Crystal sets itself apart

CRYSTAL Cruises new ocean vessel set to launch in 2022 was touted as a “game changer on many fronts” by Crystal ceo Edie Rodriguez at an event on Crystal Symphony in Sydney on Fri.

The vessel will feature one floor of private apartments at sea.

“I know there’s that other vessel floating out there that offers residences, travel agents tell me that ship has the nickname of the ghost ship,” Rodriguez said.

Crystal’s vessel will be “a very different experience”, Rodriguez said, as the residents would never have to meet cruise guests unless they wanted to.

There would also be a very different set of rules in ownerships, with residents having no say in where the vessel sails.

“You will actually buy into that understanding that you will accept our departures, our itineraries, if that doesn’t work for you, don’t buy.”

Last year Crystal launched Crystal Mozart on the Danube ( CW 12 Jul), which Rodriguez told media “is the only true luxury experience on the river Danube”.

“I think a lot of brands slap marketing positioning onto their brands because they didn’t know what they didn’t know, respectfully, well we did our homework,” she said.

“We sailed on everybody, we looked at it all and we delivered with Crystal Mozart the only true luxury experience on the river Danube, bar none.”

Crystal has ordered eight more river ships, to be delivered through to 2019.

Initially two of the newbuilds were earmarked for France, but Crystal pulled the plan in Aug.

“We continue to monitor the situation and if things get better and there is a global demand where we can fill one of those, we can always shift,” she said.