Explorers have always been great storytellers – with tales of exotic lands, curious encounters, and incredible experiences brought home like souvenirs. In recent years, travelers have told their tales on social media. Our feeds are filled with the impressive adventures of friends and influencers, fueling our appetite for increasingly immersive, oªbeat, daring ways to experience the essence of a destination. For many, it is enough to simply stand and stare at the pyramids; but some of us have a desire to delve deeper, to duck through narrow passageways in search of ancient treasures, accompanied by an Egyptologist who will translate the stories painted within. Why walk through the rainforest when you can zipline through the tree canopy, surrounded by the rainbow-flash of hummingbirds? Unique experiences have become the ultimate luxury and the most precious social currency of travel. Which is why, when Crystal joined A&K Travel Group in June 2022, it was a game-changer for the cruise company’s shore excursions. Crystal has always been a leader at sea; but now, with A&K’s longstanding expertise and global network of people all passionate about travel – polar explorers and wildlife experts, society fixers and the best local guides all over the world – Crystal will be able to deliver the kind of next-level shore experiences other cruise lines cannot match. “What we are bringing to Crystal is the accumulation of six decades of creating unique travel experiences, through an in-depth knowledge of each of the destinations, and the connections that our people have,” says Fernando Delgado, Chief Product Oºcer at Abercrombie & Kent, who is helming the operation to elevate Crystal’s shore excursions to the next level. “It is through those connections that we can get access to places that other travelers cannot go.” With Crystal now part of the A&K family, guests will have the flexibility to craft a bespoke journey that encompasses more than just a cruise. Cruise itineraries can be topped and tailed with Pre- and Post-Cruise Extensions, seamlessly curated by one global team at every stage of the journey – whether that’s spending a few more nights in the departure port town, or something more adventurous. “Let’s say you are taking a cruise from Mombasa to Dubai; that is a perfect opportunity to take a pre-cruise safari at our Olonana camp in Kenya, or Gorilla Forest Camp in Uganda,” says Delgado. It will even be possible for guests to insert a bespoke overland interlude into their cruise, flying oª for a private adventure before rejoining their ship later. “On a cruise along the coast of South America, for example, from Manta in Ecuador we could charter one of our Ecoventura yachts for 20 guests, and give them a week in the Galápagos while the ship continues to sail down to Lima.” As part of the project, Delgado’s team and A&K’s global network of local guides are devising a revolutionary series of out-of-this-world Unique Experiences and Overland Adventures, finding innovative ways to engage guests in the essence of a destination while presenting it in a new light. “What I want is to move away from what everybody is doing, over and over again,” Delgado says. “More exclusivity, more uniqueness, more authenticity.” “We really want to surprise the guests, give them the kind of experiences you wouldn’t be able to find in a guidebook,” says Stefanie Schmudde, Abercrombie & Kent’s Senior Vice President of Global Product Strategy, who is working with Delgado on the project. “We want them to turn a corner and say ‘Wow! I was not expecting that!’” A&K’s team have been brainstorming ways of layering elements of the native culture – whether it’s an unusual mode of transport, local cuisine or music – so that experiences become diverse and multi-sensorial. The sky really is the limit. “I love the idea of taking a chartered helicopter ride to a destination a few hours away, and getting our guests into a completely new setting,” Schmudde says. “Or arriving in Italy and having a row of luxury cars like Ferraris to drive oª to an activity – perhaps a cookery class, or a farm-to-table culinary experience in an incredible setting; or high-adrenalin activities such as flying a fighter jet. There is no limit to what we can do.” The result is Crystal’s portfolio of Unique Experiences and Overland Adventures by Abercrombie & Kent, which launches in 2024 in countries ranging from Australia to Argentina. Each is a one-oª, with group size strictly limited to a maximum of 18 Crystal guests, on a first-come, first-served basis. “We want to get back to the pioneer mindset that Abercrombie & Kent had at the very beginning, when Geoªrey Kent had the vision of doing safaris in a completely diªerent way,” Delgado says. “Central to everything was the experience of the guest.” CRYSTAL + ABERCROMBIE & KENT Visit our website to discover more about Crystal’s portfolio of Unique Experiences and Overland Adventures by Abercrombie & Kent. CRYSTALCRUISES.COM | +1-800-446-6620 29
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