Crystal Takes Top Honors in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards

Both Crystal Cruises and Crystal Yacht Cruises Named Best in Category Crystal River Cruises Finishes in the Top Two

MIAMI, October 6, 2020 – Discerning travelers have once again recognized Crystal as the very best in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards. Crystal Cruises and its Ocean ships Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity earned first place in the “Best Medium-Ship” category, while Crystal Yacht Cruises’ Crystal Esprit took the top spot in the “Best Small-Ship” category. Crystal River Cruises, which won Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best River Cruise Line this year, was also honored by Condé Nast Traveler readers as one of the best in the “Best River-Ship” category. Every year, Condé Nast Traveler invites its readers to vote for the awards, recognizing excellence throughout the travel industry. The 2020 awards mark the 27th year that Crystal has earned top acclaim.

“To earn the continued recognition of the world’s most discerning travelers is truly humbling and an honor we do not take lightly,” said Jack Anderson, Crystal’s interim president and CEO. “These awards are a testament to the dedication of our officers, staff and crew fleetwide, professionals who welcome every guest aboard as family whether they travel with us by Ocean, River, Yacht or soon, Expedition. On behalf of our entire Crystal Family, I extend our sincere gratitude to the guests who voted for us and who continue to choose Crystal.

“The 2020 awards are especially poignant as we remember and honor the tireless expertise and passionate enthusiasm of Toni Neumeister, our senior vice president of hotel operations who passed away earlier this year. The steady leadership of Tom Wolber (former president & CEO) over the last three years as well as the support of the travel advisor community whose expert knowledge is valued by savvy travelers have also played critical roles in Crystal’s receipt of these accolades.

“This year has presented challenges for our company and our industry, and we know that travelers are eager to begin exploring again. As we continue preparations to welcome them back on board, we are focused on the well-being of our guests and crew, restoring trust in our shoreside service and continuing to elevate the experience aboard each and every Crystal ship,” Anderson continued.

Crystal’s Ocean ships remain the most awarded luxury ships at sea, inherently designed to offer more social space than most ships of similar size. Multiple globally inspired dining venues, an array of entertainment and acclaimed enrichment programs, fitness and wellness pursuits and a philosophy rooted in catering to the personal preferences of each guest continue to distinguish the Crystal Experience. Crystal Yacht Cruises’ Crystal Esprit is a distinctly exclusive destination unto itself. The 62-guest yacht offers the exceptional caliber of cuisine, service and elegant suites for which Crystal is known, in an intimate atmosphere that mirrors that of a private yacht. Crystal Esprit’s private marina is equipped for all manner of water adventures, complete with kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling and scuba gear and even a private submersible for deep-water exploration.

Crystal’s award-winning brand experiences – Crystal Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises and the upcoming Crystal Expedition Cruises – offer all-inclusive itineraries of just a few nights to more than 100 nights, spanning all seven continents across the globe.

The safety of guests and crew members is Crystal’s number one priority and the fleet will resume service only when the company’s expert team and global health and government authorities indicate that it is safe to do so. Crystal has suspended all voyages across its fleet for the remainder of 2020, and introduced Crystal Clean+ – an evolving, enhanced version of Crystal’s already stringent protocols. The policies were developed with the latest data available from health experts and will be updated as new information and announced guidelines become available.

About Crystal

Only the world-renowned Crystal Experience offers an unwavering, unparalleled standard of excellence and luxury across four distinct cruising options: Crystal Cruises, the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line; Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line; Crystal Yacht Cruises, offering boutique luxury and bold adventure in the world’s most elite harbors; and Crystal Expedition Cruises, taking Crystal’s acclaimed elegance to the farthest reaches of the world. Crystal has been recognized with top honors in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for a record 27 years including, in 2020, for Best Medium-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Cruises and Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Yacht Cruises. Crystal was also voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure for 24 years, including, in 2017 and 2020, Best River Cruise Line for Crystal River Cruises; and won “Cruise Line of the Year” and “Most Luxurious Guest Experience” by Virtuoso for 2018 & 2019. Crystal is proud to be a platinum partner of the advisors of ASTA.