who bought crystal cruises ships

Europe’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Ships Are Back in Business

Riverside luxury cruises buys defunct crystal cruises ships, resuscitating the luxury brand on european rivers this year..

• Copy Link copied

Travelers will soon be able to dine in this intimate venue on board the Riverside Bach when the vessel and its sister ships relaunch in the coming months.

Courtesy of Riverside Luxury Cruises

Seaside Collection , a German hotel company, this week announced that it has purchased the remaining four ships from the pandemic-felled Crystal Cruises to join its Riverside Luxury Cruises brand, effectively resurrecting the super-luxe fleet.

Riverside launched late last year when Seaside bought the former Crystal Mozart , one of five former Crystal river cruise ships. With all of the former Crystal river ships now under its belt, Riverside aims to pick up and build upon where Crystal left off when it starts sailing three of the vessels this spring, according to Jennifer Halboth, CEO of the company’s Americas operations.

“We’re really setting out to be exceptional, to be that choice for luxury travelers,” says Halboth, adding that Riverside aims “to be the reason that luxury travelers try river cruising for the first time.”

Aside from some minor cosmetic upgrades, Riverside will not be making many changes to the former Crystal river cruise ships.

Setting sail in April

Riverside will launch three of the ships—the Riverside Mozart , Riverside Debussy, and Riverside Ravel —in April with 3- to 14-night itineraries on the Danube, along the castle-lined Rhine, and on southern France’s Rhône and Saône rivers, respectively.

The remaining ships, the Riverside Bach and Riverside Mahler , will rejoin the fleet in 2024, after the company has figured out where they should sail and has more time to “make sure we get everything right,” Halboth says.

Other than some cosmetic repairs and adding items like new bathrobes and towels for guests, Halboth says that few physical changes are being made to the ships, which were built for Crystal with the intention of being the most upscale river cruise product in Europe. The vessels stand out for their spacious all-suite cabins that include walk-in closets, double vanities in the bathrooms, and king-size beds. (River cruise ships typically feature smaller staterooms due to their more compact size compared with larger ocean-going vessels.)

As Crystal had done, Riverside will offer butler service to assist guests with everything from developing personalized excursions to 24-hour room service. The ships also each have three restaurants, a spa, fitness center, and a swimming pool.

All of the Riverside river cruise ships have swimming pools.

The biggest difference between Riverside and the now defunct Crystal, at least for the near future, will be the price.

For the inaugural season, Halboth says that Riverside’s prices will be about 45 percent below Crystal’s prepandemic brochure rates, with three-day cruises starting at around $1,000 per person and seven-day sailings in midrange suites as low as $5,000 per person, including meals, drinks, select excursions in every port, transfers, gratuities, and Wi-Fi.

A focus on fining dining and exciting excursions

While the service standards and amenities will be the same or very similar to what Crystal had provided, Halboth says, “We’re not going to stop there.”

The culinary offering “is one area I think we’re going to shoot even higher,” she says. “That is an area that we want to wholeheartedly own within the river cruise space.”

In addition to menus based on fresh local and regional food, the ships will have sommeliers and specially trained bartenders on board with access to some of the best wines and spirits, the company says.

Riverside is aiming to impress with an elevated culinary offering on its ships.

Riverside is also looking to up the game on excursions and experiences.

“That’s probably the area that we will need to do the most work on,” Halboth says. “But it’s going to be pretty top-notch out of the gate.” According to Halboth, Riverside is planning to offer passengers outings like a hot air balloon ride above Budapest and a helicopter tour of Linz, Austria, and its surroundings.

The line will provide a choice of both included and premium excursions (for an added cost) in every port, including active and immersive options like guided bike rides and local cooking classes. And staff will also be at the ready to help develop personalized private experiences.

Glass-encased lounges on the Riverside vessels allow passengers to enjoy the passing scenery while sipping drinks.

Halboth came to Riverside from Avalon Waterways, which has been one of the leaders in the river cruise industry’s move in recent years to offer a greater variety of excursion choices, including more active experiences beyond traditional city tours.

The former Crystal, a luxury cruise company, had raised the bar in river cruising when it first launched its river fleet in 2016 with a top-to-bottom overhaul of the 81-cabin Mozart .

The other four ships, with 55 cabins each, were new vessels that were built for Crystal in 2017 and 2018, boasting the largest average cabin sizes on the rivers and ship-wide services and amenities that are offered by other lines in only their most expensive suites.

