The Crystal Endeavour, the first “Made in Germany” Polar Class 6 (PC6) luxury expedition yacht, has left the MV WERFTEN shipyard in Stralsund, where it was designed and built, accompanied by the sound of Crystal’s beloved song “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, bound for Iceland and its maiden voyage to the Land of Fire and Ice.
A farewell celebration was held at the MV Werften dock for employees and their families, who bid a heartfelt goodbye to the new expedition yacht. The Crystal Endeavour departed Stralsund with a fully vaccinated crew and is scheduled to arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland, on July 15. It will depart Reykjavik on its maiden voyage on July 18, after spending one night in the city, the first of a series of five 10-night circumnavigations of Iceland.
“Today is a landmark day for Crystal, as our new state-of-the-art expedition yacht, Crystal Endeavour, sets sail for Iceland from the MV Werften to set a new industry standard as the most spacious, powerful, and luxurious expedition vessel in the industry,” said Jack Anderson, President of Crystal. “We want to thank everyone at the MV Werften for their collaboration and their German engineering and design excellence in crafting a new polar-class yacht that will offer our guests incredible adventures to the ends of the earth, with the highest safety standards and sustainable features that demonstrate our utmost care for our guests, the world’s oceans, and the destinations we visit.”
“This is a great day for MV WERFTEN, and sister shipyard Lloyd Werft, with the delivery of two megayachts in 2021,” said Peter Fetten, Chairman and CEO of MV WERFTEN.
The Crystal Endeavour was christened on June 26 in Stralsund, with Manuela Schwesig, Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, serving as godmother. She sent her best wishes to the ship and its crew. “We send our best wishes to the captain and crew of the Crystal Endeavour as they depart from Stralsund,” said Minister-President Schwesig. “Those involved in the construction have done a magnificent job creating this unique vessel with innovative technologies, especially regarding environmental protection. This is engineering and craftsmanship at the highest level.”.
The Crystal Endeavour is the ninth ship in the cruise line's fleet, the fastest and most powerful expedition ship in the industry, and boasts a PC6 classification that allows it to sail in Arctic and Antarctic regions. At 100 gross tons and with a passenger space ratio of over 100, it has the most space per passenger of any ship at sea. Luxuriously designed to offer discerning travelers elegant and spacious private and public areas, the ship accommodates only 200 guests in 100 well-appointed suites with butler service.
Throughout the ship, Crystal's signature touches accentuate 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-covered sundeck—home to the Seahorse Pool and Jacuzzi—offering panoramic views from sea to sky; and the full-service Crystal Life Salon & Spa with a state-of-the-art fitness center; as well as a wraparound promenade deck.
The ship's marina boasts a fleet of Zodiacs, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, a six-person submersible, and two helicopters for use in select regions of the world. Exploration equipment includes a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for viewing the sea at depths of 300 meters and a long-range, mast-mounted gimbal camera that can zoom in to view wildlife and scenery from over a mile away. Passengers can join expedition guides in the Palm Court and Expedition Lounge, who operate the equipment, to suggest sights they'd like to see up close.
The Crystal Endeavour's maiden voyage sails from July 17 to 27, 2021, as part of a series of 10-night immersive voyages circumnavigating Iceland's most beautiful and fascinating locations, departing from Reykjavik. This series will be followed by the 10-night Viking Voyage: Iceland and Norway, from Reykjavik to Tromsø, departing on September 5, 2021.
Other autumn departures include the 13-night Norwegian Fjords & Scottish Isles Exploration from Tromsø to London, departing September 15, 2021, which includes Norway's fjords and UNESCO treasures and an overnight stay in Edinburgh, and the 11-night Breton, Bordeaux and Beyond from London to Lisbon, departing September 28, 2021, which highlights two nights in the heart of Bordeaux and an overnight stopover in London.
