By
Rebecca Gibson |
Crystal Cruises officially welcomed Crystal Ravel, the fifth of its all-suite Rhine Class river vessels, to its fleet with a christening ceremony in Hungary on 11 July.
Crystal Ravel was named during a call in Budapest as part of her week-long ‘Danube Serenade’ voyage in a ceremony attended by Crystal’s president and CEO Tom Wolber, Crystal River Cruises’ vice president and managing director Walter Littlejohn, guests and crew. Hungarian philanthropist and creator of the ‘Virtuosos’ classical music talent show Mariann Peller served as godmother.
The ceremony also featured performances from tenor Steffan Mullan, Young Virtuosos artists and Budapest Festival Orchestra harpist Ágnes Polonyi.
“To be named the godmother of a ship that celebrates the classical musical heritage of this country and the lands that surround her – is an honour that speaks to my heart,” said Peller. “Beyond the connection to the musical masters of this region, Crystal River ships represent the stunning grace, elegance and beauty of the rivers that flow here. I am honoured to become part of the Crystal Family, as this company embodies a dedication to excellence.”
Crystal Ravel joins the fleet alongside her identical sister ships Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Debussy, as well as Crystal Mozart is twice the width of any other river cruise ship. All five have been launched over the past two years.
“In just over two years, we introduced five ships, which is a tremendous accomplishment of growth for this expansion of the Crystal brand,” said Wolber. “But what makes us most proud is that with each new ship and new experience, Crystal’s commitment to superb quality and exceptional luxury and service has remained unwavering.”
Like her four identical sister ships, Crystal Ravel accommodates 106 guests. Onboard, guests will benefit from butler service in every room category, king-sized beds, panoramic balcony-windows, walk-in closets and a dual vanity in the bathrooms in most categories, ETRO amenities, robes and slippers, and wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs. Guests will also be able to enjoy farm-to-table cuisine in open-seating eateries, such as Waterside Restaurant, Bistro café and Vintage Room. Entertainment and enrichment presentations will take place in Palm Court.
Crystal Ravel is currently sailing itineraries of six to 14 days between Vienna, Austria and Basel, Switzerland. In 2019, she will be the only river ship to sail seven-night Danube cruises roundtrip from Vienna to ports in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.
“Beyond these exquisite ships – which are earning the acclaim of luxury travellers from around the world – the heart of the Crystal River Experience is the people,” Littlejohn said. “Crystal’s crew is simply unmatched in their warm, genuine service and attention to detail. Our guests are savvy travellers who truly value that personal connection and frequently share the sentiment that sailing with Crystal is like coming home to their onboard family.”