Recently sold Crystal Cruises rolls out 2018 world cruise itineraries

If you’ve ever considered taking a world cruise, Crystal Cruises offers new options for 2018, including one that leaves from Los Angeles.

The luxury line recently announced concurrent world cruises aboard the Symphony and the Serenity with four itineraries and a meetup in Sydney, Australia.

The news comes in a statement after Crystal was bought earlier this month by Hong Kong-based Genting. Media reports say Genting paid $550 million to the Japanese parent company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha for the two-ship fleet.

The new owners are expected to add a new ship too.

But back to the world cruises.

Serenity will leave Los Angeles for a 112-day cruise starting Jan. 23, 2018. It will make stops in the South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, India and Dubai before arriving in Rome.

Symphony will leave Cape Town, South Africa, for a 114-day cruise starting Jan. 7, 2018. It covers South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, French Polynesia and South America before heading to the Caribbean via Miami.

Here’s the twist: World cruise passengers may also sail part way on the Serenity and then switch to the Symphony, and vice versa. The changes happen when the ships rendezvous in Sydney, where a gala is planned.

Shorter segments aboard both ships are offered too.

Bookings are open now for the cruises. Until April 30, fares start at $47,150 a person. It includes two land excursions, $2,000 in shipboard credit, special onboard events, free private car service between the airport and the ship, the World Cruise Gala on Feb. 17 in Sydney and more.

Info: Check out the itineraries and extras on Crystal’s 2018 World Cruises, (888) 722-0021 or contact a travel agent