With the purchase of the ships, Riverside gets not only a ready-made fleet known for its luxury amenities and design but also the ability to tap into Crystal’s globally renowned reputation as a leader in service, style, and cuisine.

While the collapse of Crystal and its parent company, Genting Hong Kong, last year was among the most high-profile travel company failures of the pandemic—leaving customers out millions of dollars—companies buying up its assets have not shied away from associating with the brand.

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent purchased the Crystal name along with its two original ocean liners last year to keep it going. And Halboth says the association gives Riverside the benefit of having a known product to sell.

This is Seaside’s first foray into cruising, but the company has tapped industry veterans like Halboth and has hired former Crystal crew members for its team, including the captain, chef, and hotel manager from the Mozart . The company also knows luxury hospitality. Founded in 1969, Seaside owns 11 four- and five-star hotels and resorts in Germany, the Canary Islands, and the Maldives, including the Seaside Palm Beach Hotel in Maspalomas on the Gran Canaria island, and Finolhu in the Maldives .

• CruiseMapper
• Cruise news
• Cruise Industry
• Riverside Collection Cruises acquires the remaining 4 Crystal...

Riverside Collection Cruises acquires the remaining 4 Crystal riverboats

Riverside Collection Cruises, which bought Crystal Mozart in November 2022, has purchased the remaining 4 riverboats of Crystal Cruises .

In addition to Crystal Mozart, which was renamed Riverside Mozart , the fleet now includes MS Bach, MS Debussy, MS Mahler, and MS Ravel, now known as Riverside Bach , Riverside Debussy , Riverside Mahler , and Riverside Ravel , respectively.

Riverside Luxury Cruises is a travel brand and subsidiary fully-owned by The Seaside Hotels (Germany).

The vessels are now available for booking. The Hamburg -based company is also offering travel agents a 21% commission for 2023 voyages along with introductory fam rates.

In April, Riverside Mozart is slated to begin operating on Danube River itineraries, Riverside Ravel on Rhone & Saone cruises, and River Debussy on Rhine voyages.

Riverside Bach and Riverside Mahler are expected to debut in 2024 on itineraries to be announced later in 2023.

Gregor Gerlach, owner of Germany-based Seaside Hotels (shipowner) said they were thrilled by the expansion of their fleet to include those storied vessels. 

“This acquisition allows us to expand our itinerary offerings, showcasing a level of space, personalized service and elegance not found with any other river cruise line.”

Crystal Cruises to rise again under new owners

It looks like luxury cruise operator Crystal Cruises will rise again.

The high-end travel company A&K Travel Group on Wednesday announced it had bought the bankrupt line's brand name and two biggest oceangoing ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, with plans to relaunch the brand in 2023.

The purchase of the two oceangoing ships was done in conjunction with Heritage, the holding company controlled by former Silversea Cruises owner Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, A&K said.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Lefebvre d'Ovidio also owns a controlling stake in A&K Travel Group, the parent company of luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent. He serves as its co-chairman alongside founder Geoffrey Kent.

The announcement comes as various pieces of Crystal Cruises are being sold off by liquidators for the brand, which collapsed along with its parent company Genting Hong Kong earlier this year after revenues plummeted due to COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns.

"I am thrilled to start this new chapter and to be back in an industry that has always had, and always will have a special place in my heart," Lefebvre d'Ovidio said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

He and his family have a long history in the cruise business. They owned Sitmar Cruises, which later was merged into Princess Cruises , in the 1980s, and later founded Silversea. Lefebvre d'Ovidio sold Silversea to Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises , in two transactions starting in 2018.

"Selling the cruise business that belonged to my family for a quarter of a century was a difficult decision, as I knew I would miss this industry immensely," Lefebvre d'Ovidio said in the statement. "Therefore, when the opportunity arose to acquire Crystal Cruises, I did not think about it twice."

Lefebvre d'Ovidio owns 85% of A&K Travel Group, with the remainder owned by Kent. The two luxury travel pioneers have been friends for decades.

"The idea of combining the unparalleled onboard service that Crystal Cruises is known for, with the extraordinary tailor-made experiences Abercrombie & Kent has been successfully providing for our guests for the past 60 years, fills me with excitement, enthusiasm and pride," Kent said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

Crystal Cruises suspended operations in January after its parent company, Genting Hong Kong, ran out of money and filed for a type of bankruptcy that involves a complete liquidation of the firm. In addition to Crystal Cruises, subsidiaries of Genting Hong Kong that controlled Asia-based Dream Cruises and Star Cruises also are being liquidated.

