This month, we’re excited to introduce Crystal Luxury Cruises! Crystal is a wonderful, small cruise line that was acquired by the A&K Travel Group in 2022. With just two ships in the fleet, each with a guest capacity of 606 and 750, you'll enjoy an intimate experience with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1, meaning top-notch service is always at your fingertips.
Expect an all-inclusive, luxurious getaway with butlers dedicated to every suite, ensuring your every need is met. Crystal offers an amazing range of exciting itineraries, plus onboard amenities to suit every taste. Dining options include Nobu’s exclusive restaurant at sea, Osteria D’Ovido for Italian fine dining, and Beefbar, serving up global street food for sharing. For the active traveller, there’s everything from padel tennis and pickleball to yoga and pilates – there’s something for everyone!
Here is a selection of stunning Crystal itineraries to tempt you:
Barcelona to Barcelona
3 nights: 10th May to 13th May 2025
SHIP CRYSTAL SERENITY
Try a taste of Crystal life on a round-trip voyage from Barcelona. Short but sweet, this voyage hops from Spain to France and back. We start in the buzzing Catalan capital, where you can stroll the famous tree-lined promenade, La Rambla, gaze in awe at the fantastical buildings of the 19th-century architect Antonio Gaudí, and admire early works by Pablo Picasso in the museum dedicated to the artist. Then we cross the border to France and the equally enthralling port of Marseille, which revels in its history as a major trading hub with its cosmopolitan mix of culture and cuisine. Soak it all up as you wander around the Vieux Port and past the old merchant’s houses on La Canebière. On our return, we’ll call at Sète to dine on oysters from the lagoon and laze on the beach, before heading back to Barcelona once more.
Fares from £1300 per guest
Tokyo to Tokyo
13 nights: 5th May to 13th May 2026
SHIP CRYSTAL SYMPHONY
Sail from Japan to Taiwan and back during cherry blossom season, on a two-week voyage that takes in some of Asia-Pacific’s most striking destinations. Setting off from Tokyo, you sail to Shimizu, considered one of Japan’s most beautiful ports because of its outlook on Mount Fuji you continue west to Kobe, renowned as a culinary hotspot and a good base for visits to Kyoto. A day at sea then takes you to the coral-fringed Okinawa archipelago, before reaching Taiwan, stopping at Keelung, a gateway to Taipei. Sailing back to Japan, you call in at Kogoshima and Kochi before returning to Tokyo.
Fares from £5800 per guest
Marseille - Tarragona (Barcelona)
7 nights: 28th May to 4th June 2026
SHIP CRYSTAL SYMPHONY
We throw the spotlight on Spain for this delightful summer cruise. Casting off from the French city of Marseille, we hop over the Spanish border for our first stop, the fishing village of Palamos, followed by pretty Mahón in Menorca, and the quiet side of Ibiza. Next, the coastal cities beckon: dynamic Alicante; Valencia, birthplace of paella; and our final stop, Tarragona, Spain’s most important Roman town, with beautifully preserved ruins including the Pont del Diable aqueduct.
Fares from £3850 per guest
