Marine Link
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Crystal Cruises News

31 Aug 2023

Fincantieri Completes Two Refits for Crystal Cruises

(Photo: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri announced it has completed the parallel modernization of two cruise ships for Crystal Cruises. The first vessel, Crystal Serenity, rejoined the owner’s fleet on July 20, and the second, Crystal Symphony, was delivered in recent days.The contract was finalized in December 2022, and, after an initial phase committed to engineering development, works lasted for about five months significantly raising the level of amenities and accommodations on board.

18 Aug 2022

Photos: Inside Expedition Cruise Ship National Geographic Islander ll

Credit: Bennett Goldberg, courtesy Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad Expeditions has shared images of its newest fleet addition ahead of the vessel's inaugural voyage in the Galápagos Islands.The National Geographic Islander ll is an expedition cruise ship acquired to replace Lindblad Expeditions' vessel National Geographic Islander for year-round operations in the Galápagos. Accommodating just 48 guests in 26 suites, the ship will sail for Lindblad Expeditions with a 1:1 guest-to-crew ratioThe 3,370 GT, 280-foot-long ship was built by


03 Aug 2022

Lindblad Expeditions Takes Delivery of National Geographic Islander II

(Photo: Lindblad Expeditions)

Lindblad Expeditions has take delivery of the secondhand expedition cruise ship National Geographic Islander II.The vessel, which was previously named Crystal Esprit and operated by Crystal Cruises, will sail year-round in the Galápagos Islands, replacing Lindblad Expeditions' vessel National Geographic Islander.The 3,370 GT, 280-foot-long ship was built by Flender Werft in Germany from 1989-1991 and was operated by Windsor Lines and Star Cruises before its sale to Crystal Cruises in 2015.Accommodating just 48 guests


24 Jan 2022

Crystal Symphony Diverts to the Bahamas to Avoid Arrest

© Yuriy Chertok / Adobe Stock

A luxury cruise ship has skipped its call to Miami and diverted to the Bahamas after a U.S. judge ordered its seizure as part of a lawsuit over unpaid fuel bills.The Crystal Symphony, operated by Genting Hong Kong's Crystal Cruises, was scheduled to conclude a Caribbean voyage in Miami on Saturday, but the ship sailed to the Bahamian island of Bimini instead after a federal judge in Miami granted an order to arrest the 781-foot, Bahamas-flagged vessel over unpaid fuel bills.Bunker supplier Peninsula Petroleum Far East sued the ship and Crystal Cruises


17 Dec 2021

Ship Design: Zero-Emission Cruise Ship Concept Unveiled

Artist illustration of Northern Xplorer zero-emission cruise ship. (Photo credits: Northern Xplorer)

Northern Xplorer AS (NX) announced itszero-emission, luxury cruise concept, designed to feature 'clean' technologies including fully electric propulsion, battery energy storage, hydrogen fuel cells and auxiliary renewable energy supply (wind and solar power). Northern Xplorer will provide opportunities to travel ‘off the beaten track’, connecting passengers with unique locations in the Nordic countries in a personal way,” said Rolf André Sandvik, the company's founder and CEO. Sandvik is a master mariner with extensive experience with cruise lines NCL and Crystal Cruises.

27 Jun 2021

Shipbuilding: Ice-Class Expedition Yacht Named Crystal Endeavor

© Crystal Cruises

Crystal Endeavor, the 164 x 23-m, 20,200 GT ice-class expedition yacht was built at MV Werften and recently named in in Stralsund.The first luxury expedition yacht with ice class built in Germany is being dubbed 'the fastest, highest-performance and most spacious expedition mega yacht in its sector' with a passenger space ratio of more than 100. Her Polar Class PC6 classification enables her to navigate Arctic and Antarctic regions. She offers a total of 100 suites of between 28 and 105 m² with 24-hour butler service for a maximum of 200 passengers.

