Crystal Pristine

"Crystal Pristine" is Crystal Cruises' program of environmentally-friendly initiatives. We spread the "Crystal Pristine" message in staterooms and in public areas. At the beginning of every cruise, we print a "Crystal Pristine" article in our onboard publication, Reflections, along with our environmental policy. At the same time, we air a video on embarkation day reiterating this message. Various "frequently asked questions and answers" about our practices are also printed in Reflections several times during a cruise. "Crystal Pristine" signage is posted on deck and a card regarding conserving energy is posted in every stateroom and suite.

Crystal Cruises is dedicated to preserving the marine environment and oceans upon which our ships sail. The environmental standards that apply to our industry are stringent and comprehensive. Through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United States and other maritime nations have developed consistent and uniform international standards that apply to all vessels engaged in international commerce. These standards include: The International Convention for the Safety and Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Marine Pollution Convention (MARPOL) and the International Standards for Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW). We are also obliged to follow all applicable laws and regulations in each country our ships visit. This especially applies to handling of garbage and hazardous wastes that are landed ashore for disposal. In addition, Crystal Cruises is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which has established its own guidelines that exceed the international IMO requirements which members have agreed to follow.

Sewage, or "blackwater" as we refer to it aboard ships, flows to a collection tank and is then pumped into Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD) where it is treated. The Marine Sanitation Devices are certified in accordance with U.S. regulations. This biological sewage treatment system is very similar in operation to the municipal wastewater treatment plants in many U.S. cities.

The waste is processed in the MSD to reduce the solids and disinfect the effluent. This treated blackwater is either retained in storage tanks for disposal ashore or discharged overboard according to the very strict guidelines below. In terms of discharge, Crystal strives to exceed environmental regulations.

The municipal wastewater treatment plants of many cities discharge into coastal waters. By national and international regulations, ships cannot discharge treated effluent within three miles of the coast. The cruise industry's standard is to not discharge within four miles from shore. Crystal Cruises, however, has adopted a policy that we will not discharge less than 12 miles from shore. Crystal applies the same 12-mile discharge policy to graywater, which is water collected separately from sinks, showers, tubs and similar sources.

Ballast Water

Ballast water is seawater that has been taken on by the ships to maintain proper stability, and is stored in ballast tanks. Crystal Cruises observes local, national and international regulations regarding the reporting and discharge of ballast water. Appropriate exchange of ballast water is conducted on the high seas more than 200 miles from land when necessary to prevent organisms and bacteria from traveling from beyond their native range and harming local marine ecosystems.

Bilge and Oily Water Residue

Following guidelines set forth by international regulation, Crystal Cruises has installed sophisticated oil-water separation equipment to comply with the discharge requirements for bilge water both in port and at sea. Bilge and oily water is retained and processed by the oily water separator to remove any oil. The oily waste is retained and discharged to a reception facility ashore for proper disposal. Automated monitoring of the oil/water separators and supporting equipment ensures that the processed bilge water discharged has less than 15 parts per million of oil, the maximum allowed in the water discharged at sea. Crystal's policy is to not discharge the processed bilge water less than 12 miles from land. The ships' crews are trained on the proper response and handling of deck and water spills of fuel, lube oil and oily wastes.

Solid Waste Management

Crystal Cruises maintains a strict policy of "Nothing Overboard" and recognizes the importance of having strategies in place to reduce and manage onboard waste. Onshore recycling with approved vendors of all non-biodegradable substances such as glass, aluminium, steel cans and plastics is used whenever possible. In addition, Crystal ensures that hazardous materials are disposed of by reputable onshore disposal companies. Solid waste such as food products and cardboard is burned onboard to the extent possible by incineration. Food waste that cannot be incinerated is discharged shoreside.

Hazardous waste includes photo processing and x-ray fluids, dry cleaning residue, print shop chemicals, and paints, solvents and thinner wastes. This material is disposed of ashore in accordance with national and international laws and regulations. Extensive care and training have also been implemented to eliminate the disposal of chemical wastes in wastewater streams.

For more than a decade, fabric laundry, dry cleaning and shoe-shine bags replaced the previously used plastic bags. Paper cups replaced the use of styrofoam cups, wood lint brushes replaced disposable plastic lint removers, and stainless steel ice buckets replaced the previously used plastic buckets. In 2008, Crystal introduced EcoHangers into its laundry presentation on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity as well as in the latest river ships and yacht. EcoHangers are a 100% recyclable, environmentally sound alternative to the nearly nine billion wire and plastic hangers that fill America’s landfills each year. Crystal also utilizes washable garment bags for laundry distribution, eliminating the use of more than 100,000 plastic bags on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity per year, alone. 

