LOS ANGELES — Crystal Mozart was officially welcomed to the Crystal River Cruises fleet in Vienna yesterday, christened by Godmother Elisabeth Gürtler, Managing Director of both the Hotel Sacher, Vienna’s most famous hotel, and the city’s historic Spanish Riding School.
Crystal Mozart is due to set sail for her maiden voyage on July 13, marking the official launch of Crystal River Cruises, which will see four additional river yachts launched by the end of next summer.
Crystal CEO and President Edie Rodriguez will personally welcome inaugural sailing guest onboard. The hallmarks of the all-inclusive, all-exclusive Crystal Experience include spacious suites, personal butlers, the highest guest to crew ratio in river cruising at 1.74, luxurious amenities, world-class cuisine and a full wrap-around promenade.
“This is an extraordinary time for our company, as our expansion from the world’s oceans to its rivers and air allows for numerous new opportunities and ways for travellers to explore the world with us,” said Rodriguez.
At yesterday’s christening some 175 VIP guests gathered at a cocktail reception on the ship’s Vista Deck Four, where a Viennese Brass Orchestra dressed in historic uniforms played traditional Austrian Marches. Master of Ceremonies and Crystal Mozart’s lead entertainer, musician Mark Farris, then ushered guests shoreside for the naming of the ship by the godmother and breaking of the magnum of Szigeti’s 2011 Sonderedition ‘Adele’ champagne.
Rodriguez, along with Crystal COO Thomas Mazloum and Crystal River Cruises Vice President and Managing Director Walter Littlejohn officially welcomed Crystal Mozart to the fleet and kicked off further festivities, which included a lavish dinner in the ship’s Waterside and Blue restaurants.
“Crystal’s presence on the rivers of Europe absolutely raises the bar of excellence for the luxury river cruising industry, a standard the company set long ago when it entered the luxury ocean cruising market,” says Littlejohn. “We are thrilled to introduce a new way to explore the world with the highly-acclaimed Crystal Experience.”
Following dinner, guests gathered at Vienna’s Belvedere Palace for an evening of Mozart and Strauss performances. All Crystal Mozart guests will experience a similar concert complimentary when sailing on Crystal River Cruises’ Danube river itineraries.
Measuring 120.4 metres long and 22.9 metres wide, the all-suite, 154-passenger Crystal Mozart will sail itineraries along the Danube River, calling in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, and Serbia. For the first time on a Crystal voyage, most excursions are complimentary. Guests can reserve electronic bicycles on the ship for independent exploration, while VIP Champagne boat tours will also be available for private cruising and sightseeing along Europe’s narrower waterways.
Each suite offers Apple iPad devices that serve as Digital Directories for virtually all of guests’ onboard needs, from dry cleaning and butler service to room service and dining reservations, as well as concierge and Crystal Adventures inquiries and more. Suites also boast 40” flat-screen HD televisions, along with backlit bathroom mirrors with integrated televisions.
