After weeks of speculation following first the bankruptcy of Crystal Cruises, followed by the acquisition of its two ocean-going vessels Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity by the company that owns Abercrombie & Kent tours - with former head of Silversea as one of its owners - comes the confirmation that Silversea has acquired Crystal Endeavor.
The luxury expedition ship launched during the pandemic, and was the newest ship in the former Crystal fleet. Renamed Silver Endeavour (with British spelling), it becomes the fifth expedition ship in Silversea's fleet of 11 vessels.
As Silversea notes, Silver Endeavour was designed specifically to take travellers to the world’s most remote destinations, including both Polar Regions. The ship will re-enter service in November 2022, replacing Silver Explorer from the 2022/2023 Antarctica season—including the ship’s highly popular Antarctica Bridge sailings.
Bookings for Silver Endeavour open immediately. Guests can book their voyage aboard Silver Endeavour for the upcoming Antarctica season under Silver Explorer.
You can view Silver Endeavour’s inaugural season here. Silversea’s website will reflect the change of ship in the coming weeks.
“One of the most luxurious expedition ships afloat, Silver Endeavour will accelerate our strategy of growth, enriching our offering to unprecedented levels and reaffirming our position as the leading ultra-luxury expedition cruise line,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises.
“The expedition cruising industry is poised to resume accelerated growth, driven by demand among high-end, affluent customers for travel to remote and hard-to-access destinations. Silver Endeavour will strengthen our polar offering, further diversifying our broad-ranging product. With the ongoing support of Royal Caribbean Group, we are enhancing the cruise experience for our guests, unlocking the world’s most rewarding destinations in a way that only Silversea can.”
Built to PC6 polar class specifications, Silver Endeavour carries state-of-the-art amenities, with an industry-leading Zodiac-to-guest ratio; kayaks; and cutting-edge navigation and exploration technology, including a remote gimbal camera system, which can capture high-quality images from 5km, among other amenities. She will have a crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1.
Spread over eight public decks, the all-suite Silver Endeavour offers guests spacious accommodations in expedition cruising, upholding Silversea’s trademark level of comfort; multiple restaurants, bars and lounges; an expansive spa; a two-storied solarium with a swimming pool and whirlpool; and an array of indoor and outdoor observation areas. She fosters an intimate onboard atmosphere, enabling guests to discover destinations like Antarctica in depth, with great interaction between travellers and Silversea’s expedition experts.
Protecting Booked Crystal Guests
As part of the ongoing RCL Cares program, Royal Caribbean Group will protect the deposits of guests who were originally booked on Crystal Endeavor and make a new booking on one of the Group's global brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises.
“We are delighted to offer an additional incentive to all guests who were booked on the former Endeavor to experience the Silversea difference. They are invited to sail on any Silversea ship from our beautiful fleet of 11”, said Roberto Martinoli.
To the extent the Crystal Endeavor guests do not receive their deposits back from Crystal or other sources, the Royal Caribbean Group will refund any amount paid on their new booking up to the amount of their lost deposits from Crystal. Complete terms of the offer will be provided on www.silversea.com soon.
Protecting Former Crew
Silversea also wishes to welcome Endeavor’s former crew to Silversea, where they will receive priority.
