Crystal World Cruise to Visit Middle Eastern Ports

Crystal Cruises’ 2010 world cruise will include six maiden calls in the Middle East. The cruise will stop at ports in Iran, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman as well as ports in Africa, India and South America. The world cruise departs Miami on Jan. 11, 2010.

Travel agents onboard the Crystal Serenity were the first to learn about the world cruise. The agents are attending Crystal’s annual awards event for top producers on a cruise from Athens to Rome.

John Stoll, Crystal’s director of land programs, recently returned from an in-depth trip to many of the Middle Eastern countries on the itinerary. He told agents that Iran offers ancient ruins on par with Rome’s.

“It’s a fascinating, beautiful country,” he said. “It’s authentic, it’s real. This is what people travel all over the world for.”

The cruise also calls in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a port city about 45 miles from Mecca, the Islam religion’s holiest city. While non-Muslims are not permitted to enter Mecca, Stoll said he is working to get Crystal passengers as close to the city as possible.