A YEAR in advance, Crystal Cruises has released more than 350 Crystal Adventures for its 2015/20th annual World Cruise. Half-day, full day, and multiple-day excursions, more than 40 of them new, can now be previewed and pre-reserved at crystalcruises.com.

The epic 2015 World Cruise comprises six, 15- to 21-day segments sailing through Central and South America, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and the Caribbean. Fares for World Cruise Crystal Adventures range from just $29 to $5,699 per person.

The 108-day voyage celebrates Crystal’s 25th year of sailing with Crystal Serenity’s first-ever circumnavigation of the globe, sailing to 44 ports of call in 23 countries, roundtrip from Miami starting January 25.

“Our World Cruisers are savvy travellers with diverse interests. With a record number of them aboard for 2015, we crafted an especially varied and rich array of ways for guests to explore the globe,” says John Stoll, vice-president of land programmes.

“Releasing adventures this early gives everyone months to digest and savour the sights and destinations both opulent and intimate, so the days leading up to the cruise itself can be filled with anticipation and detailed daydreams.”

Highlights include:

• 17 Overland Adventures including: a four-day Galapagos Islands cruise on luxury expedition ship; an Andes immersion, featuring Unesco World Heritage cities and a hairpin-turn train ride through the mountains; and South African “glamping” safaris.

• Spiritual centring at holy and hard-to-reach sanctuaries, such as Peruvian temples, including Machu Picchu; and Ayers Rock, aboriginal Australians’ most sacred site.

• Private mass at Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, an exclusive Crystal Boutique Adventure.

• South American rhythms of the night, thanks to overnights in port and late departures. Private performances, classes, and nightclub visits showcase the tango in Buenos Aires, samba in Rio and salsa in Santa Marta.

• Extreme land, air, and sea adventures, including river rafting down New Zealand’s Rangitaiki River; trekking through the dense jungle of Ecuadorean wildlife reserves; and deep-sea fishing or advanced scuba-diving in Turks & Caicos; helicoptering over Tahiti, Australia’s Great Ocean Road, South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains, The Hobbit locations, and New Zealand’s only active marine volcano.

• Venturing off the beaten path to learn the culture from locals and be welcomed into their homes in Easter Island, the Amazon, South African Zulu country and Napier, New Zealand.

• Regional arts and crafts, wherein guests can be personally guided through Mozambique sculptor Alberto Chissano’s life and work by his grandson; visit Montevideo, Uruguay home and atelier of artist Carlos Páez Vilaró; and make their own Panama hat at an Ecuadorian weaving school.

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