Cruising : Crystal Endeavor Expands Inaugural Season in Iceland with Two New September Sailings

  MIAMI, FL – Today, Crystal Expedition Cruises announced two new September voyages exploring the Land of Fire and Ice for Crystal Endeavor including the addition of a sixth 10-night Luxury Iceland Expedition scheduled to embark on September 5 round-trip from Reykjavík.

The company also added a new 13-night voyage Iceland to the Thames River: Isles of the North Atlantic that will begin on September 15 with an overnight in Reykjavík before departing to explore Iceland, the Arctic Circle, Faroe Islands, Orkney Islands, and the Shetland Islands, with a call in remote Fair Isle, concluding with overnight calls in Edinburgh (Leith), where Crystal Endeavor will dock for the night just steps from the Royal Yacht Britannia followed by a cruise up the River Thames to dock in the heart of London.

  These new voyages replace previously scheduled itineraries that included calls in Norway, which has now imposed new travel restrictions.

  “Iceland has proven to be an exceptional destination for the launch of Crystal Endeavor’s expedition experiences with abundant opportunities for sea kayaking, Zodiac cruising, waterfall and volcano viewing, and nature hikes including across the Arctic Circle,” said Jack Anderson, president of Crystal.

“The feedback we are receiving from guests is that they’ve been thrilled with Iceland as a destination and the unique up-close adventures we are able to launch directly from the ship as well as the extraordinary wildlife encounters. Additionally, Reykjavík offers travelers convenient air options, just six hours from New York City and three hours from London, with frequent non-stop flights from many major cities in the U.S. and Europe.”

 Crystal Endeavor has been cruising Iceland since her debut on July 17.

 The new, and sixth in the series, 10-night Luxury Iceland Expedition voyage replaces the previously scheduled 10-night Journey of Vikings: Iceland & Norway voyage, to now feature bold adventures circumnavigating Iceland and the chance to witness the famed Dynjandi and Goðafoss Waterfalls.

Beginning with an overnight in Reykjavík, calls include Flatey Island, Latrabjarg Cliffs, Ísafjörður, Vigur Island, Siglufjörður, Akureyri, Grimsey Island (Arctic Circle), Seyðisfjörður, Djúpivogur, Vestmannaeyjar (Heimaey Island), and cruise Surtsey Island.

  Guests on this Luxury Iceland Expedition itinerary will have the chance to experience remote Flatey Island with its colorful village and wandering sheep, the rugged and dramatic beauty of the Westfjords, and even a walk along the Arctic Circle during a call on Grimsey Island.

Seyðisfjörður’s spectacular fjords offer protected waters for kayaking, while Heimaey’s wonderland of caves and rock formations makes for exciting Zodiac excursions. Guests can join a 4×4 adventure through the Valley of the Waterfalls in Djúpivogur and will cruise alongside the UNESCO-listed Surtsey Island, to view the world’s youngest island, born by an underwater eruption in 1963.

  The new 13-night voyage Iceland to the Thames River: Isles of the North Atlantic replaces the originally scheduled Norwegian Fjords & Scottish Isles with a revised itinerary exchanging calls in Norway with an overnight in Reykjavík and calls in Ísafjörður, Grimsey Island, and Seyðisfjörður, Iceland; as well as an exploration of the Faroe Islands; and a new call-in Fair Isle,

The Shetland Islands. Originally scheduled calls in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, and Kirkwall, the Orkney Islands as well as overnights in Edinburgh (Leith) and London remain.

 The 13-night voyage offers guests the chance for Icelandic adventures, from Reykjavík’s famed Blue Lagoon to helicopter flightseeing above an active volcano, whale-watching, waterfall hikes, sea kayaking, and nature walks along the Arctic Circle.

Collectors of rare experiences will appreciate the chance to visit Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, the most remote of the UK’s permanently inhabited islands.

