Miami, FL, July 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line™, today announced that Hungarian producer Mariann Peller will be the godmother of Crystal Ravel, the company’s fourth new ‘Rhine Class’ river ship. Born in Budapest, Peller is renowned for creating the hit Hungarian television show “Virtuosos,” the world’s first classical music talent show, as well as founding the Young Virtuosos Foundation, which promotes the study of classical music for young artists. Crystal Ravel will be christened in Budapest on Wednesday, July 11 during a traditional ceremony, which will include the godmother’s blessing from Peller and a performance by the talented Young Virtuosos artists.
“We are delighted to welcome Mariann Peller to the Crystal Family, as her passion for the classical arts in her home country and around the world is the perfect complement to the spirit of the Crystal River Experience,” said Crystal president and CEO, Tom Wolber. “It is also a pleasure to welcome the young performers of Virtuosos to the celebration and bring the exceptional talents of the region’s classical musicians to our guests.”
Peller’s dedication to the study of classical arts extends to the Young Virtuosos Foundation, which, beyond supporting young classical musicians, supports the preservation and education of the region’s musical heritage. Crystal will make a donation to the Young Virtuosos Foundation in support of its ongoing work with young artists.
“It is an honor to be a part of this momentous occasion and to join the Crystal Family, as we share a passion for exploring and celebrating the cultural treasures of Europe and sharing those experiences with people around the world,” Peller said. “Crystal ships and voyages are lauded for fine nuances and a superb standard of excellence, which is the distinction of a masterpiece of any kind.”
Since 2014, the highly acclaimed “Virtuosos” on Hungary’s MTVA public television network has set the stage for children and young adults to compete in various genres of classical music. The show’s success has led legendary opera tenor Plácido Domingo and James Corden from The Late Late Show with James Corden, and his production company Fulwell 73, to partner with Peller to bring the show to the U.S. and U.K. markets.
Crystal Ravel’s christening ceremony will take place during the ship’s visit to Budapest as part of her July 5 voyage from Vienna, allowing guests to participate in the festivities. Crystal will also broadcast the ceremony via Facebook Live on Crystal Cruises’ Facebook page, so travelers around the world can enjoy the time-honored tradition and performances by the Young Virtuosos and Tenor Steffan Mullan.
The 106-guest ship sails itineraries between Budapest, Basel, Vienna and Nuremburg along the Danube and Rhine rivers, visiting destinations in Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia.
Crystal River Cruises’ new vessels are the river industry’s first and only all-balcony, all-suite, all-butler vessels in Europe, with every category of accommodation perched above the waterline. They offer Crystal’s acclaimed butler service in every room category, king-sized beds, Panoramic Balcony-Windows™, walk-in closets and a dual vanity in the bathrooms in most categories, ETRO amenities, robes and slippers, and wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs. Additional enticing features include farm-to-table cuisine in multiple, open-seating eateries: the elegant Waterside Restaurant, namesake Bistro cafés and the exclusive Vintage Room; and the Palm Court for entertainment, enrichment presentations and sweeping views of the countryside.
About CrystalThe world-renowned Crystal Experience – featuring global journeys with Crystal Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Crystal AirCruises and Crystal Luxury Air – continues to be the distinctive choice of the world’s most discerning travelers. Crystal Cruises is the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line, having earned “World’s Best Cruise Ship” in Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader Choice Awards and been voted “World’s Best Large Ship Cruise Line” by Travel + Leisure readers more than any cruise line, hotel or resort in history; and the “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by travel professional organization Virtuoso for three consecutive years (2014, 2015 & 2016). The readers of Travel + Leisure also voted Crystal River Cruises the “World’s Best River Cruise Line” and Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises the “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” in 2017. Crystal is proud to be a platinum partner of ASTA.
For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel professional, call 888.799.2437, or visit www.crystalcruises.com. Join the hundreds of thousands who subscribe to the Crystal Insider blog, follow Crystal Cruises’ Facebook page and @crystalcruises on Twitter and Instagram, and engage in the conversation with #crystalcruises.
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