Crystal To Add Luxury Expedition Mega-Yacht

Crystal Endeavor will be a Polar class expedition mega-yacht carrying 200 guests.

In the largest overall expansion of luxury cruise and air products in history, Crystal has already announced plans to build three new 1,000-passenger cruise ships, four new river ships (and a fifth that it has purchased), two luxury passenger jets for special global tours (a Boeing 787 and 777), and a mega-yacht. Now it’s going even further by adding a new expedition mega-yacht and a small private charter jet.

Crystal President and CEO Edie Rodriquez detailed the company’s latest additions at the Seatrade Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL, standing before Crystal Luxury Air’s new Bombardier Global Express XRJ jet in a hangar at Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Designed to accommodate 12 passengers, the aircraft, and will be used to transport guests between Crystal’s new luxury products. It will be available for booking as of April 3, 2016.

At the same time, Rodriquez unveiled plans for a second mega-yacht for Crystal Yacht Cruises, to join the existing 62-guest Crystal Esprit. Set to debut in August 2018, Crystal Endeavor will be the world’s first purpose-built polar class mega-yacht. Measuring 600 feet long, the 25,000-gross-registered-ton yacht will carry 200 guests on expeditions to the Antarctic, Arctic, and tropical regions. The new vessel is named after Captain James Cook’s research ship HMS Endeavour, which discovered Australia and New Zealand nearly 250 years ago.

With a PC6 Polar Class designation, Crystal Endeavor will be able to cruise in polar regions during the summer and autumn in medium “first year” ice. It will also be fitted with a new offshore dynamic positioning technology and computer-controlled systems to automatically maintain its position, with its own propellers and thrusters. This will enable the vessel to float atop coral reefs and other underwater wonders without using anchors that can damage reefs or other underwater terrain.  

Crystal Endeavor will offer expedition voyages featuring a complete range of “toys,” including two helicopters and two landing pads for flightseeing expeditions, as well as two seven-person submarines, eight electric amphibious zodiacs, jet skis, wave runners, kayaks, fishing facilities, paddle boards, snorkeling and scuba equipment, a recompression chamber, a dive support tender, and a multi-person ATV.  It also will be equipped with SEABOB underwater scooters.

Standard guest suites will measure 400 square feet (including balcony), while the yacht’s two owner suites be 3,122 square feet (including the interior and balcony). Each owner suite will have a master bedroom and two guest bedrooms, indoor and outdoor living areas, private conservatory, garden and outdoor Jacuzzi, and private spa and gym outfitted with sauna, steam room, and treatment room.

An upper Palm Court on the vessel will feature 270-degree panoramic views for whale watching and viewing other wildlife. The mega-yacht will also have a 10,000-square-foot spa and conservatory space featuring a full-service spa, yoga, Pilates, salon, and wellness center, as well as hot tubs and an infinity pool whose base can be lifted to form a dance floor or an alfresco dining area. The vessel will also feature six dining options, a 200-seat theatre, lecture rooms, cinema, card room, and computer center.

Crystal Endeavor will be built by the Lloyd Werft Group in Bremerhaven, Germany, and open for booking in late 2016. Steel cutting for the ship will begin May 2016; Crystal will take delivery in August 2018.

“Crystal Endeavor will absolutely set a new bar for expedition luxury travel,” Rodriguez said. “We have proven time and again that Crystal is the pioneer in luxury, and this mega-yacht will change the game entirely—the possibilities for expedition travelers will be virtually limitless.”