Crystal Cruises recently announced that it has exercised its option with the Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri, formally commencing the construction contract for its third new-generation oceangoing cruise ship, scheduled for delivery in 2034. This vessel is the optional order under the 2+1 cruise ship construction contract signed by the two parties in 2024.
Based on the contract value disclosed by Fincantieri at the time, the value of each vessel ranged from 500 million to 1 billion euros (approximately $578 million to $1.157 billion).
The first vessel in this series, the “Crystal Grace”, is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, with the keel-laying scheduled for December 2026 and delivery in May 2028; the second sister vessel is scheduled for delivery in May 2031, and the contract now in effect is for the third vessel in the series. The three new vessels will comprehensively upgrade Crystal Cruises’ signature service system, featuring iterative enhancements in spatial design and immersive luxury travel experiences.
Like its sister vessels, the new vessel measures approximately 246 meters in length, has a gross tonnage of approximately 62,000, and can accommodate 650 guests, making it relatively small in scale; Designed by an internationally renowned architectural firm, the vessel features staterooms with private balconies throughout, as well as new cabin categories designed to meet the evolving preferences of guests, including solo travelers; it boasts the highest crew-to-passenger ratio in the cruise industry, ensuring highly personalized service, spacious guest areas, high-end entertainment facilities, and itineraries designed to provide passengers with increasingly authentic and immersive destination experiences.
Reportedly, Crystal Cruises was founded by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) in the 1990s and has long served as the group’s flagship brand. The brand was later sold to Genting Hong Kong, but as Genting Hong Kong fell into financial crisis in 2022, Crystal Cruises also filed for bankruptcy.
Subsequently, the A&K Travel Group acquired Crystal Cruises and invested $170 million to upgrade two vessels in its fleet, the “Crystal Serenity” and the “Crystal Symphony”. Fincantieri was responsible for the renovation work, and both vessels resumed operations in 2023. The three new vessels currently under construction mark Crystal Cruises’ first newbuilds in 25 years and are also the first new vessels for the group since its acquisition.