Editing Crystal Cruises (section)

==History==
The company was founded in 1988 by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2014/003519.html#:~:text=Crystal%20Cruises%20Inc.%2C%20a%20wholly,cruise%20ships%20in%20the%20world.|title=NYK|date=6 February 2022}}</ref> Its first ship was ''[[Crystal Harmony]].''<ref>Miramar Ship Index: [http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz/ship/list?search_op=OR&IDNo=8806204 ''Crystal Harmony,'' ID#8806204].</ref>

On March 3, 2015, NYK announced that it was selling Crystal Cruises to Genting Hong Kong.<ref name="usa today 2015-03-032">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/03/03/crystal-cruises-sold-ship/24332693/|title=Shake-up in luxury cruising as Crystal gets new owner|last1=Sloan|first1=Gene|date=March 3, 2015|work=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=April 12, 2015}}</ref> The sale price was US$550 million in cash, subject to certain adjustment items.<ref name="mm 2015-03-032">{{cite news|url=http://maritimematters.com/2015/03/crystal-cruises-sold-to-genting-hong-kong-for-550-million/|title=Crystal Cruises Sold To Genting Hong Kong For US$550 Million|last1=Dake|first1=Shawn|date=March 3, 2015|work=Maritime Matters|accessdate=April 12, 2015|archive-date=May 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503141603/http://maritimematters.com/2015/03/crystal-cruises-sold-to-genting-hong-kong-for-550-million/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On May 15, 2015, GHK announced that it had closed on the acquisition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/crystal-ceo-rodriguez-comments-on-thrilling-yet-bittersweet-sale.html|title=Crystal CEO Rodriguez Comments on 'Thrilling, Yet Bittersweet' Sale|last=Norton Masek|first=Theresa|work=[[TravelPulse]]|date=May 16, 2015}}</ref>

On July 20, 2015, Crystal announced that it would expand to provide expedition cruises, river cruises, and private jet travel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air, River, and Sea: Crystal Cruises Plans Major Brand Expansion|date=20 July 2015|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/crystal-cruises-brand-expansion-plans|publisher=Travel and Leisure}}</ref>

On February 4, 2016, Crystal Cruises signed a purchase option for the {{SS|United States||}}, also providing funding for docking costs for the ship in Philadelphia for nine months while it conducted a feasibility study into returning the ship to service.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 February 2016 |title=Crystal Signs Purchase Option for SS United States – Cruise Industry News – Cruise News |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13800-crystal-signs-purchase-option-for-ss-united-states.html |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=4 February 2016|title=S.S. United States, Historic Ocean Liner of Trans-Atlantic Heyday, May Sail Again|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/business/ss-united-states-historic-ocean-liner-of-trans-atlantic-heyday-may-sail-again.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> However, the plan was dropped on August 5, 2016, citing technical challenges. It also announced a donation of US$350,000 to cover docking costs through to the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 August 2016 |title=Crystal Drops SS United States Project – Cruise Industry News – Cruise News |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/15658-crystal-drops-ss-united-states-project.html |publisher=}}</ref>

In September 2019, Crystal Cruises announced that it would have Broadway-themed cruises available starting in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 30, 2019|title=New Crystal on Broadway Voyages Take Center Stage in 2020|work=[[TravelPulse]]|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/new-crystal-on-broadway-voyages-take-center-stage-in-2020.html}}</ref>

In August 2020, Crystal cancelled all cruises for the remainder of the year. Its parent company Genting Hong Kong had suspended payments to creditors citing the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The new 200-passenger ''Crystal Endeavor'' was under construction at the time, with delivery scheduled for November 2020; that was delayed for a year because of the suspension of operations at the MV Werften shipyard in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Genting-Hong-Kong-suspends-payments-to-creditors|title=Crystal Cruises parent halts payments on debt of US$3.4B|date=20 August 2020 |publisher=Travel Weekly|access-date=21 August 2020 |quote="temporarily suspend all payments to the Group's financial creditors."}}</ref><ref name="Travel Weekly">{{cite web|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/crystal-cruises-not-going-out-of-business-despite-genting-troubles.html|title=Crystal Cruises "Not Going Out of Business" Despite Genting Troubles|date=21 August 2020 |publisher=Travel Weekly|access-date=21 August 2020|quote="temporarily suspend all payments to the Group's financial creditors."}}</ref> 

In March 2021, Crystal announced all-Bahamas cruises aboard ''Crystal Serenity'' would start on July 3, 2021, with departures from Nassau and Bimini to work around CDC cruise bans due to COVID-19 in the US.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The CDC is still banning U.S. cruises. Americans sailing this summer, thanks to a workaround.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2021/03/25/cruise-americans-royal-caribbean-celebrity/|access-date=2021-03-30}}</ref> Ports of call within the Bahamas included Harbour Island, Great Exuma, Long Island, and San Salvador. All passengers were required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Miami-based luxury cruise company plans COVID-19 comeback in the Bahamas in July|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article249863818.html|access-date=2021-03-30}}</ref> The opening booking day set a record for the most bookings on a single day in the company's history.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-23|title=Crystal Cruises reports "biggest single-day of bookings" in its history for Bahamas cruise|url=https://ewnews.com/crystal-cruises-reports-biggest-single-day-of-bookings-in-its-history-for-bahamas-cruise|access-date=2021-03-30|website=Eye Witness News|language=en-US}}</ref> Some destinations expressed concerns with the company's announcement, lack of consultation with local stakeholders, and negative impact to their existing tourism economy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-25|title=NOT ALL ON BOARD: Exuma & Harbour Island concerned with mass cruise tourism plans|url=https://ewnews.com/not-all-on-board-exuma-harbour-island-concerned-with-mass-cruise-tourism-plans|access-date=2021-03-30|website=Eye Witness News|language=en-US}}</ref>

