LOS ANGELES, July 9, 2008 - With its highest score in five years, Crystal Cruises has been voted the "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine for a 13th consecutive year. The ultra-luxury Crystal Cruises is the only cruise line, resort or hotel to have won the prestigious award each year since the awards' inception. Crystal's 2008 World's Best score of 90.67 marks the highest score of any cruise line - large and small. This score ranks Crystal with the survey's most highly noted hotel in the world.

Based on a first quarter 2008 survey of thousands of world travelers, the World's Best Awards are featured in the magazine's August 2008 issue. Subscribers, who were allowed only one vote each, were asked to rate cruise lines on cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities and value.

"We are extremely honored and gratified that the authentic warmth of Crystal's extraordinary staff, our seamless luxury and unparalleled attention to detail make for such a treasured experience for so many discerning Travel + Leisure readers," says Crystal Cruises' President Gregg Michel. "This is a tremendous validation of the continual investments we make in our ships, the meaningful personalized programs we've introduced, and Crystal's winning formula of superior service, choices, space and quality."

Crystal Cruises' luxurious, award-winning fleet consists of the 940-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal Symphony and 1,080-guest, 68,000-ton Crystal Serenity, which cruise worldwide on itineraries of seven to 106 days. In November, the line is upping its luxury quotient as several staterooms are eliminated to make way for more posh Penthouses. Within the past two years, the luxury line completed a stylish and sophisticated redesign of Crystal Symphony and expanded the opportunities to personalize one's experiences ashore with "extreme luxury" shore experiences, an increased collection of boutique Crystal Adventures® and thoroughly customized Crystal Private Adventures throughout the world.

Based on the success of restaurants featured on Crystal Serenity, Crystal also tapped famed master chef Nobu Matsuhisa to launch his cuisine in transformed specialty restaurants aboard Crystal Symphony. Silk Road and The Sushi Bar were completed in the spring, subsequent to travelers' completion of the survey. Ultimate wine experiences showcasing rare vintages were introduced in late 2007 and additional culinary refinements are being rolled out in 2008. Fitness, wellness and cultural enrichment continue to be a major focus.

Michel adds, "In this challenging, competitive travel environment, this rating means a lot to today's travelers. When they part with their hard-earned vacation dollars, they want the assurance that they're getting the best."

LOS ANGELES, August 28, 2007 - Crystal Cruises, voted World's Best more than any other cruise line by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, has set a new course for its 14th annual 2009 World Cruise.

The award-winning Crystal Serenity will depart Los Angeles on January 21, 2009 for Mexico, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Eastern and Western Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Alaska, British Columbia, San Francisco and back to Los Angeles. Blending new ports with a contrasting mix of cosmopolitan, unspoiled, ancient, modern and exotic locales, the epic 105-day journey will visit 46 destinations in 17 countries.

Significant for 2009:

First time in seven years that Crystal Cruises' World Cruise will begin and end in Los Angeles.

Five maiden calls: Rangiroa, French Polynesia; Napier, New Zealand; Komodo, Indonesia; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and Petropavlovsk, Russia.

First time Crystal has called in Bali since 2000 and in Alaska since 2005.

Overnight stays are scheduled in Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Osaka and Yokohama, and two-night stays in Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong.

Travelers can add the Panama Canal cruises before and after for a 136-day voyage round-trip from Miami.

Available in seven individual segments, for as few as 12 days.

"Each year we set out to create an unparalleled travel experience of exotic destinations, exclusive shoreside events and meaningful onboard enrichment in a seamless environment of personalized luxury," says Gregg Michel, Crystal's president. "Even the most discriminating travelers appreciate the attention to detail and extraordinary value of a Crystal World Cruise."

Effective August 28, Crystal Cruises' complete day-by-day World Cruise itinerary will be posted on its website, crystalcruises.com. World Cruise fares will be available on October 15, 2007, when the luxury line will begin accepting reservations. Full World Cruisers booked for 2008 will have the opportunity to book 2009 before it is open to the public. To date, the line has dozens of guests waitlisted for the 2009 World Cruise.