Crystal Cruises Has New Owners! – Cruise Maven

When the news broke in January 2022 that Genting Hong Kong, the owners of luxurious cruise line Crystal Cruises submitted for bankruptcy, the destiny of Crystal Cruises was mysterious. 

Apart from its river ships in Europe, new expedition ships, a jet aircraft, in addition ideas for a 3-man or woman submarine, the key main of this substantially-cherished cruise line were being its two cruise ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.  

Then the pandemic hit and no 1 was cruising.  Genting Hong Kong was overextended.  Individual bankruptcy seemed to be the only way out of debt. 

Due to unpaid gas charges, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony were being sidelined (as in apprehended) mid-cruise and escorted to the Bahamas. The two ships have been idle in the Bahamas for 5 months, right until this announcement today….

Crystal Cruises New Proprietors are A&K Travel Group

Expert tourists know A&K as Abercrombie and Kent, the well-recognized luxury travel business.  Formally recognised as A&K Travel Group Ltd., the experience-seeking vacation business is owned by Geoffrey Kent and Heritage, the industrial keeping organization chaired by Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio. 

Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a quite a few generations’ Monegasque (Monaco family members descendent) was founder and previous owner of Silversea Cruises and his family’s development of Sitmar Cruises. 

Jointly, the two businesses are the new proprietors of luxury cruise vessels Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.  

Can the New House owners Continue to keep the Identify Crystal Cruises? 

More superior news! Sure! A&K Journey Group have acquired rights to hold the identify, “Crystal Cruises”.  Equally ships are scheduled for in depth refurbishment and envisioned to return to company in 2023.  

Relevant:  My Crystal Serenity Assessment

What Crystal Cruises’ New Owners are Indicating

From Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, “I am thrilled to start off this new chapter and to be again in an business that has always experienced, and constantly will have a special position in my heart. Thirty-five several years ago, my spouse and children acquired handle of Sitmar Cruises, developing three of the initially intent-designed cruise ships, and 30 decades back my loved ones pioneered a new way of cruising.

Our target was to deliver the most effective expertise, pampering guests from all around the earth with close to-the-clock butler company and amazing culinary encounters. Selling the cruise small business that belonged to my family members for a quarter of a century was a challenging choice, as I knew I would overlook this industry immensely.

Consequently, when the option arose to purchase Crystal Cruises, I did not think about it twice. Acquiring upcoming to me my outstanding buddy and inspiring chief Geoffrey Kent tends to make this venture even additional satisfying,” continued Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Co-Chairman of A&K Travel Group Ltd., Crystal Cruises and Abercrombie & Kent.

Geoffrey Kent, Co-Chairman of A&K Travel Group Ltd. and Crystal Cruises, and Founder, Co-Chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Kent ongoing to express his exhilaration. “Even while it seems like yesterday, 30 many years have handed because the Lefebvre spouse and children and I experienced our initial ship together…Manfredi and I have been ideal pals and small business associates ever due to the fact.

The strategy of combining the unparalleled onboard company that Crystal Cruises is known for, with the amazing tailor-produced activities Abercrombie & Kent has been successfully offering for our attendees for the earlier 60 yrs, fills me with pleasure, enthusiasm and delight,” added Kent.

Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Journey Group Ltd. will direct the two travel organizations, Crystal Cruises and Abercrombie & Kent.  She reiterated the pleasure by stating, “My return to luxury cruising immediately after 5 years delivers back so quite a few emotions. It is an immense privilege to provide these two remarkable brand names that in the past many years have disrupted the travel sector many times. Manfredi, Geoffrey and I search ahead to welcoming earlier Crystal and Abercrombie & Kent guests onboard, as very well as individuals in search of fulfilling luxury encounters.”

Who Will Handle Crystal Cruises?

Based in Monaco, A&K Travel Team Ltd. has partnered with V.Ships Leisure, the world’s primary cruise ship manager.  With their exceptional expertise, global scale and passionate team, V.Ships Leisure was the purely natural preference to deal with the two ships.

Continue to be tuned for a lot more information on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony as additional refurbishment aspects are announced.