Crystal River Cruises announces the full 2023 deployment of its fleet, featuring 190 individual voyages exploring the majestic Danube, Rhine, and Moselle rivers along with the waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium. Reservations open May 18, 2021, for the 2023 season, which offers travelers a greater variety of sailing length options than ever before, with new shorter 5-night escapes, as well as longer 14- to 17-night combination voyages that pair classic itineraries for immersive journeys. The line’s perennially popular 7-night cruises return offering travelers 150 cruise options including the Danube and Rhine itineraries, as well as sailings featuring springtime among the tulips, and the treasures of Southeast Europe. A collection of 10-night journeys of the Rhine and Moselle river valleys, cruises to Europe’s festive Christmas markets, and special holiday sailings featuring New Year’s Eve celebrations in Vienna, Budapest and Amsterdam. Reservations open May 18, 2021.
Crystal River Cruises’ fleet offers guests an experience aboard four all-suite, all-butler, all-balcony Rhine Class ships—Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel, as well as the timeless grandeur and elegance of Crystal Mozart, the most spacious river ship sailing the Danube. Voyages range from 5- to 17-nights, visiting locales throughout Germany, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Switzerland, as well as southeastern Europe destinations in Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia.
“The destinations along these rivers have fascinated travelers for centuries and continue to enchant visitors—some seemingly frozen in timeless charm and others strikingly contemporary and innovative, but all distinctly full of character, intriguing history and wonderful traditions,” said Walter Littlejohn, senior vice president and managing director of Crystal River Cruises, in a press statement. “Every year, we strive to create itineraries that blend both the destinations our guests love most, as well as new highlights and experiences. The 2023 deployment aboard our five beautiful river ships is designed to offer choices that will appeal to luxury travelers of all ages and interests delivered with the personalized service, culinary experiences, spacious all-suite accommodations and attention to detail only found with Crystal.
“We are seeing tremendous demand for our 2022 deployment as the pent-up desire for global travel increases and we have announced 2023 now to give luxury travelers even more options to plan their future vacations,” Littlejohn added.
Immersive Journeys
New in 2023 are 5-night sailings that offer travelers the relaxed and intimate experience of river cruising with shorter journeys that can be paired with pre- or post-cruise land programs to offer ideal ship-to-shore options. The Danube Discovery itinerary aboard Crystal Ravel, cruises through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley from Vienna to Vilshofen, featuring a maiden call to explore the charms of Grein. Playgrounds of the Netherlands & Belgium journey aboard Crystal Mahler departs roundtrip from Amsterdam to explore the port cites and waterways of the Netherlands, from the contemporary buildings and museums of Rotterdam to the historic architectural jewels of Ghent and Antwerp.
For travelers interested in unique extended voyages, Crystal River Cruises has combined itineraries to create immersive journeys. The 14-night Pearls of the Danube voyage aboard Crystal Ravel pairs the Wachau Valley and the iconic landmarks of Vienna and Budapest, with historic sights and natural wonders cruising through Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania, including a daylight transit through the dramatic landscapes of the Iron Gates Gorge. The 15-night Vineyards, Castles & Masterpieces journey sailing from Basel to Amsterdam aboard Crystal Mahler matches the waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium with the iconic architecture of Germany, including daylight cruising through the Middle Rhine Valley. Grand Rhine & Moselle, a 17-night trip aboard Crystal Mahler, combines an exploration of the waterways of the Netherlands with the endlessly charming villages of the Mosel Valley Wine Region. The voyage will feature the cities of Amsterdam, Cologne and Strasbourg and the breathtaking castles of these two glorious rivers.
Popular Seven- & 10-Night Sailings
Returning to the lineup of luxury voyages are the popular 7-night Delightful Danube itineraries between Vilshofen and Budapest, offering guests the option to expand their Crystal vacation with 3-night pre- or post-cruise programs to Prague. An overnight call in Vienna features an exclusive Crystal Signature evening event of art and music at the Belvedere Palace, showcasing the famed art collections of this baroque landmark and its gardens overlooking the city.
For the first time ever, the 7-night Danube Serenade itinerary between Vienna and Budapest will sail aboard Crystal Mozart. Guests will enjoy overnights in Vienna and Budapest, and explore the history of Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, from Buda Castle to one of Austria’s oldest wine estates in Krems.