09 Oct 2020

MV Werften Gets EUR 193M Loan to Complete Crystal Endeavor

Credit: MV Werften

German shipbuilder MV Werften has said it has secured a 193 million euro loan from the German government to complete the new polar class luxury expedition ship Crystal Endeavor and to keep the shipyard in operation till March 2021. As reported back in April, Genting's Crystal Cruises announced the Crystal Endeavor's launch would be delayed due to the temporary closure of the MV Werften shipyards during the COVID-19 pandemic.The 164-meter, 20,000-gross-ton Crystal Endeavor was


20 Jul 2020

Profiles in Training: Marcus Cheesman, Founder, Seven Seas Preparatory Academy

Marcus Cheesman, Founder, Seven Seas Preparatory Academy

Marcus Cheesman started his maritime training in 1987 at the early age of 13, attending Trinity House Navigation School, the UK’s only Nautical school. Upon graduation he was selected for a deck cadet apprenticeship with P&O Cruises and continued to progress through the ranks with P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line (including Windstar Cruises) and Disney Cruise Line, ultimately obtaining his Master Mariners license in 2002. He has piloted vessels on the busy River Humber based in his home town Hull


04 Sep 2019

Expedition Cruise Market Powers Ahead

National Geographic Endurance for Lindblad. Source: Ulstein Verft AS

While nothing lasts forever, the cruise industry – and particularly the ‘expedition’ cruise sector – remain on a historic run with no indication of a near-term slowdown.The leisure travel sector, of which expedition cruising is a part, offers numerous possibilities for delivering new “experiences” unlike industrial shipping businesses (or even conventional ferry and passenger transport), which can only grow as fast as the demand in a particular sector.Though there is no precise definition of “expedition”


20 Aug 2019

Dream Cruises Wins $2.9Bln from KfW IPEX-Bank

KfW IPEX-Bank, leading a consortium consisting of six international banks, is structuring the financing of two cruise ships for Genting Hong Kong Ltd. and its brand Dream Cruises.The Global Class I and II ships are currently being built in the three shipyards of MV Werften located on the Baltic Coast in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.The financing package comprises around EUR 2.6 billion with a total investment volume of just under EUR 3.1 billion.The structure will be backed by export credit guarantees of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Finnish export credit agency Finnvera, as well as by a guarantee from the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

18 Dec 2018

ALMACO Helps Refurb Crystal Serenity

Photo credit Crystal Cruises

ALMACO Group recently delievered 36 new luxurious Seabreeze Penthouses and two new spacious Seabreeze Penthouse Suites to Crystal Cruises’ ocean-going vessel Crystal Serenity. The project, which was part of an extensive redesign of the ship, started during the drydock at Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremehaven, Germany, in mid-October and the suites were delivered on November 10, 2018, in Lisbon, Portugal, from where the ship sailed towards Fort Lauderdale, Fla.ALMACO’s scope of work


20 Sep 2018

Norwegian Marine Tech: In the Driver’s Seat

Earlier this summer Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ventured to Ålesund/Sunnmøre area of western Norway visiting local manufacturers and suppliers serving the global maritime industry and featuring a series of business and technology presentations by leading sector companies including Inmarsat, VARD Group, Ulstein Group, Brunvoll, Ulmatec, Jets, ABB Marine & Ports, Fostech AS and Rolls-Royce Marine. Tom Mulligan reports on new business developments and technology innovations


21 Aug 2018

MV WERFTEN Lays Keel for Crystal Endeavor

(Photo: MV WERFTEN)

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Prime Minister, Manuela Schwesig were among those in attendance at a keel laying ceremony for the world’s largest polar-class expedition yacht held Tuesday in Germany.The ceremony marked a construction milestone for the 20,000 gross ton luxury expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor, currently being built for Crystal Cruises at MV WERFTEN's Stralsund shipyard.“The keel laying of Crystal Endeavor here in my political hometown of Stralsund marks a special moment for me that is doubly significant


08 May 2018

Fundraising Cruise Raises $100,000 to Help Save SS United States

(File photo courtesy of the SS United States Conservancy)

A fundraising cruise dedicated to saving America’s Flagship has raised $100,000 for the cause.Once America’s fastest and most glamorous ocean liner, the SS United States has spent years away from her former glory in an escalating state of disrepair, at dock in Philadelphia, out of commission and relying on donations to stay afloat and out of the scrapyard.This week a group dedicated to preserving the historic vessel has received a financial lifeline that will help to keep the


17 Apr 2018

German Shipbuilding: A Strong Vessel in a Heavy Sea

Launching of the W.B.Yeats at FSG. (Photo courtesy ©FSG)

While orders for new vessels have continued to decline worldwide in 2017, the situation in the German and European shipbuilding market is different, with an increase of incoming orders. As shipping experts state: “
this is not a trend but a snapshot, but it indicates a high competitiveness of the German shipbuilding industry, particularly on technologically advanced projects.”The global mood barometer of the maritime industry had reached its lowest point in 2016. From the abyss confidence and order have carefully increased


14 Feb 2018

MME Inks Deal to Protect Luxury Cruise Vessels

Endeavor (Photo: MME Group)

MME Group has secured multiple orders for solutions that protect the newest generation of luxury cruise vessels built by MV WERFTEN (Germany) against corrosion and marine growth. The yard's "Global Class" and "Endeavor Class" vessels will be outfitted with MME Group's systems. Recently, MME Group inked the deal for the design, supply and commissioning of sacrificial anodes (SA), Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) and Impressed Current Anti-Fouling (ICAF) systems for the Endeavor Class luxury expedition yacht (yard number 124) that MV WERFTEN builds for Crystal Cruises.

