Hi there! The following is one of a multi-part series on 2009 gay cruises. The purpose of each page is to give you useful information about the cruise at a glance. Please feel free to discuss these cruises in the forums! -Ed.
Cruise: Trans-Atlantic
When: November 12th to 22nd, 2009
Company/Offered Through: Crystal Gay Group
Type: All-Gay
Departs: Lisbon, Portugal
Visits: Ponta Delgada, Grand Turk, Miami
Basic Itinerary:
Pricing Info:
Detailed Itinerary:
Lisbon, Portugal
Cruise: 9325
Arrival Date: November 12
Departure Time: 5 pm
Cosmopolitan Lisbon was the center of the world’s last great colonial empire. Today the city nostalgically reveres its imperial past while adapting to Portugal’s role as a member of the European Economic Community. Although located on the Atlantic coast, Lisbon has the soul of a Mediterranean city with Moorish castles, pastel and white buildings, orange-tiled roofs and luminous blue skies. Set amid the hills and valleys of the northern shore of the River Tagus, it is one of the loveliest capitals in the world.
Cruising the Atlantic Ocean
Cruise: 9325
Your Day at Sea
, Enrich. Entertain. Escape.
Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish: pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness center or Walk-on-Water along our 360o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging lecture series; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theater, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours.
Ponta Delgada, The Azores
Cruise: 9325
Arrival Date: November 14
Arrival Time: 8 am
Departure Time: 5 pm
A cluster of islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between Portugal and North America, The Azores were established in 1427 by Portuguese explorers. Due to its strategic location, The Azores were often the focus of battles and pirate threats. Today, Ponta Delgada exudes all of the grandeur and exotic appeal of its past with sumptuous houses and twisting streets that have survived the memory of past nobles and aristocrats.
Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
Cruise: 9325
Arrival Date: November 20
Arrival Time: 8 am
Departure Time: 5 pm
Although there are numerous spots on land that invite relaxation and exploration, the Turks and Caicos are really all about the water. More specifically, they’re all about what’s beneath the water. These islands have some of the best diving and snorkeling anywhere, courtesy of one of the world’s largest network of coral reefs, easily accessible off the islands’ shores. One reef, aptly called the Wall, is particularly spectacular; it drops 7,000 feet-straight down. Between the shore and the reef, the water is only waist deep, providing a perfect place for beginning snorkelers to get their feet wet.
Miami, Florida, USA
Cruise: 9325
Arrival Date: November 22
Arrival Time: 8 am
It has the largest city population in Florida, is the third most visited American city among international travelers and showcases an Art Deco Historic District encompassing one of the largest neighborhoods entered on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Miami certainly boasts its share of impressive characteristics, even before adding to the list its gorgeous beaches, spirited Cuban population and ritzy enclaves of Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. Miami wasn’t always the glamorous and energetic city you see today. Until the late 1800s, it was mostly swamp, disconnected from the rest of the country thanks to its position on the edge of the continent and lack of the essential link of the day: a railroad. All that changed in 1896, when the railroad in northern Florida was extended to the latent tropical paradise of the south.
The rest, as they say, is history, as Miami has since seen recurrent booms fueled by surges of immigration, perennially good weather and an insouciant refusal to do anything halfway. Admire the full glory of Miami Beach with a stroll along South Beach’s famous Ocean Boulevard, where splendidly restored art deco buildings compete with fashion models and sun worshipers for attention. For a taste of Cuban cuisine and culture, visit Little Havana on the mainland (Miami Beach is separate both in its municipality and its geography: it sits on a barrier island four miles off the coast, and is reached by a causeway). Also outside mainland Miami are the acres of rare tropical plants nurtured to their fragrant and beautiful best in Fairchild Tropical Gardens. The aforementioned slice of heaven known as Coral Gables lies to the southwest. A gem of 1920s city planning, the city unfurls impressive boulevards and features the alluring Venetian Pool, where waterfalls and underwater caves offer the chance for a uniquely refreshing dip.
