About Your Hosts -- Claude & Genevieve DelFosse 

Claude & Genevieve DelFosse realized their lifelong dream of beginning a winery with the opening of DelFosse Vineyards & Winery in 2000.  Situated at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains just a short drive from scenic Charlottesville, Virginia, DelFosse Vineyards & Winery offers visitors 330 acres of unparalleled beauty and a unique variety of wines ranging from Merlot to Petit Mensang.  In its short history, DelFosse wines have won numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals, helping catapult Virginia to a top 5 ranking of wine destinations in the world, as ranked by Travel + Leisure Magazine. 

Claude & Genevieve are natives of France.  Guests who choose to sail on this cruise, therefore, not only will gain the insights of experienced award-winning wine professionals, but will be traveling with hosts who are intimately familiar with many of the fabuolous ports of call.  Sail with us for the inside perspectives that only Claude and Genevieve can provide.  You truly will experience a Mediterranean cruise vacation like no other.

About the Cruise

Our cruise features long days in port, an unbeatable itinerary, and an unmatched onboard experience.  When you sail with us on this incredible journey, you will visit 6 ports of call across 5 countries in 7 days.  We begin our voyage in Rome, the eternal city.  Here, you can choose to spend an extra night or two prior to the cruise to explore this wonderous city.  Even if you choose to arrive in Rome the day of the cruise, however, you will still have plenty of time to explore this marvelous city because our ship does not depart until 9 p.m.  From Rome, we will visit scenic Porto Venere, with its medieval streets, pedestrian-friendly promanade, and colorful buildings.  What trip to the Mediterranean would be complete without a visit to Florence?  We'll have a full day to explore this world-famous city, and visit some quaint Italian wineries along the way.  Our voyage also features a full-day port of call in glamorous Monte Carlo, a stop near-and-dear to Claude and Genevieve -- St. Tropez, France, and concludes with an overnight stay in Barcelona, leaving us ample time to experience both this cosmopolitan city and a trip to a wonderful Spanish vineyard.

If you are a wine lover, you won't want to miss this trip.  In addition to the amazing itinerary, we have so many onboard activities planned for you.  You will enjoy a special wine tasting with your hosts, the DelFosses, where you can sample DelFosse's award-winning selection of red and white wines.  You also will enjoy a unique experience with Crystal Cruises' Vintage Room.  Included in your cruise fare with our group, you will have the opportunity enjoy a wine and food pairing dinner in the Vintage Room.  Here you can sample world-famous wines, some of which cost upwards of $1,000 per bottle.  Plus, as part of our group, you will have the option to join Claude and Genevieve on some truly unique, and wonderful, shore excursions to quaint vineyards and wineries in Italy, France, and Spain.  With all of this, you certainly do not want to miss the opportunity to experience the Mediterranean like no other.

For a limited time, you can book onto the cruise, with all the group amenities, for the exact same price that you would pay for just the cruise alone through Crystal Cruises.   For the same fare, you will enjoy all the benefits available with Crystal Cruises, plus numerous enhanced benefits.  These include:

• 7-day cruise aboard the Crystal Serenity, Rome to Barcelona.
• Your choice of luxurious onboard accommodations, from ocean view to suite.
• Onboard gourmet meals.
• All non-alcoholic beverages, including soft drinks, bottled water, and specialty coffee drinks.
• A variety of wonderful onboard entertainment, including Ball Room dancing with live music.
• Complimentary language, computer, keyboard, and health and wellness classes.
• Complimentary wine tasting of DelFosse wines.
• Complimentary food & wine pairing dinner in The Vintage Room (or shipboard credit equivalent).
• Interesting onboard lectures on wine making by Claude and Genevieve DelFosse.
• Opportunity to book exclusive, unique wine and/or culinary-themed shore excursions tailored just for our group.

What Is Life Like on Crystal Cruises?

