Crystal Cruises Appoints VP of Sales

Crystal Cruises has appointed Matias Lira as its new senior vice president of global sales and guest services. Lira, who comes to Crystal from Silversea, will be based in Miami.

“Matias Lira is a luxury cruise industry leader with expertise in developing relationships in global sales channels including trade, charters, and meeting and incentive groups,” said Jack Anderson, president of Crystal Cruises. “He appreciates the incredible value of travel advisors and will build strong relationships, working with reservations and sales support to keep the focus on guest satisfaction.”

Lira joins Crystal after eight years at Silversea Cruises where he most recently served as vice president of passenger services and consumer sales. Prior to his time at Silversea, he worked at Norwegian Cruise Line in various sales capacities.

“I have long admired the innovative leadership and vision of Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre,” Lira said. “Under their ownerships, Crystal Cruises is beginning a new and very exciting chapter. I am personally committed to rebuilding the travel partner relationships that made Crystal an industry leader.” (Lefebvre is the co-chair of A&K Travel Group and the former owner of Silversea Cruises.)

Lira added that he plans to work with the line’s senior vice president of hotel operations “to bring back the personalized service that built the Crystal Cruises reputation in an even more elevated form.”

In a recent interview with Stefanie Schmudde, vice president of product development & operations at Abercrombie & Kent, she revealed that the company will be combining cabins to create more butler suites and lower the overall guest capacity for both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.