Hobbit Home Dinner Party Offers "Precious" Movie Experience For Crystal Holiday-ers

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Known for its ingenuity in global adventure, Crystal Cruises is offering an exclusive new dinner experience this December, on the "Hobbiton" set used for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and new prequel film.  The unique shoreside opportunity will debut just days after The Hobbit opens worldwide, when Crystal Symphony calls in Tauranga during a New Zealand/Australia holiday cruise beginning December 20.  The Crystal Adventure will also be offered on a January 29 voyage through the region.

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The two local cultures of New Zealand and "Middle Earth" will come alive, starting with a private, after-hours, guided tour of the village movie set.  From Frodo and Bilbo Baggins' Hobbit holes to the Brandywine Bridge, guests will enter buildings and stroll rolling hills, while learning about the massive efforts undertaken to build the site.  On the grounds of the hobbit-frequented Green Dragon Inn, with a beautiful sunset view overlooking the lake and Mill, guests will enjoy a bevy of extraordinary local wine and beer, a traditional Kiwi barbeque, and other fresh fare served by wait staff in Lord of the Rings garb.

 "We are always looking for unique, boutique ways for our guests to immerse themselves in a world different from their own," says Crystal's Vice-President, Land & Port Operations, John Stoll.  "With The Hobbit opening mid-December, this is an extraordinarily timely opportunity for Crystal guests to be transported to a place that many fantasy-fiction genre fans, movie buffs, as well as wine and foodies, and off-the-beaten-path travelers, from around the globe can only dream of visiting."

The Hobbiton dinner and village exploration fee is $265/person.  A second Lord of the Rings-themed Adventure is also offered on both cruises, visiting Edoras' home, Mt. Potts Station and Lodge, and New Zealand's Southern Alps from Christchurch.

Between the two cruises, Crystal Symphony will sail variously through Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Picton, Napier, Christchurch, Dunedin, Sydney, Melbourne, and Dusky, Doubtful, and Milford Sounds, with single and double overnights in port throughout.

The December voyage– which also offers gourmet holiday cuisine, festive decor, a Master Photographer capturing memories, and a complimentary New Year's Eve extravaganza in Sydney Harbor -- overnights in Auckland before sailing through Tauranga, Napier, Christchurch, Dunedin, Sydney (double overnight), Melbourne (overnight), and Dusky, Doubtful, and Milford Sounds.  All-inclusive "Book Now" fares for the 16-day Christmas/New Year's sailing start from $8,505/person.

The January cruise also overnights in Auckland, then overnights in Tauranga, and proceeds through Napier, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, and the Sounds before concluding with an overnight in Sydney.  All-inclusive "Book Now" fares for the 13-day sailing start from $4,480/person, with $2,500 in savings if booked by December 28.

Crystal's passion for creating exclusive, eye-opening luxury shore-side experiences are cornerstones of its Crystal Adventures program, earning the line top ratings for two decades.

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

CONTACT:  Mimi Weisband or Susan Wichmann 310-203-4305, [email protected].

VISIT:  Crystal's Media Center

SOURCE Crystal Cruises