Sporting Superstars & Luxury Cruises Combine For The Ultimate Contest

by
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can receive cruise news updates straight to your inbox, so you don't miss a thing! Subscribe here.

Luxury cruise line Crystal has announced the debut of The Crystal Cup, an exclusive annual golf tournament created in partnership with Troon, the world’s leading golf management company.

Designed to unite high-end travel with top-tier sport, the tournament will conclude with a grand finale at the prestigious Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia – the host venue for the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic.

Crystal Cruises' Crystal Cup

Golfing superstars Luke Donald and Lexi Thompson have been named as official brand ambassadors for the tournament.

Both will appear in Crystal’s marketing campaigns and take part in exclusive events throughout the tournament calendar.

As a special addition, a promotional campaign will be launched ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup, offering fans the chance to win a virtual lesson with Donald, who is set to captain the European team once again.

Tournament Format and Prizes

Kicking off this month, the tournament will begin with two-person teams competing in 10 invitation-only qualifiers held at private clubs across the United States. These will be followed by three regional qualifiers hosted at Troon-affiliated daily-fee courses:

  • Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad, California – 10th July 2025
  • Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford, North Carolina – 19th August 2025
  • La Cantera Golf Club, San Antonio, Texas – 26th August 2025

Nearly 1,900 players across 940 teams are expected to participate.

The Crystal Cup final will take place in October 2025 at Sea Island Golf Club. Finalists will enjoy the rare opportunity to play alongside Crystal’s golf ambassadors, partake in VIP hospitality, and compete for exceptional prizes.

These include signed memorabilia, cruise vouchers worth $1,000, and a 29-night luxury cruise from Singapore to Tokyo aboard Crystal Symphony!

Lexi Thompson, currently competing on the LPGA Tour, expressed her excitement at joining the initiative:

“I’m excited to be a part of The Crystal Cup and share my passion for golf with fellow enthusiasts. This tournament combines the thrill of competition with the luxury of a Crystal cruise.”

Crystal’s onboard golf offerings include putting greens, driving cages, and a resident golf professional on every sailing to provide lessons.

The line has also committed to expanding its fleet, with three new ships on the way, and continuing to elevate its luxury cruise experience under the ownership of A&K Travel Group (AKTG), who acquired the line in 2022 and relaunched operations in 2023.

Peter Chipchase, Chief Marketing Officer at AKTG, said:

“Golf is a huge passion point for many of our guests. The Crystal Cup is a unique opportunity to bring together two of our customers’ favourite experiences: luxury cruising and world-class golf.”

Troon’s President and CEO, Tim Schantz, highlighted the synergy between the two brands:

“We are honoured to partner with Crystal to launch The Crystal Cup. This exclusive collaboration provides Crystal guests with privileged access to top golf courses and elevates the onboard experience to an entirely new level.”

Whether competing for prizes or simply enjoying the camaraderie and indulgence of a Crystal voyage, the new Crystal Cup is set to become a bucket-list experience for golf lovers and cruise aficionados alike.

Interested fans can learn more about The Crystal Cup here.

Related Posts


If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me



Leave a comment