In a word, unmatched.  And don't take our word for it.  Crystal Cruises has consistently ranked the top cruise in the World.  For 14 years, readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked Crystal above all other cruise lines, both large and small.  Crystal beat every other major cruise line in 6 of 7 categories, and came in a narrow 2nd in the 7th category.  Here are just a few of the things you can expect on your Crystal cruise aboard the Crystal Serenity:

• Spacious staterooms with luxurious accommodations to include 100% cotton linens and bath towels; Frette bathrobes, kimonos, and slippers; wireless in-room internet access, personal flat-screen/flat panel TV, DVD, and CD player, and complimentary 24-hour room service.
• Traditional dining in the Crystal dining room, with free alternative dining choices to include famous chef Nobu Matsuhisa's Silk Road and Sushi Bar and restaurateur Peiro Selvaggio's Prego (speciality dining recommended gratuity charge of $15 applies).
• Extensive selection of complimentary enrichment programs, to include keyboard lessons with Yamaha; language lessons with Berlitz; and Computer University @ Sea offering complimentary computer instruction in 30 different areas.
• Mat pilates and yoga instruction.
• Wide variety of onboard entertainment, from lavish, Broadway-style theater productions in the Galaxy Lounge to the talented Crystal Ensemble of Singers and Dancers, to recent-release films showing in the Hollywood Theater.
• Fitness center, pools, hottubs, and the Crystal Spa & Salon featuring the only Feng-Shui-inspired spa at sea.

What You Need to Know to Book:

We are thrilled that you are considering being a part of this extraordinary wine-themed cruise with DelFosse Vineyards & Winery.  The following is information regarding the booking process:

• Deposit required:  10% of the base cruise fare for the category stateroom you select.  For example, for a Category C Deluxe Ocean View with a base fare of $3,535, the deposit would be approximately $355 per guest ($710 for the stateroom based on double occupancy).
• Final payment date:  Final payment is 75 days prior to the cruise departure.  Once you place your deposit, you owe nothing more until final payment.  If you make your final payment at least 6 months prior to the cruise departure, you will enjoy an additional 3% savings off your cruise fare.
• Payment Method:  You may pay your deposit and your final payment with MasterCard, Visa, or American Express, or personal check.
• How to book:  To book, simply call us toll free at 866-368-7327, or locally at 703-706-0011.  If you are in or near Alexandria, Virginia, please feel free to visit us in person.  We are located at 2161 Jamieson Avenue, near the Patent & Trademark Office in the Carlyle are of Alexandria.
• Cancellation policy:  If you cancel your cruise no later than COB 76 days prior to the cruise departure, you will receive a refund of your moneys paid, less $50 per person.  After final payment, we recommend the purchase of travel insurance to protect your investment.  You may purchase travel insurance at any time up to your final payment date (and even later).  If you have pre-existing medical conditions and need travel insurance to cover these conditions, you should purchase your travel insurance within 15 days of booking to ensure coverage of those conditions.
• Your cruise fare is per person, based on double occupancy.  Port, handling, and security charge of $240 per person, gratuities of $182 per person, and fuel surcharge of $84 per person are additional.  These amounts are subject to change up to the point you are booked and deposited.

It's no secret that Mediterranean cruises are extraordinarily popular.  They offer guests the opportunity to see numerous famous European cities with the convenience of just unpacking once.  More importantly these days, a cruise offers Americans a truly affordable way to see Europe without the worries of the poor exchange rate and the high cost of European hotels and meals.  Everything on your cruise is in U.S. dollars, and includes your accommodations, travel between ports, and meals.  For all these reasons, Mediterranean cruises often sell out months ahead.  We therefore strongly recommend booking sooner rather than later.  Consider the following:

• Staterooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Book early to secure the best selection of staterooms.
• Rates, taxes, and fuel surcharge are not locked in until you are booked and deposited.  To protect yourself against future increases, book now.
• Our group is limited to approximately 30 staterooms.  To make sure you can be a part of this wonderful experience, lock in your place on this cruise with us today.