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Crystal Endeavor, the groundbreaking luxury expedition yacht that debuted in July, has been named Best New Expedition Ship in The Points Guy’s (TPG) Editors’ Choice Awards.
The annual awards are presented based on the expert opinions of TPG editors who comprise some of the most seasoned and experienced writers and editors in the travel and hospitality industry.
The luxury expedition yacht’s highly anticipated Antarctica season launches next week on Nov. 18 with the first of eight voyages round-trip from Ushuaia, Argentina, ranging from 11 to 19 nights. The sailings explore incredible wildlife within this remote icy wonderland, including the Antarctic Peninsula, the Weddell Sea, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and lands beyond the Antarctic Circle. Complimentary round-trip air fare between Ushuaia and Miami, along with luxury hotel stays in both cities, is also available.
Gene Sloan, TPG’s principal writer for cruise and travel who sailed on Crystal Endeavor in September, commented that the ship “stands apart to us here at TPG particularly when it comes to luxury travel,” stating that it “brings a new level of luxury and service to the niche.” Sloan was particularly impressed with the ship’s specialty dining options, noting that the restaurants feature “superb interior design, sophisticated menus and graceful service that was impeccable.”
Accommodating just 200 guests in 100 well-appointed suites, the ship — at 20,200 gross registered tons in size — is purpose built and designed for the Arctic and Antarctic sailings with superior operation, safety and performance in polar conditions with a Polar Class 6 (PC6) classification featuring German engineering focused on power, reliability and craftsmanship. The ship’s propulsion system includes two Azipod D units and a diesel electric power plant designed specifically for ice-going vessels to help them operate at optimum efficiency while providing 13,020 kilowatts of installed power, delivering well-balanced power and propulsion installation, giving both speed and comfort.
At 10,000 cubic feet per guest and a passenger space ratio of more than 100, the ship has the largest space per guest of any cruise ship at sea. Luxuriously designed to offer travelers elegantly expansive private and public spaces, the ship offers all-veranda, all-butler serviced suites, among the largest and most spacious in expedition cruising. A one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio delivers the personal and genuine service for which Crystal Cruises is known.
Crystal hallmarks accent guests’ onboard experience can be found throughout the ship: Michelin-inspired dining options including Umi Uma, the first and only Japanese restaurant on an expedition ship; fine Italian cuisine at Prego, 24-hour room service and optional Vintage Room experience; the only casino on an expedition yacht; a glass-covered, two-story solarium – housing the Seahorse Pool and Jacuzzi – providing panoramic views from sea to sky; and the full-service Crystal Life Salon & Spa with a state-of-the-art Fitness Center; as well as a wrap-around Promenade Deck, an iconic Crystal design element. Expedition-specific amenities include high-tech enrichments spaces, designated mud rooms, an Expedition Lounge, and even the option of exploration in a two-guest submersible.
Crystal continues to be a leader in its response to COVID-19 with its Crystal Clean+ protocols based on the latest data and recommendations by health experts. The company was the first major cruise line to require a COVID-19 vaccine for both guests and crew in 2021 and now the first through 2022.
