Joyful for All: Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's with Crystal Cruises
August 24, 2005
Take this December by the reigns and escape the usual holiday hassles to experience Crystal Cruises' remarkable union celebration of Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's Eve on a two-week tropical cruise through either the Mexican Riviera or the Caribbean. Amidst handcrafted ornaments, elaborate trees, twinkling menorahs, delicious cuisine and generous amenities, you'll have the incredible feeling of actually relaxing your way through the holidays.
"This year, a holiday vacation with Crystal is truly a wonderful gift for extended families and friends of different faiths to share the most joyous time of the year together," says Bill Smith, senior vice president of Crystal Cruises, sales and marketing. "With Hanukkah beginning on the eve of December 25th and ending on New Year's Day, guests will have the rare chance to celebrate their own traditions and at the same time share other festivities in a decidedly joyful yet sophisticated ambience."
Crystal Serenity will depart on December 21, 2005 for a round-trip 14-day Pacific Riviera cruise out of Los Angeles. This voyage includes port stops in San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, an overnight in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and La Paz, Mexico.
Crystal Symphony travels round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale on December 22, 2005. This 14-day Tropical Holiday voyage visits Key West, Florida; Aruba, Dutch West Indies; Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; Barbados and St. Lucia, West Indies; St. Barts, French West Indies; St. Thomas, USVI; and Nassau, Bahamas.
Clergy will be onboard to conduct a Christmas Eve Mass or a Protestant Christmas Eve service and a rabbi will travel with each ship to conduct Hanukkah services.
Traditional Christmas meals will be served with all of the savory trimmings, courtesy of Crystal Cruises' world-renown chefs. A very special tree lighting ceremony, hosted by the ship's Captain and complete with carols, cookies, and hot chocolate will take place on Christmas Eve. Children will be thrilled on Christmas Day to see that Santa Claus can find them wherever they go as he is scheduled to make an afternoon appearance, bearing gifts for everyone as usual.
Hanukkah or "The Festival of Lights" is celebrated December 25 through January 1 this year, and will include onboard traditional festivities including the nightly lighting of the Menorah and story-telling. A Hanukkah dinner will be served with gefilte fish, home-made chicken soup with matzo balls, roasted kosher chicken and potato pancakes with all of the seasonal accompaniments.
And New Year's! Guests will enjoy an opulent New Year's Dinner, followed by drinks and dancing with live entertainment. A late night New Year's Eve Countdown and balloon drop in the elegant two-story atrium will conclude the year in style. Then New Year's Day Brunch, complete with champagne and mimosas, will start off you off right in 2006.
As testament to Crystal Cruises quality of luxury cruising, the cruise line has just received the tenth consecutive "World's Best" award from the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.
Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity are among the most spacious and luxurious ships at sea. Featuring elegant staterooms, grand lounges, a lavish spa, extensive exercise facilities, a Caesars Palace at Sea casino, and the popular Computer University@Sea, these vessels are bound to give you a holiday you'll never forget.
For more information on these or other holiday cruises, call CruiseNetwork.com Cruise Specialist at 888-267-1232.
Sources: www.crystalcruises.com
