Multiple media and social media reports on the weekend indicate, not only have all three of beleaguered Crystal Cruises’ ocean-going ships been arrested, one may already be on the block for sale.
Last month, when the cruise line declared bankruptcy and the ceasing of operations until at least APR, all three of its ships were mid-cruise.
At least one creditor immediately took to the Florida courts to request the seizure of the Crystal Symphony for millions in unpaid fuel bills. That prompted the ship to terminate its current cruise early in Bimini in the Bahamas in an attempt to evade arrest. Guests were disembarked there and transported by ferry back to Miami.
The saga didn’t end there. While there were no early indications the Crystal Serenity or the company’s new expedition ship Crystal Endeavor were at risk, that apparently changed.
Denied entry to Aruba, the Crystal Serenity changed course for the Bahamas, too. Crystal Endeavor remained cruising in Antarctica.
Now, reports say both Crystal ships in the Bahamas were seized late on 04FEB - and at least one report indicates the Endeavor was also arrested in Ushuaia, Argentina, on its return from Antarctica on the weekend.
Crystal Cruises has not officially confirmed any arrest of its ships at time of press Monday. Most of the available information comes from social media from crew on board the ships.
Reports say that, after the Crystal Symphony was boarded, the ship’s captain updated the crew while advising crew their payments were going ahead: “The ship has been placed under arrest by the local authorities over some unpaid bills, and as bad as it sounds it’s actually quite a good thing to happen. We’ve been told that this will not affect any personnel movement. So the crew movement and the crew sign offs will go as planned, and we are in process of preparing this. So some unfortunate news but it was actually quite expected.”
Crystal Symphony Captain announcement addressed to the crew. The cruise ship has been arrested in Freeport, Bahamas. Crystal Serenity was also arrested in Freeport. pic.twitter.com/cdBNyHf4s5
— Crew Center (@CrewCenter) February 5, 2022
Many observers and admirers of the brand have been hoping Crystal Cruises’ owners, Genting Hong Kong, would find a way to solve the line’s financial woes and resume operations in APR as they indicated when they announced bankruptcy.
However, one ship may already be up for sale to pay creditors.
At least one report reveals that a listing for a ship that is unnamed - but has a photo of the Crystal Symphony and details that match the ship’s description - has been posted on the web site Yacht World. The site is used by brokers to sell all types of high end vessels, and the broker of the post lists the ship for sale. A number of other major cruise lines’ decommissioned ships are also listed by the same broker, but with their identities declared.
If one or more of the ships is sold, the hoped-for resumption of operations may not be in the cards for Crystal Cruises after all. That would leave as remaining options the sale of all or part of the company or even individual ships and soft assets like client list or brand, to a new or competing cruise line.
