Vanessa Williams to perform aboard Crystal Serenity
The multi-award-winning singer and actress joins a nine-night Caribbean voyage departing 23 November, in what promises to be a festive highlight at sea.
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Crystal Cruises has announced that Vanessa Williams will join guests aboard Crystal Serenity for a special Thanksgiving sailing departing Fort Lauderdale on November 23.
Williams, whose career spans music, television and stage, is perhaps best known for chart-topping hits including “Save the Best for Last” and “Love Is.”
She is currently playing Miranda Priestly in the West End production of The Devil Wears Prada in London, and has previously starred in Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives.
During the voyage, Williams will perform a live set drawing on her greatest hits alongside seasonal favourites, and will host an intimate Q&A session offering guests a closer look at her career and personal stories.
“Music has always been about connection, and there’s something truly special about sharing that connection during the holiday season,” Williams said.
“I’m so excited to join Crystal Serenity this November and look forward to celebrating with my family and guests through music, stories and festive moments.”
The nine-night round-trip itinerary from Fort Lauderdale calls at Samana in the Dominican Republic, Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands and Oranjestad in Aruba, before an overnight stay in Cartagena, Colombia. A Thanksgiving feast is among the onboard highlights.
Bookings can be made through a travel advisor, at crystalcruises.com or by calling 1300 503 640.
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Luxury hotel group Aman will reopen its Paro and Punakha lodges in Bhutan this September following an extensive renovation centred on wellness, guest comfort and cultural preservation.
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Luxury hospitality brand Aman is preparing to unveil a new chapter for its Bhutan circuit, with two of its signature lodges set to reopen following a significant wellness-focused refurbishment.
The renovations at Amankora Paro and Amankora Punakha mark one of the most substantial upgrades to the collection in recent years, reinforcing Bhutan’s growing appeal as a destination for travellers seeking immersive wellness experiences alongside cultural discovery.
Aman first entered Bhutan more than two decades ago as the country’s first international luxury hospitality brand, establishing a network of lodges across five valleys that has become one of the kingdom’s most exclusive travel experiences.
Among the most notable additions is a new Aman Signature Spa House at Amankora Paro, designed by Kerry Hill Architects and set within the property’s pine forest.
The standalone wellness retreat features a private hammam steam room, treatment rooms, relaxation areas, hot and cold bathing facilities and an outdoor pool designed to create a secluded spa experience for individuals and couples.
The Paro lodge has also introduced a riverside banya sauna inspired by Eastern European and Scandinavian traditions. Surrounded by forest and overlooking the river, the experience combines heat therapy, cold-water immersion and traditional venik massage rituals.
Further wellness enhancements include upgraded treatment rooms, refreshed spa facilities and a new yoga pavilion overlooking the valley landscape.
Guest accommodation has also been comprehensively updated.
All 24 suites at Amankora Paro have undergone refurbishment, including new timber finishes, upgraded climate-control systems, enhanced lighting, and elevated in-room amenities. Communal spaces, including the lounge, dining room and library, have also been redesigned.
In Punakha Valley, Amankora’s lodge, centred around a restored 300-year-old farmhouse, has similarly received extensive upgrades. The property’s 12 suites have been refreshed with new interiors and technology while preserving the building’s historic character.
The spa has been expanded to include hydrotherapy facilities such as a steam room, Jacuzzi, cold plunge, bucket shower and relaxation lounge, alongside upgraded treatment rooms and yoga spaces.
Additional changes include a new private dining room within the historic farmhouse and redesigned communal areas intended to offer greater privacy and a stronger connection to the property’s heritage. The farmhouse’s original altar room remains intact, with a resident monk continuing to perform traditional Buddhist ceremonies and blessings.
The renewed lodges are scheduled to reopen on 15 September 2026, further strengthening Bhutan’s reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after luxury wellness destinations.
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