By
Alex Smith |
Crystal Cruises’ new expedition vessel, Crystal Endeavor, will sail five 10-night cruises circumnavigating Iceland in her maiden season.
Crystal Endeavor will homeport in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik during her deployment, departing on her first roundtrip sailing on 17 July. She will visit destinations including Grimsey Island, Arnarfjörður fjord, and the geothermal springs of Vopnafjörđur and Seyđisfjörđur, as well as Unesco World Heritage sites Þingvellir National Park and Surtsey Island. Guests will also have the option for additional pre- and post-cruise programme in Reykjavik.
Expedition guides and guest experts will join passengers onboard, offering information on the local environments, landmarks and traditions during the itinerary. A Shotover gimbal camera system will be installed on the ship’s mast to provide closer views of wildlife and points of interest in real time, with the views streamed directly on televisions around the ship in public areas and guest suites. Remote control locations will be available in the Palm Court and Expedition Lounge, allowing for guests to interact with the cameras.
“As we prepare to welcome Crystal Endeavor to the Crystal fleet, we share our guests’ great anticipation of this extraordinary new ship and the journeys to come,” said Jack Anderson, Crystal’s interim president and CEO. “The spectacular destinations of Iceland are the ideal beginning for Crystal Endeavor’s adventures, as they embody and inspire a spirit of deep exploration, bold nature and sense of curiosity.”
The ship recently completed her sea trials in Germany, where she is being constructed at the MV Werften shipyard. She will have capacity to accommodate 200 guests and 200 crew, with 10,000 cubic feet of space per guest. However, the vessel will operate with a reduced capacity in the sailings around Iceland due to restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The design and building calibre of Crystal Endeavor is outstanding,” said Captain Thomas Larsen, who will helm Crystal Endeavor. “With her responsive, agile manoeuvrability, safety and technical capabilities, this vessel is akin to driving a finely tuned German-built elite sports car such as a Porsche. Combined with the programs and features that will bring the journeys to life, Crystal Endeavor represents the pinnacle of luxury expedition cruising and I look forward to exploring the world with her and our valued guests.”
Crystal announced in February that all guests must be inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days before boarding its ships. This requirement is in addition to measures including negative Covid-19 tests for guests and crew, social distancing and more rigorous cleaning procedures.