LNM Cruise Travel Agency

LOS ANGELES, December 14, 2000 – Luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises is going around the world in a new direction in 2002. For the first time ever, the line has set a round-trip Los Angeles itinerary to the four continents bordering the Pacific for its annual World Cruise. The new 100-day “Grand Pacific Circle” voyage -- the ultimate cruise opportunity in Crystal’s repertoire -- will depart Jan. 17, 2002 and call in 33 ports in 20 countries in North and South America, Australia and Asia. Crystal Symphony’s seventh consecutive World Cruise blends a mix of new ports with cosmopolitan, exotic, and historic destinations. In all, from Los Angeles, the itinerary includes Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; Valparaiso and Easter Island, Chile; Pitcairn Island; Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Papeete and Moorea, Tahiti; Raratonga, Cook Islands; Nuku’alofa, Tonga; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Hayman Island, Cairns and Darwin, Australia; Bali and Semarang, Indonesia; Singapore; Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam; Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, China; Seoul, South Korea; Hiroshima, Osaka, Yokohama and Shimizu, Japan; Oahu, Maui and San Francisco, and returns to Los Angeles. Crystal Symphony’s “Grand Pacific Circle” features nine maiden calls for the luxury vessel: Valparaiso, Hayman Island, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Hiroshima, Osaka, Yokohama and Shimizu. Optional unique day tours and extended overnight programs, which are hallmarks of the World Cruise shore excursion program, are planned throughout the itinerary, including explorations to the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, the South Island of New Zealand, Ayers Rock, Angkor Wat and the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xi’an. As in previous years, Crystal Cruises surveyed past guests and travel agents to aid in the development of the 2002 World Cruise itinerary. “This cruise was designed by our guests and their travel agents. Many expressed a desire for the cruise to begin and end in California and we listened,” says Joseph A. Watters, Crystal Cruises’ president. Renowned for its award-winning entertainment and stimulating onboard enrichment programs, Crystal Cruises will once again schedule a stellar line-up of lecturers and celebrity guests from Broadway, film, music, history, literature, journalism, politics and the culinary arts to further enhance the World Cruise experience. “World Value Fares” for the complete 100-day voyage start at $38,725 per person, double occupancy, and include round-trip First or Business Class air transportation (depending on stateroom category) from a Crystal Cruises’ North American air gateway, private car airport/ship/home transfers, pre-paid gratuities, $1,000 shipboard spending credit, luxury overnight hotel accommodations and gala bon voyage party in Beverly Hills the night before embarkation, an overnight program in Beijing, and other exclusive events in Costa Rica, Tahiti, Bali and Hawaii, among others. A five percent savings is offered for payment in full 180 days before departure. Savings of up to $7,500 are also offered to Crystal Society members (past guests). The 100-day odyssey is also available in four individual “Grand Pacific Voyages,” ranging in length from 18 to 34 days, sailing from Los Angeles, Valparaiso, Sydney and Hong Kong. Cruise fares for the shorter voyages begin at $7,180 per person, double occupancy, and include a complimentary pre-cruise, two-night hotel package. Complimentary air transportation is also included for those guests on two or more segments. Specially-priced air fares are offered to those guests booking a single segment. The 50,000-ton, 940-guest Crystal Symphony is one of the most spacious and luxurious vessels cruising the world. Her unique size in the luxury market allows for smooth sailing and a wide range of innovative facilities, generous amenities and elegant accommodations. The Six-Star rated liner features grand lounges, a full-service fitness facility, Computer University @ Sea, Caesars Palace at Sea casino, a lavish spa adhering to the principles of feng shui, expansive decks, two pools, award-winning cuisine and entertainment, and exquisitely-appointed staterooms, more than half of which offer private verandahs. Crystal Symphony and her sister ship Crystal Harmony are operated by Crystal Cruises, winners of the travel industry’s most distinguished hospitality awards and guidebook ratings. For the fifth consecutive year, Crystal Cruises was named best large-ship line in the 2000 readers’ surveys conducted by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines.
LOS ANGELES, March 8, 2000 -- Crystal Cruises announces that it has made a commitment to build a third ship. The line's parent company, NYK, is negotiating with shipyards as it proceeds with plans to add new tonnage to Crystal's existing Six-Star rated fleet. "We are strongly committed to the cruise business as it is one of the core businesses of NYK," said Jiro Nemoto, chairman of NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha), the largest shipping company in the world. In keeping with the character and success of Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony, Crystal Cruises plans to build a luxury ship of similar size. Among other honors, the line outscored all other cruise lines - large and small ship - in the most recent readers' polls conducted by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines. "We are enjoying our highest ratings and a record demand for our product. All the elements confirm that this is the ideal time for expansion," said Joseph A. Watters, Crystal Cruises' president. "The growth of our fleet offers even more luxury vacation possibilities for our guests, commercial benefits for our travel agent partners, and tremendous opportunities for our shore-side and shipboard employees." Los Angeles-based Crystal Cruises operates the 940-guest Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony, on worldwide itineraries ranging from seven days to a 104-day World Cruise. In 2000 and 2001, the ships cruise to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Panama Canal, Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, South Pacific, Asia, South America and the Amazon, Mexican Riviera, Canada/New England and Alaska.