For two decades, Crystal Cruises has been celebrated for its genuine hospitality and service. Anyone who has had the pleasure of sailing with Crystal has experienced this warm and friendly reception, but Crystal’s spirit of generosity extends beyond their guests to the destinations which they visit.

Crystal Cruises offers special Voluntourism Adventures to its guests as a way to contribute to worthwhile causes and give back to local communities around the world. One complimentary Voluntourism Adventure is offered on each voyage, giving guest and crew an easy, hands-on way to “give back” with no obligation of financial donations.

Guests can directly contribute to a special need or cause of a local community simply by volunteering their time. Crystal handles all of the logistics, including transportation to and from the volunteer site. More than 45 socially responsible excursions were completed in 2011. Some deserving programs are on the calendar again in 2012, accompanied by some new additions such as:

• Cambodia: Teach children the arts, plus plant a vegetable garden, at an orphanage
• British Columbia: Stock, pack, and distribute food and toys at a local food bank
• Singapore: Help literacy-challenged children to read
• South Korea: Bring goodwill to a home for underprivileged children

Additional locales featuring the program in 2012 include Cartagena, Colombia; Willemstad, Curacao; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain; Livorno, Italy; Athens, Greece; Tallinn, Estonia; Rostock, Germany; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Honolulu; and Boston, among others.  Most outings include immersive education about the cultures visited, ranging from urban farming lessons in Cartagena, Columbia to Maori traditions in New Zealand.

While we always seek unique adventures for our guests, we created this program as a very personal way for Crystal travelers to give back to the many destinations that have given us so much through the years,” says Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president operations. “The feedback from this program has been incredible, with stories of tears, hugs, pen pals, and generosity above and beyond anything we could have hoped for. We are thrilled to continue to ‘pay it forward’ as we sail the world in 2012.”

To join Crystal Cruises in respectful treatment of the environment, oceans and communities in which it travels, contact Covington Travel’s cruise specialists to arrange a value-rich and engaging Voluntourism Adventure on a Crystal Cruise. And remember, it won’t cost anything but your time.