Crystal Sets Sail On Industry-First Cruise
by Daniel McCarthy /Crystal Cruise Line became the first luxury cruise line to send a major ship on a northwest passage sailing Tuesday when the Crystal Serenity set sail from Anchorage, AK.
Serenity will sail a 32-day itinerary to New York via the Northwest Passage, the sea route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Two Canadian Ice Pilots will be onboard to assist in the sailing and the ship will be escorted by the Royal British Research Ship, the RRS Ernest Shackleton.
The itinerary has been planned for almost three years and Crystal is expecting to sail it again next year.
Regent Seven Seas had also planned to sail a Northwest Passage cruise next July but according to spokesman Jason Lasecki, it will no longer do so because of climate conditions. Any passengers booked on Regent’s sailing will receive a $1,000 future cruise credit.