Miami, October 22, 2021 – Today Crystal Expedition Cruises announced it will provide complimentary round-trip chartered air flights between Miami and Ushuaia, Argentina, as well as hotel nights in both cities for guests onCrystal Endeavor’s inaugural round-trip Ushuaia voyages in Antarctica. Crystal Expedition Cruises is the only expedition line to offer non-stop charter flights from the United States to Ushuaia, Argentina for guests embarking on Antarctica voyages. The world’s newest and most spacious polar-class expedition yacht, Crystal Endeavor will launch her inaugural Antarctic season with eight voyages, November 2021 through February 2022, ranging from 11 to 19 nights and departing round-trip from Ushuaia.
From bow to stern, the 20,200-GRT German-built Crystal Endeavor is purpose built and designed for superior operation, safety and performance in polar conditions with a Polar Class 6 (PC6) classification that enables her to sail in the Arctic and Antarctic regions with precision German engineering focused on power, reliability, and painstaking 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 kW of installed power, delivering well-balanced power and propulsion installation, giving both speed and comfort.
“Peace of mind is the greatest luxury especially when traveling to the farthest reaches of the globe andCrystal Endeavor’s smooth, powerful ride and agile handling will deliver that in unpredictable weather conditions or remote destinations,” said Jack Anderson, president of Crystal. “Similarly, providing our guests chartered, non-stop air directly from the United States to the port of embarkation in Ushuaia ensures a worry-free and effortless vacation experience with the assurance that all logistics and details have been expertly handled and arranged, as well as the added peace of mind of knowing that all age-eligible guests aboard our chartered flights have been fully vaccinated.”
The new complimentary travel experience will also provide guests a pre-cruise luxury hotel accommodation in Ushuaia and a post-flight luxury hotel accommodation upon return to Miami. Pre-cruise hotel accommodations in Ushuaia will provide guests the chance to relax and refresh in an elegant resort setting showcasing the striking beauty of the Tierra del Fuego before embarking Crystal Endeavor for their Antarctica expedition. These new charter flights and hotel accommodations replace the previous one-night pre-cruise hotel in Buenos Aires and round-trip charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
Traveling with a fleet of 18 Zodiacs, 14 sea kayaks and a two-guest (+pilot) submersible Crystal Endeavoroffers bold and immersive expedition experiences led by a team of veteran guides and naturalist experts. The ship’s voyages will feature Zodiac landings and kayaking adventures showcasing dramatic icy landscapes and up-close wildlife encounters with penguins, seals, whales and sea birds in remote lands few people have ever seen. Exploration equipment aboard the ship includes a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) to view the sea at a 300-meter (almost 1,000 feet) depth and a Gimble long range camera mounted on the mast that can zoom in to view wildlife and scenery over a mile away.
All-inclusive fares for Crystal Endeavor’s inaugural Antarctic voyages start at $9,949 per guest, including up to $9,200 in Book Now Savings per suite when booked by November 3, 2021, as well as a $1,000 “As You Wish” shipboard spending credit per person. Guests will also enjoy reduced deposit of 15 percent (normally 25 percent) as well as relaxed final payment due 60 days prior to first date of service for 2021 through March 2022 voyages.
Crystal Endeavor’s inaugural Antarctic Season concludes with “Falkland Islands & South Georgia to South Africa” a unique 19-night trans-Atlantic expedition from Ushuaia to Cape Town, South Africa, featuring incredible wildlife from the Falkland’s seabird colonies to South Georgia’s massive king penguin rookery, and an extremely rare three-day visit to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Guests will visit Edinburgh of the Seven Seas on Tristan da Cunha, regarded as the most remote permanent settlement on earth. Additional explorations in the far-off archipelago include Nightingale Island, an active volcanic isle boasting penguin and seabird colonies and Gough Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering the chance to encounter elephant and fur seals and the majestic albatross in flight. The voyage departs on March 1, 2022 and includes complimentary non-stop chartered air from Miami to Ushuaia, and a pre-cruise luxury hotel accommodation in Ushuaia. Fares begin at just $17,799 per guest including up to $4,500 in Book Now Savings per suite.
Crystal Endeavor is the eighth ship in the award-winning cruise line’s worldwide fleet and, at 100 gross tons and 10,000 cubic feet per guest with a guest space ratio of more than 100, she has the largest space per guest of any ship at sea. Luxuriously designed to offer discerning travelers elegantly expansive private and public spaces, the ship accommodates just 200 guests in 100 well-appointed all-verandah, all-butler serviced suites, among the largest and most spacious in expedition cruising.
Throughout the ship, Crystal hallmarks accent guests’ onboard experience: 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; 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.
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.
All Flights (Charters) operated by Omni Air International.
About Crystal
Only the world-renowned Crystal Experience offers an unwavering, unparalleled standard of excellence and luxury across three distinct cruising options: Crystal Cruises, the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line; Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line; and Crystal Expedition Cruises, taking Crystal’s acclaimed elegance to the farthest reaches of the world. Crystal has been recognized with top honors in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for a record 27 years including, in 2019, for Best Medium-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Cruises, Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Yacht Cruises and Best River Cruise Line for Crystal River Cruises. Crystal was also voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure for 24 years, including, in 2017 and 2020, Best River Cruise Line for Crystal River Cruises; and won “Cruise Line of the Year” and “Most Luxurious Guest Experience” by Virtuoso for 2018 & 2019. Crystal is proud to be a platinum partner of the advisors of ASTA.
For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel advisor, call 888.799.2437, or visit www.crystalcruises.com. Join the hundreds of thousands who subscribe to the Crystal Insider blog, follow Crystal Cruises’ Facebook page; @crystalcruises on Twitter and Instagram; @crystalrivercruises on Instagram; and engage in the conversation with #crystalcruises, #crystalrivercruises and #WhereLuxuryisPersonal.