Crystal Cruises orders five river yachts

Crystal Cruises has announced it will enter the river cruising market with three more vessels than originally planned. 

In July, the ultra-luxury line announced details of its expansion into river, yacht and air following Genting’s acquisition earlier in the year.

At the time, Crystal said it would build two river yachts, which would come into service in spring 2017.

Now, however, the line has announced that Crystal River Cruises will launch with five ships – with the first arriving a year earlier in 2016.

President and CEO Edie Rodriguez has announced that four newly built Crystal river yachts – twice the number originally planned – have been ordered for delivery in 2017 from the German shipyard Lloyd Werft.

Additionally, Crystal has also completed the purchase of the German built MS Mozart, the largest river cruise vessel in Europe. The newly designed vessel will be renamed Crystal Mozart and embark on the Danube River on July 13, 2016.

“In response to travellers’ and travel agents’ enthusiasm for Crystal River Cruises, and through Crystal’s innovation, we are upping the ante once again, bringing ‘true luxury’ to the river cruise sector with the largest guest suites and public spaces, the highest crew-to-guest-ratio and Crystal’s award-winning service,” said Rodriguez. “Once the transformation of Crystal Mozart is completed, it will truly be the crown jewel of the European rivers.”

The four new all-suite luxury river yachts will debut in June and August 2017, boasting suites of 220 square feet, deluxe suites of 250 square feet, a penthouse suite of 500 square feet and a two-bedroom Crystal Suite of 750 square feet.

The yachts, like Crystal Mozart, will bear the names of famous composers from the regions they cruise in.

The two new builds cruising on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers will be named Crystal Bach, after the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, and Crystal Mahler, after the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler.

The two new builds cruising on the Seine River and Garonne River will be named Crystal Ravel and Crystal Debussy, after the celebrated French composers.

Itineraries, fares and bookings for Crystal Mozart, Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Ravel, and Crystal Debussy will be available from November 30, 2015.

See pictures of Crystal’s plans for expansion here.