Crystal Cruises Comes Home (Again) for the Holidays

Here's an interesting itinerary change and "two-fer" holiday savings offer we can really get behind. Due to increased demand for a tropical, warm weather itinerary in North American waters for the 2012 winter holiday season, Crystal Cruises is moving its 2012 holiday cruise on Crystal Serenity from the Holy Land to the Caribbean.

As an added bonus, with Crystal's "Save Now, Save Later" promotion, you can save 20% on the 2012 all-inclusive Christmas/New Year's sailing by also booking one of this year's holiday voyages by Sept 15, 2011. The 2011 holiday cruises to either Hawaii or the Panama Canal/Caribbean are also value-priced at up to 58% off brochure fares.

President Gregg Michel explains: "We previously had both our ships in exotic locations for the 2012 holidays. By now moving one of our ships closer to home, we offer a combination of North American and overseas holiday choices. Plus, guests can save even more by making Crystal their luxury holiday for two years in a row."

Departing on Dec 21, 2012, the 14-day Crystal Serenity holiday cruise sails round-trip from Miami for Tortola; Barbados; St. Lucia; Guadeloupe; St. Maarten; St. Thomas; Ponce, Puerto Rico (maiden call); and Key West.

The 14-day 2011 holiday voyages this year, which depart Dec 21, 2011, remain unchanged, providing these options from both U.S. coasts:

-- HAWAII round-trip from Los Angeles (Crystal Symphony): Maui; Honolulu; Kauai; Hilo; Ensenada
-- PANAMA CANAL/CARIBBEAN round-trip from Miami (Crystal Serenity): Cozumel; Grand Cayman; Panama Canal (Gatun); Cartagena; Antigua; St. Barts; Turks and Caicos

To accommodate next year's change from the Middle East, Crystal Serenity's pre- and post-2012 holiday cruises have also been revised. Crystal Serenity now makes a Barcelona-to-Miami Trans-Atlantic crossing on Dec 9, 2012, and follows the holidays with a Jan 4, 2013 Caribbean cruise round-trip from Miami to Tortola; St. Kitts; Point-a-Pitre, St. Lucia; St. Barts; St. Maarten; and Turks and Caicos.

All cruises include complimentary airfare from 24 North American gateways (or air credit), with additional savings for family or friend groups via Crystal's Family Memories Program. For more information visit Crystal Cruises online.