Travel info:
Cruise 9325 – Atlantic Adventure
Trans-Atlantic
Lisbon to Miami
November 12 to November 22, 2009
10 Days (7 sea days) aboard Crystal Serenity
Theme: Ballroom Dancing
Theme: Comprehensive Creative Learning Institute
Captain – TBA
Hotel Director – TBA
Cruise Director – Rick Spath
Maître D’ – Mario Gallo
Crystal Society Host/ess – Jane Self
Cruise Sales Consultant – Paula Jean Pfitzer
Headline Entertainers – Gary Arbuthnot, Flautist
Mike Goddard, Comedian
Adam Johnson, Classical Artist
Dale Kristien, Vocalist
Greg Scott, Variety Violinist
Lounge Pianists – Colin Salter, Avenue Saloon
Joe Fos, Crystal Cove
Production Shows – Featuring the Crystal Ensemble of Singers and Dancers: Curtain Call Gotta Dance Million Dollar Musicals My Favorite Things Standing Room Only (Please note: not all shows are performed on all cruises).
Crystal Visions Enrichment Program
Destination Lecturer –
Dr. Harm de Blij (Boca Grande, FL)
Author, professor and TV personality, Dr. de Blij was the popular Geography Editor for seven years on ABC’s Good Morning America. In his role as television’s geographer, he has appeared from locations throughout the US and around the world, using his trademark maps to explain the geographic background to major events.
Special Interest Lecturer –
Bill Boggs (New York, NY)
Bill Boggs, the celebrity correspondent for the syndicated My Generation, television show, is a four-time Emmy award-winning TV host and interviewer, an entertainment industry insider and a major figure in the music, lifestyle, food, and celebrity reporting arenas. His career has spanned more than twenty-five years on TV. He is the best selling author of the Harper Collins book, Got What It Takes?, a sought-after motivational speaker, and the creator and star of the off Broadway play, Talk Show Confidential, which has been running at New York’s Triad Theater since 2003. As host of the long-running food network series, Bill Boggs’ Corner Table, the New York based Midday Live With Bill Boggs, NBC’s Weekend Today in New York, and the Fox series Comedy Tonight, Bill has interviewed many of the most notable personalities of our time – including music-world giants, presidents, international leaders, writers, athletes, celebrity chefs, not to mention a movie star or two.
Special Interest Lecturer –
Jerry Kindall (Tucson, AZ)
Coach Kindall, a baseball “lifer,” will serve as your Baseball Historian. From the 19th century origins of baseball to present day triumphs and tragedies, Kindall will share from his 55 consecutive years in the game beginning as a College All American, through 8 years as a major league infielder with the Cubs, Indians, and Twins, 30 years of college coaching, and presently global baseball as Senior Advisor, USA Baseball. Along with his power point visuals, Coach Kindall will provide a wealth of insightful and humorous personal anecdotes that will take the listeners inside this fascinating and integral part of Americana.
Special Interest Lecturer –
Dr. Tom Logsdon (Seal Beach, CA)
Crystal’s ‘resident moon-man,’ Tom Logsdon is an award-winning rocket scientist with an international reputation. Early in his career, he used the mathematics and physics he learned in school to figure out the optimum trajectories and the rocket-powered maneuvers that allowed all 12 Apollo astronauts to land on the surface of the moon. He also handled similar assignments for the giant Echo balloon, the manned Skylab capsule, various Mars missions, and the GPS navigation satellites. He has written and sold 1.7 million works, including 29 non-fiction books, portions of which have been translated into a dozen different languages. Currently, he is writing the text and handling the color illustrations for his first children’s book called Going Up and is composing articles for Encyclopedia Britannica.
Special Interest Lecturer –
Gary Smith (Los Angeles, CA)
Gary Smith has been producing television since the 1960’s, beginning with Judy Garland’s legendary show. In that time he has won multiple Emmy awards while working with talents as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand and the Democrats (Gary produced the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 convention). From the Tony awards to classic Friar’s roasts, Gary understands the fundamentals of how to make the act shine in the medium of television.
