So much for cutting back during the recession: New Crystal Cruises excursion costs $25,000

[mercedes]

Not everyone is experiencing tough times these days. Or, at least, that's the hope at Crystal Cruises as it rolls out what's billed as the most exclusive (and expensive) tennis-themed cruise package ever.

Priced at a cool $25,299 per person, the six-night, post-cruise land tour includes unusual VIP access to the men's and women's semifinals and finals of this year's Wimbledon Championships.

Designed to be tacked on to the Crystal Symphony's June 19 cruise from London to Stockholm, the excursion costs five times as much as the cruise itself (prices for which start at $4,995).

In addition to Centre Court tickets at Wimbledon, participants will have access to Fairway Village, the tournament's luxury hospitality area. They'll also stay for six nights at London’s posh Savoy hotel and be shuttled to and from tennis matches in a private car.

The program also includes a visit to the Tennis Hall of Fame in Bastad, Sweden (at the end of the cruise before Wimbledon begins), as well as business class air back from Sweden to London.

The 11-night cruise itself is a Baltic voyage with calls in Oslo, Norway; Helsinki, Finland; Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm and Visby, Sweden, and includes a two-night stay in St. Petersburg.