Now Crystal can sparkle again

Save our Symphony! Former Silversea owner puts in a bid to buy Crystal as bills total $100 million

By Teresa Ooi, Crystal sailor and fan So it’s hello again to Downton Abbey at sea. When travel heavy weights, Geoffrey Kent of Abercrombie & Kent and former Silversea chair, Manfredi Lefebvre d‘Ovidio of Heritage, jointly bought the luxury cruise liners, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, loyal fans heaved a huge sigh of relief. Finally, they … Read more

Crystal emerges from a bad dream to sail again with A&K and Silversea founder

Raja at work

Crystal Cruises, one of the worlds most awarded luxury cruise lines, has escaped a near-death experience to rise instead with an exciting new future under A&K Travel Group Ltd. Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio of Silversea fame are involved in the new venture. Crystal’s two ocean ships, Symphony and Serenity, looked poised to be … Read more

Crystal Cruises auctioning off casino machines and artworks as liquidation process continues

Crystal Cruises auctioning off casino machines and artworks as liquidation process continues

The administrators for Crystal Cruises have begun to auction off cruise ship equipment and various other items. With the auction set to begin in May, you can expect to see casino machines, artworks, end tables and more up for sale. There’s also more than 70 chairs, computer monitors, promotional gift items and plenty more being … Read more

Trish’s Bucket List World Cruise Went Down With Crystal, she’s $28,000 out of pocket and others have lost even more

Trish's Bucket List World Cruise Went Down With Crystal, she's $28,000 out of pocket and others have lost even more

When Genting Cruise Lines went into administration and took luxury line Crystal Cruises and the Asian premium brand Dream Cruises with it, it was a natural to look back over the line’s incredible itineraries and amazing journeys. However, as the nostalgic gaze wears off, very real problems have emerged for customers of the lines. Many … Read more

Got a spare $258 million? You could buy the luxurious expedition ship, the Crystal Endeavour

Got a spare $258 million? You could buy the luxurious expedition ship, the Crystal Endeavour

Genting Hong Kong’s fleet of ships will soon be heading for the auction. And if you had a cool few hundred million dollars in the bank, you could be the owner of the 200 berth Crystal Endeavor. Genting’s ships from luxury line Crystal Cruises, the premium Asian brand Dream Cruises, and the family company Star … Read more

Inside the last Crystal Cruises voyage: the tears, panic and pandemonium

Inside the last Crystal Cruises voyage: the tears, panic and pandemonium

It’s the highest profile – and most luxurious – casualty of the pandemic: Crystal Cruises, a luxury line owned by Genting Hong Kong has officially shut down. Crystal was the most awarded luxury line on the seas.  It was purchased by Genting Hong Kong, an offshoot of a Malaysian casino company,  in a 2016 transaction … Read more

Personal butlers, Swarovski chandeliers: here are the worlds top luxury suites

Personal butlers, Swarovski chandeliers: here are the worlds top luxury suites

Superb staterooms, gourmet food, impressive wine lists, private shore excursions, and excellent personalised service – these are the hallmarks of a luxury cruise experience.  Most cruise companies offering luxury cruises are using medium to smaller vessels to deliver personalised service, which is important in creating exceptional five-star experience for VIP guests.  But the size of … Read more

Court issues arrest order of Crystal Symphony over fuel bill as Dream Cruises halts Singapore sailings

Court issues arrest order of Crystal Symphony over fuel bill as Dream Cruises halts Singapore sailings

Crystal Cruises is know for its ultra luxury service, food and amenities.  So it was an unlikely end to a cruise on the Crystal Symphony when it had to change course – apparently to outrun an arrest warrant because it cannot pay its fuel bills. Steven Heard Fales, a playwright and actor, posted on Facebook, “We … Read more