Related: Giant Dream Cruises ship to be scrapped before it ever sails

In its announcement, A&K Travel Group only mentioned restarting Crystal Cruises with the two ocean ships that it had acquired.

The fate of several more pieces of Crystal Cruises, most notably its river cruise division, which includes five vessels, and its new expedition ship, Crystal Endeavor , have yet to be announced by the brand's liquidators.

A&K Travel Group and Heritage didn't reveal how much they paid for the two Crystal ships, which were auctioned off to the highest bidder in the Bahamas last week.

Both of the ships will undergo extensive refurbishments before being put back in service, A&K Travel Group said.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes

Crystal Cruises Is Officially Back — and Just Announced It’s Expanding, With Over-the-top Tours and New Ships

Crystal Serenity has relaunched, with Symphony coming next month — and new ships already in the works.

Crystal Cruises is back on the water — and ready to expand. 

The cruise line, which went bankrupt early last year, was acquired by luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group in June 2022. A&K bought Crystal’s two ocean vessels — Serenity will sail its inaugural journey from Marseille, France, to Lisbon on Monday, July 31, with Symphony following suit on Sept. 1, sailing from Athens to Istanbul.

Today, during a preview sailing for press and travel agents, Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, announced that Crystal plans to expand with four new ships by 2029, including two expedition vessels. The company will start construction on the 650-passenger ocean ship and 220-person expedition ship next year. (Crystal previously offered expedition cruising on Endeavor .) The contracts are not finalized, but Levis said the plans are “quite advanced, particularly for the expedition ship,” which will sail to the Arctic and Antarctica.

It’s worth noting that A&K already has robust Arctic and Antarctic expedition offerings, which sail on Ponant ’s Le Commandant Charcot . “For the foreseeable future, A&K will charter Ponant ships, though over 40 crew members from the former Crystal team will be on board the Ponant voyages,” Levis said. 

For the present, though, the focus is on Serenity and Symphony as Crystal returns to the seas. Both ships were given a hefty refresh before welcoming guests — 80 percent of whom are returning fans — back on board. “We went down to the steel,” Levis said. “We’ve rebuilt the rooms [and public spaces], not just refurbished.”

This summer, both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony will sail the Mediterranean Sea and Northern Europe, to destinations like Istanbul; Santorini, Greece; and the U.K.’s Isle of Man, with fares from $3,800 per guest. Symphony will then sail in Asia, Africa, and Australia this fall and winter, while Serenity will tour the Caribbean.

The fleet isn’t the only thing Crystal plans to expand. Crystal’s senior vice president of global marketing, Jacqueline Barney, confirmed plans to weave A&K land tours into Crystal’s 2025 world cruise . “Imagine, if you have a three-day gap between Guayaquil and let’s say, Lima, being able to jump off and taking an extraordinary A&K expedition to the Galápagos and checking that off the bucket list,” she said. 

Crystal will announce more itineraries for 2025 in the coming months, but you can book 2023 and 2024 sailings at crystalcruises.com .

Crystal Cruises will set sail again this summer with new name, 'personalized service'

Crystal Cruises is back with a new name and a new look.

After  suspending operations  last year, the cruise line is relaunching as Crystal and will set sail again on July 31, the brand said Wednesday.

The A&K Travel Group, which owns the luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent, acquired the Crystal Cruises brand last year along with its Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity ships, which have been refurbished with larger suites and revamped amenities.

"I am delighted to announce that Crystal is reborn, with Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony reimagined and enhancements made to every part of our guests' journey," Crystal president Jack Anderson said in a news release .

How long can you be on a cruise?: Why some passengers opt to sail for 6 months or longer

What is the best way to travel to Alaska?: Cunard is offering a cruise and train experience

Crystal Cruises  reportedly shut down  at least its U.S. operations last year after an arrest warrant had been issued for the Crystal Symphony because of unpaid fuel bills. The cruise line had previously suspended sailings for several months after its parent company, Genting Hong Kong, declared bankruptcy in January 2022.

Royal Caribbean Group also acquired another former Crystal Cruises ship , Crystal Endeavor, which joined the Silversea Cruises fleet as Silver Endeavour.

Where will Crystal sail?

With the tagline, "Exceptional at Sea," Crystal will sail to destinations around the world, including the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Alaska, Canada and New England and more.

