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Crystal Mozart is named in Vienna festivities

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Godmother Elisabeth Gürtler, managing director of Vienna's Hotel Sacher and the historic Spanish Riding School
Crystal Mozart was named at elegant festivities in Vienna on Monday, ushering in the new Crystal River Cruises brand. During a ceremony attended by local dignitaries, media and Crystal Cruises executives, the vessel was named by godmother Elisabeth Gürtler, managing director of Vienna's Hotel Sacher and the historic Spanish Riding School.

The ceremony welcomed 175 guests to a cocktail reception on Deck Four of Crystal Mozart, featuring a traditional Viennese brass band playing traditional Austrian marches. Master of ceremonies and Crystal Mozart’s lead entertainer, musician Mark Farris, then ushered guests shoreside for the naming.

The godmother broke a magnum of Szigeti’s 2011 Sonderedition 'Adele' champagne. Crystal president and ceo Edie Rodriguez, along with chief operating officer Thomas Mazloum and Crystal River Cruises vp and managing director Walter Littlejohn welcomed Crystal Mozart to the fleet before a lavish dinner was served in the vessel'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,' Littlejohn said.

Following dinner, guests were transported to the Belvedere Palace for an exclusive evening of Mozart and Strauss performances, a complimentary event all Crystal Mozart passengers will experience when sailing on Danube River itineraries.

Crystal Mozart sails its maiden voyage on July 13, and all passengers will be personally welcomed by Rodriguez.

'Each new vessel and adventure is another step for Crystal toward our goal of providing savvy global travelers with virtually every luxury travel experience they can possibly imagine,' she said.

Crystal River Cruises is scheduled to add four yachts by the end of next summer. Hallmarks of the inclusive product are spacious suites, butlers, six-star service with a high passenger to crew ratio of 1.74, luxurious amenities and world-class cuisine.