Disabled Facilities

Crystal River Cruises™ is dedicated to providing a comfortable experience for all our guests. We make every effort to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. Crystal River Cruises does not discriminate against any person on the basis of disability.

Guests requiring ongoing medication, or having specific dietary needs, are advised to bring an ample supply of medication or dietary supplements with them in their carry-on luggage.

Due to limited facilities, Crystal River Yachts do not have a doctor or nurse onboard so guests requiring medical care must seek local resources.

The suites and public spaces onboard the Crystal River Yachts have elevator access to all main guest decks with the exception of the Sun Deck, which may only be reached via stairs. However, there is no elevator access to board the river yachts. As a result, Crystal River Yachts may not be suitable for people relying solely on wheelchairs for transportation.

Going Ashore: Guest with disabilities/limited mobility should take note that not all ports are wheelchair accessible. Port access varies greatly around the world and in most instances, the river ports are not wheelchair accessible. River cruising is not recommended to guests in wheelchairs.

There will be no facilities provided for disabled guests; this includes no handicapped/wheelchair accessible rooms, nor any access or assistance given to disabled guests on embarkation or disembarkation. Embarkation/disembarkation is particularly difficult for people with reduced mobility, due to many reasons but primarily due to, narrow gangways and the frequent need to go across other river ships to get to the pier.

Guest’s should be aware that some tours include rough terrain, extensive walking over cobblestone streets, uneven pavement, and steps and locations which may not be easily accessible or accessible by wheelchair.

Crystal River Cruises reserves the right, without liability, to refuse to board or transport guests whose medical condition, limited mobility or disability is not compatible with security rules and requirements specific to the navigation area, or who, in Crystal River Cruises’ opinion is unfit for travel on the river yachts.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, all guests must be fully mobile and able to exit the river yachts safely. If guests are unable to meet the minimum safety requirements, even when provided with appropriate auxiliary aids and/or services, Crystal River Cruises may find it necessary to ask the guest to make alternative travel arrangements.

Special Dietary Requirements

If you require a special diet or need specific food items during your cruise, or if you have any food allergies, we ask that you kindly submit your written dietary requests to our Onboard Guest Services Department by fax to 310-785-3975, or by email to the appropriate Onboard Guest Services team (as noted below based on your cruise/ship) at least 90 days (3 months) prior to sailing. Please also confirm your arrangements with the Food & Beverage staff on the day of embarkation to ensure all is in order. Note, there may be a charge for some special requests, as well as any applicable shipping fees.

Please contact our Onboard Guest Services team with your special dietary requests at: [email protected]

Age Restrictions

Any child under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21. In addition, if the adult accompanying the child is not a parent or legal guardian, the "Parental Consent Guardianship Form" must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and received by Crystal Cruises no later than 30 days prior to sailing.

Guests age 11 and under at the time of sailing must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older in the same stateroom. Parents can have two related children booked in the same stateroom provided one of them is at least 16 years of age and traveling in an adjacent room to parent/s or legal guardian/s. Infants 6-24 months of age who will be utilizing a crib may travel as a third berth in either a double or triple stateroom. Crystal also reserves the right to restrict the number of passengers less than three (3) years of age aboard the ship. Third berth child rate will apply if accompanied by two-full fare adults.

Crystal Cruises is unable to accommodate children less than six (6) months of age as the ship’s medical facilities are not designed to provide services to very young children.

Note: Effective September 24, 2020, in light of on going COVID-19 concerns, the Junior Activities program and optional baby-sitting services detailed below are temporarily discontinued until further notice.

Aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, generally during holiday and summer sailings, both ships feature a fully supervised Junior Activities program for children aged 3 to 17, each with dedicated play areas for both young children and teens. Activities may include scavenger hunts, story times, cookie baking karaoke, movies, dancing and more. Also. in-stateroom baby-sitting services for children aged 1 year and older are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Fees apply. Arrangements can be made through the Concierge at the ship's Reception desk. Junior Activities program and baby-sitting services availability may vary by cruise at the discretion of Crystal. Check for service availability with a Crystal representative or your preferred Travel Advisor for your specific cruise.

