The season is officially upon us when the world seems to bloom with new sights and sounds to discover. One region that truly dazzles this time of year is along the Rhine River through the countryside of the Netherlands and Belgium, where millions of dormant tulip bulbs bloom each spring and cloak the landscapes in color. This spectacular performance by Mother Nature is not to be missed, so we encourage you to forgo the traditional spring cleaning in favor of a spring European getaway on an incredible river cruise.

Voyages along the Rhine are where flower-filled views meet meandering canals, and medieval architecture presides over bustling town squares that exude modern life. A “Tulip Time” itinerary typically sails from Amsterdam, beginning  with overnight stays. From there you will explore charming historic riverside towns where stair-stepped gables, imposing castles and cobbled alleyways take you back a century or two Other stops might include urban sophistication like that found in Rotterdam, sitting in stark contrast to the old-world charms of the rest of the region, with its contemporary architecture and high-energy boulevards.



For more springtime sunshine, follow the hillside paths through the endless tulip fields, punctuated by the iconic windmills of Holland. In a similar distinction between haute and historic, a typical Flemish itinerary will showcase the classic Dutch culture in Holland’s oldest city, Dordrecht, as well as Belgium’s high-fashion and art scene with an overnight stay in Antwerp. These sailing are filled with opportunities to taste world-class beers and chocolates, see the inspired brushstrokes of Van Gogh, discover the ingenuity of Dutch engineering and embrace the warm welcome of the destinations and your luxury river ship.
This is no time to spend cleaning out closets and daydreaming about adventures yet to come. Now is the time to find what discoveries will bloom when you sail through Europe on a fantastic river cruise.

Contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to help you pick the right cruise-line and itinerary! She is an all inclusive expert & certified river cruise specialist. Her professional planning services bring you added value at no additional cost.  

IN THE FAR EAST, you can explore undiscovered corners from primeval forests and volcanic landscapes in Japan to fascinating wildlife encounters and island expeditions in Russia.  Along the coast of Japan you will find a timeless empire steeped in tradition, lore, and natural beauty.   The islands give you a true feel for the past, present, and future in this land of the rising sun.There is a profound serenity in the mountain ranges of Kanazawa, ancient Samurai houses in Hagi, and mystical collection of gardens and temples in Kyoto. There here are also a myriad of escapades beckoning you in the Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia.  From jungle treks in Malaysia and the misty valley views of Indonesia to unexplored beaches in the Philippines, each destination is a chance to encounter mesmerizing island beauty.  You can marvel in a mosaic of colors and cultures while discovering ancient Komodo dragons and/or standing on the edge of an active volcano!

IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND, you will discover a vast paradise of islands teeming with untouched wilderness and secret underwater worlds of colorful marine life and dancing corals.  Visit jade-colored islands and revel in the underwater wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Experience Outback adventures along the rugged coastline of Australia’s and New Zealand’s most breathtaking islands. Get a glimpse into the world of fairy penguins.  Feast your eyes on pink granite mountains, and uncover rushing rivers and golden beaches beyond the Tasman Sea.  Perhaps, explore beyond the ethereal beauty with a visit to New Zealand’s wine region, nestled amid charming fishing villages.  Either way, you will find an escape to this untouched corner of the world, where rugged peaks, thermal valleys, hidden inlets, and rainbow-colored lakes all add to the magical landscape!

IN ANTARCTICA & THE ROSS SEA, you will find a world of immense scale and visual splendor in the vast white wilderness of Antarctica. Iceberg prisms and glittering glaciers, historic explorers’ huts, bellowing elephant seals and the world’s largest penguin colony are just a few of the sights you can expect to see on this trip of a lifetime. Wake each day as if in a snow globe!

ADVENTURE CALLS on a luxury expedition cruise.  Itineraries balance days at sea with scheduled ports of call, and is intentionally designed to be flexible, allowing the Captain and his team of experts to incorporate unplanned “expedition days” when favorable weather conditions invite the opportunity for uncommon discovery.  The Expedition Team will maintain a keen eye so that if an opportunity arises and conditions allow, the Captain will attempt to position the vessel accordingly. 

