I’m so very pleased to bring you a special insider interview this month – Edie Rodriguez, President and COO of Crystal Cruises.

Last fall, you took the helm of the premier luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises as President and Chief Operating Officer. I understand your vision for the line is “seven ships, seven seas and seven continents.” That sounds like a big undertaking! Over what time frame do you expect Crystal to grow from its current two vessels? It is my hope to grow the brand as soon as possible. That said, these things do take time. Certainly it is my hope to have some exciting announcements by the end of the year and to start the growth for Crystal over the next couple of years.

 

Crystal already has an impressive selection of itineraries with port calls in all seven continents. Do you plan to expand your destinations as you add vessels? If so, what destinations will you add? We are always looking to expand our destinations, even with our current ships. We have a huge base of repeat guests who relish adding destinations to their “bucket lists.” Luxury travelers love to be excited and delighted with new experiences. More ships would enable Crystal to cover more destinations simultaneously.

 

Tell us about the typical Crystal Cruises guest – are they mostly retired seniors with plenty of time to travel, still-in-the-workforce boomers, families with kids, or a mixture of all? Today, the Crystal guest is all of the above. And even retirees are younger and more active than they used to be. One might find more seniors on a longer cruise, while those working full-time might select an itinerary that is two weeks or shorter. The 5- to 8-day “Getaways” cruises have attracted younger guests. But the biggest boom has been in multiple generational families traveling with us during summers and holidays. We’ve seen a 30% increase in families signing up for our Crystal Family Memories program.

 

Speaking of families, what kinds of youth services does Crystal offer for youngsters? First, we are the only luxury ships with purpose-built children’s playrooms, Fantasia for younger children, and Waves for older children. These rooms are always open. Additionally, we have Junior Activities Directors on summers and holiday cruisers, who prepare full programs of games and crafts for different ages of children. We strategically plan activities to make sure they won’t bother guests who don’t want to be around children – such as baking cookies in the galley, visiting the Captain on the bridge and going backstage to meet the production teams and see all the costumes for the lavish production shows. Even teens can participate in sushi-making lessons from a Nobu-trained chef and karaoke parties.

 

Last year, Crystal offered an exciting series of “Experiences of Discovery” theme cruises. What themes can guests look for in 2014 and 2015? For 2014, we have several new themes, including one that focuses on Microbrews and another that expands our on-going Magic Castle at Sea shows with a bigger focus on magic. Still very popular for 2014 and 2015 are “Experience of Discovery” theme cruises that focus on Wine & Food, Golf, Jazz, Ballroom dance, Emerging Artists, Film & Theatre and Ocean Views for spirited, topical discussions on world events. I also host a President’s Cruise each year, and in 2015, in celebration of our 25th Anniversary of cruising, we are featuring several cruises with their own special hosts, former Crystal captains and our Chairman.

 

Crystal guests that stay in suites (categories PH, PS, CP) have butler service. For those of us who don’t have a butler in our daily lives, explain what kinds of services butlers can do for guests. Butlers can unpack and pack your suitcase, they deliver room service and prepare your suite for dining (even course by course, if you prefer), they will handle your dry cleaning, laundry and pressing (and the latter is complimentary in Penthouses).

 

Crystal’s All-Inclusive fares include unlimited fine wines and premium spirits, specialty restaurants and pre-paid gratuities. Are there any additional expenses guests should expect? One can enjoy a Crystal cruise without paying anything extra. That said, guests can expand their experience with additional visits to our Specialty Restaurants, a night in the Vintage Room, shore excursions and/or private adventures, casino, spa experiences, photo, retail shops and a vast collection of connoisseur wines and spirits.

 

Foodies and cruise aficionados alike know that Crystal Cruises’ cuisine is critically acclaimed. Do you have a favorite dining venue aboard and what makes that one special to you? I love all the restaurants, but my new favorite dining experience – and one of my favorite places on land or sea! – is our new Tastes restaurant on Crystal Serenity. The stunning setting on the indoor/outdoor Lido Deck with live olive trees, living walls and twinkling lights is only surpassed by an inventive menu of Global Tapas-style dishes that showcase spices from around the world. It’s a wonderful evening dining opportunity that is wonderful for a couple or a group of friends sharing lots of selections family style from the creative menu.

 

Thank you, Edie, for taking time out of your busy Presidential responsibilities to talk to us about what makes a Crystal Cruises experience so special.

Follow Crystal Cruises on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or their new Crystal blog. For rates and availability on Crystal Cruises itineraries, please contact Covington Travel’s luxury cruise experts.

About Edie: With more than 30 years of experience in the global cruise, travel and technology industries, cruise industry veteran Edie Rodriguez joined Los Angeles-based ultra-luxury Crystal Cruises as its president and chief operating officer on October 16, 2013. Although known to many in the industry as Edie Bornstein, Edie took her husband’s last name, Rodriguez, when she married in mid-February, 2014.

Prior to joining Crystal, she was senior vice president of marketing and sales at Azamara Club Cruises, the upscale division of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL). It was under her leadership that she and her team re-launched the young brand as Azamara Club Cruises.

She has also served as vice president of business development and strategic partnerships for Carnival Cruise Lines, and was a senior officer at Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Lines, where she developed strategic plans and led partnerships with several respected luxury brands. Prior to her in-house positions with the cruise lines, Rodriguez was vice president of cruise and specialty sales, marketing and customer support for Amadeus Global Distribution System. At Amadeus, she was instrumental in the implementation of automation solutions for the cruise industry and numerous other projects.

Edie Rodriguez and her husband Tom reside in Los Angeles.