The closure of the shipyard causes a new timeline for the launch of its luxury expedition ship.
The news came as the MV Werften shipyard confirmed its temporary closure, halting shipbuilding operations to protect its employees during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as did most European industrial companies. Due to uncertainty regarding when production will resume, Crystal has been forced to postpone the ship's launch, previously planned for this coming August, and cancel all scheduled itineraries through October 31, 2020. The ship's maiden voyage will now be a 14-night cruise to Tasmania and the New Zealand Fjords, embarking on November 14, 2020.
“We know that, like us, our guests have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to explore again with Crystal aboard this innovative ship, and we deeply regret that this change was unavoidable, disrupting our guests’ travel plans,” said Crystal President and CEO Tom Wolber. “While this unprecedented global health crisis is preventing our voyages for now, we are looking ahead with great optimism to introduce the Crystal Endeavour to the world on November 14 and welcome travelers on their next great adventure.”.
