Months after the successful launch of Crystal Yacht Cruises 62-guest Crystal Esprit, Crystal Cruises is again upping the ante with the world’s first purpose-built polar class megayacht.
Measuring 600 feet (183 meters) long, the 25,000 gross ton new build with 100 guest suites will be the largest and most spacious megayacht afloat.
Crystal president and CEO Edie Rodriguez said, “Crystal Endeavor will cater to a particularly daring audience, one who values luxurious comfort and amenities as much as life-changing adventures.”
The Crystal Endeavor will debut in August of 2018. It will be named after Captain James Cooks’ research ship HMS Endeavour, which discovered Australia and New Zealand nearly 250 years ago.
The newly built vessel will be designed for global expedition. With state-of-the-art offshore dynamic positioning technology, Crystal Endeavor will cruise in the Arctic; then follow the route of migrating whales along the coast of the Americas and Europe to Antarctica during the winter. Along the way, she will visit remote islands in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, which cruise ships seldom call or cannot access.
With a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV, used extensively in the offshore industry), expedition cruises will also be organized to see sunken galleons, warships and passenger ships, such as the Titanic at 12,500 feet, and with dynamic positioning, she will just hover over deep sunken attractions without using anchors.
The 200-guest capacity Crystal Endeavor will offer extreme adventures by air, sea, and land with a complete range of “toys” which are not commonly found on today’s megayachts, including: two helicopters and two landing pads for flightseeing expeditions, as well as two seven-person submarines, eight electric amphibious zodiacs, jet skis, wave runners, kayaks, fishing facilities, paddle boards, snorkeling and scuba equipment, recompression chamber, dive support tender and a multi-person ATV.
To further deliver guest experiences distinct from any other expedition vessels, Crystal Endeavor will be equipped with SEABOBs – the world’s most technically advanced and powerful underwater scooter – that allows passengers to move gracefully underwater.
The standard guest suites will measure a minimum 400 square feet (including balcony), larger than all current expedition and luxury cruise ships, while the yacht’s two Owner Suites’ will each boast a whopping 3,122 square feet, making them the largest guest suites of any megayacht afloat.
Owner Suites’ guests will enjoy a master bedroom and two guest bedrooms, indoor and outdoor living areas, private conservatory, garden and outdoor Jacuzzi, private spa and gym outfitted with sauna, steam room and treatment room. The Owners Suite can be connected to a penthouse suite for a combined square footage of 3,928 feet, surpassing any current and future build accommodations at sea.
“Crystal Endeavor will absolutely set a new bar for expedition luxury travel,” said Rodriguez. “This megayacht will change the game entirely – the possibilities for expedition travelers will be virtually limitless.”
Crowning the megayacht will be Crystal’s signature Palm Court, which will offer 270-degree panoramic views for whale-watching and viewing other wildlife. Crystal Endeavor will boast a combined spa and conservatory space of 10,000 square feet, featuring a full-service spa, yoga, Pilates, salon and wellness center, hot tubs, and an infinity pool. whose base can be lifted to be a dance floor or an alfresco dining area.
The megayacht will also feature six dining options, as well several guest amenities including a 200-seat theatre; numerous lecture rooms; cinema; card room; and a computer center.
True to the Crystal trend of spacious public areas, the vessel will offer numerous indoor and outdoor areas for guests’ independent leisure and relaxation. Crystal Endeavor will be all-inclusive and will offer the award-winning service for which Crystal has been celebrated for more than 25 years. The line’s acclaimed butler service will be available for all guests, as the megayacht will boast a one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, with 200 crew members serving the 200 guests on board.
Crystal Endeavor will be built by the Lloyd Werft Group, a collection of four shipyards in Bremerhaven, Germany, which has built over a thousand vessels, including cruise ships, ice-breakers, and megayachts. Crystal Endeavor voyages will open for booking in late 2016.
For more information and Crystal reservations, call your travel agent of Crystal Cruises at 310.785.9300, or visit www.crystalcruises.com.