*Theme Presentations: Ballroom Dancing
Theme Lecturer – TBA
Dance Instructor – Curtis Collins (Los Angeles, CA) Daily dance classes on sea days, and private lessons by appointment.
*Theme Presentations: Comprehensive Creative Learning
Theme Lecturer – Samantha Paris
Arts & Entertainment –
Passport To Music presented by Yamaha and Crystal Cruises: Instructor TBA teaches an innovative and fun course as an introduction to keyboard playing for adults. Tradition and technology meet in harmony to create this progressive piano-style program. With an emphasis on hands-on learning using Yamaha’s exciting portable keyboards supported by the Clavinova digital piano, guests learn nearly a dozen songs during the cruise. An overview of general musical skills, including listening skills and note reading is included, as well as fun group activities such as music trivia and name that song. Passport To Music is designed for those with little or no previous keyboard experience.
Cleveland Clinic – Alice Rim, M.D.
Lifestyle –
Berlitz Foreign Language Instruction: Spanish classes, focusing on basic vocabulary and phrases to help guests communicate in foreign countries, are taught by certified Berlitz Language instructor TBA.
Masterpiece Art – TBA
Wine & Food –
Society of Wine Educators expert TBA offers special wine tastings and discussions.
Yoga Instructor – TBA
The Crystal Cruises Creative Learning Institute
Our innovative series of complimentary interactive classes created to enhance our guests quality of life in the areas of Arts & Entertainment, Business & Technology, Lifestyle, Wellness and Wine & Food. Guests receive a certificate of completion at the end of the curriculum.
Odyssey Art At Sea Instructor – Maggie Hunt (Clacton-on-Sea, England)
Computer University@Sea –
Senior Attendant TBA plus Instructors Judy Koehler and Mike Newell (Vero Beach, FL). Our popular Computer University@Sea program: expanded curriculum of complimentary lectures and classes on a variety of computer-related topics, plus e-mail instruction in our computer center, equipped with 25 state-of-the-art workstations, all equipped for e-mail and Internet access (fees apply).
Wellness –
Crystal Cruises’ exclusive Walk-on-Water program features The WALKVEST® Training System which revolutionizes walking simply by adding resistance (added weight) to your walk.
PGA Golf Teaching Professional –
John Clark (Carlsbad, CA)
Conducts our exclusive program featuring TaylorMade, the best performance golf company in the world and #1 driver in golf.
John has over 35 years experience in the Golf business and became a PGA member in July, 1972. He served his Apprenticeship under the late, Tony Novitsky, at Columbine Country Club, Littleton, Colorado. Columbine was the Host Club for the 1968 PGA Championship. John is a life member and a Quarter Century member of the PGA of America. John has held positions as an Assistant Golf Professional, Head Professional, Director of Golf and General Manager at Private Country Clubs and a Sheraton Resort. He is currently a PGA Instructor at the SDGA, San Diego Campus. The other SDGA Campus’s are located in Phoenix, Myrtle Beach and Orlando. Also, John is an Independent PGA Golf Instructor at the Carlsbad Golf Center, Carlsbad, California, recently rated in the Best 100 Golf Shops by Golf World for 2008.
ACBL Bridge Instructors – Harold and Davida Schachter (Lakewood, NJ) Beginner and intermediate bridge classes, and afternoon games.
Catholic Clergy – TBA
Ambassador Hosts – Al Albero (San Francisco, CA) Wayne Hodgson (Victoria, Canada) David Larsen (Clearwater, FL) Emery Lendvay (Madison, OH) Ed Long (Houston, TX) Norman Pendergraft (Durham, NC)
Featured Trunk Show –
Ethan’s Accents
Ethan’s Accents jewelry is made for the woman who is confident, exuberant and comfortable with herself. Crafted by hand and exclusive in design, these jewels reflect the richness of nature’s beauty. Sterling Silver and 18 karat gold combined with a kaleidoscope of semi precious and precious stones produce a tantalizing array for the select few.
