Crystal Cruises, the ocean, river and high-end expedition cruise line, announced it wuld cease sailings on a temporary basis following the bankruptcy of Malaysia-based parent company Genting Group. However, as of yesterday, Feb. 8, the cruise line let most of its on land and ship staffs go. Crystal's Miami Headquarters are shut down while its two ocean liners, Symphony and Serenity sit under arrest in the Bahamas.
Coupled with a global pandemic that is still wreaking havoc on the financial health of the travel and cruise sectors, the money woes at Genting Group became unsustainable, leading to the shocking closure. Genting appears to have overplayed its hand, with its fingers in many pots from ship building to jet planes and cruises.
Naturally all cruises on Crystal Symphony and Serenity and expedition ship Crystal Endeavor are cancelled, most likely forever. It has also suspended operation of its river ships. Crystal's European river cruise fleet has not been operating — the European river cruise season typically begins in March.
Passengers on its ocean ships were asked to disembark and were ticketed to be flown home from Miami, Aruba, and Ushuaia, Argentina. The company says passengers will receive full cruise fare refunds.