Crystal Cruises Announces Two Additional Riverboats and Finalizes Eight Orders

by Jason Leppert
Last updated: 5:30 PM ET, Tue May 10, 2016

Rendering courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises' seemingly ceaseless expansion has not let up and today includes the addition of two more newly built riverboats. Now the Crystal River Cruises brand will launch this July with the redesigned Crystal Mozart followed by six total new-builds.

The order was placed with the newly formed Lloyd Werft Group, a set of four German shipyards collectively owned by Crystal's parent company, Genting Hong Kong, and was signed by Crystal President and CEO Edie Rodriguez. Also present for the event were Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of Crystal Cruises; Rüdiger Pallentin, Managing Director of the Lloyd Werft Group; Uwe Beckmeyer, State Secretary of Maritime Affairs; Erwin Sellering, Prime Minister of State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Martin Günthner, Senator for Economics and Port Affairs of Free Hanseatic City of Bremen State.

In addition to the six new riverboats, Crystal also officially ordered the first of its three planned Crystal Exclusive-class ships and the previously announced Crystal Endeavor expedition megayacht, which will be part of Crystal Yacht Cruises, scheduling eight luxury vessels to be constructed by the shipyard group.

"We are pleased to build eight Crystal ships with Lloyd Werft, and are confident that the expert management and shipbuilding team and the excellent group of shipbuilding contractors and suppliers in Northern Europe will deliver extraordinary vessels that are worthy of the esteemed Crystal brand," said Tan Sri KT Lim. "We appreciate the continued support of the German Federal and State Governments and their representation here today."

Following the Crystal Mozart, the two new riverboats will now join the future Crystal Debussy, Crystal Ravel, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Bach in Europe from 2017 to 2019. Details about the additional pair are not known at this time but are expected to be similar in design.

Plus, the Endeavor is slated for launch in August 2018, and the Exclusive prototype will set sail in fall 2019 with Crystal Residences along for the ride. The polar class megayacht will accommodate 200 guests, and each Exclusive-class ship will carry 1,000 passengers.

"The new Exclusive Class ships, yachts and river yachts planned for the coming years provide travelers with an exhilarating glimpse into the future of luxury travel of all kinds, from rugged expedition adventures to indulgently relaxing river cruises," said Rodriguez. "In the agreement with Lloyd Werft for the building of these astounding new vessels, we are again reinforcing Crystal's position as the leader in luxury travel and hospitality, as we continue to cater to virtually every wish of the discerning modern traveler."

"Crystal's order of eight brand new luxury vessels will not only make a lasting mark on the luxury travel industry, but also supports the local communities surrounding the Lloyd Werft shipyard locations," says Pallentin. "The number of projects for the company will support jobs for nearly 2,000 residents of Bremerhaven, Wismar, Warnemünde and Stralsund and will significantly boost the local economies."

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