Crystal reaches for the sky, the rivers and the seas

Following the May completion of Genting Hong Kong’s acquisition of Crystal Cruises from NYK, the luxury cruise brand has announced several major areas of expansion to its business.

With one new ship already promised for 2018, Crystal is now set to add two more to that tally, with all three Crystal Exclusive Class ships set be built to Polar Class standards.

Another category of travel will be added on these ships with exclusive residences available for purchase onboard all three newbuilds.

In addition, Crystal will branch out into luxury yacht cruising with one new vessel, the 62-guest Crystal Esprit, debuting this December with a Seychelles itinerary. The yacht will have what the company describes as 'extreme' features, including a two-person submarine available to guests. The company announced it will also move into the river cruising market from 2017, with spacious six-star ships likely to be based in Europe.

The joint announcement concluded with the news that Crystal is entering the air travel market with Crystal Luxury Air. The company has already purchased a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which would normally seat 300 but will be adapted to fly 60 guests in fully reclining business seats to locales not served with direct flights by other airlines. Crystal Luxury Air will offer a 28-day itinerary to 10-12 destinations, with accommodation in top hotels and resorts and destination-inspired cuisine by celebrity chefs.

Genting Group chairmanTan Sri Lim Kok Thay and Crystal president and CEO Edie Rodriguez simultaneously announced the news on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity respectively to Crystal Society members onboard their chairman’s Cruise and President’s Cruise voyages on Sunday 19 July. The presentation was timed to coincide with the cruise line’s 25th anniversary. A letter of intent has been signed with German shipbuilder Lloyd Werft for construction of the three ocean vessels. Tan Sri Lim said: “Our vision and revolutionary plans for Crystal's ocean vessels requires us to partner with a premium shipyard that has the expertise and resources to deliver the Crystal Exclusive Class. Lloyd Werft is synonymous with successful world-class newbuilds and luxury mega yachts.”

Space and comfort will exceed standards set on the two existing ships, at 100 tons per guest compared to the average luxury ratio of 60 tons, said Rodriguez. 'Our new ships' guest-to-space ratios will be vast in comparison to past, current and under-construction luxury ships.' Each of the new oceangoing ships will feature Crystal Residences, which will allow guests to own homes onboard. The largest of these residences will exceed 4,000sqft, a record at sea. All of the new endeavours will be rolled out by 2018. Rodriguez also trailed further revelations, remarking: 'There's lots more to come. In all of this, we are responding to demand from our guests.'

She earlier told ICFR: ‘What we are planning is game-changing for the luxury travel industry, and I don't say that lightly.” The industry may be inclined to agree, once it picks its collective jaw up off the floor.