Cruising New Magazine April 2019 April 2019 Edition | Page 21

Crystal Endeavor’s Complete 2021 Deployment
Crystal Expedition Cruises has released
the complete roster of far-reaching
2021 itineraries for its luxury expedition
yacht Crystal Endeavor. On expedition
voyages of 10 to 28 nights, the polar
class yacht will explore destinations
legendary and unknown, remote and
remarkable throughout Antarctica;
Japan; the Russian Far East, Aleutian
Islands and Alaska; Australia, New
Zealand; Indonesia and the Indian
Ocean; Norway and the United
Kingdom; Western Europe; Canary
Islands and Atlantic; and South
America. In late February, Crystal
announced that Crystal Endeavor will
also sail the elusive Northeast Passage
in 2021.
“The voyages offered aboard
Crystal Endeavor go far beyond a
typical luxury cruise. Guests will have
opportunities for rare wildlife sightings;
bold, unexpected experiences and
adventures that present themselves
along the journeys, guided by our
expedition teams; and intimate
exposure to less explored destinations
and cultures,” said Karen Christensen,
Crystal’s Senior Vice President and
Managing Director for Australasia.
“Crystal Endeavor is made for this kind
of exploration and is capable of taking
travellers farther than they imagined,
while they enjoy Crystal’s signature
luxuries and service that welcome them
‘home.’”
Every voyage on Crystal Endeavor
will focus on the bio-diversity, active
adventure and natural and cultural
history of the destinations, with expert
expedition guides aboard. Some travel
to extreme destinations rarely visited
– from the Arctic to Antarctic – like
New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic Islands;
Christmas Island; and the Aleutian
Islands west of Alaska. Others offer
unique access and new perspectives
on popular locales, like prime dock
positioning in the heart of Bangkok at
Khlong Teoi, downtown Ho Chi Minh
City and across from the Royal Yacht
Britannia in Edinburgh’s port of Leith.
A bevy of natural and cultural wonders
punctuate the journeys, including
dozens of UNESCO World Heritage
Sites like Japan’s Shiretoko National
Park, Vietnam’s Imperial City of Hue,
Australia’s Turquoise Bay and Ningaloo
Reef, and New Zealand’s Fiordland
National Park. Numerous opportunities
for wildlife observation abound in the
Aleutian Isles, Tasmania, Indonesia,
the Northeast Passage, Antarctic
Peninsula and beyond. The expeditions
will offer experiences, climate and
terrain that are suited perfectly for the
boldest travellers, with opportunities
for hiking, biking, kayaking, snorkelling,
diving, helicopter and Zodiac tours,
and encounters with majestic wildlife,
depending on the region.
On board, guest expedition guides,
scientists and destination experts will
further illuminate the journey with
engaging presentations and seminars
focusing on the unique nature and
history of the region.
At all times, itineraries and ports of call
are subject to the Captain’s discretion
based on prevailing weather and ice
conditions and government permits.
Wildlife sightings and wilderness
highlights on any itinerary cannot be
guaranteed.
The German-built, 20,000-GRT Crystal
Endeavor will accommodate just
200 guests with elegantly casual,
expansive public spaces; all-suite,
butler-serviced guest rooms; Michelin-
inspired dining options including Master
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma &
Sushi Bar; full-service Crystal Life Salon
& Spa and state-of-the-art Fitness
Center. Expedition-specific amenities
and spaces will enhance guests’
experience, including designated
“mud rooms” and helicopter lounge.
The ship is being built at MV WERFTEN
Shipyard in Stralsund, Germany.
Golden Princess to feature ‘Best Wi-Fi at Sea’
Princess Cruises has advised that
MedallionNet- The Best Wi-Fi at Sea,
will be available onboard Australian
homeported Golden Princess from
20 December 2019 during the line’s
2019/2020 summer season.
Cruising out of Melbourne, guests
onboard Golden Princess will be the first
to enjoy the benefits of fast, reliable,
and unlimited internet service locally as
they sail on itineraries to New Zealand,
South Australia and the South Pacific.
“We’re delighted to announce
that Golden Princess will be the first
Australian-based ship to feature
MedallionNet – the fastest internet at
sea” said Princess Cruises Sales and
Marketing Director, Nick Ferguson.
Australian guests eager to experience
MedallionNet before it reaches
Australian shores can book fly-cruise
itineraries onboard the recently
activated Ruby Princess sailing
Alaska or Regal Princess sailing the
Baltic before each ship makes their
respective maiden Australian arrivals
in 2019 and 2020. The 113,000-tonne,
3084-guest Ruby Princess will arrive
in Australia MedallionNet ready on
23 October 2019 – sailing alongside
Majestic Princess for the line’s biggest
Australian season in history. A year
later, Regal Princess will form part of
Sydney’s record season by calling the
region home from 2 December 2020
and marking the first time in history
that Princess Cruises has deployed
two Royal-Class ships from the same
homeport outside the Caribbean.
This year, over half the Princess fleet will
be MedallionNet enabled, expanding
to a further five ships; Coral Princess
(April 5) and Island Princess (May 15)
in time for the Alaska season, Crown
Princess (June 30) and Emerald Princess
(August 3) for sailings through Europe
and on Sky Princess (October 12).
MedallionNet is also currently available
on Caribbean Princess and Royal
Princess.
Plans for New, State-of-the-art Staff Training Facility
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has
announced plans for the development
and construction of the Norwegian
Cruise Line Center of Excellence, a
new state-of-the-art shipboard team
member training facility near Manila
in the Philippines. The 18,580-square-
metre Center of Excellence will serve
both new and existing shipboard team
members across the Company.
The world class training campus will
enable the Company to fully immerse
trainees in their coursework, reduce
onboard training time and further
improve upon the already industry-
leading service levels.
The facilities have been designed to
provide trainees with realistic work
and living experiences aboard a
cruise ship, which will include replicas
of staterooms, a shipboard galley, a
casino floor, a full-service bar as well as
safety and security training areas.
www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au
21