Order covers an Exclusive Class vessel, Crystal Endeavor, and six river cruise ships
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Crystal Cruises has finalised an order for its eight new ships with the Lloyd Werft Group, a collection of four shipyards in Northern Germany.
The order covers a 117,000gt Exclusive Class vessel, the previously announced Crystal Endeavor mega yacht, and six river cruise vessels — two more than previously announced.
Crystal president and CEO Edie Rodriguez signed the agreement in the presence of Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Crystal Cruises; Rüdiger Pallentin, managing director of the Lloyd Werft Group; Uwe Beckmeyer, State Secretary of Maritime Affairs; Erwin Sellering, Prime Minister of State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; and Martin Günthner, Senator for Economics and Port Affairs of Free Hanseatic City of Bremen State.
“We are pleased to build eight Crystal ships with Lloyd Werft, and are confident that the expert management and shipbuilding team and the excellent group of shipbuilding contractors and suppliers in Northern Europe will deliver extraordinary vessels that are worthy of the esteemed Crystal brand,” said Tan Sri KT Lim.
Designed to accommodate 1,000 passengers, the 117,000gt Exclusive Class ship is set for delivery in autumn 2019 and is the first of three planned ocean-going ships capable of polar operations. Meanwhile, Crystal Endeavor, the line’s first purpose-built, polar-class mega yacht is due to be delivered in August 2018 and will take up to 200 guests to the Arctic, Antarctic, the Americas and Europe.
Joining the four previously announced vessels – Crystal Debussy, Crystal Ravel, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Bach – the two additional river cruise ships have been ordered to meet ‘continued interest and demands’ from travel partners and guests. All six vessels will sail in Europe and will be delivered between 2017 and 2019.
Crystal River Cruises makes its official debut this summer with launch of reimagined Crystal Mozart on 13 July in Vienna, Austria.
“The new Exclusive Class ships, yachts and river yachts planned for the coming years provide travellers with an exhilarating glimpse into the future of luxury travel of all kinds, from rugged expedition adventures to indulgently relaxing river cruises,” said Rodriguez. “In the agreement with Lloyd Werft for the building of these astounding new vessels, we are again reinforcing Crystal’s position as the leader in luxury travel and hospitality, as we continue to cater to virtually every wish of the discerning modern traveller.”