MIAMI — Crystal Cruises is ramping up its return-to-cruise voyages this year with the addition of 15 new Caribbean itineraries from August through December, with bookings opening May 12, 2021. 

The cruise line first announced in March its resumption of cruises starting July 3, with new all-Bahamian seven-night itineraries onboard the Crystal Serenity. 

The 15 new sailings will depart roundtrip from St. Maarten aboard Crystal Symphony as part of the ship’s 10-night Luxury Caribbean Escapes. Guests have the option to cruise roundtrip from either Philipsburg, St. Maarten on 15 voyages beginning Aug. 2, or the previously announced voyages departing roundtrip from St. John’s Antigua and Barbuda, on 15 voyages starting Aug. 5.

All of Crystal’s 10-night Luxury Caribbean Escapes, including a holiday cruise, will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten and the British Virgin Islands. 

The itineraries, together with recently announced 10-night Luxury Iceland Expeditions aboard Crystal Endeavor and the seven-night Luxury Bahamas Escapes aboard Crystal Serenity, comprise the resumption of service of 97% of Crystal’s ocean-going fleet.

“Crystal continues to be at the forefront of the return to cruising, and true to our Crystal hallmarks of Service, Space, Quality, Choices and Destinations, our goal is to ensure guests have abundant options to tailor their travel experiences to their personal tastes,” said president Jack Anderson.

Crystal Symphony will return to sailing with reduced capacity and with Crystal’s new vaccination requirement. The cruise line announced in February that guests must be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding any Crystal ship. This new requirement is in addition to existing Crystal Clean+ measures that include negative COVID-19 tests for both guests and crew, reduced capacity, social distancing, mask requirements and health screening questionnaires. 

Best Available cruise fares start at US$2,999 with Book Now Savings of up to $1,000 per guest and As You Wish spending credits of $200 per guest. Returning guests will enjoy double Crystal Society Savings of 5% while new-to-Crystal guests will save 2.5%. Travellers can book their Crystal Symphony Luxury Caribbean Escape with a reduced deposit of 15% and have until 60 days prior to departure to make final payment. Single supplements for these voyages begin at 125%. Guests with future cruise credits and future cruise payments may redeem them on these voyages.