EcoHangers Help Luxury Cruise Line Stay 'Crystal Clean'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Extending the same care for the environment as it does for guests on its luxury cruises, Crystal Cruises has partnered with the Hanger Network -- the creator of EcoHangers -- to green the guest staterooms on its ships.

EcoHangers are the environmentally sound alternative to the 3.5 billion wire hangers and the 5 billion plastic hangers that fill America's landfills each year. EcoHangers are 100% recyclable, manufactured in EPA-regulated factories in the U.S. from 100% recycled materials, and have proven to be stronger than wire hangers in laboratory strength tests.

Under this new partnership, the Crystal fleet will use company-branded EcoHangers for its guest laundering services. In conjunction with the new hangers, Crystal will also utilize washable garment bags for laundry distribution, eliminating the use of more than 100,000 plastic bags on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity per year.

Crystal Cruises' partnership with the Hanger Network reaffirms the luxury line's commitment to the environment. "Crystal Clean" is the company's program of environmentally-friendly initiatives, which includes educating its staff on an ongoing basis about conservation methods on board, ashore and at home. In addition, the "Crystal Clean" message is reiterated to guests through its onboard publication, Reflections, and signage posted in every stateroom and suite.

"Crystal Cruises recognizes we are stewards of our oceans and we continually seek ways to minimize our impact on the environment," said Gregg L. Michel, Crystal Cruises' president. "The washable garment bags and EcoHangers are both aesthetic enhancements, as well as being more ecologically beneficial."

In 2006 and 2007, Crystal Cruises audited its ships' lighting and energy consumption. Since then, light replacement measures have included automated light programming that eliminates or reduces electricity use in public areas when they are not in use or there is ample natural light, and the installation of Infra-Red coated light bulbs, which use 30% less energy than standard bulbs. These measures have saved more than 960,000 kWh -- the equivalent to eliminating more than 5,000 light bulbs per year, or nearly 200 tons of fuel per year.

About Crystal Cruises

Aboard the ultra-luxurious Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, refined elegance meets casual simplicity. With an emphasis on innovative product differentiation, the renowned Crystal experience is distinguished by classic service, abundant space, extensive choices and superior quality, providing worldwide vacations of seven to 100+ days that bridge the best of land and sea. Grounded in more than a decade of accolades, Crystal has been voted "World's Best" by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history.

CONTACT: Mimi Weisband (310) 203-4302

               publicrelations@crystalcruises.com