Cruise Options - EST 1999

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Crystal Grace Launching in 2028

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The Crystal Grace is Crystal’s first new ship in 25 years and will debut in June 2028.
337 suites will accommodate 650 guests.

According to Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, guest feedback guided the ship’s design philosophy from the outset.

“From the very beginning of Crystal Grace’s design process, we prioritized listening to our guests. Their preferences, their habits and the way they live while at sea informed every decision we made,” she said.
“The suites reflect a thoughtful evolution of space, comfort and accessibility, delivering the elevated residential feeling our guests have asked for while preserving the elegance and intimacy that define the Crystal experience.”

Crystal Grace will make her official debut on 11 June 2028, in Civitavecchia (Rome) with an inaugural voyage that visits Sorrento, Igoumenitsa, Kotor, Split, Zadar and Trieste before continuing to Venice.

Her Mediterranean season explores Southern Europe’s historic coastlines and cultural capitals including voyages across Italy, Croatia, Greece, France and Spain, with stops in Valencia and Monte Carlo.

Crystal Grace will be christened during an overnight stay in Monte Carlo; part of 8 July voyage departing from Barcelona.

Guests can combine select sailings into five extended journeys, including two 34-night itineraries with no repeating ports.

In September 2028, Crystal Grace sails west from Lisbon via the Azores to Halifax and New York, beginning a series of fall voyages in New England and Eastern Canada, including Quebec City, and Charlottetown.
November 2028 itineraries include Bermuda and Caribbean departures from Fort Lauderdale, with calls in Antigua, St. Lucia, Aruba, and Barbados.

Crystal Grace‘s debut season will span the Mediterranean, Canada & New England, and the Caribbean.

It’s very exciting for Crystal to finally have a new ship and the Grace will be stunning!

Seabourn Expeditions up to 2029

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The Moments You Live for Await
There’s more to explore with Seabourn as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary in 2028.
Seabourn Expeditions are designed for those whose appetite for unique experiences, is matched by a taste for ultra-luxury amenities and all-inclusive elegance.

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Cruise to the world’s most remote and exotic destinations aboard ultra-luxury expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, each with a guest capacity of 264:

South America & Antarctica
Plunge deep into the iconic white continent, escorted in comfort by ships purpose-built to navigate the glittering ice, and land you on the continent for unforgettable encounters with penguins and seals in their natural habitat.

The British Isles & Beyond
Travel off the beaten path in search of stunning coastal scenery, multitudes of seabirds, historic monuments and iconic landmarks.

Arctic, Svalbard & Greenland Expeditions
Rugged mountains, ice-blue glaciers and lush greenery. Experience nature’s seasonal transformations, fascinating history, and extravagant beauty throughout Iceland, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic.

The Northwest Passage
Embark on the journey of a lifetime through the legendary Northwest Passage and walk in the footsteps of the seafarers and explorers who carved their way through this historic route. Connect with the resilient people of the Arctic, navigate the largest icebergs in the northern hemisphere and search for wildlife that is only found in this part of the world.

Pole to Pole Grand Expedition, 18 August to 19 November 2027 and 17 August to 22 November 2028
The ultimate bucket-list journey, filled with unique destinations, rare wildlife and expedition experiences, awaits you at the ends of the Earth.

Europe
These are non-expedition voyages (activities / shore excursions aren’t included), yet full of adventure and unique insights.

The Caribbean and Beyond
Includes Panama Canal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canaries, St Helena & other mid-Atlantic isles.

The Kimberley
Tucked along the northwestern corner of Australia, the Kimberley is one of the world’s last wild frontiers, with rugged sandstone peaks, rushing waterfalls, sunken mangrove forests & cultural experiences. The Kimberley truly offers a unique perspective on the world; whether you are a wildlife enthusiast, a natural history buff, or someone seeking a new adventure in one of the most pristine places on Earth, you are sure to find it here.

The South Pacific
The South Pacific is home to some of the least-travelled islands and atolls in the world, making it the perfect destination to discover new cultural experiences. With each itinerary offering something different from the one before, these are uniquely personal voyages with no two experiences alike.

Explore places few people will ever see — in a style that you’ve never imagined.
It’s well worth booking in advance to secure the best rates as well as your preferred accommodation.

Japan cruises

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Japan has plenty to see and experience including beautiful gardens, great art, delicious food, interesting culture and lovely scenery.

The best times to visit are during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when Japan is at its most vibrant, with delicate cherry blossoms or bright red leaves adding contrast to the scenery.

Autumn, September to November

Autumn in Japan is about crimson leaves and perfect weather. The autumn foliage season begins in mid-September on the island of Hokkaido, the northernmost island.

