Scrambling the letters of CEO—just one element of her full title of Chairman, CEO and president of Crystal Cruises—Edie Rodriguez came up with a new acronym E.C.O., which stands for what she believes “Exclusivity,” “Customization” and “Options” combined “are the pillars essential to delivering the true luxury experience, which is my goal in the ongoing evolution of our luxury travel and hospitality company.”
When Rodriguez came on board in 2013, the cruise company had two ships—the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. The company was already the most awarded in the luxury cruise market, even before the $52 million makeover of Serenity in 2013 and the $20 million redesign of Symphony in 2014. Over the next two years, both ships will again undergo extensive refitting and upgrading, which, Rodriguez reports, will introduce true open-seating dining and many more larger penthouse suites.
Many of my clients are retired and well-traveled. They have high expectations for amazing luxury travel experiences. Crystal Cruises is a perfect cruise fit for these clients. I am always confident when booking a client for their first Crystal cruise that they will keep coming back for more cruising experiences on Crystal.
– Paula Kaisner, Dream Vacations Franchise Owner
The 2017 Season
• Crystal Serenity was the largest ocean-going ship to transit the Northwest Passage last year; it sails again this year on its trail-blazing Northwest Passage Explorer cruise, a 32-day journey between Anchorage and New York. The routing embraces the Northwest Passage, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and the U.S. East Coast.
• The new Crystal AirCruises ultra-luxury Boeing 777-200LR jet will be taking off on a round-the-world, Peninsula Grand Inaugural Crystal AirCruise in August. The 27-day, all-inclusive, luxury journey heads westbound from New York to Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok and Paris. The journey includes stays in Peninsula Hotels at each of the destinations, with speciallycurated events.
• Crystal Symphony will return to the Holy Land for the first time since 2012, on the 18-day President’s Cruise, Rome to Dubai. Hosted by Rodriguez and her husband Tom, guests will be treated to special receptions and activities, including a gala desert adventure in Jordan’s Wadi Rum and Petra.
River Cruising
In 2016, Crystal introduced its new brand, Crystal River Cruises, with the debut of the refurbished 160-passenger Crystal Mozart. Set to launch this year are the first two of four new-build river ships which, according to Rodriguez, “will showcase the most celebrated parts of the ‘Crystal Experience’—stylish and elegant design, creative itineraries and experiences ashore, and unmatched genuine service.” The Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler will have 53 suites for 106 guests and will sail on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Starting in 2018, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel will sail on the Seine, Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde rivers with 78 guests in 39 suites.
What’s New
Not resting on its oars, coming up by the end of the decade will be the first purpose-built, polar class luxury expedition vessel, Crystal Endeavor, a luxury “megayacht” slated for delivery in 2019. It will accommodate 200 guests, cruising to the Arctic and Antarctic circles, as well as far warmer cruising waters. Under the brand Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Endeavor joins the intimate 62-guest Crystal Esprit, which by popular demand, will be more accessible when sailing closer to home on two different itineraries in and out of St. Martin.
Another new-build order on Crystal’s dazzling luxury market expansion are three Crystal Exclusive Class ships, accommodating 1,000 guests and 48 residences. The first Exclusive
Class vessel—designed for 1-to-1 passenger-to-crew ratio and equipped to sail the far reaches of the globe—is scheduled for delivery during the first quarter of 2022.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Gina Morovati
E-mail: [email protected]
