By: Ralph Grizzle 

Crystal Cruises has come up with several new luxury land packages to complement its Mediterranean cruise itineraries this summer and fall. Options include journeys through Prague and Budapest or a trip to Italy’s posh Lake Como. Each tour includes luxury lodging, gourmet meals and all land transportation, providing in-depth experiences that allow guests to extend their vacations and really immerse themselves in a destination.

The land tours are available with Crystal Serenity’s Mediterranean, Black Sea and Canary Islands cruises from June through October, and the optional three- to five-night programs depart from Barcelona, Venice and Rome.

The tours showcase the regions’ architecture, history, villas, castles and other attractions at World Heritage sites and Europe’s vacation playgrounds. Mirroring Crystal’s ultra-luxury onboard experience, guests will dine at renowned restaurants and stay at some of the world’s most sought-after hotels, like Villa d’Este and Prague’s Carlo IV Boscolo.

The Extended Land Programs includes these new options:

• Castile Kingdom Splendor – Explores the legend of Don Quixote and visits Madrid and Spain’s World Heritage sites of Segovia and Toledo (four nights);
• Costa Brava Exploration – Features Spain’s “wild coast,” set against the Pyrenees Mountains, charming Catalonian villages, as well as Salvador Dali’s birthplace (four nights);

Also, Crystal continues to offer these popular options:

• Lake Como and Villa d’Este – Ultra-luxury resort Villa d’ Este at Cernobbio on Italy’s Lake Como is the favored playground of royalty and international celebrities (three nights); an
• Prague and Budapest – Castles, palaces and monuments in two of the world’s most fascinating cities (five nights).

Crystal Serenity’s Mediterranean cruises depart from Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Rome and Venice. Celebration fares start at $3,535 per person, double occupancy, and offer an All Inclusive – As You Wish shipboard credit to customize one’s vacation.