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Expansive Asia, new Ireland and Holy Land cruises in Crystal's 2021

PHOTO: Crystal Cruises
Among Crystal Symphony's 2021 destinations are the Holy Land, Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia
Crystal Cruises jumped out by announcing its full 2021 deployment, which features extensive exploration of Southeast Asia, China and Japan, four sailings to/from Dublin, and the Holy Land.

Nine maiden calls, more overnights in port and access to 175 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are other highlights of Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity's schedules.

From seven days to 139 days

Sailings range from Crystal Serenity’s 139-day 'Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders' comprehensive world cruise to 10 seven-day voyages through the Mediterranean aboard Crystal Symphony.

Included are shorter sailings that are easily combinable without repeating ports.

'By presenting Crystal’s luxury voyages for the next three years, along with the significant value of "Book Now" savings, we are aiming to inspire our guests to plan their next vacation early to lock in a great rate and the stateroom they want while giving our travel partners the time and tools to assist them,' Crystal president and CEO Tom Wolber said.

The nine maiden calls are in Townsville, Australia; Banda Neira and Ambon, Indonesia; Burgas, Bulgaria; Novorossiysk, Russia; Batumi, Georgia; Seydisfjordur, Iceland; Dingle, Ireland; and Kepez, Turkey.

Port overnights

At least one overnight stay in port is offered on virtually every voyage, with as many as four overnight ports on a single sailing and double overnights on many.

Among the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that can be accessed are Angkor Wat, the Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Luxor, Mont-Saint-Michel and the historic cities of Dubrovnik, Florence and Corfu.

Crystal Serenity's Ireland-intensive voyages to/from Dublin visit Cork and Dingle, as well as Belfast, plus Liverpool and Edinburgh, in time for the annual Military Tattoo.

Southeast Asia, China, Japan

Six voyages around Southeast Asia aboard Crystal Symphony highlight Malaysia’s culinary flavor in Penang, Myanmar’s gateway to ancient Bagan, the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, and the tranquility and tropics of Thailand and the Philippines.

Voyages to China and Japan aboard Crystal Serenity allow visits to Kyoto, the chance to see Mount Fuji, Beijing’s Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Shanghai’s Jade Buddha.

Arabian Gulf and India voyages overnight in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and give opportunities to explore Wadi Rum and Petra from Aqaba, Luxor and the Valley of Kings from Safaga, and Mumbai’s colorful bazaars.

The Holy Land sailing aboard Crystal Symphony spends two days in Ashdod, allowing time to explore Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Civitavecchia (Rome) is also on the itinerary.

Plus, there will be trans-continental voyages from Asia to Africa across the Indian Ocean, exploring Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Seychelles, and offering post-cruise safari options in Mombasa (Crystal Symphony), and a new trans-Atlantic option from Dublin to New York City that explores Ireland’s treasures and New England’s colonial history (Crystal Serenity).

Current 'Book Now' savings begin at up to $2,000 per person for 2021 voyages, and up to $12,500 per person for the full 2021 world cruise, offering tremendous savings for voyages booked by Oct. 31, 2018.