Crystal Cruises, the US-based luxury cruise arm of Genting Cruise Lines, has shed its smallest ship, citing a refocusing of its core cruise operations.
Crystal’s 3,370-gt Crystal Esprit (built 1991) — a 62-passenger vessel billed as a “boutique yachting experience” — has been dropped from its future cruise schedules ahead of its departure from the fleet.
The company said in a travel trade statement issued late on Tuesday that the decision to withdraw the ship came as a result of it evaluating its focus post pandemic.
“The single, small yacht concept does not fit into future plans for the company as we continue to concentrate on the successful deployment of our Crystal ocean, river and expedition fleets, as well as exploring new builds for expansion," the company said in a statement.
The Crystal Esprit joined the Crystal fleet in 2015, shortly after Genting acquired the company from Japan’s NYK Line. It had previously operated in Asia under the name Megastar Taurus for Genting’s Star Cruises brand.
The vessel’s withdrawal comes just after Crystal put into service the 20,500-gt Crystal Endeavour (built 2021), a 200-passenger luxury expedition cruiseship recently completed by Genting-owned MV Werften.
Crystal’s fleet also includes the 68,900-gt Crystal Serenity (built 2003), the 51,000-gt Crystal Symphony (built 1995) and several European river cruiseships.
The company did not reveal whether the ship had been sold to another cruise operator or would be redeployed under another Genting brand.
Genting Cruise Lines has been approached for comment on the Crystal Esprit's future.
