Crystal River Cruises’ first vessel will boast stylish guest suites and public spaces, with amenities and appointments true to line’s luxury legacy
After months of anticipation and several groundbreaking announcements about its tremendous luxury travel brand expansion, Crystal today unveiled the ultra-chic design for the first vessel in the Crystal River Cruises fleet. Crystal Mozart will set sail on July 13 on its maiden voyage round-trip from Vienna, with spacious and stylishly outfitted guest suites, public lounges and dining venues. Beyond the stylish décor – fashioned by London’s AD Associates and Toronto’s II by IV Design – the “Queen of European Rivers” will also boast innovative entertainment spaces, adventurous amenities and the luxurious appointments that the world’s most discerning travellers have come to expect from Crystal.
“The experience awaiting guests when they step aboard Crystal Mozart will be true to the superior standard of luxury for which Crystal has always been celebrated, with some additional and original offerings that will be exclusive to Crystal River Cruises,” says Crystal’s president and CEO, Edie Rodriguez. “We’re bringing what was already a grand dame of European rivers up to the superlative Crystal level, with a modern but ‘classically Crystal’ twist.”
Among the more exceptional touches on the reimagined river ship will be pop-up bar area on the top “Vista” deck, complete with a vanishing movie screen for al fresco evening show times. Also on the Vista deck will be a living rooftop garden area with teak bench seating areas for guests to enjoy nature as they sail along the Danube River. Two custom tender boats will be available on board for more intimate exploration of the waterway’s picturesque locales, plus abundant outdoor space will ensure that travelers don’t miss any of the magnificent views.
Crystal Mozart will be cloaked in a timeless colour palette intended to transcend seasons and complement the stunning surroundings found in the destinations throughout Austria, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Croatia and Serbia. Calming foundations of cream, gray and white are accented with rich jewel tones in deep blue, green and the occasional vibrant print. The furnishings offer equally contemporary and welcoming comfort for guests to enjoy during cocktail hours and musical performances.
The soothing colour palette and plush fabrics continue into the guest suites, all of which will feature king-size beds, Nespresso machines, 40-inch flat-screen televisions and sparkling marble bathrooms. The 158-guest capacity Crystal Mozart will have window suites of 219 square feet, deluxe suites with French Balcony of 219 square feet, penthouse suites of 330 square feet and a two-bedroom Crystal Suites of 883 square feet, the largest suite on any river vessel afloat. One-bedroom Penthouses and the two-bedroom Crystal Suite will feature French Balconies, walk-in closets and separate showers and oversized bathtubs. Crystal’s acclaimed butler service will be available with every guest suite.
The ship’s four main decks – named, from bottom to top, Harmony (homage to Crystal’s first ocean ship), Seahorse, Crystal and Vista – will offer numerous public areas for guests to enjoy onboard enrichment, fitness and wellness, and world-class dining. A newly installed elevator will be located mid-ship to take guests between the Harmony and Crystal decks. Crystal Mozart will offer guests an array of elegant and casual dining options throughout the day, including:
Waterside – The main dining area with an indoor/outdoor setting, which will serve elaborate breakfast and lunch buffets, followed by upscale evening dinner service.
Palm Court – Reminiscent of the Palm Court on Crystal Symphony, the venue will be a main hub for dancing and live local entertainment, as well as casual cocktails and tea.
Blue – This aft indoor dining area will offer a casual atmosphere and a menu of global comfort food, similar to Tastes aboard Crystal Serenity.
Bistro Mozart – Often the go-to spot aboard Crystal vessels for freshly baked pastries, fruit and snacks, plus coffee, espresso and tea, Crystal Mozart’s bistro will serve light bites throughout the day.
The Pantry – A self-service wine and beverage bar, ideal for a quick snack on the go.
The Vintage Room – As aboard Crystal’s ocean ships, the intimate dining room for approximately a dozen guests will host winemakers’ dinners and special occasions.
In addition to the expansive menu of dining options, lounges and bars aboard Crystal Mozart will foster camaraderie among guests as they share stories, cocktails and music. The Cove will be a main hub, housing a Yamaha Avant-Grand Piano, manned by the vessel’s entertainment host. On the upper Vista deck, the pop-up bar area will set the scene for celebrations under the stars.
Crystal Mozart will also feature fully-equipped fitness, spa and salon facilities at the Crystal Life Spa, marking the first time ever the spa on a Crystal ship will be operated and staffed by Crystal’s own trained crew. An indoor pool will complement two treatment rooms, and male and female sauna and steam rooms.
Says Rodriguez, “At the heart of every Crystal Experience is the genuine service and expert attention to detail our guests enjoy. With our newest vessels, we’re upping our own ante by making every possible effort to ensure these components of a Crystal vacation are unparalleled.”
This includes offering a crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1.75 – that is, 91 expertly trained crew members to attend to Crystal Mozart’s 158 guests.
Crystal Mozart is named after the famous Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and is designed to fit into the wider locks of the Danube River from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary, and holds the record of being the largest river cruise vessel on European rivers, measuring 75.1 feet wide (22.9 meters), which is double the width of an average industry river boat.
SOURCE: Crystal Cruises