There are no dedicated Junior Activity programs nor supervised care services available on board Crystal Mozart, Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Ravel and Crystal Endeavor.

Children occupying a double stateroom will be charged the adult rate regardless of age.

Restrictions on Crystal Endeavor: Children under six (6) years of age are not allowed on Arctic or Antarctic Cruises. Pregnant women more than two (2) months’ pregnant may not sail on Arctic or Antarctic Cruises. Service Animals are not allowed on Antarctic Cruises due to regulations and may be restricted in other ports, in which case, the guest must stay on board with their service animal.

Disabled guests in wheelchairs or those with a special condition which demands special attention while traveling are required to travel with a companion to assist the guest as staff, crew and fellow guests are not able to provide care for guest with medical conditions.

Dress Code

Daytime Dress Code – Comfortable and casual is perfect on board, or ashore for sightseeing. Be sure to bring comfortable walking/sports shoes appropriate for your activity. Check with your travel advisor for special items you might want to pack for your destination and the time of year you are traveling. Dining room attire is casual during the day; however, swimsuits, cover-ups/robes and baseball hats are not appropriate.

Evening Dress Code – Our evening dress code is Crystal Casual, a dressed-up version of our daytime casual dress code. Should you decide to dine on your own at a more formal restaurant on land, then a jacket and tie may be preferred or required for gentlemen. Be sure to pack appropriately for all your planned experiences.

Smoking Policy

Aboard all Crystal ships, smoking is allowed in a designated smoking areas only. Smoking is not allowed in public rooms, suites or any area that is not designated as a smoking area. Indoor smoking is permitted only in the Connoisseur Club smoking lounge (aboard Crystal Mozart, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony only) and upon request, in the VIP Casino (during play). Smoking is prohibited in all other indoor areas of the ship including all other public rooms, lounges, corridors and restaurants, as well as all staterooms, suites and verandahs. Please note, if smoke is detected in a stateroom or suite, a cleaning fee of $250 (subject to change) per incident will be billed to your account.

Cigarette smoking (includes Electronic cigarettes)

• Connoisseur Club on Crystal Endeavor, Crystal Serenity, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Mozart
• VIP Casino on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony (during play, upon request)
• Deck 4 on Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel
• Decks 10, 9 and 8 Aft on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity
• Deck 11, aft Crystal Serenity
• Seahorse pool area, port side only
• Promenade Deck, port side only

Cigar & Pipe smoking

• Connoisseur Club on Crystal Endeavor, Crystal Serenity, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Mozart
• VIP Casino on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony (during play, upon request)
• Deck 4 on Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel
• Decks 10, 9 and 8 Aft on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity
• Deck 11, aft Crystal Serenity

*(Any/all fees are subject to change at any time.)

Visitors On Board

Whenever conditions allow, visitors will be permitted on board. Requests may be made through the Guest Check-In/Priority Check-in and Planning Center (PCPC) portal by a guest with a valid booking number, or requested on board, through the ship’s Reception Desk. All requests and supporting information must be submitted through PCPC no later than seven (7) days prior to the intended visit day (or arrival into port, if requested while on board). The number and types of visitor allowed are capacity-controlled and subject to the security level at the port of call. Due to changing world conditions, Crystal Cruises may institute a no-visitor policy onboard its ships from time to time. This policy is subject to change, without notice, at any time.

Onboard Visitor's Request Online Form: To access the visitor request form, booked Crystal guest must log-on to Guest Check-In / Priority Check-in & Planning Center (PCPC) portal and complete the Onboard Visitor’s Request form located under the “Other Crystal Services” tab.

For additional information regarding submission of guest visitor/s requests, please contact us via email, with subject/title "Visitors Request", and send to [email protected]

Luggage Tips

We recommend that you do not lock your luggage due to the Transportation Security Administration’s policy of screening all baggage. However, please be sure to lock your luggage using TSA-approved locks when in transit between airport and ship.

Place personal identification tags on your luggage showing your name, address and phone number printed clearly. Do not lock your luggage. Be aware that unaccompanied luggage may be subject to inspection by customs officials, airline personnel or transportation officials in various countries.

When sending unaccompanied luggage to or from the U.S., we recommend that you do not send medicines, valuables (money, jewellery, important documents, etc.), hazardous materials (items such as perfumes, aerosol cans and polish remover are considered hazardous), film, weapons, liquor, x-rayed materials or items subject to duty purchased outside the U.S. Luggage Concierge luggage services follow all FAA and TSA regulations.

