Luxury Cruise Bible

Things to Know about Crystal Cruises

Air Add-on

When you purchase your airfare directly from Crystal, you’ll also receive ground transfers between the airport and the ship on the day you embark and disembark. A Crystal rep will be at the airport to make sure your arrival and departure is trouble free. Pre- and post-cruise hotel and transfer packages are also available. View a list of Crystal’s gateway cities and add-on fares for 2009. The Air/Sea Concierge Desk also offers customized itineraries (your choice of carrier, route, etc.) for a $100 per person fee.

Alcohol Policies

You may bring your own wine or liquor onboard to enjoy in your stateroom. You may drink a bottle of your own wine with dinner at Crystal’s restaurants for a $15 corkage fee.

All-Inclusive Policy

Your Crystal cruise fare is not all-inclusive. Wine and liquor is charged to your shipboard account and gratuities are additional.

Beauty Salon

Crystal salons offer services including haircuts, hairstyling, coloring, facials and skin analysis, and manicures and pedicures.

Bon Voyage Gifts

Bon voyage gifts are available from Crystal’s On Board Guest Services by visiting their website or faxing (310) 785-3975. Gifts include champagne ($92 to $322 per bottle), sparkling wine ($46 per bottle), red and white wine ($32 to $120 per bottle), chocolate, flowers, onboard credits, and pre-paid gratuities. On Board Guest Services accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club.

Butler / Concierge Service

Butler service is available in categories PH and PS (Penthouse with Verandah) and CP (Crystal Penthouse with Verandah).

Cancellation Policies

All cancellations should be made by telephone or in writing to Crystal Cruises. If the request is received more than 75 days prior to the Crystal Air/Sea Program departure date, a full refund of amounts already paid will be made to the guest. All other cancellations carry the following forfeitures:

• 75–45 days before departure = 10% of cruise fare
• 44–15 days = 50% of cruise fare
• 14 days and thereafter = 100% of cruise fare

Cash / Credit Cards / Foreign Currency

Your shipboard account and charges may be settled with cash (U.S. dollars), travelers cheques, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club, or Discover. Personal checks (up to $2,000 per person) may be cashed for personal use and to settle your shipboard account. Local foreign currency exchange services are available in certain ports at the reception/purser’s desk.

Children’s Program

Crystal offers a three-tiered junior activities program on select holiday cruises and most summer sailings. Children are grouped by age (3–7, 8–12, and 13–17). Coordinators plan games, arts and crafts, and other ways to pass the time. Crystal also offers a children’s playroom and babysitting services on all cruises. Children under six months are not permitted on board without a signed waiver by the parents.

Cruise Documents

You will receive your ticket wallet and cruise documents 30 days prior to departure. The ticket wallet contains your cruise ticket, itinerary, air ticket, luggage tags, and other travel information. Hotel confirmations are also included if you booked through Crystal.

Dining

If you require a special diet during your cruise, submit your dietary requests in writing to Crystal’s Onboard Guest Services Department at onboardgstsvcs@crystalcruises.com no later than one month prior to your cruise, and confirm your arrangements with the food and beverage staff on the day of embarkation. There may be a charge for some special requests.

Disabled Guest Services

You may bring a wheelchair or scooters on board but it must not exceed 22 inches wide. There is ramp access to most public areas. The Serenity offers five handicap-accessible staterooms: two category D, two penthouses, and one category B. The Crystal Serenity offers eight accessible staterooms: two penthouses, two staterooms with verandahs, and four staterooms with picture windows.

Dress Code

Crystal Cruises selects one of three styles of dress for each night of its itineraries: Formal Evening Attire (evening dresses and gowns for ladies and a tuxedo, dinner jacket, or dark suit and tie for gentlemen), Informal Evening Attire (cocktail dresses or pantsuits for ladies and suits or sport coats and slacks—ties are optional—for men), and Casual Evening Attire (casual dresses and pantsuits for ladies and sport shirts and slacks for gentlemen; ties and jackets are not required for men on casual nights). Dress codes go into effect at 6:00 p.m. each evening in the restaurants and public areas of the ship. Jeans, shorts, casual slacks, sport shirts, and caps or baseball hats are not permitted in the dining room or specialty restaurants after 6:00 p.m.

Electrical Outlets

Standard 110-volt American outlets and 220-volt European-style outlets are available in all staterooms.

Embarkation

Guests generally may board their ship at 3:00 p.m. Check your cruise documents for exact boarding time and pier location. You must be onboard at least one hour prior to the ship setting sail.

Fellow Passengers

Crystal cruisers are well educated, well traveled, and mostly retired. This group loves to dress for dinner and formal nights are taken seriously. This is not the line for you if you prefer wearing jeans and a T-shirt to dinner.

Formal Nights

Formal nights are an institution aboard Crystal Cruises ships. The number of formal nights varies according to the length of your cruise. Three formal nights are generally scheduled for 10- to 14-day cruises.

Gentlemen Hosts / Dance Partners

An “Ambassador Host” is Crystal’s version of a gentlemen host. On each sailing, carefully screened gentlemen with interests and backgrounds similar to those of the passengers are onboard. Each host is also an accomplished ballroom dancer.

Gratuities

Crystal recommends the following gratuities for your stewardess, senior waiter, and waiter (plus butler for guests in categories PH, PS, and CP): $13 per guest per day ($26 per couple per day) or $17 per guest per day for those staying in Penthouse categories PH, PS, and CP.

