Crystal Expedition Cruises is encouraging travel advisors to share with clients the remaining opportunities to sail to Antarctica for the inaugural season of Crystal Endeavor. Bookings opened for the purpose-built luxury expedition ship 14 months ago, with only limited suites now remaining for Crystal Endeavor‘s unique sailings from Hobart and Christchurch to Antarctica in early 2021.
Last week Crystal Expedition Cruises opened bookings for the entire 2022/early 2023 season on Endeavor. As expected, the new program features a collection of voyages to the White Continent, all of which operate from Ushuaia, Chile, rather than the local ports in Australia and New Zealand. What the new season’s deployment confirms is that the luxury ship will not visit Australasian waters in 2022, making the local sailings for Australians wishing to cruise from their own backyard on the brand new vessel even more valuable.
Karen Christensen, Crystal’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Australasia, told LATTE she was thrilled that Crystal Endeavor would be sailing the Asia Pacific region during her maiden season, and that the yacht’s Antarctica and The Ross Sea Expedition itineraries from Hobart and Christchurch were proving “very popular”. The first voyage only has a few remaining suites available.
“I would encourage any travel advisors with guests interested in an Antarctic expedition via the Ross Sea to share this unique opportunity with their clients while suites are still available,” Christensen said.
She explained that Crystal Endeavor‘s Antarctic deployment roundtrip from Ushuaia in late 2021/early 2022 and late 2022/early 2023 is due to the ship’s positioning at the time for the ensuing Antarctic seasons.
“In 2021 the ship will sail an in-depth Alaska season before traversing the Northeast Passage and making her way to South America via Western Europe.
“In 2022, we have introduced Crystal Endeavor’s inaugural Arctic season, which is high on the bucket-list for adventurous travellers and following the ship will explore Canada and the East Coast of the US, followed by a return to South America. Departing Ushuaia and offering the exhilarating experience of the Antarctic Peninsula is an exciting opportunity for Crystal,” Christensen continued.
She added that the 200-passenger ship will explore some of the most remote and stunning locales on earth.
“A rich and diverse itinerary program each year ensures Crystal provides discerning travellers the opportunity to sail aboard the world’s most spacious, luxury expedition ship time and time again,” she said.
In addition to Antarctica, other highlights of the new roster for Crystal Endeavor are a collection of voyages into the High Arctic, Norway, Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland; new “river explorations” in Europe, along the Guadalquivir and the Loire rivers into Seville and Nantes, respectively; new Africa voyages sailing along the Ivory and Gold coasts and exploring Ghana, Angola, Sierra Leone and more; new routes along South America’s west coast, as well as Chile’s fjords and Lake Region and Patagonia.
To view the 2022 program, see crystalcruises.com.au/experience/expedition
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