Aerial Drone Camera Usage

Due to the differing local regulatory requirements and restrictions in destinations around the world regarding the use of aerial drones, and in the interest of maintaining a safe and secure environment for all guests and crew aboard all of our ships, please be advised that aerial drones are prohibited and may not be brought on board the ship. They must be surrendered to the Captain at and will be kept in storage for the duration of the cruise.

Safety at Sea

Crystal puts the utmost priority on the safety and security of our guests, crew vessels. Our safety and security policies and procedures meet or exceed SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) requirements, the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification Watchkeeping) and International Ship & Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) regulations, as mandated by the IMO (International Maritime Organization). Among our safety and security standards are :

• Guest lifeboat drills conducted prior to our ships’ departures.

• Weekly crew safety drills.

• Safety videos are broadcast in English on all stateroom televisions on embarkation day, prior to departure from port.

• Our vessels through extensive safety and material audits by both internal and external entitles. External audits but not limited to; US Coast Guard, Flag State, Local Port Authorities, Classification Society, CDC, etc.

Under International Ship & Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), security precautions include, but are not limited to, the following measures:

• Guest and crew lists are compared with names of persons of interest provided by U.S. government agencies; all crew members are vetted before they are employed. Government-issued photo I.D.s are required in all ports of call. In addition, key cards, which serve as boarding passes, are given to each guest upon check-in. Access to the ship by all individuals is controlled.

• Critical areas on the ship such as the bridge and technical spaces are designated restricted access areas. Video surveillance cameras and access alarms are installed to ensure these areas remain secure.

• Items brought on board by guests or crew are subject screening by x-ray machines or personal hand inspection by the ship's security staff. Also, non-carry-on baggage is compared to the official guest list and is x-rayed at the loading point prior to be being loaded on board the vessel. Stores and cargo are monitored for unauthorized materials, as appropriate.

• A security plan is prepared for every port of entry, and prior to entry, Crystal Cruises is in contact with local officials to discuss shipboard activities.

We recognize that world events continue to change. As a result, we are in consultation with appropriate U.S. governmental agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. State Department, our Flag State, the governments of countries our ships are scheduled to visit, port agents, tour operators and our insurance underwriters to ensure that we are taking every reasonable step to recognize and assess potential risks, and to make changes as may be necessary under the circumstances.

We want to remind everyone that accidents are an extremely rare occurrence in the cruise industry, and cruising continues to be one of the safest means of travel among all types of vacationing.

Laundry & Valet Services

Laundry services may be arranged through your Suite Attendant or your Butler. Laundry charges will be billed to your shipboard account. Complimentary self-service Guest Laundry, including washing machines, detergent, fabric softener, dryers, irons and ironing boards are provided on Deck 1 on Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel.

Internet / WiFi

Crystal Cruises is pleased to provide both complimentary Wi-Fi service and satellite Internet access for our guests for the duration of your voyage. If you can connect to Wi-Fi, your laptop should be able to access the Internet on board a Crystal River Ship.

Please note: It is not possible to connect a laptop through the yachtship phone system directly to any phone number ashore. Skype, iChat, FaceTime and other similar services are not available on board. Crystal Cruises supports the use of iPads/tablets on board.

To ensure you can use your iPad/tablet, please ensure it's updated with the latest software prior to embarkation. From traditional mail service in various ports of call to state-of-the-art communications technology, staying connected to your friends and family around the world is easier than ever.

Included in your travel documents is a Communications brochure that lists the addresses of the embarkation and disembarkation ports where mail can be forwarded or delivered to you on board. Postage and mailing services are available on board. Be sure to allow sufficient time for delivery to distant destinations.

Medical Facilities

There are no medical facilities or doctor on board Crystal River Yachts ships. Medical service can be called easily from shore if required. Guests requiring ongoing medication, or having specific dietary needs, are advised to bring an ample supply of medication or dietary supplements with them in their carry-on luggage.

Guests with existing medical conditions, guests who cannot completely care for themselves, or guests who may constitute a risk or danger to anyone else on board must be reported in writing to Crystal Cruises' Onboard Guest Services Department by fax: 310-785-3975 or email: [email protected] prior to departure. Crystal reserves the right, without liability, to refuse to board and transport such guests who are in need of constant care by the river ship's staff.