When luxury Crystal Cruises shut down during the pandemic, many wondered what would become of the ships. First, we learned that its beloved ocean ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, as well as the Crystal brand, had been purchased by the company that owns luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent, along with the former owner of Silversea Cruises. Then we learned that Silversea acquired Crystal's new expedition ship, Endeavour.
Crystal’s five river ships have a new home, too, and have restarted sailing the rivers of Europe under new ownership. Open Jaw editor and producer/ host of World's Greatest Cruises on PBS TV, Lynn Elmhirst, spoke with Jennifer Halboth, the CEO for the Americas of Germany-based Riverside Cruises. They review changes to the ships, new rivers, routes and itineraries, the new river cruise experience on these luxurious ships under new ownership, and their new target client.