In-Suite Bar Setup

Crystal staterooms are stocked with complimentary bottled water and soft drinks. Penthouses receive water and soft drinks as well as complimentary beer and wine, a fully stocked minibar, and bottle of champagne.

In-Suite Safe

All staterooms are equipped with a personal safe.

In-Suite Television

Crystal Serenity staterooms are equipped with remote-controlled color televisions and DVD players. Penthouses come standard with a flat-screen television and CD/DVD player. Serenity staterooms are equipped with remote-controlled flat-screen televisions and DVD players, and the Penthouses on board the Symphony have flat-screen televisions and CD/DVD players.

In-Suite Toiletries

All staterooms are furnished with Aveda bath products.

Laundry, Pressing, and Dry Cleaning

Complete laundry, pressing, and dry cleaning services are available and can be arranged by your stewardess or butler. Pressing is free to those in categories PH, PS, or CP. There are complimentary self-service launderettes on board on decks 8, 9, and 10 on Symphony and decks 8, 9, 10, and 11 on board the Serenity. The launderettes are complete with washing machines and dryers, and are also stocked with detergents, softeners, and irons and ironing boards.

Library: Books, CDs, and DVDs

The libraries aboard Crystal ships are well stocked with books, CDs, and DVDs that may be borrowed at no cost.

Luggage Delivery Service

Crystal Cruises refers its passengers who wish to experience luggage-free travel to Virtual Bellhop. This company will pick up your luggage from your home and will deliver it directly to your ship. At the end of your cruise, they will pick up your luggage and transfer it directly to your home.

Medical Facilities

Guests with specific medical needs such as oxygen or dialysis, and those who have special dietary requests should contact On Board Guest Services at onboardgstsvcs@crystalcruises.com no later than one month before your cruise.

Newspapers

Daily news is transmitted via satellite to Crystal ships, and a summation is distributed to all staterooms on a daily basis.

Past Guest Program

All guests completing their first cruise of seven days or more automatically become Crystal Society members. Being a member entitles guests to:

• Savings on almost all cruises
• Various rewards (stateroom upgrades, complimentary cruises, or spending credits to be used on board)
• Complimentary subscription to the Crystal Society Member Magazine: Passport
• A complimentary tote bag
• Special onboard functions specifically for Crystal Society Members
• Awarding of milestones and cruise credits to be redeemed on board or on future cruises

Pets

Pets, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed on board Crystal ships.

Religious Services

Services encompassing all religious denominations are given on Sundays at sea. Catholic services are also offered on most cruises, and Protestant and Jewish services are available on the foremost applicable religious holidays. See Crystal’s Reflections daily agenda for full details.

Room Service

Crystal Cruises offer 24-hour complimentary room service to all guests.

Ship-to-Shore Communications

Crystal Cruises offers in-stateroom Internet access, as well as a 24-hour Internet cafe. Postal, satellite telephone, wi-fi, cell phone services, and fax services are available on request.

Ship’s Photographer

There are professional photographers on board to document special occasions, and they can also often be found on shore to capture moments spent in port. There is an on board photo shop that sells photographic accessories, processing film, and downloads digital photos.

Shore Excursions

Crystal Adventures has developed a range of shore excursions from sightseeing to adventure programs. There are active tours like kayaking, hiking, and cycling as well as excursions that involve less physical activity.

Single Supplement Policy

Single occupancy of double staterooms is available on a limited basis, subject to availability at the time of reservation. Single guests pay 125 percent (130 percent for world cruise voyages) of the per-person fare for categories C through E; 135 percent (140 percent for world cruise voyages) of categories A and B; 150 percent of category AA; 175 percent of category PH; and 200 percent of categories CP and PS.

Smoking Policy

Crystal Cruises has designated smoking and non-smoking areas. The majority of the bars and lounges have specific smoking tables, however there are completely smoke free public areas such as The Galaxy Lounge, The Sushi Bar, Silk Road, Prego, The Bistro, Crystal Dining Room, and inside the Lido Cafe. Smoking is not permitted in the Starlight Club on board the Symphony. Pipes and cigars are permitted in the Connoisseur’s Club and on open decks, with the exception of the Lido Deck.

Spa Services

The Crystal Spa uses state-of-the-art equipment and is built using the elements of Feng Shui. Steam rooms, saunas, hair salon, Jacuzzis, fitness facilities, and Pilates and yoga classes are on offer.

Special Occasions

Special private functions can be arranged by contacting the bar manager. He is she will construct a package according to your requirements. For in state room special occasions and smaller gatherings, contact housekeeping to make arrangements.

Special Requests

The Reception Desk staff is available to assist guests with any special requests.

Transfers

Complimentary transfers between the airport and ship are included in the cruise fare for guests purchasing Crystal’s add-on airfare. Guests participating in a Crystal pre- or post-cruise hotel or extended land program are entitled to transfers between airport, hotel, and ship, or vice versa. Complimentary transfers between airport or hotel and ship do not apply for guests making their own air and land arrangements. However, cruise-only guests may purchase certain transfers for a nominal fee.

Travel Insurance

Cruise Care Protection is available for purchase by all guests, and is administered by BerkleyCare, Ltd. Cruise Care coverage can be pre-arranged by contacting Crystal Cruises at 1-800-521-4591. The coverage includes:

• Cruise cancellation and interruption protection
• Baggage protection up to $3,000
• $20,000 of medical protection
• $1,000 cruise delay protection
• Emergency evacuation up to $50,000