Embark the ship early evening. Palm trees shade idyllic sandy beaches here, as cinnamon grows wild on verdant hillsides and sea turtles nose around, explore the island and get to know the ship.

Palm trees shade idyllic sandy beaches here, as cinnamon grows wild on verdant hillsides and sea turtles nose around their favorite nesting site. Once a commercial whaling outpost and later a World war II gun battery, St. Anne Island is today a place of peace and tranquility with abundant wildlife protected by the St. Anne Marine National Park. Cousin Island is a green ink-dot in the Indian Ocean. Here, birds rule the roost. Declared a special reserve in 1975, the island is the last holdout for the Seychelles warbler, a bird driven nearly to extinction - today they number some 3,000, a tribute to conservation. As you might expect from a haven for winged creatures, Cousin Island also is a paradise for nature-loving humans, with dense woodland, a rocky southern coast and sandy beaches encircling almost the entire isle.Praslin, the second largest island of Seychelles and arguably tops in attractions, features stunning beaches, azure seas, tangles of jungle and a trademark relaxed atmosphere. What makes Praslin unique is the Vallée de Mai, a protected forest of rare fauna, and most famously the coco de mer palm, a tree that produces the world’s largest seed and palm flower. The grove is one of Seychelles’ two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has been aptly called the Garden of Eden.

Praslin, the second largest island of Seychelles and arguably tops in attractions, features stunning beaches, azure seas, tangles of jungle and a trademark relaxed atmosphere. What makes Praslin unique is the Vallée de Mai, a protected forest of rare fauna, and most famously the coco de mer palm, a tree that produces the world’s largest seed and palm flower. The grove is one of Seychelles’ two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has been aptly called the Garden of Eden.

In Laraie Bay hundreds of giant hump-head parrotfish swim the harbor’s waters while beyond native coco de mer palms and low-slung branches of giant takamaka trees line sandy beaches. Curieuse Island is known for its giant tortoises, native to the Seychelles and once nearly extinct. Today, thanks to conservation efforts, tortoises roam freely in the lush forests.

Hundreds of giant hump-head parrotfish swim the harbor’s waters while beyond native coco de mer palms and low-slung branches of giant takamaka trees line sandy beaches. Curieuse Island is known for its giant tortoises, native to the Seychelles and once nearly extinct. Today, thanks to conservation efforts, tortoises roam freely in the lush forests.

Aride Island, as one of the most important seabird habitats in the Indian Ocean, if not the world, Aride is home to more breeding species than on any other island in Seychelles: 18 native birds, including five found only in the archipelago, reproduce on this tiny, eyelash of an isle. While its bird population is vast, Aride itself is petite, just a mile long and half a mile wide. Its human population is even smaller: only rangers, conservation officers and a few volunteers live here. Cruise Big Sister, Felicite, situated east of the larger island of Praslin, the isles of Big Sister, Felicite and Marianne are petite gems in the string of 115 jewels that make up the Seychelles archipelago. Only a few of these Indian Ocean islands are inhabited, leaving a delicate (and gorgeous) ecosystem of tropical flora, time-worn rocks and pristine beaches largely undisturbed. Naturally, you will step ashore on some islands to explore their treasures; other times, you will sail past and amid these granitic outposts to take in the scenery from your Crystal yacht. Fix your eye and camera on the turquoise waters and lushly carpeted mountains of these splendid islands, ranked among the best in the world for diving, snorkeling, beach combing and simply leaving the rest of the world behind

Mahé/Victoria Harbor, this capital city of the Seychelles lies on Mahé, the largest of the 115 islands. It is not boastful about its importance to the island’s cultural and administrative center, as its mere two dozen avenues are cozy and inviting, backing up against steep mountains and bustling with cafés and colorful architecture. Visit the Botanical Gardens for a glimpse into the lush fauna that cloaks the island, and venture from Victoria in search of the Seychelles natural splendor.

Mahé/Eden Island Marina, Here, in the Indian Ocean, where exotic trees edge beaches of fine white sand, is Mahé. Coconut plantations surround its majestic granite peaks rising to 3,000 feet. Mahé was uninhabited until the French arrived in 1768, and this culture remains despite over 180 years of British rule. The true magnificence of the Seychelles lies beyond city limits, as you explore these islands' stunning natural beauty.