In other parts of Japan, like Tokyo and Kyoto,
the best viewing times typically range from
mid-October through early December. Temperatures are cool but mild, ranging from about 24 °C on warm September days
to 7 °C in late autumn evenings.

Cherry Blossom Season

The cherry blossom season is during spring, from about end March until beginning of April.
The weather is on the cooler side, especially further north, so warmer clothing is needed but this isn’t the rainy season.

There are plenty of choices on different cruise lines, so let us know which month is best for you.

Herewith some routings and we’ll email you more information, once we know what you’re interested in:

Between Tokyo and Osaka with 2 different routings

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Tokyo roundtrip with 2 different routings

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Japan cruises are popular, so we suggest booking as soon as possible to secure the best rates and your preferred accommodation.  

Jazz Festival Cruise

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This 10-night voyage aboard Le Commandant Charcot with a guest capacity of 235, is led by renowned jazz leaders Jason Olaine, Head of Programming for Jazz at Lincoln Center and Hugues Kieffer, Director of the Festival Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents.

Woven into the voyage’s itinerary—which visits Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and Finland—the programming features exclusive concerts, intimate jam sessions and a tribute to the legendary collaboration between Antônio Carlos Jobim and Stan Getz.

The repertoire will highlight Bossa Nova and Swing, led by saxophonist Julian Lee and his quartet, with special guest vocalist Mar Vilaseca, alongside pianist Caelan Cardello, bassist Russell Hall and drummer Matthew Lee. Also performing during the voyage is award-winning Estonian pianist and vocalist Kadri Voorand.

Itinerary overview
23 January 2027 – Helsinki
24 January 2027 – Tallinn
25 & 26 January 2027 – Stockholm
27 January 2027 – Visby, Gotland
28 January 2027 – At sea
29 January 2027 – Skagen
30 January 2027 – Kristiansand
31 January 2027 – Egersund
1 February 2027 – Sailing in Lysefjorden
2 February 2027 – Bergen

 

On board, in the plush cocoon of Le Commandant Charcot, a music festival conceived by artistic director Hughes Kieffer provides a backdrop to the breathtaking landscapes forming on the horizon.

Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and Finland reveal themselves between ancient fjords, golden dunes, picturesque villages and bustling capitals.

From one port of call to the next, between friendly cities and wild nature such as the spectacular cliffs of Lysefjorden, let yourself be carried away by the history and beauty of these places, while enjoying unforgettable moments of jazz on board. 

This is an incredible ship offering a unique voyage.

About Us

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Cruise Options is a business consisting of a dedicated, passionate group of people, where our clients come first and are treated as individuals, with their unique qualities and dreams. Our mission is to provide you with personalised service at the highest possible level,
taking into account your unique requirements and creating a special experience, specifically for you.

Jann and Alison are vastly experienced in the world of cruising, both in an excellent position to advise and help you make the best decision, to help you make your dreams come true. Alison also handles the operational side of bookings including documentation, destination information and payments.

Cruise Options is known in the industry for its unrivalled experience in cruising, coupled with intimate knowledge of ships and itineraries.
Our strength is our knowledge, our commitment and our passion in finding the best cruise for you.

”A Passion for Cruising” in our minds expresses exactly how all of you at Cruise Options feel about cruising and your passion rubs off on Ian and I. Nothing is ever too much trouble, your warm friendliness is catching and much appreciated, your attention to detail perfection and your enthusiasm exceptional. You are all so in tune with your clients and their personal needs and wishes, no easy task. We salute Jann and your team, it is because of you all that we are now passionate cruisers and will continue to use this incredible cruise company again and again God willing, and more importantly recommend you to all our friends who show an interest in cruising. Congratulations to Cruise Options for your “passion”.

Ian and Annzie

I’m the owner of Cruise Options and passionate about travelling. In my 20’s, I back-packed around the world for 3 years exploring many interesting places as well as sailing on a 34 foot yacht from Cape Town to Brazil, with a week on St Helena.

Out of this was born my love of travel, my passion for the sea and ultimately, the thrill of cruising. I worked for a few travel companies but being entrepreneurial by nature and wishing to deal directly with clients, I ventured out on my own and in January 1999, Cruise Options was born; the first cruise specialist in the country.

Notwithstanding my thousands of hours on ships and at sea, I’m still so excited when boarding a ship and over 27 years later, I’m never ready to disembark at the end of a voyage. Through cruising I have experienced the magic of polar bears on ice, the sound of silence in Antarctica, the fascinating North West Passage, the incredible North Pole voyage, the splendour of the Baltic, the majesty of London Tower Bridge, the spectacular Norwegian Fjords and the elegance of Japan. So much already seen and so much more to come.

Cruising is my passion – I have a love of the sea – the gentle motion, the sound, the expectation of what lies ahead.
Come and join me, experience your dream, share the passion.