Voted the World’s Best Cruise Line 21 times, Crystal Cruises becomes Star Cruises’ sister brand this year

▲ Crystal Cruises, which has won the World’s Best Cruise Line award multiple times. (Photo / Provided by Star Cruises)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Compiled by Staff

Genting Hong Kong Limited, which owns the Star Cruises brand, announced today (March 3) that it has signed an agreement to acquire Crystal Cruises. Formerly under the ownership of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Crystal Cruises operates two ships: the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2015.

Crystal Cruises focuses on luxury cruising and has won the Condé Nast Traveler World’s Best Cruise Line award 21 times since its establishment, as well as the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Large Ship Award for 19 consecutive years. It has also been awarded the Best Luxury Cruise Line by Virtuoso, Specialists in the Art of Travel. Both of Crystal Cruises’ ships have been selected among the top five mid-sized cruise ships in the 2015 Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships guide. For example, Crystal Cruises’ 14-night Mediterranean Grand Prix itinerary starts at around NT$180,000.

Genting Hong Kong pioneered the Asian cruise industry under the Star Cruises brand in 1993 and acquired Norwegian Cruise Line in 2000. According to the agreement, Genting Hong Kong will acquire Crystal Cruises for USD 550 million in cash (approximately NT$17.38 billion). The two ships operated by Crystal Cruises offer a total of about 1,992 standard berths, with an average acquisition cost of USD 276,000 per standard berth.

Genting Hong Kong stated that the management and crew of Crystal Cruises will remain in place, continuing to provide consistent service. Genting Hong Kong will also provide financial resources and expertise to assist in the creation of new ships. Star Cruises also noted that Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises offer distinctly different products, allowing travelers to choose based on their individual budgets and preferences in the future.