head west, on to Paris for the last sojourn, before returning to New York 26 days later. Each of the existing seven itineraries is defined by a theme. Passengers can not only revel in the joy of flight, but combine it with their personal interests. ‘Savouring the Winelands’ takes in vineyards from San Francisco to Argentina, and Chile to Cape Town and Champagne. An ‘Around the World: Iconic Sites’ schedule offers a once-in-a-lifetime dream tour for any culture lover, as it serves a global smorgasbord of world icons, including Easter Island, Machu Pichu, Uluru, Lhasa and Jaipur; the 28-day journey is the most extensive of the circuits. Every tour ends where it begins, but Crystal has made every effort to ensure that it
to social and cultural, as well as the very
takes place at a pace set to accommodate
best in accommodation.”
relaxation and stimulation. “What makes Crystal AirCruises
And the on-board experience will take
deliver complimentary global Skye-Fi. Drinks are available at either the standup or lounge bar, while dining at one of
some matching. The Boeing 777-200 ER
the four tables, which seat up to six guests,
different is its breadth,” Marc continues.
will be the only one of its kind flying in
is available throughout the flight. The
A destination deployment team has
the world when its facelift is completed in
menus reflect the highest standards, with
spent significant time researching the
June. It will incorporate separate seating,
Michelin star-inspired cuisine, influenced
combination of destinations, activities
lounge and dining areas. Up to 80
by the theme of the tour and the dishes
and accommodation.
passengers can luxuriate in a two-by-two-
of the regions, served in an informal
“There’s a small amount of
by-two configuration with Crystal Exclusive
atmosphere. An extensive selection of 300
crossover between the ship and air cruise
Class seats, which convert to lie-flat beds,
wines, curated in the Skye Wine Cellar,
destinations, but not much.
replete with sumptuous linens.
accompanies dishes.
The aircraft gives us the flexibility to
Or, guests can enjoy the state-of-the-
Every passenger need is attended to
fly up to 18 hours in one leg, so we can
art in-flight entertainment system with
by Crystal Skye Butlers, who have been
go farther than ever, although many of our
24” HD monitors, showcasing the latest
individually chosen from the world’s finest
legs aren’t more than
movies, music and documentaries. Bose
hotels, concierge desks, and of course,
four hours. We offer a wealth of
noise-cancelling headphones enhance
Crystal Cruise ships. Team members
experience and multiple different activities,
the experience, and for those who need
train for up to seven weeks to receive
varying from adventurous
connectivity on board, iPads are offered to
information about regulatory, safety and procedural issues, as well as the magic that conveys the Crystal essence. Each flight will be attended to by a group of 15 butlers, and a senior purser to see to the client’s every need. “So far, we have no typical passenger – they range from 30 to 80 years, and represent a vast number of countries,” concludes Marc. What is clear is that the ability to experience so much of the world in a compressed time is already attracting a new set of travellers, as Crystal AirCruises has taken circumventing the globe to a whole new level. www.crystalcruises.com/aircruises
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