News Article
New Crystal Cruise Culminates In Venetian Fireworks
Thursday, 4 February, 2010
This July, guests onboard Crystal Cruises’ award-winning Crystal Serenity will be treated to one of Italy’s most popular Venetian traditions.
The ultra-luxury line is introducing a new cruise for 2010 that sails into Venice just in time for the annual Redentore Festival, a spectacle of brightly coloured boats, gondola races, costumes and traditional feasts culminating in a magnificent fireworks display. The 12-night Mediterranean/Adriatic voyage, which departs from Athens on 7th July, marks Crystal Cruises’ first ever itinerary featuring two shipboard overnights in Venice.
Dating back to the 16th century, the Redentore Festival commemorates the church of the same name, built on the island of Giudecca to mark the end of a plague that had stricken the city. Each year on the third Saturday in July, Venetians gather in San Marco Basin to celebrate, where they remain until late-night fireworks are set off in the bay of San Marco.
Onboard, guests can celebrate with an al fresco champagne reception, local entertainment, Venetian dinner and view of the fireworks from the spacious open deck.
In addition to dozens of shoreside activities offered in the seven ports included in the itinerary, guests can maximise their stay in Venice with extravagant experiences such as exclusive cooking lessons and lunch with Countess Lelia Passi or a bird’s eye view of Padua from a hot air balloon.