The relaunched line's first sailing on July 31 will be a 12-night voyage from Marseille, France, to Lisbon, Portugal , on Crystal Serenity.

What can guests expect from Crystal?

Travelers can expect larger accommodations and upgraded features on board.

"Palatial suites, spacious verandas and guest rooms have been rolled out on both ships, reducing overall guest capacity," Anderson said in the release. "Personalized service – long a Crystal signature – has been elevated further."

Anderson said the line's eateries – there are nine on each ship – would serve "authentic food from around the globe," while Abercrombie & Kent's local experts would offer destination-specific experiences.

The ships will also have updated spas and gyms.

How much does a Crystal cruise cost?

A nine-night voyage from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami departing Nov. 23 starts at $3,800 per guest based on double occupancy, according to the line's website , but prices vary by cruise and room category, and include food and drinks on board.

Bookings open Wednesday for travel advisors and travelers who have made $500 open deposits . Other past passengers can book a cruise starting on Feb. 13, and bookings will open to the general public Feb. 22.

Players in a Likely Crystal Cruises Acquisition

• January 24, 2022

With Crystal Cruises suspending operations through April with owner Genting Hong Kong warning of cash troubles, there is no shortage of speculation of what will happen to one of the key luxury brands in the industry.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Crystal is drawing interest for its brand name, past passenger list of wealthy American clients, its new 200-guest expedition ship and fleet of river ships. Less interesting, according to sources, are the company’s larger ocean-going ships.

Catching up with industry sources, Cruise Industry News put together a list of possible suitors and scenarios.

Potential Players:

• Genting: Could Genting reorganize using bankruptcy protection and continue to operate Crystal? The company could emerge stronger with reduced debt loads, new money and a fresh outlook if a reorganization takes place.
• Lindblad: Lindblad Expeditions and Genting have already been at the negotiating table as Lindblad bought the Crystal Esprit in 2021. Lindblad has been active in the acquisition space, also having bought up complementary companies in recent years. While Crystal’s big ocean-going luxury ships don’t fit the Lindblad product, the river ships, new Endeavor and passenger list could be ideal.
• MSC : MV Werften and a 75 percent-finished 5,000-gest Global Dream could present an interesting opportunity for fast-growing MSC Cruises. The family-owned company is known to make quick decisions and wants to dominate the cruise industry. Could a shipyard and newbuild designed-for-China give them a platform to accelerate future growth even more? It could prove tempting. The Endeavor would also allow the company to enter the expedition market overnight.
• Carnival/Royal/Norwegian: Could one of the three major players acquire Crystal into their portfolio of brands? It would prevent potential new competition. However, chances are the answer is no, as all three would see significant pushback from the investment community, which is focused on short term financial performance.
• Azamara/Sycamore: After buying Azamara Cruises from Royal Caribbean Group in early 2021, Sycamore Partners, a private equity company, added a fourth ship with acquisition of the Pacific Princess. It’s no secret in industry circle they have been looking for more. A new parent company could operate both brands, with a lean shoreside organization, and vessel management from V. Ships Leisure, which is already running the Azamara fleet. It would allow Sycamore to add to its ocean-going capacity while entering the expedition and river markets.
• Ponant: Another small cruise line that has been quickly growing is Ponant. With well-financed French owners the boutique luxury operator has acquired both Travel Dynamics and Paul Gauguin, and introduced a fleet of new ships for the Ponant brand.
• National Investment Fund: It’s not a matter of if , but when , as it relates to a major public investment fund from a Middle Eastern country buying majority control of a cruise line.
• Hotel Chain : The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Margaritaville enter the cruise industry in 2022. For hotel chains with a fear of missing out, this may be a key opportunity to get into the business.
• New Money: The pandemic has brought new private equity money, hedge funds and new investors into the cruise industry.According to sources, there are still multiple deep-pocketed investors waiting for the right time to buy in.
• River Operator: The Crystal river ships are said to be drawing interest from a number of existing European river operators.

Cruise Industry News Email Alerts

• Breaking News

Get the latest breaking  cruise news .  Sign up.

54 Ships | 122,002 Berths | $36 Billion | View

Highlights:

• Mkt. Overview
• Record Year
• Refit Schedule
• PDF Download
• Order Today

• 2033 Industry Outlook 
• All Operators
• Easy to Use
• Pre-Order Offer
• Advertising
• Cruise News
• Magazine Articles
• Quarterly Magazine
• Annual Report
• Email Newsletter
• Executive Guide
• Digital Reports

Privacy Overview