The Official Return of Crystal (Cruises)

February 2023

Crystal Cruises has relaunched under a new name and with a new vision. “I am delighted to announce that Crystal is reborn, with Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony reimagined and enhancements made to every part of our guests’ journey”, said Jack Anderson, President of Crystal. Crystal has relaunched with a brand-new website and two new-and-improved ships under the guardianship of Abercrombie & Kent USA.

Recap: What happened to Crystal Cruises?

In January 2022, Genting Hong Kong, the parent company of Crystal Cruises, filed for bankruptcy after failing to repay their fuel bills. Two of the ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, were ‘arrested’ in the Bahamas and put up for auction as a result. Fast forward to July 2022, billionaire Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio - former owner of Silversea Cruises - purchased the two ships and the Crystal name through A&K Travel Group. You can find out more about this here.

What happened to the other Crystal ships?

Crystal Cruises sold Crystal Espirit to Lindblad Expeditions in September 2021. Now named National Geographic Islander II, the 48-guest mega-yacht has made her homeport in the Galapagos Islands. The ‘World’s Most Luxurious Expedition Ship’, Crystal Endeavour, was acquired by Silversea Cruises in July 2022. She has since been renamed Silver Endeavour and begun operating cruises in Antarctica. Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel - all of which operated under Crystal River Cruises - are docked in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Crystal Mozart remains in Austria.

What can guests expect from Crystal?

The vision for the new brand is Exceptional at Sea: exceptional service, dining, suites and experiences. “Personalised service - long a Crystal signature - has been elevated further. Dining is a journey through culinary specialities, with authentic food from around the globe across nine distinct venues”, explains Anderson. “Palatial suites, spacious verandas and larger guest rooms have been rolled out on both ships, reducing overall guest capacity to 740 guests on Crystal Serenity and 600 guests on Crystal Symphony.” “Furthermore, local experts at Abercrombie & Kent have planned memorable experiences in each destination to guarantee beyond-the-guidebook access.”

When will the two ships return to the waters?

Both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony will relaunch in the summer. Crystal Serenity will resume service in July and take guests to explore Northern Europe. Meanwhile, Crystal Symphony will offer a series of voyages in the Mediterranean from September. Bookings open on 22 February. To learn more or to enquire about a future sailing, please call 0800 008 6677.

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