Crystal Expedition Cruises has finally got off the ground with the christening of its first luxury expedition yacht, Crystal Endeavor.
The 20,200-ton all-suite, all-veranda, all-butler serviced vessel is the first ever Polar Class 6 luxury expedition yacht to be made in Germany for remote worldwide exploration.
And Tan Sri KT Lim, chairman of Crystal’s owner, Genting Hong Kong, welcomed her arrival by saying: “We are delighted that Crystal Endeavor, as the new pinnacle of expedition excellence, now commands the highest cruise fare per night of any cruise ship in the world.”
The vessel was named by godmother Manuela Schwesig, Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in a ceremony at the MV Werften shipyard in Stralsund, Germany, where she was built.
Manuela Schwesig christens Crystal Endeavor watched by, left to right, Keith Cox, Colin Au, and ships’ captainJan Rautawaara. Below: the celebration on the ship’s helipad and, top of page, the traditional smashing against the hull. All images courtesy of MV Werften
Almost 100 people, among them politicians, company executives and the captain, Jan Rautawaara, attended the ceremony on the helipad of the ship.
Keith Cox, Crystal’s vice president of entertainment, hosted the event which was livestreamed on the Crystal Cruises Facebook page.
Tan Sri KT Lim added: “The most luxurious and expensive ship ever built, she sets a new high standard in luxury cruising including the highest staff to guest ratio in the industry at one-to-one.”
Manuela Schwesig expressed her best wishes for the ship, captain and crew as she christened the ship with the traditional smashing of champagne against the ship’s hull, and offered her congratulations to the team at MV Werften.
Luxuriously designed with elegantly expansive private and public spaces, Crystal Endeavor accommodates just 200 guests in 100 suites, among the most spacious in expedition cruising.
Crystal Endeavor will set sail on 17 July with the first of five 10-night immersive voyages circumnavigating Iceland.