06 Feb 2018

Crystal Symphony Completes Dramatic Redesign

Crystal Symphony (Photo: Crystal Cruises)

Luxury cruise ship Crystal Symphony emerged from dry dock at German shipyard Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, where a number of newly designed spaces, features and amenities were added over a month-long redesign. The work performed in Q4 2017 included the addition of new open seating and dining venues, penthouses and high-tech conveniences, marking the most expansive makeover in the ship’s 23-year history. According to owner Crystal Cruises, a new dining concept ushers in new restaurants on board, while more of the spacious, butler-serviced Penthouse accommodations were added.

18 Sep 2017

New CEO at the Helm of Crystal Cruises

Tom Wolber (Photo: Crystal Cruises)

Genting Hong Kong appointed travel industry veteran Tom Wolber as President and CEO of Crystal Cruises, effective September 15. Wolber brings to the role over three decades of experience in general management, operations, newbuild construction and business development. He joins Crystal most recently from the Walt Disney Company where he served in various executive roles for 28 years, 10 of which were with Disney Cruise Line where he served as Senior Vice President of Operations. Wolber helped transform Disney Cruise Line into a global cruise line.

03 Aug 2017

MV WERFTEN Delivers Its First Newbuild

© MV WERFTEN

Shipbuilder MV WERFTEN has completed its first newbuild project, having today delivered Crystal Bach, the first of four new Rhine Class luxury river cruise vessels for Crystal River Cruises. Designed specifically for river cruising in Europe, the 135-meter-long and 11.4-meter-wide Crystal Bach will sail along the Rhine, Danube and Main Rivers through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, carrying up to 106 passengers in 55 large suites, all designed to be above the water line with horizontal sliding windows.

18 Jul 2017

SS United States Thrown a Lifeline

SS United States sits out of commission in Philadelphia. (Photo: SS United States Conservancy)

Just days away from a verdict on its ultimate fate, the historic cruise liner SS United States has received a lifeline in the form of a $150,000 donation to a fundraising effort which aims to save “America’s flagship” and restore the storied vessel to its former glory. The $150,000 contribution from cruise industry executive Jim Pollin to the SS United States Conservancy's "We are the United States" campaign has enabled the national nonprofit organization to extend its fundraising and outreach effort through mid-September.

29 Mar 2017

Interview: Crystal CEO Edie Rodriguez

Edie Rodriguez (Photo: Crystal)

Edie Rodriguez is Chairman, CEO and president of Crystal Luxury Corporation, Ltd., a broad travel brand that includes Crystal Cruises, Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Luxury Air, Crystal AirCruises and Crystal Exclusive Class ships with Crystal Residences. She met with Maritime Reporter in NYC to discuss the evolution of the cruising brand, as well as the benefits of owning your own shipyards in today’s torrid cruise market. You’ve been at the helm of the Crystal brand for about three years now.

09 Mar 2017

Sydney Harbour Wears Out its Cruise Ship Welcome

A parking nightmare in Sydney harbour left the giant cruise liner Radiance of the Seas unable to dock because the single berth big enough to take her was already occupied. With a tight schedule to meet, the cruise organisers were forced to pay half a million dollars early last month to hire a flotilla of small vessels to ferry 2,500 passengers ashore, and bring back more waiting to embark for the next voyage. "We have not done something like this ever anywhere else in the world," says Adam Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "It was completely foreseeable going back almost a decade that Sydney didn't have the infrastructure ultimately to support the ongoing growth in business," he adds.

06 Mar 2017

ABB: Propelling the Polar Cruise Boom

Image: ABB

Leveraging its experience in the distinct polar and cruise vessel segments, ABB and its Azipod are at the forefront of the booming polar passenger vessel market. As world travelers continually seek access to more exotic and exciting destinations, evolving cruise shipping trends have triggered an order boom for passenger vessels capable of plying some of the most treacherous Arctic and Antarctic routes. Required for this class of ships is a range of equipment and technologies that enable safe and comfortable sailing through polar waters.

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week