Luxury specialist Crystal Cruises announces a brand new online tool to simplify check-in and pre-cruise operations for its worldwide itineraries. Effective this July, the Priority Check-in & Planning Center will allow guests expanded options to complete tasks prior to sailing, from submitting guest immigration information and airport/ship transfer requests to booking spa treatments and shore excursions.
Immigration and flight details can be submitted upon initial deposit via the new ‘Priority Check-in’ portion of the system, which also allows guests to request bed configurations and register their credit card for onboard charges, and provides easy access to partner websites like Luggage Concierge. Guests can view availability of restaurant and spa reservations, including Crystal’s new Perfect Choice Dining, available in 2011.
Once the Priority Check-in and full cruise payment are complete, the ‘Planning Center’ enables guests to customize their Crystal cruise by making real-time reservations for the ships’ restaurants and the spa, as well as reservation requests for Vintage Room experiences, pre-reserve shore excursions and sign up for Crystal’s Creative Learning Institute courses. As the system will only show available restaurant and spa openings, guests will receive immediate confirmation of their reservations, whereas previously, only requests were submitted, and later confirmed on board. Another convenient feature allows gentlemen to pre-reserve tuxedo rental for formal evenings.
“The Priority Check-in and Planning Center is designed to make the Crystal Experience more convenient for our guests by allowing them to take care of embarkation day arrangements on their own time, from the comfort of home,” says Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president, operations. “By checking in and making arrangements before boarding, travelers can eliminate time spent in the terminal waiting in line, and begin their luxury vacation almost immediately.”
Also brand new, the Planning Center’s comprehensive Cruise Calendar organizes daily requests and activities. The calendar will also advise dress codes, docking times and port locations for each day of the voyage, and will alert guests to any conflicts between their planned flight itineraries and embarkation/disembarkation schedules. Travelers simply print their completed itineraries and present them at embarkation for priority boarding.
