Crystal Clean+ protocols, a set of measures established in response to COVID-19. Additionally, Crystal’s guests and crew will follow all local health guidelines and protocols when visiting Bermuda.
“As the entire travel industry emerges from the restrictions of the global pandemic, flexibility has been key in re-establishing meaningful experiences for travelers. For cruising, in particular, the recent positive developments of ships sailing from U.S. ports have prompted U.S. travelers to show an increased preference for more direct access to luxury cruise options closer to home,” said Jack Anderson, Crystal’s president, in a press statement. “The Luxury Bermuda Escapes out of Boston and New York are a perfect fit, allowing us to welcome guests back on board to enjoy the service and amenities of the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line. Guests can enjoy a gorgeous destination famous for its pink sand beaches, turquoise seas, historic harbors and UNESCO World Heritage sites, paired with the ease and convenience of departing from these well-connected travel hubs both for those driving to the pier or those flying into the cities.”
Crystal Symphony’s Luxury Bermuda Escapes will feature two full days and two nights in Bermuda. These new voyages will replace Crystal Symphony’s previously scheduled 10-night voyages round-trip Antigua and St. Maarten.
According to Anderson, the line unfortunately had to cancel Crystal Symphony’s Caribbean voyages this year due to the redeployment. “We would like to thank our friends in Antigua, St. Maarten and the Caribbean for their partnership as well as their understanding as we make this change,” Anderson said. “We look forward to calling on these wonderful destinations, as we always have, in future deployments.”
Bermuda’s Minister of Transport, The Hon. Lawrence Scott, JP, MP, said in a press statement, “We are delighted to welcome Crystal Symphony’s guests to Bermuda’s 21-sq. miles of beautiful open spaces and pink sand beaches and invite them to relax and enjoy all the culture, adventure and fun we have to offer knowing that stringent protocols ensure them a healthy, safe and pleasurable experience.”
In Bermuda, Crystal Symphony will call into the Royal Naval Dockyard, a British stronghold for more than 150 years, now home to historic architecture, shopping, galleries, restaurants, and more. The waters of Bermuda offer reefs and shipwrecks for snorkeling and diving, sport fishing, sailing, kayaking, and more. Whether exploring the centuries-old brick streets in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. George, biking the scenic Bermuda Railway Trail for cross-island sightseeing or visiting the Crystal Caves, guests will encounter the island’s natural beauty.
Designed with iabundant personal and social space throughout the ship, Crystal Symphony will also return to sailing with reduced capacity, increasing its social spaciousness even more.
“We look forward to welcoming cruise passengers back to Flynn Cruiseport Boston this summer and providing an opportunity for New England residents and others to experience Bermuda,” said Massport Port Director Michael Meyran, in press materials. “Pre-pandemic, the Cruiseport served more than 400,000 passengers aboard 20 major cruise lines and generated $100 million to the local economy. Massport and Crystal Cruises are actively working on a port agreement that will align with local and state public health authorities, as well as meet all the necessary CDC protocols.”
Steve Loevsky, vice president, Cruise Ports America, added in press materials, “Ports America is extremely pleased to welcome Crystal Symphony back to New York City as her homeport. We have had a long-standing partnership with Crystal Cruises for many decades serving their vessels at Manhattan Cruise Terminal and throughout many ports in the U.S. and we look forward to a successful return this fall.”
Crystal is also providing travelers with savings, reduced deposits, and an extended final payment date to 60 days prior to first date of service, as well as other incentives. Rates for the new Luxury Bermuda Escapes cruises start at $1,999 per guest, including $1,000 Book Now Savings. Deposits have also been reduced to $100 pp, plus guests enjoy a $125 As You Wish shipboard credit pp; and Crystal Society Savings double to five percent; and new-to-Crystal guests save 2.5 percent; plus solo fares start a 125 percent. Travelers with Future Cruise Credits and Future Cruise Payments may redeem them on these sailings.
For more information, visit crystalcruises.com.
For more cruise news, click here. And, don’t miss, “Crystal Serenity Sets Sail from Nassau.”
