ABOARD THE CRYSTAL SYMPHONY -- Crystal Cruises CEO Tom
Wolber unveiled some details about the company's polar-class expedition yacht,
the Crystal Endeavor, during its 2018 Annual Sales Gala sailing from Aruba to
Fort Lauderdale.
Wolber, speaking to an audience of top-producing travel
agents, said the Endeavor will be the largest vessel of its kind at 19,800
gross tons. It is expected to debut in 2020.
It will consist solely of suites, 100, for a total of 200
passengers. He called them "the largest and most spacious suites in the
expedition industry," and said all suites will have verandahs and butler
services. They will feature floor-to-ceiling windows and roomy bathrooms with
dual vanities, rainshower heads, heated floors and heated closets designed to
warm and dry damp parkas.
Among the 100 suites will be two Crystal Penthouse Suites,
which are between 985-1,130 square feet; eight Penthouse Suites, 457 square
feet; and 90 Deluxe Suites, 304 square feet.
Wolber said the Endeavor will feature streaming televisions,
bedside iPads and ambient lighting.
"Crystal's entrance into this segment is a natural
response to the demand for an increasing segment of consumers who are craving
immersive, active experiences into the lesser-known regions of the world, the
final frontier, if you wish," Wolber told agents. "The Crystal
Endeavor will be an industry game-changer. She will deliver on what Crystal
does best: innovative ship design, generous public spaces, warm and attentive
service, unique destination experiences, and world-class cuisine."
There will be 90 Deluxe Suites on the polar-class expedition yacht.
Wolber said more details on the ship, including itineraries,
will be unveiled at a later date.
At this year's gala, the threshold for agents to qualify was
$1 million in revenue, according to Carmen Roig, senior vice president of
marketing and sales. In total, 74 travel partners from 14 countries qualified
and attended. Fifty-six of them had over $1 million in revenue. Another 13 had
over $2 million, and five had over $5 million.
Next year's requirements to attend the gala will remain the
same, Roig said. The 2019 gala will be held aboard the Crystal Serenity.
On Tuesday, agents had the chance to hear from a number of
the cruise line's executives, who provided updates on the company -- including
the drydock upgrades the Serenity will undergo, similar to those the Symphony
recently had -- and fielded any questions attendees had. Another day of updates
was scheduled for Friday, and agents were also given the opportunity to sign up
for one-on-one sessions, scheduled for Saturday.