The revived Crystal Cruises is relaunching simply as Crystal and has released a list of itineraries for mid-2023 through 2024.
The Crystal Serenity will sail Crystal's inaugural 12-day voyage out
of Marseille, France to Lisbon on 31 July. The Crystal Symphony's first
cruise will be a seven-day sailing from Athens to Istanbul on 1
September.
Double Guest Room Veranda accommodations on the Crystal Symphony. Photo Credit: Crystal
Over the next year and a half, Crystal plans to sail its pair of
refurbished ships to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and New
England, Alaska, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New
Zealand and through the Panama Canal.
With a new website launched on 31 January, bookings open on 1
February exclusively for guests who have made US$500 refundable open
deposits. Other past guests can book beginning 13 February. Bookings
open for the general public on 22 February.
The opening of bookings comes a year after the former Crystal Cruises
collapsed under the ownership of Genting Hong Kong. In its liquidation,
Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group acquired the line's two ocean
ships, the brand name and its guest list.
With its relaunch, the brand is shortening the cruise line's name to Crystal with the tagline, "Exceptional at Sea".
"We're not going to categorise ourselves as one of the luxury cruise
lines," said Jack Anderson, president of Crystal. "We believe it will be
like no other, in a class by itself."
The Crystal Penthouse bathroom on the Crystal Serenity. Photo Credit: Crystal
Both the Serenity and the Symphony are undergoing renovations that
will enlarge suites, reducing guest capacity by more than 20%, said
Anderson. Suites will have new carpeting, drapes, furniture, Italian
marble and Egyptian linens.
The line is also revamping the spa and gym and adding pickleball
courts. Crystal will refresh linen, furniture and upholstery in its
common rooms. Several other common areas will have new carpeting,
drapes, upholstery, and upgraded furniture, Anderson said.
The living area in a Sapphire Veranda Suite on the Crystal Symphony. Photo Credit: Crystal
Source: Travel Weekly