The relaunched Crystal Cruises will add another two ships to its fleet after signing an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of new cruise ships.
The 690-passenger capacity, 61,800gt ships will be designed for the high-end market with an all-suite layout and are part of a deal that includes an option for a third ship in 2032.
Crystal has been promising to expand its fleet since it was bought by Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group in 2022 which saved the line from insolvency, with A&K already relaunching the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony
A&K CEO Cristina Levis said: “Our aim is to continue setting a new standard in cruising, offering our guests an unmatched level of service and sophistication. These new ships will receive the same level of attention I reserve for my own house.”
Crystal’s designs for the new ships promise to use state-of-the-art materials throughout their construction, including marble, Italian fabrics, and a level of sophistication “typically reserved for high-end private residential properties.”
The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in early to mid 2028 while the timeline for the second cruise ship will be confirmed at a later date, though it is likely to be delivered before the 2032 deadline given for the optional third ship.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, said: “This order not only highlights the robust recovery of the cruise sector, in line with our Industrial Plan, but also reaffirms Fincantieri’s leadership, thanks to the operational excellence of our shipyards and the execution quality of our world-class supply chain.”
While the exact price of the memorandum of agreement between Fincantieri and A&K was not disclosed, the shipbuilder described the deal as “important”, placing its value somewhere between €1bn and €2bn.
A&K had previously promised to build four vessels in six years for Crystal as it attempts to rebuild the operator’s fleet, which was partially sold off during the period of insolvency for its former parent company Genting Hong Kong.
