Tag Archives: Silversea Cruises

Silversea Names Silver Endeavour in Antarctica

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Silversea Cruises has officially named Silver Endeavour in a naming ceremony held on November 19.

The cruise line held the celebration in the Lemaire Channel, Antarctica, where the Silver Endeavour was inaugurated as the 11th ship in the fleet.

This also makes Silver Endeavour the first ship ever to be named in the Lemaire Channel.

“We are excited to officially welcome Silver Endeavour to the Royal Caribbean Group fleet, bringing our global fleet to 64 ships,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group.

“Silver Endeavour will continue to strengthen Silversea’s position as the leading ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line, allowing us to grow capacity while building upon Royal Caribbean Group’s mission of delivering the best vacations in the world, responsibly.”

The celebration was attended by Silversea Cruises executives, the ship’s Godmother Felicity Aston MBE as well as select members of the cruise line’s extended family.

“We are incredibly proud to have hosted ultra-luxury cruising’s first Antarctica naming ceremony for Silver Endeavour­­, our third ship to be named in just nine months,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises.

“I would like to thank Captain Niklas Peterstam and the ship’s crew, the entire Silversea team, Jason Liberty and all those involved at Royal Caribbean Group for their invaluable support in reaching this momentous milestone. Silver Endeavour strengthens our position as the industry’s leading cruise line, broadening our diverse polar offering for our guests’ enjoyment.

“A source of great inspiration for our guests, we are honoured to name Felicity Aston as the ship’s Godmother. Felicity is the perfect ambassador for Silversea; she shares the same unwavering sense of curiosity and adventure that unites all of our guests.”

As per the tradition, Aston blessed Silver Endeavour and cut the ribbon alongside Captain Niklas Peterstam.

Here’s What Happened to the Former Crystal Cruises Fleet

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Crystal Cruises’ ocean-going fleet has found new homes. Here’s the latest on the new destinations for Crystal’s ships:

Crystal Endeavor
Year Built: 2021
Capacity: 200 guests
Status: Sold to Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises acquired the former Crystal Endeavor earlier this month. Sold for $275 million, the 2021-built expedition vessel will be renamed Silver Endeavour before entering service for the ultra-luxury operator.  

Set to debut in time for the 2022-2023 season in Antarctica, the ship is expected to undergo a minor refit work that includes signage changes, the addition of Silversea’s livery and a few restaurant adjustments.

Crystal Serenity
Year Built: 2003
Capacity: 980 guests
Status: Sold to A&K Travel Group

In June, the Crystal Serenity was sold to the A&K Travel Group at auction for $103 million.

According to the new owners – who also bought the Crystal Cruises brand and other assets – the vessel will be subject to a major refit before resuming service in 2023.

Crystal Symphony
Year Built: 1995
Capacity: 848 guests
Status: Sold to A&K Travel Group

The Crystal Symphony was sold at a judicial auction in June. Like its fleet mate Crystal Serenity, it was bought by the A&K Travel Group, who bought the ship with a bid of $25 million for a 1995-built luxury vessel.

Before resuming service in 2023, the ship will also be subject to a major revitalization, the new owners revealed recently.  

Crystal Esprit
Year Built: 1989
Capacity: 48 guests
Status: Sold to Lindblad Expeditions   

Sold by Crystal Cruises in September 2021, the Crystal Esprit was acquired by Lindblad Expeditions.

Renamed National Geographic Islander II, the 48-guest mega-yacht will offer year-round expeditions to the Galapagos Islands. After a significant refit in Northern Europe, the former Esprit is set to launch service for its operator in August.

Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel
Year Built: 2017 and 2018
Capacity: 106 guests each
Status: Pending

While all the former ocean-going Crystal ships have now met their fates, the company’s river fleet continues to sit in limbo.  

Built by the MV Werften between 2017 and 2018, the four Rhine-Class sister ships are currently laid up in the Netherlands.

Crystal Mozart
Year Built: 1987
Capacity: 154 guests
Status: Pending

Like its Rhine fleet mates, the Crystal Mozart is also waiting for a decision regarding its future. Rumours suggest the ship has been sold.

Currently docked in Austria, the vessel was built in 1987 and underwent a full revitalization before joining Crystal in 2016. As the biggest river ship in the fleet, it has the capacity for a total of 160 guests.  

Silverseas Acquires Crystel Endeavour for $275 Million

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Silversea Cruises has received court approval for the purchase of the ultra-luxury cruise ship Crystal Endeavor. 

Originally delivered to Crystal Cruises in 2021, the ship will be renamed Silver Endeavour when it officially joins the Royal Caribbean Group subsidiary later this month.

The purchase price for the vessel was $275 million and was fully financed through a 15-year unsecured term loan, guaranteed by the German export credit agency, Euler Hermes, with no amortization payments in the first two years.

The fifth expedition ship in Silversea’s fleet of 11, the vessel is scheduled to begin service in winter 2022/2023, spending its inaugural season in Antarctica starting November 2022.

“With Endeavour, we are seeking to grow our world-class fleet to meet the exceptional demand for ultra-luxury expedition cruising, while also enhancing our profitability profile and affirming Silversea’s position as the industry’s leading ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line,” said Jason Liberty, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group. 

Built to PC6 polar class specifications, the ship can operate all of Silversea’s current expedition itineraries and is designed to take travellers to remote destinations, including both polar regions.

As part of the ongoing RCL Cares program, Royal Caribbean Group will protect the deposits of guests who were originally booked on Crystal Endeavor and make a new booking on one of its brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises. 

To the extent the Crystal Endeavor guests do not receive their deposits back from Crystal or other sources, the Royal Caribbean Group will refund any amount paid on their new booking up to the number of their lost deposits from Crystal.