Crystal Cruises Gets A New Owner

Crystal Cruises, operator of two luxury ships—Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity—has been sold for $550 million by parent company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha to Genting Hong Kong, owner of Star Cruises.

It’s been a long time since 2006 when Crystal Harmony transferred from the Crystal Cruises fleet to that of their parent company and entered service in Japan as ms Asuka II, leaving the luxury line with only two ships. With the acquisition of the line by Genting HK—and the new owner’s financial strength and expertise in ship design—Crystal Cruises’ fleet size will expand with a new ship

“After 25 successful years with NYK, we are excited to have Genting Hong Kong as the new owner of Crystal Cruises,” Edie Rodriguez, President and COO of Crystal Cruises said. “The proposed expansion of our fleet will present our loyal Crystal Society members and new luxury cruise guests with more itinerary options, accommodation choices and exceptional vacation experiences, as we continue to position Crystal as the innovative leader in global luxury cruising. Additionally, Crystal’s veteran leadership, management and crew will continue to focus on our award-winning guest service and our strong partnership with the travel agent community, which now has a greater opportunity to grow their business with a larger menu of Crystal product offerings.”

In addition to being the parent of Star Cruises, Asia’s largest cruise line, Genting HK is a major shareholder in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which recently acquired Prestige Cruises. Prestige operates the high end brand Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a competitor in the luxury segment that currently is building what they term “the most luxurious cruise ship ever built.”

Image Courtesy Crystal Cruises