Crystal Esprit cruise ship sailing by Eden Island

Crystal Cruises: Experience ultra-luxury

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Crystal Cruises, operating some of the most beautiful ships in the world, is a company that constantly raises the bar in luxury cruising thanks to the deep pockets of its Hong Kong-based owner. The line’s best-known ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, have always been synonymous with ultra-luxury, offering all the trappings of six-star cruises...

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Santiago, Chile - South America

Port in focus: Santiago

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Sandwiched between the snow-capped Andes and rolling green wine country, the Chilean capital is a regular feature on South America itineraries. It’s also a starting or finishing point for a lot of cruises; Buenos Aires to Santiago or vice versa is a popular route, all the more convenient for British cruisers since British Airways started...

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Colourful buildings in tiny Ushuaia cruise port in Argentina

Port in focus: Ushuaia

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Ushuaia enjoys the distinction of being the world’s most southerly city. A grid pattern of colourful, low-rise buildings huddled on the Argentinean side of craggy Tierra del Fuego island and sandwiched between snow-capped Martial mountains and the choppy waters of the Beagle Channel, this is the embarkation port for the majority of Antarctica expeditions. It...

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A Silversea expedition cruise ship behind a polar bear in the Arctic

Silversea: Unrivalled ultra-luxury

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Italian-owned Silversea, which operates some of the world’s most exclusive and luxurious ships, is a line that is going through a big wave of investment and change. Silver Explorer At present, the line has five ‘classic’ cruise ships, including the brand-new 596-passenger Silver Muse, launched in April 2017, and four expedition ships. Between them, the...

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Crystal Symphony sailing away from Cape Town at sunset

Contemporary luxury on-board Crystal Symphony

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When it was launched in 1995, the 51,044-ton Crystal Symphony was way ahead of its time even for a luxury line, with multiple restaurants and a high proportion of balcony cabins. Crystal has kept this beautiful ship contemporary-looking through a series of clever refits, and its latest incarnation, following a multi-million dollar upgrade in October...

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Classic cars lining a street of colonial buildings in Havana

Port in focus: Havana

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Despite the fact that it must be one of the most photographed places in the Caribbean, nothing can prepare you for the sheer beauty of Havana. Crumbling old buildings in sherbet yellow, burnt orange and brilliant turquoise. A glorious mish-mash of architectural styles, from Moorish to Spanish colonial, baroque and art deco. Those amazing vintage...

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