New York City. Epicenter of many of the world’s top industries, pursuits, interests and delights. At your fingertips lies a grid-ed playground of diverse ways to indulge in international cuisine, world-class performing arts of all kinds, historically profound artistic and archaeological discoveries, and, of course, fashion. The streets of Manhattan are a veritable runway of all that is chic and cutting edge, inspired by the most current trends and inspiring those yet to come. Even department store windows – elsewhere merely static display platforms – set dramatic stages, inviting people to come behind the curtain and get into costume.
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In this epicenter of fashion, style evolves as quickly as the lights change on Broadway, beautifully chronicling prominent events, moods and phases of history. New York City is the place to be for any and all love the art of fashion, or even just love gazing at the diverse canvas laid out in the city streets, but the threads run deep here – deeper than what’s trending from Gucci or McQueen. In many ways, designers help us tell our stories through our clothing, allowing for endless possible expressions and personalities. It’s this nuance and philosophy of fashion that continues to intrigue and influence the world’s styles, and has for centuries.

For dedicated patrons of fashion and its stories, this fall, Crystal Symphony is the place to be. During a “Fashion & Style” themed Experiences of Discovery voyage, guests will set sail from New York City, spending two full days in this style mecca. Joining them on their journey, will be four preeminent experts in various facets of the fashion industry as it is now, as it was, and as it looks to the future. The 10-day “Fall’s Grandeur” sailing embarks September 25 and explores the autumn glory that is New England and eastern Canada at that time of year, beginning with the stylish beauty found in New York.
Along the way, explore the fascinating history and behind-the-runway culture of the fashion industry of past and present with engaging presentations from: 

Fashion Historian and Journalist Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell – Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell has worked as a curator, consultant, and educator for museums and universities around the world. She is the author of Fashion Victims: Dress at the Court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette (Yale, 2015), winner of the 2016 Millia Davenport Publication Award, and co-author of Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915 (Prestel, 2010). Kimberly writes about fashion, art, and culture for The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Ornament, and Politico. She has presented at the National Gallery of Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Museum of London, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and is delighted to add Crystal Symphony to that list.

Fashion Institute of Technology Project Coordinator Ariele Elia – In addition to her role with the newly launched MFA Fashion Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Ariele is a fashion academic in her own right. In her previous position at the Museum at FIT as the assistant curator of Costume and Textiles, she curated or co-curated a number of exhibits and assisted with the exhibitions Expeditions: Fashion from the Extreme and Elegance in an Age of Crisis: Fashion of the 1930s. Her areas of expertise range from cultural appropriation to fashion and technology and has published essays including, The Wardrobe of the Modern Athlete: Activewear in the 1930s and Ocean Exploration: Fashion from the Deep. She holds an M.A. in Fashion and Textile: History, Theory, and Museum Practices from FIT, as well as a B.A. in Art History from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Fashion, Textile and Costume Designer Emil Gampe – Vienna, London, New York, Los Angeles…Emil’s creations are as unique and varied as the many places he’s called home. As a textile engineer in Austria he designed and patented high-end textiles with worldwide success. As a costume designer, he started England’s version of Dancing With The Stars. As a fashion expert, he consulted with several designer brands and won the TV talent show Launch My Line in the US. As a couture designer, he dressed the world’s most prestigious red carpets including the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys.
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Designer Retail Expert Susan Stein – Susan knows what modern fashion enthusiasts like, and she’s an expert and making them look their best. Formerly the Fashion/Public Relations Director for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Connecticut, then Director of the Fifth Avenue Club in Beverly Hills and Director of the Personal Shopping Department for Bloomingdale’s LA, Susan has also coached up-and-coming designers as a professor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

The number of years of history is in the thousands. Signature specialty cuisines amount to hundreds of blended spices and flavors. UNESCO has recognized 40 of its treasured sites. Complementary wine varietals grown are more than a dozen. Indigenous dance styles: many. South America by the numbers is impressively intriguing, with its quintessential rhythmic pace of life and awe-striking natural beauty. And those numbers don’t begin to scratch the surface of the unquantifiable warmth of the people, heat of the tango, or awesomeness of the towering mountains, waterfalls and monuments. Crystal’s South America cruises make the vibrancy of the destinations and the unforgettable experiences you’ll have immeasurably richer.
As you plan for this must-see region, we return to the numbers. Specifically, six things you should know before you explore the mesmerizing South American locales featured on Crystal Symphony sailings.

