Crystal Cruises Names New Cruise Vessel

Los Angeles-based cruise line Crystal Cruises expanded its fleet on Saturday as it christened its new cruise vessel Crystal Esprit in a ceremony held at Eden Island Marina in Mahé, Victoria, Seychelles.

Owned by Genting Hong Kong, Crystal Cruises said that the vessel “marks the beginning of one of the most significant brand expansions in luxury travel and hospitality history”.

As World Maritime News reported in July 2015, Genting Hong Kong signed a letter of intent with Lloyd Werft to build a new class of river vessels for Crystal River Cruises.

The cruise line said that, in addition to the Crystal River Cruises, over the next three years the company will establish Crystal Yacht Cruises, the Crystal Exclusive Class of ocean vessels, and introduce Crystal Luxury Air.

In May 2015, Genting Hong Kong, the owner of Star Cruises and the company with a major equity interest in Norwegian Cruise Line, acquired Crystal Cruises brands for USD 550 million from Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha.