The Pierre New York and the King George Palace in Athens are among the plush properties added to Crystal Cruises’ roster of 2010 “Classic” and “Classic Plus” Hotel Programs ashore. From Venice’s venerable Hotel Cipriani to the celebrated Dorchester in London, Crystal is inviting guests to extend their cruise vacations with pre- and post-cruise stays at the world’s most exclusive hotels and resorts. The Crystal Adventures Hotel Program features a collection of 33 renowned hotels and resorts in 21 cities around the world, including four new properties.

Other noted hotel partners for 2010 include the Hotel Hermitage in Monte Carlo and Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, as well as several Four Seasons, Ritz-Carltons, and InterContinentals. In Athens, Barcelona, Dubai, London, Rome and Venice, Crystal offers a variety of shoreside options.

Each property in the Crystal Adventures Hotel Program is carefully selected for its location, level of service, ambience and attention to detail. Many are destinations unto themselves with rich histories, famed architecture, and storied pasts of noted guests and celebrities.

“From location and local flavor to sophisticated ambiance and luxury, the properties we feature are in high demand from our guests who seek a seamless travel experience and the same level of style, service, and luxury that they enjoy aboard our ships,” says John Stoll, Crystal’s director of land programs.

The Crystal “Classic” Hotel Program includes meet and assist arrangements at the airport; transfers from the airport to the hotel; all hotel tax and porterage; a Crystal hospitality desk at the hotel; and transfers from the hotel to the ship for special priority embarkation. The “Classic Plus” Hotel Program also offers upgraded accommodations, full breakfast daily, and private car transfers between the airport and hotel.

Crystal Adventures Hotel Program pricing begins at $225 per person, double occupancy, for the first night of stay, depending on city and property selected, with reduced rates available for second and third nights.