Guests have a full season of departures to choose from for the 7-night Legendary Rhine and Romantic Rhine itineraries aboard three ships with voyages between Basel and Amsterdam. Daylight cruising through the picturesque Rhine Gorge, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, reveals castles and quaint villages amidst forested hillsides, terraced vineyards, and the edifice of Lorelei Rock. Guests aboard these voyages can explore the cobbled lanes and charming quarters of Zurich’s Altstadt with an optional 2-night pre- or post-cruise land program.
The 10-night Splendors of the Rhine & Moselle voyages, first introduced for Crystal’s 2022 season, will take guests through the Rhine Gorge past famed Lorelei Rock and through the Mosel Wine Region. Visits to the region’s most historically beautiful ports include overnights in Strasbourg and Mannheim (for Heidelberg), a late-night stay in Bernkastel, the cities of Koblenz and Cologne, and the Roman and Medieval sights of Trier, Germany’s oldest city.
Tulips and Windmills is a 7-night springtime exploration of the inland waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium bookended by overnight stays in Amsterdam. Guests will experience the history of the region along with its natural springtime beauty as the Keukenhof Gardens, the most famous and largest flower park in the world, comes alive. Pastoral landscapes and 18th century windmills set the scene in Kinderdijk, Netherlands, while the city center of Hoorn offers history of the Dutch Golden Age.
Christmas Markets & Holiday Sailings
Crystal River Cruises 2023 itineraries include new Christmas market season options, with the 7-night Dutch & Belgian Christmas Markets aboard Crystal Bach calling in stunning Dordrecht, known as the “Venice of Holland” and host to the largest Christmas market in the Netherlands; and the 10-night Christmas Splendors of the Rhine & Moselle on Crystal Mahler visiting the markets and seasonal sites. Christmastime on the Rhine, a 7-night itinerary between Basel and Amsterdam aboard Crystal Bach and Crystal Debussy, combines the Middle Rhine valley with visits to Germany’s traditional Christmas markets.
Crystal Ravel’s 7-night Delightful Danube Christmas sailings feature overnights in Budapest and Vienna and cruising along the Wachau Valley, while Crystal Mozart’s 10-night Danube Christmas Markets voyage is bookended by overnights in Vienna, cruises the Wachau Valley, and calls in some of the cities and Christmas markets in Germany, Austria and Slovakia.
Guests aboard Crystal Ravel’s 10-night Spectacular Danube Holiday will ring in the new year in Vienna during a special 3-night stay that also includes an overnight in Budapest, calls in Germany and Slovakia, and an exploration of the Wachau Valley. In Austria, guests can visit the Benedictine monastery of Melk Abbey and tour Mariendom Cathedral, Austria’s largest neo-gothic church in Linz.
Guests will celebrate New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam during a double overnight call on Holiday’s on the Rhine, a 10-night voyage aboard Crystal Debussy from Basel to Amsterdam. This journey features ancient fortresses and medieval castles along the Middle Rhine Valley. Overnights in Strasbourg, France, and Mannheim, Germany, reveal UNESCO treasures and baroque palaces, while the German towns of Koblenz, Cochem, Trier, Bernkastel, and Cologne, are filled with history, charm and architecture.
The 11-night Mozart Grand Holiday Cruise aboard Crystal Mozart celebrates New Year’s Eve and day with a double overnight in Budapest and features three days to enjoy Vienna. Guests can explore Passau at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers.
In addition to optional pre- and post-hotel stays in Amsterdam, Basel, Budapest and Vienna, Crystal River Cruises offers overland journeys to Prague (from Vilshoven), Zurich (from Basel), Reims (from Trier) and Bucharest (from Giurgiu) allowing guests extended explorations of these cities featuring five-star hotels in every city.
Booking Opens May 18
When reservations for Crystal River Cruises’ 2023 voyages open on May 18, 2021, advisors can take advantage of the 2-for-1 cruise fares from $2,799 pp and up to $2,000 Book Now Savings pp.
For more information, visit crystalcruises.com.
And don’t miss, Crystal River Cruises’ sailings for 2022.
Don’t miss Crystal’s new sailings from the Bahamas starting this July. For more cruise updates, click here.