The transition from the bliss that is a Crystal River voyage – a week or two filled with smiling faces granting your every wish with a warm “my pleasure,” Michelin-inspired cuisine served with perfect wine pairings, a personal butler at your service with just the touch of an iPad in your suite – back to real life, can feel like an alarm clock that sounded too soon. Inverse logic dictates that the anticipation of an upcoming Crystal vacation can make the days leading up to embarkation drag on…and on. Enter: Crystal River Cruises’ pre- and post-cruise land experiences, extended land programs that allow you to prolong the luxury vacation you’ve been waiting for.
Specifically, four immersive programs offered in 2018 that delve deeper into some of the most famously fascinating destinations in Europe invite you to explore ashore, with every detail crafted by Crystal’s own experts. Three nights in Prague, Paris, Berlin and Slovenia – each program packed with experiences designed to authentically showcase the many facets of each destination, with luxury accommodations selected particularly for their historical and architectural significance to each city.
Exclusive dining reservations at acclaimed venues, an enriching roster of adventures that offer special access and insightful perspectives from experts, and the ability to “Design Your Time” make Crystal’s pre- and post-cruise land experiences exactly what you want them to be.

Let the vacation continue…

Prague Discovery
Explore the “City of a Hundred Spires” that sits along the Vltava River. Prague’s history is vast, and its present is vibrant. Bespoke experiences showcase traditions of the Czech Republic that have endured for centuries, as well as the awe-inspiring architecture that presides imposingly over the city’s modern culture. Taste Pilsner in the capital of Czech beer, and venture to UNESCO-listed Kutná Hora, returning to the elegant, 14th-century Augustine Hotel after each day’s adventures. *Offered from Budapest
You’ll Always Have Paris
The City of Light’s joie de vivre will, indeed, remain with you long after your return home, imprinted on your memory as clearly as on your passport. The iconic treasures of Paris are yours to explore, from the gilded rooms and gardens of Versailles to the monumental Eiffel Tower and Nôtre Dame. Stroll the romantic Champs Élysées from the centrally located Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, itself an icon of Parisian charm. *Offered from Amsterdam
Slovenian Treasures
Stretching from the Adriatic Sea to the Slovenian Alps, these three days encompass the quintessential medieval influence of Eastern Europe. Your home base will be the Kempinski Palace in the heart of Portoroz’ city center, with its own private courtyard and expansive wine cellar. Beyond your luxury hotel lie visits to ominous Predjama Castle, the incredibly preserved open-air museum that is Piran, and encounters with the legendary Lipizzaner horses renowned by nobility and beloved by all Slovenians. *Offered from Vienna
The Best of Berlin
Retrace the footsteps of some of history’s most pivotal events and today’s greatest artistic and innovative minds. Pass through Brandenburg Gate, visit prominent World War II sites, and peruse the gritty masterpieces of Berlin’s thriving street art scene, juxtaposed with exclusive tours of the city’s preeminent art museums. Taste the many – many – nuances of traditional German beer, and join the locals in Gendarmenmarkt Square. Berlin’s world-class shopping, dining and bustling historic Mitte District is at your fingertips from your accommodations at the Regent Hotel, one of the most acclaimed luxury hotels in the world. *Offered from Frankfurt

​Crystal’s Extended Land Programs are offered pre- and post-cruise from select cities throughout 2018. Contact Crystal Cruise Expert and Travel Partner, Chris Rakes to Book today, and prolong your Crystal journey.