Crystal Endeavor to Transit Northeast Passage in 2021

WHY IT RATES: This itinerary will allow travelers to explore some of the world's most remote destinations—Codie Liermann, Associate Editor

On the 28-night expedition, the 200-guest, German-built vessel will visit some of the world’s most remote islands, archipelagos and coastlines, allowing adventurous guests to explore terrain few others ever have, all in luxurious comfort.

“The Northeast Passage is precisely the type of bold expedition for which Crystal Endeavor is designed, with her PC6 designation and ability to maneuver through medium first-year ice, as well as offshore dynamic positioning, zodiacs and virtually all other gear necessary for such intrepid exploration,” said Tom Wolber, president & CEO of Crystal.

“In addition to these technical amenities, she’ll accommodate guests in the highest standard of comfort and luxury, even as they travel to the most remote destinations.”

The voyage departs August 18, 2021, and will visit places that are only sparsely occupied since legendary polar explorer Nils A.E. Nordenskjöld first successfully made the passage in 1878-79. Before that time and since, polar bears, Arctic foxes, walruses, whales and hundreds of species of seabirds are the primary local residents in the region, which is a Russian-controlled trade route in the summer months.

Highlighted destinations include the following:

—Franz Josef Land, which was once a Russian military watchpoint thanks to its positioning in the Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean, now home to polar bears and numerous other wildlife;

—The New Siberian Islands, which offers more archaeological discoveries, with saber-tooth tiger bones and mammoth remains having been excavated, as well as what are believed to be tools used by Paleolithic humans and the most northerly evidence of humans on earth;

—Cape Chelyuskin on the Taimyr Peninsula, the northernmost point on any continental mainland.

The voyage will also visit Murmansk, the largest city in the Arctic, and Russian Federation ports Provideniya; Cape Dezhnev & Uelen Village; Kolyuchin Island; Ayon Island; Medvezhiy Islands; Novaya Zemlya; Kanin Cape; Arkhangelsk; Solovetsky & Zayatsky Island, as well as Honningsvåg, the North Cape, Norway.

En route, Crystal Endeavor will sail the East Siberian Sea, the White Sea, the Barents Sea and the Laptev Sea. Stops and shoreside access and activities will be largely dependent on weather and sea conditions. There will also be numerous opportunities for zodiac landings and navigation of ice floes and other rugged and fascinating pursuits.

On board, expedition guides, scientists and destination experts will further illuminate the journey with engaging presentations and seminars focusing on the unique nature and history of the region.

The Northeast Passage itinerary, which sails from August 18 to September 15, 2021, will first open for booking for Crystal Society members on February 20, 2019, and to the public on March 13, 2019. Crystal Society fares are from $44,362 per guest with a $10,000 Book Now Savings per suite when booked by April 30, 2019.

The itineraries for Crystal Endeavor’s inaugural season sail from August of 2020 through January 2021, with voyages of 12 to 22 days traveling far off the beaten path of traditional cruise routes. The ship’s maiden voyage on August 10, 2020, from Tokyo will be a round-trip 17-night Russian Far East Expedition.

These voyages are rich with discovery and will explore the cultural and bio-diversity of Japan and the Russian Far East; Indonesia, Borneo and the Philippines; New Zealand and Tasmania; Australia and the Great Barrier Reef; and Antarctica via the Ross Sea.

The 20,000-GRT Crystal Endeavor will accommodate just 200 guests with elegantly casual, expansive public spaces; all-suite, butler-serviced guest rooms; Michelin-inspired dining options including Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma & Sushi Bar; full-service Crystal Life Salon & Spa and state-of-the-art Fitness Center.

Expedition-specific amenities and spaces will enhance guests’ experience, including designated “mud rooms” and helicopter lounge. The ship is being built at MV WERFTEN Shipyard in Stralsund, Germany.