Venice to Athens
Set sail on Crystal Serenity with two luminaries of travel, Mr. Manfredi Lefebvre, Executive Chairman of AK Travel Group, and Mr. Geoffrey Kent, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Abercrombie Kent. Join our Chairmen in Venice sail down the Adriatic, passing through Croatia’s sparkling coast to the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city Kotor. Next, head to Greece to taste island life in Corfu, Cephalonia and Crete before disembarking in Athens. Guests aboard this cruise can expect a voyage of travel insights, shared stories and exclusive gala dinners in the company of two giants of the luxury travel industry.
Crystal Cruises - originally founded in 1988 - offers a range of stylish luxury and expedition cruises, bringing a sense of occasion and high-end service to far-flung parts of the world. For over three decades, Crystal has gained awards and accolades by the shipload – and it’s not hard to see why.
Operating a fleet of impressive ships decked out with opulent décor and contemporary innovations, Crystal Cruises takes comfort and adventure to the next level. From succulent dining to perfectly-organised onshore excursions, not to mention helicopter trips and submarine expeditions, the cruise line boasts of serious attention to detail, for the ultimate trip of a lifetime.
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost
Elegant and Welcoming. Waiting for You.
A sanctuary of refined style, Crystal Symphony is the standard bearer of The World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line. Enjoy renowned cuisine, exceptional enrichment, sun-soaked verandahs, and the most gracious hospitality at sea.