NEW THRILLS AWAIT ACTIVE TRAVELLERS IN NORTHERN EUROPE WITH CRYSTAL CRUISES

Between May and September this year, Crystal Cruises’ guests in Northern Europe can hike, drive, ride, fish, climb, sail, row, bob, fly or surf in destinations from western France up to the Arctic Circle and over to Iceland. The ultra-luxury line has set more than 100 new boutique Crystal Adventures to take maximum advantage of the region’s abundant outdoor opportunities and stunning natural beauty.

On new outings, outdoor enthusiasts can:

· River Raft Iceland’s glacial Hvitá River (outside Reyjkavik).

· Rock Climb Ireland’s Mourne Mountains (CS Lewis’s Narnia-inspiration) outside Belfast, or rappel down a Dalkey quarry after taking in the view of Dublin.

· Surf in Biarritz, with Quicksilver’s world-class surf school instruction (from St-Jean-de-Luz).

· Tank-Drive a vintage WWII battle tank for two miles near Portland.

• Helicopter over Paris and Versailles (from Honfleur), Bordeaux wine country or Iceland’s recently-erupted Eyjafjallajökull volcano (from Reykjavik).

· Olympic Wheelbob down Lillehammer’s Olympic Bob & Luge Track outside Oslo.

· Horseback Ride through the “Garden of Ireland”/County Wicklow, Finnish countryside and forest near Helsinki or mountains outside maiden call Akureyri, the latter on the back of Icelandic horses descended from the Viking Age.

· Kayak past colourful Copenhagen via its harbour and canals or the natural beauty of coastal northern Norway (from Tromso).

· Hike the chalky Dorset coastline in Portland or Norway’s highest mountain, Mount Ulriken (in Bergen).

· Fish the Finnish Archipelago, Geirangerfjord or near Reykjavik (sea angling).

• ATV or 4x4 Drive through North Cape’s gateway, Magerøya Island (Honningsvåg) or past glacial Icelandic landscape to either a lobster lunch or snowmobile adventure (Reykjavik).

· Boat past Helsinki’s seaside villas and lighthouses by catamaran; discover caves and orkas in maiden call Heimaey, Iceland by RIB or motorboat; spot puffins on a RIB sea safari to Runde Island (near Ålesund, Norway); or scout for sea eagles by Zodiac in Lofoten, Norway (maiden call).

· Soak weary, post-activity bones in a natural geothermic/volcanic lagoon en route to stunning Godafoss, aka “Waterfall of the Gods” (from Akureyri).

Other new boutique excursions that focus on the arts and off-beat experiences (and require less adrenalin!) include:

· Blown Glassmaking near Saint-Malo: Fashion your own blown glasswork at a local studio.

· Venturing Off-the-Beaten-Path in Berlin: Explore living as the locals do, with shopping at the fruit and vegetable market, riding the Underground and going inside a typical local apartment.

· Painting in St Petersburg: Take a painting master class at Russia’s largest private modern art gallery.

· Evening Walking with a Night Watchman in Copenhagen: Take a different type of walking tour, at night, with a traditional uniformed - and informed - local “night watchman.”

· “Titanic Experience” in Belfast: Visit the new Titanic museum on the centennial anniversary of the ship’s sinking.

· Gourmet Dining and Wine Tasting in Bordeaux: From slow food to Médoc wine, join local experts in exploring the region’s legendary estates, including a gala dinner at Château Haut-Bailly.

Many Crystal Adventures offer new Private Options for couples. For even more intimate time on shore, guests can also custom-craft a Crystal Private Adventure or take an Overland Adventure, such as a two-day trip to Moscow from St Petersburg.

Until 30^th April, “Book Now” fares for Crystal’s Northern Europe cruises start at £2,166 per person/double occupancy for an 11-night sailing from Southampton to Hamburg departing 21^st May. Price includes flight from Hamburg to the UK, overseas transfers and 11 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window on an all-inclusive basis.

Crystal’s passion for creating exclusive, eye-opening luxury shore-side experiences is the cornerstone of its Crystal Adventures programme, earning the line top ratings for two decades.

For further information and reservations please call Crystal Cruises on 020 7287 9040 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk

NEW AUSTRALIAN OVERLAND ADVENTURES GET UP CLOSE TO KANGAROOS, KOALAS & CULINARY ARTS

Ultra-luxury Crystal Cruises is offering two new four-day overland adventures that intimately explore the unique natural beauty and history of South Australia’s picturesque outback and 170 year-old wine country. During Crystal Serenity’s 7th February Sydney to Singapore voyage, guests can venture to Kangaroo Island, considered the Galapagos of Australia, or delve into the Flinders Ranges National Park & Barossa Valley wine country.

Departing from Adelaide and concluding in Perth, these overland trips allow plenty of time to sightsee in both cities, as well as enjoy the region’s indigenous wildlife. Highlights include:

· Kangaroo Island: An eco-friendly, luxury cliffside lodge serving organic cuisine, plus scouting the bush for wallabies, koalas, fur seals, and sea lions.

· The Flinders Ranges & Barossa Valley: Winery tours/tasting in Clare and Barossa Valleys, a traditional Aussie barbeque and emus, eagles and kangaroos with Australia’s largest mountain range as backdrop.

Prices for each Crystal Adventure start at $3,861 per person and $4,029 per person respectively based on double occupancy. Crystal’s passion for creating exclusive, eye-opening luxury shore-side experiences are cornerstones of its Crystal Adventures programme, earning the line top ratings for two decades.

For further information visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or adveventure cruise specialists The Cruise Line.

CRYSTAL CRUISES SETS NEW VOLUNTOURISM EXCURSIONS FOR AUTUMN NEW ENGLAND, CANADA & CARIBBEAN SAILINGS

This September/October, Crystal Cruises’ guests and staff will help international refugees resettle in Canada, Massachusetts children-in-need survive winter, feed the hungry in Halifax and care for stray/rescued donkeys in Antigua - all as part of the ultra luxury cruise line’s “You Care, We Care” programme in New England, Canada and the Caribbean this autumn.
Volunteer opportunities are offered free of charge on every 2011 sailing, giving guests and crew an easy, hands-on way to “give back” to local communities, while simultaneously providing an alternative cultural perspective to traditional shore excursions.
Participants can assist four aid organisations on five east coast Crystal Symphony voyages:         Cradles to Crayons (Boston on 16th September and 8th October): Prepare vital winter items for homeless/low-income children, from schoolbags to warm coats and shoes.
· Romero House (St John, New Brunswick on 30th September): Provide kitchen aid for a housing community that assists less-fortunate locals and resettling refugees.   Feed Nova Scotia (Halifax on 20th October): Help food bank preparation/distribution,  Donkey Sanctuary at the Antigua & Barbuda Humane Society (Antigua on 31st October): Feed, clean or walk the shelter’s stray donkeys, dogs and cats.
Launched in January, 2011, Crystal’s “You Care, We Care” programme has been widely recognised as a trailblazing effort for socially responsible tourism.
Crystal’s voluntourism efforts thus far in 2011 have helped orphans, animals and the environment. June/July projects include care-taking cats and birds at the oldest independent animal protection organisation in Norway and a summer-long project of rehab-ing an eco-friendly salmon hatchery and education facility in Alaska.
A cornerstone of Crystal Cruises’ culture is its genuine hospitality and service that has been internationally-celebrated for two decades. This spirit of generosity extends to its respectful treatment of the environment, oceans and communities in which it travels.
For reservations call Crystal Cruises on 020 7287 9040 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk