Crystal Expedition Cruises has officially welcomed its newest 20,200 GRT luxury expedition yacht, Crystal Endeavour, to the Crystal fleet. The ship was christened by godmother Manuela Schwesig, Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in Stralsund, Germany. Nearly 100 people attended the ceremony, which took place on the vessel's helipad. The ship is berthed at the MV Werften shipyard in Stralsund, the shipyard that designed and built the vessel.
Master of ceremonies Keith Cox, Crystal's Vice President of Entertainment, hosted the event, which began with the German national anthem and a musical performance by German soloist Carina Smerdon Kärcher. The event was streamed live on Crystal Cruises' Facebook page so that members of the Crystal family around the world could celebrate the occasion. “Today is a historic day as we christen Crystal Endeavour, the first and only Polar Six Class (PC6) expedition yacht that is 'Made in Germany,' and a testament to Crystal's award-winning design and the superb German engineering of the MV Werften,” said Tan Sri KT Lim, Chairman of GHK. “It combines the best attributes of the award-winning Crystal Experience with unparalleled technical capabilities. The most luxurious and expensive ship ever built, at $20,000 per gross ton, sets a new standard in luxury cruising, including the highest space-to-passenger ratio and, more importantly, the highest staff-to-passenger ratio in the industry, one to one.”.
Crystal's Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Bernie Leypold, thanked the airline's travel partners and guests worldwide for their support and loyalty, and the Crystal Family, both onboard and ashore, for their dedication and service excellence in making the Crystal Experience so personal and unparalleled. “We have the best officers and crew in the world,” Leypold said. “They are the reason travelers feel like family every time they embark, as they embody the Crystal spirit at its finest.”.
Godmother Manuela Schwesig, Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the region where the Crystal Endeavour was built, said, “The christening ceremony of the Crystal Endeavour is a sign of Germany’s relaunch as a shipbuilding location, and I am honored to be named godmother and proud that our region and country play an important role in the history of this unique ship.”.
“We have demonstrated that, even under the most challenging conditions, in Stralsund we can build highly complex vessels that meet the highest standards,” said Peter Fetten, President and CEO of MV WERFTEN. “The Crystal Endeavour is a unique vessel that will represent the art of German shipbuilding worldwide. We would also like to take this special occasion to express our gratitude to the federal and state governments for their commitment and support.”
Luxuriously designed to offer discerning travelers elegantly spacious private and public areas, the Crystal Endeavour accommodates just 200 guests in 100 well-appointed suites with butler service—among the most spacious on expedition cruise ships. Throughout the ship, Crystal's signature touches enhance the onboard guest experience: Michelin-inspired dining options, including Umi Uma, the first and only Japanese restaurant on an expedition ship; fine Italian cuisine at Prego; 24-hour room service; and an optional Vintage Lounge experience; the only casino on an expedition yacht; a two-story, glass-enclosed sundeck—home to the Seahorse Pool and Jacuzzi—offering panoramic views from sea to sky; the full-service Crystal Life Salon & Spa with a state-of-the-art fitness center; and a wraparound promenade deck, an iconic Crystal design element.
Expedition-specific services will include high-tech enrichment spaces, designated mud rooms, an Expeditions Lounge, and even a Helicopter Lounge. The ship's marina will feature a fleet of Zodiacs, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and a six-person submersible and two helicopters in select regions around the world.
The Crystal Endeavour has been designed with an incredible array of eco-friendly features, cutting-edge technology, and systems that demonstrate meticulous care for navigating the world's oceans and waterways in the most responsible manner possible. Dynamic positioning capability allows the vessel to remain in place using GPS and its propellers, rather than dropping anchor, thus avoiding any potential damage to delicate reefs. As part of its responsible cruising efforts, the company has equipped the Crystal Endeavour to connect to shore power while in port, installed several water treatment systems, and will clean exhaust emissions through a Selective Catalytic Reduction system – these are just a few examples of the yacht's environmental best practices and the company's commitment to eco-conscious global exploration.
As the first and only luxury expedition yacht to resume Arctic and Northern European cruises, Crystal Endeavour will set sail from July 17th with five immersive 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland’s most dramatically beautiful and captivating locations. The Luxury Expedition to Iceland voyages will depart round-trip from the ship’s homeport of Reykjavik, offering travelers convenient air options, just six hours from New York City, three hours from London, and with frequent nonstop flights from many major US and European cities. These voyages will be followed by the 10-night Viking Voyage: Iceland and Norway, from Reykjavik to Tromsø, departing on September 5, 2021.
