Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises Ship: Crystal Serenity Region: World Cruises and Sectors Departs: Jan 21, 2009 From: Los Angeles

106 Nights

Itinerary

Description

106 Night Cruise sailing from Los Angeles roundtrip aboard Crystal Serenity. 106 Night Cruise sailing from Los Angeles roundtrip aboard Crystal Serenity.

Crystal Serenity joined the Crystal Fleet in July 2003 and raised the already lofty standards of Crystal Cruises to even greater heights. She offers an expanded space-to-guest ratio (62.9) than her spacious sister ships. Her elegantly appointed staterooms are all outside, over 85% with private verandahs, and all offer completely unobstructed views, thanks to a unique recessed lifeboat design. Onboard amenities include grand lounges, five separate and distinctive evening dining venues, a Caesars Palace at Sea casino, a lavish spa, two paddle tennis courts and award-winning entertainment.

Highlights of this cruise include:

Los Angeles
Spectacular natural surroundings combined with the vitality of a creative and artistic community make Los Angeles one-of-a-kind. Sunshine, majestic palm trees and the sandy beaches of the Pacific share the spotlight with L.A.'s glamorous movie industry and its world-famous celebrities.

Formally founded in 1781, it is now one of the world's largest metropolitan centers. Although there will not be any shore excursions offered in Los Angeles due to our limited time in port, you may contact our onboard Shore Excursion staff for helpful hints or suggestions on things to do while you are ashore.

Rangiroa
The second largest atoll in the world, Rangiroa is not only a beautiful Polynesian escape, it is also a renowned dive destination. Below the surface of turquoise waters is a fascinating world of colorful fish, who fearlessly swim next to their human visitors, making the two-legged, snorkel-wearing creatures a temporary part of the ecosystem. On land, working pearl farms, quiet villages and secluded resorts entice guests to become a part of a culture that values neighborly friendliness and relaxation.

Moorea
As your Crystal ship enters Cook's Bay, the dramatic spire made famous as Bali Hai in the movie South Pacific, towers in the distance and welcomes you to Mooréa. As this island is a jewel of crystalline lagoons, fjord-like bays, azure waters and velvety mountain peaks, it seems only natural that this exquisite island should have been selected as the location of the 1983 movie, The Bounty.

The ancient Polynesians chose Mooréa as their pleasure island. Here, pristine beaches are flanked by groves of pineapple, vanilla and coffee.

Papeete
Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, is by no means a sleepy town. With an international airport, wide waterfront-boulevard and new buildings, it boasts all the modern trappings of civilization.

Its engaging atmosphere is vibrantly alive, a marvelous potpourri of European manner and carefree island ways.

A few steps from our pier, boutiques and galleries abound as Tahitian shopkeepers dressed in bright paréos greet customers with a welcoming iaorana. The nearby open-air market is a bustle of activity. Away from the clamor of town are peaceful fern grottos, tiny villages tucked in verdant valleys and ancient sacred maraes.

Suva
Suva sits on the southeast shores of mountainous Viti Levu ("Great Fiji"), largest of the over 800 islands which comprise the Republic of Fiji. Local folk traditions remain strong, like fire-walks and welcoming ceremonies, wood-carving and the fabrication of tree-bark cloth. The island's proud history is showcased in the Fiji Museum, with its impressive collection of war canoes.

Auckland
Welcome to Auckland, the "City of Sails." New Zealand's largest city is along the shores of an extinct volcanic cone known as Rangitoto, often visible to the east. Auckland's population of over one million people represents almost a third of the country's total.

New Zealand seems to have a bit of everything: great natural beauty, friendly people, magnificent glacier-studded mountain ranges, sculpted fjords, pristine untouched beaches, lush rainforest, an endless array of sporting activities, and, not to be forgotten, plenty of sheep and rolling farmland.

Auckland is the perfect city from which to experience most of what New Zealand has to offer. The city lies astride a narrow isthmus between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean on two harbors, the Waitemata and Manukau. Auckland and New Zealand's geographic and cultural treasures beckon for your discovery.

An enthusiastic welcome awaits you at this thriving city by the sea.

Napier
Northeast of the capital city of Wellington is Napier, a town with much to boast about. Napier is known for producing wool, growing fruit, cultivating grapes and making wine. The natural setting that helps in its agricultural pursuits also makes Napier popular among retirees and tourists; after all, who can resist picturesque countryside with an air of sophistication-and not a whiff of pretension? Add to its bucolic charms a rich Maori history and tales of explorer Captain Cook and you have a destination worthy of your own discovery.

Sydney
The billowing profile of the Opera House greets us on her return to Sydney's glorious, world-class harbor. Ahead lies the arch of the Harbour Bridge. These twin symbols, more than any other, identify one of the Southern Hemisphere's premier cities.

Sydney is an energetic and exciting metropolis whose nightlife, shopping and fine restaurants compare favorably with the finest the world has to offer. Despite its modern advances, Sydney has lovingly cherished its heritage, for this was the birthplace of the Australian nation.

Combine Sydney's boundless attractions with its superb harborside location, and you have that certain magic that few other cities can rival.

Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria. It maintains an air of old-world grace and refined dignity with spacious tree-lined boulevards and expansive parks. The prosperous lifestyle of its people is both cosmopolitan and sophisticated.

Quaint trams rumble through the downtown area past verdant gardens and impressive high-rises, in a city that has never lost its endearing charm. The heritage of more than 100 different cultures has contributed to Melbourne's richly international character. This diverse ethnic mix is exemplified by its range of 15,000 dining venues which offer more than 50 different kinds of cuisine.

Melbourne's sightseeing is as diverse as it is composition and beckons for your discovery.

Singapore
Singapore blends the contemporary splendor of a sparkling modern city with influences from throughout the Orient. Its history is one of riches and romance, spice trading and piracy, colonialism and growth. This island state has grown from a small fishing village to one of Asia's greatest success stories.

Temples, mosques and churches stand as serene reminders of the varied collection of migrations that have graced its history. Discover the mansions and polo greens of colonial Singapore, the mystique of Chinatown and the heady aroma of spices and curry along Arab Street. You will quickly come to understand why Singapore is acclaimed as the "Crossroads of the East."

Ho Chi Minh
Crystal Serenity's visit to Ho Chi Minh City, known universally and affectionately by residents as Saigon, will offer a stimulating insight into Vietnam's eventful past and a glimpse into its hopeful future.

Over two decades have passed since American forces left these shores. Since then, Ho Chi Minh City has regained a prosperous air of thriving activity. Rice boats float down the waterways, streets bustle with commerce, scooters speed by and a sense of history fills the air. There are quiet temples to discover, French colonial public buildings to admire and numerous street markets to stroll. Visitors to Ho Chi Minh City can be assured of a friendly and hospitable welcome.

Ho Chi Minh City serves as our main gateway to the alluring wonders of Cambodia (Kampuchea).

Hong Kong
Although Hong Kong has returned to its original Chinese roots, it still remains a cosmopolitan city with influences, languages and accents from around the world. Here East meets West and the result is electric. Soaring skyscrapers rise from the hills and harbor, blending geography and nature with commercial concrete, steel and pulsating neon in a way that brings traditional Chinese culture and Western-style commerce into perfect harmony.

The bustling city streets are lined with teeming markets and sophisticated boutiques tucked tightly into any available crevice. Some of the world's best shopping is found in Central, located on Hong Kong Island and only a short ferry ride away.

Shanghai
Shanghai, located just inside the mouth of the great Yangtze River, marks the point where Asia's longest and most important river completes its 3,400-mile journey to the Pacific. The city's unique location is the source of its existence and has determined what it is today.

Until 1842, Shanghai was merely a tiny fishing village. Following the first Opium War, Shanghai became a treaty port, which opened the city to foreign influence and resulted in the development of numerous British, French and American colonial settlements within the city and along the Yangtze River. Today, Shanghai is the center of China's economic resurgence and its skyline attests to this development in the form of towering skyscrapers, brightly lit commercial high-rises and the unsettling Oriental Pearl Tower.

A testimony to Shanghai's colonial era, stately European buildings in art deco style line the Bund, the city's spacious waterfront promenade. An endless flotilla of sampans edge the Huangpu River, dividing old and new Shanghai. Beyond the rush of the city, serene ponds and gardens offer a gentle respite.

Must-see sights include the Jade Buddha Temple and tranquil Yu Garden, impressive monuments to China's history and style. Inland lies Suzhou, with its majestic Grand Canal and classical gardens, as well as equally significant Hangzhou, terminus of the Grand Canal and the center of China's legendary tea industry.

Ketchikan
Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world and a paradise for fishermen and nature-lovers alike. A quiet city, it hosts quaint restaurants perched on stilts above the water, scores of fascinating shops and spectacular views from every vantage point.

Although Ketchikan's Indian name means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle," it is also known as "Alaska's First City," so coined as it is frequently the first stop along the Inside Passage.

Venture ashore and discover Ketchikan's rich Indian heritage, visit the world's largest collection of authentic totem poles at Totem Bight and walk along the rustic boardwalk on Creek Street where stilt-buildings in the harbor preserve a distinct pioneer feel. Or, we welcome you to paddle a kayak on sheltered waters, take a floatplane to a remote mountain lake or try your hand at sportfishing.

Regardless of how you plan to spend your time in "Alaska's First City," we're sure your visit will be a memorable one.

Vancouver
Prosperous and vibrant Vancouver is Canada's third-largest city and British Columbia's most cosmopolitan center.

Enjoy exploring the restored Gastown district or discovering the intrigue of Chinatown. Seize this opportunity to sample delicacies from the sea, explore the North Shore and Stanley Park, the largest natural park of any city on the North American continent, and browse among shops and galleries in Granville Island.

Blessed with an unsurpassed natural backdrop, Vancouver is set amid a gorgeous landscape of water and mountains. On a clear day, one can view rugged mountains, emerald-green parklands and the luminous sea from almost any vantage point.

Call Now 1300 308081 or email res@platinumcruising.com