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A nearly impossible-to-get 1961 German Riesling and a 1959 Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (rated 100 by Robert Parker) are among the seven superb wines to be showcased during Crystal Cruises' second Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner.  Aboard Crystal Serenity's October 6, 2007 voyage from Istanbul to Athens, true connoisseurs can indulge in an extravagant menu prepared by acclaimed Master Chef Anton Mosimann paired with the world's most exceptional vintages presented by Master Sommelier and President of the Guild of Master Sommelier Fred Dame.  Due to the rarity of the wines, this one-of-kind event is priced at $1,250 per person, the highest price the line has ever charged for an onboard Vintage Room Dinner.

Available for up to a maximum of 14 guests in Crystal Serenity's intimate Vintage Room, the event must be booked on board through the dining room maitre d'. The first Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner, which debuted on Crystal Symphony in May 2007 at a price of $1,000 per person, sold out within hours of its onboard announcement.

"Pairing the most celebrated of wines with a meal prepared by one of the most decorated chefs in the world offers an unprecedented experience at sea," says Toni Neumeister, Crystal Cruises' vice president, food & beverage operations.  "Crystal's Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners were conceived to satisfy and surprise connoisseurs.  Our luxury guests treasure exceptional experiences - but that experience has to be authentically memorable."

The October menu features the following wines:

• Krug, Vintage Brut, Reims, France 1990
• Riesling, Auslese, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, J.J. Prüm, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany 1961
• Chevalier-Montrachet, Grand Cru, Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy, France 1998
• Barbaresco, Angelo Gaja, Piedmont, Italy 1989
• Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France 1959
• Grange Hermitage, Penfolds, South Australia 1986
• Graham's Vintage Port, Portugal 1955

And, the following food courses:

• Warm Oriental Duck Salad Goutte d'or, Coriander and Ginger
• Steamed Scallops Mâitre Lurkin
• Risotto ai Funghi
• Mignon of Angus Beef, Shallot Sauce, Market Vegetables
• Vacherin Cheese
• Mille-Feuilles with Red Berries, Cardamom Ice Cream

Since 2003 Crystal Cruises has been offering wine-makers dinners in the specially designed Vintage Rooms aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity .  The head sommelier or guest wine experts guide guests through the experience, providing insights on where the wines were made, the aging process and why it works with a particular dish.  The wine-makers dinners are offered several times each cruise for approximately $180+ per person, depending on the wines chosen.  The Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners will only be scheduled a few times per year.

For a record 12th consecutive year, Crystal Cruises has been voted the "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.  While there are several new winners in the various travel categories, Crystal Cruises is the only cruise line, resort or hotel to have won the prestigious award each year since the awards' inception.

Based on a first quarter 2007 survey to thousands of world travelers, the World's Best Awards are featured in the magazine's August 2007 issue. Subscribers, who were allowed only one vote each, were asked to rate cruise lines on cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities and value.  Crystal's 2007 World's Best score topped its winning rating for 2006.

"We are honored and gratified that Crystal's attention to detail and extraordinary staff is consistently recognized by the discerning, experienced Travel + Leisure readers," says Crystal Cruises' President Gregg Michel.  "This is a tremendous validation of the investment we've made in our ships, the meaningful personalized programs we've introduced and Crystal's winning formula of superior service, choices, space and quality."

Crystal Cruises' luxurious, award-winning fleet consists of the 940-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal Symphony and 1,080-guest, 68,000-ton Crystal Serenity , which cruise worldwide on itineraries of seven to 108 days.  In the past year, the luxury line completed a stylish and sophisticated redesign of Crystal Symphony and expanded the opportunities to personalize one's experiences ashore with an increased collection of boutique Crystal Adventures^® and thoroughly customized Crystal Private Adventures throughout the world.  Earlier this year, Crystal's spas were singled out for their service, facilities and treatments, while its Creative Learning Institute earned accolades for inspiring programs. The line's glamorous casinos, array of evening entertainment and creative culinary venues and menus - such as the cuisine of master chef, Nobu Matsuhisa - rate high among those seeking quality choices on their floating luxury resort.

LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2007 - The readers of Cond? Nast Traveler have named Crystal Cruises the Number One Cruise Line Spa in the magazine's prestigious 2007 reader's poll.  The Crystal Spa, the only Feng Shui-designed spa at sea, was awarded its highest score yet to date with an overall rating of 90 points, more than six points ahead of its nearest competition.  Superior service, state-of-the-art facilities and amenities, such as treatment rooms, saunas and a private sun deck or relaxation area with expansive ocean views, propelled the luxury line's Crystal Spa into first place among the magazine's savvy travelers who placed it alongside, and even above, some of the foremost spas in the world.  The Spa Awards are featured in the magazine's April 2007 issue.

In landing the top spot, Crystal swept the categories for Treatments, Staff/Service and Workout Facilities among cruise lines, scoring 11 points higher than the second place cruise line for its superior Workout Facilities.  The luxury line also had the highest Overall score and highest Staff/Service score (93.8) of any of the destination spas, including the venerable spas of Canyon Ranch, Miraval and Golden Door.  Of the 55 spas that received the highest number of votes, Crystal placed in the top 10 for service.

"Throughout our ships, our staff anticipates our guests' needs for a luxurious and pampering vacation experience," says Alexandra Don, Crystal's vice president, onboard guest services.  "Many of our guests regularly visit spas.  They expect attentive, professional service, quality products and hygienic practices.  Besides being very therapeutic, the Crystal Spas are stylish and distinctive unto themselves."

Demand among its discerning guests for sophisticated spa services has inspired Crystal to introduce new services, including a special spa therapy menu designed exclusively for men launched last summer.  The growing popularity of Crystal's masculine treatments, such as its signature Urban Cleanse Facial, is part of a larger trend according to Spa Finder, Inc.  A recent poll by the global spa resource guide reveals that more and more men are indulging in spa travel and therapeutic treatments while on vacation.  Other recent trends in spa travel reported by Spa Finder include an increase in family travel, travel to international locations, spa vacations for special occasions such as honeymoons and anniversaries, and social groups of friends traveling together.  Already a popular choice for celebrating special occasions and renowned for its destination-rich international itineraries, Crystal is now becoming an increasingly popular choice for multi-generational travel.

"We are definitely seeing more families traveling together, especially during the holidays and summer months," continues Don. "Vacations offer an ideal opportunity to spend more time together, and pampering spa treatments like Crystal's Mother/Daughter Paradise Massage can offer a shared occasion for bonding."

The Crystal Spas are operated by Steiner Leisure, the world's largest spa company, and feature signature treatments and therapies by Elemis, the UK's leading spa brand.  Designed in harmony with the principles of Feng Shui to evoke health, prosperity and happiness, the Crystal Spas aboard the award-winning Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity offer a variety of treatments applying these principals to soothe and revitalize body and soul.  Treatments range from a Yin Yang Facial with essential oils, to Aroma Stone Therapy using heated volcanic basalt stones, and the indulgent Spa Ceremony of Renewal featuring an extravagant Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow followed by a therapeutic deep tissue muscle massage.

Complimenting the spa therapies and enhancing Crystal's total approach to health and wellness are a variety of complementary sports activities, lap pool, sauna, steam room, fully equipped workout center, and aerobics, yoga and Pilates fitness classes.  Private weight training and Pilates training on a Reformer? are available for a fee.  The line's revolutionary Creative Learning Institute features interactive instruction in Tai Chi, as well as health and fitness seminars conducted by the renowned Cleveland Clinic, while the "Walk on Water" program, custom-made for Crystal by fitness expert Debbie Rocker, utilizes the signature WALKVEST? to allow guests to maximize the health benefits of walking.