Following the insolvency of Genting Hong Kong, Crystal suspended operations of all its cruise ships in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Crystal Cruises Suspends Operations Due to Genting HK Insolvency|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/crystal-cruises-suspends-operations-due-to-genting-hk-insolvency|access-date=2022-01-22|website=The Maritime Executive|language=en}}</ref> ''Crystal Symphony'' and ''Crystal Serenity'' were subsequently [[Ship arrest|arrested]] in [[Freeport, Bahamas]] over unpaid bills in February, and the company's headquarters in the United States closed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Martin|first=Eric Priante|date=2022-01-21|title=Fuel provider secures arrest order against Crystal Cruises ship over unpaid bills {{!}} TradeWinds|url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/law/fuel-provider-secures-arrest-order-against-crystal-cruises-ship-over-unpaid-bills/2-1-1149416|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-22|work=TradeWinds|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121165412/https://www.tradewindsnews.com/law/fuel-provider-secures-arrest-order-against-crystal-cruises-ship-over-unpaid-bills/2-1-1149416 |archive-date=2022-01-21 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Crystal Cruises Ships Arrested in Freeport|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/26742-crystal-cruises-ships-arrested-in-freeport.html|date=6 February 2022|work=Cruise Industry News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301164218/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/26742-crystal-cruises-ships-arrested-in-freeport.html|archive-date=1 March 2022}}</ref> Meanwhile, V.Ships Leisure was appointed by the liquidators to manage Crystal's ships.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crystal Cruises Shutting Down; V.Ships To Manage Ships|date=8 February 2022|work=Cruise Industry News|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/26759-crystal-cruises-shutting-down-v-ships-to-manage-ships.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418142447/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/26759-crystal-cruises-shutting-down-v-ships-to-manage-ships.html|archive-date=18 April 2022}}</ref>

On June 22, 2022, it was announced that [[A&K Travel Group]], owned by [[Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio]] and [[Geoffrey Kent]] had bought the bankrupt line's brand and two ocean vessels, ''Crystal Serenity'' and ''Crystal Symphony'', intending to return the ships to service in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gollan |first1=Doug |title=A&K Purchase Of Crystal Cruises Receives Applause From Travel Industry |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/douggollan/2022/06/22/ak-purchase-of-crystal-cruises-receives-applause-from-travel-industry/ |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Forbes |date=22 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622161207/https://www.forbes.com/sites/douggollan/2022/06/22/ak-purchase-of-crystal-cruises-receives-applause-from-travel-industry/ |archive-date=22 June 2022 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Phil |title=A&K Travel Group confirms purchase of Crystal Serenity and Symphony |url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/ak-travel-group-confirms-purchase-of-crystal-serenity-and-symphony |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=Travel Weekly |date=22 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802114246/https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/ak-travel-group-confirms-purchase-of-crystal-serenity-and-symphony |archive-date=2 August 2022 |location=London}}</ref>

Two new ships were ordered at [[Fincantieri]] in June 2024 for delivery from 2028 onwards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crystal Cruises {{!}} News {{!}} Crystal Signs Memorandum of Agreement with Fincantieri for Two New Ocean Ships |url=https://www.crystalcruises.com/press/crystal-signs-memorandum-of-agreement-with-fincantieri-for-two-new-ocean-ships |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Crystal Cruises {{!}} News {{!}} Crystal Signs Memorandum of Agreement with Fincantieri for Two New Ocean Ships}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fincantieri {{!}} Fincantieri signs agreement with Crystal for two new high-end cruise ships |url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2024/fincantieri-signs-agreement-with-crystal-for-two-new-high-end-cruise-ships/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=www.fincantieri.com |language=en}}</ref> In Autumn, a third ship was ordered.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crystal Cruises {{!}} Press Releases |url=https://www.crystalcruises.com/press |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Crystal Cruises {{!}} Press Releases}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fincantieri {{!}} Fincantieri finalizes order with Crystal for a new high-end cruise ship |url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2024/fincantieri-finalizes-order-with-crystal-for-a-new-high-end-cruise-ship/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=www.fincantieri.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crystal Confirms Third Ocean Ship for 2032 Delivery – Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/11/crystal-confirms-third-ocean-ship-for-2032-delivery/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crystal Cruises {{!}} News {{!}} Crystal Signs Order With Fincantieri For Third Ocean Ship |url=https://www.crystalcruises.com/press/crystal-signs-order-with-with-fincantieri-for-third-ocean-ship |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Crystal Cruises {{!}} News {{!}} Crystal Signs Order With Fincantieri For Third Ocean Ship}}</ref>