Crystal announces that Crystal Symphony will sail a series of 15 round-trip, 10-night Luxury Caribbean Getaways from St. John's, becoming the first ship to be homeported in Antigua. From August 5 through December, including a December 23 voyage, Crystal Symphony will visit Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands, offering travelers tropical luxuries and local cultures with ample flight options from most major U.S. cities. Crystal Symphony's return to sailing marks the resumption of service for 97 percent of Crystal's ocean fleet in summer 2021. Bookings for the new Luxury Caribbean Getaways open April 20, 2021.
“The Caribbean islands are a warm welcome back to world travel, rich in history and natural beauty that amazes even the most seasoned travelers, and St. John’s is an ideal homeport to begin luxury voyages through this paradise,” said Jack Anderson, interim president and CEO of Crystal. “Minister Charles Fernandez and his team, as well as local tourism businesses across the islands, have been working to safely resume island travel, and we are thrilled to partner with them to support the region’s economic growth and deliver the kind of luxury and hospitality that Crystal guests have been craving over the past year.”
He added: “We are looking forward to welcoming back our Crystal family, as Crystal Symphony’s new itinerary, combined with Crystal Serenity’s Luxury Bahamas Breaks and Crystal Endeavour’s Luxury Iceland Expeditions, will mean that almost all of our ocean crew members will be back at work very soon, and we know they are just as excited to get back to the seas as our guests.”
“We are delighted to welcome the Crystal Symphony and its passengers to Antigua and the Caribbean, marking a significant milestone in the revitalization of tourism here and providing deeper support to the economies of our island communities, as Crystal becomes the first cruise line to establish St. John’s as a homeport. Together with local health authorities, we have developed the necessary health and safety protocols to ensure the protection of residents and our guests. With the continued commitment of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and our port operator, Global Ports (Antigua) Ltd., we are confident that Crystal’s guests will feel right at home here, as our local businesses and tourism specialists share Crystal’s spirit of hospitality and enjoy sharing the rich culture and beauty of our islands with travelers.”
Done Regis-Prosper, Managing Director of Global Ports (Antigua) Ltd., said: “We are delighted to play such an important role in the resumption of cruise travel in the Caribbean after this long pause; by developing our port health and safety procedures in collaboration with local health authorities, we are ready to welcome Crystal's guests to this beautiful island.”
Crystal Symphony's Luxury Caribbean Getaways will take passengers to the most celebrated destinations in the Caribbean, famous for their history, which still show Dutch, French, British and other influences; their innate spirit of outdoor adventure; and their stunning coastlines of sparkling blue waters and fine sandy beaches.