Fair Isle is known for its namesake sweaters and as one of the best places to see rare birds who use the island as a stop on their spring and autumn migrations. Kirkwall boasts the 12^th century St. Magnus Cathedral and its churchyard of ancient tombstones, and the archipelagos of the Faroe, Shetland, and the Orkney Islands all present the promise of exciting expedition adventures.

 All-inclusive cruise fares for the new September 5 Luxury Iceland Expedition and Thames River: Isles of the North Atlantic starts at $13,999 per guest, including limited-time Book Now Savings of $3,000 and As You Wish shipboard credits of $300 per guest.

Returning guests will enjoy double Crystal Society Savings of five percent, while new-to-Crystal guests will save 2.5 percent on their voyage, with solo fares starting at just 150 percent.

 Guests who book back-to-back voyages combining the 10-day Luxury Iceland Expedition (September 5) and the 13-day Iceland to the Thames River: Isles of the North Atlantic (September 15) will enjoy five percent cruise fare savings.

Back-to-back savings are also available to guests who book back-to-back voyages comprising any two or more of the following cruise departures: September 5, September 15, and September 28. Travelers with Future Cruise Credits and Future Cruise Payments may also redeem them on these itineraries.

All guests will also enjoy reduced deposits of 15 percent and an extended final payment date of 60 days prior to sailing providing flexibility and ease in the return to travel.

  Featuring her own fleet of 18 Zodiacs and 14 sea kayaks, Crystal Endeavor was purpose-built to offer a true expedition experience including a Polar Class 6 (PC6) classification that enables her to sail in Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Exploration equipment aboard the ship includes a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) to view the sea at a 300-meter (almost 1,000 feet) depth and a Gimble long-range camera mounted on the mast that can zoom in to view wildlife and scenery over a mile away.

  The camera system shoots 4K video that streams directly on the HD TVs throughout the ship including public areas and guest suites, and on the large 65-inch screens in Palm Court, the 86-inch screens in the Expedition Lounge and on the Cove’s video wall, with a massive 218-inch center screen and two 145-inch side screens.

Camera operator control locations in the Palm Court and in the Expedition Lounge offer interactive activity between the camera operator and guests, who can point out sights they would like to see up close.

  All ports of call aboard Crystal Endeavor’s Iceland voyages feature complimentary exploration adventures – from kayaking to Zodiac excursions to walking tours – all led by naturalist experts from the ship’s expedition team.

Expedition leaders and guides for Crystal Endeavor’s 10-night Iceland Expedition include polar expert Maria Cashin, ornithologist Joe Cockram, marine biologist Kirsty Venter, and geologist Bob Gilmore. Cashin, Cockram, and Venter will also lead expeditions on the 13-night Iceland to the Thames River: Isles of the North Atlantic voyage along with artist-in-residence David McEown who will instruct guests in capturing memorable sights during the voyage in drawings and sketches.

  The German-built 20,200 GRT Crystal Endeavor is the ninth ship in the award-winning cruise line’s worldwide fleet, the fastest and most powerful expedition ship in the industry.

At 100 gross tons and 10,000 cubic feet per guest and a passenger space ratio of more than 100, she has the largest space per guest of any ship at sea.

Luxuriously designed to offer discerning travelers elegantly expansive private and public spaces, the ship accommodates just 200 guests in 100 well-appointed all-verandah, all-butler serviced suites, among the largest and most spacious in expedition cruising. A one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio delivers the personal and genuine service for which Crystal is known.

  Throughout the ship, Crystal hallmarks accent guests’ onboard experience: Michelin-inspired dining options including Umi Uma, the first and only Japanese restaurant on an expedition ship, fine Italian cuisine at Prego, 24-hour room service, and optional Vintage Room experience; the only casino on an expedition yacht; a glass-covered, two-story solarium – housing the Seahorse Pool and Jacuzzi – providing panoramic views from the sea to the sky; and the full-service Crystal Life Salon & Spa with a state-of-the-art Fitness Center; as well as a wrap-around Promenade Deck, an iconic Crystal design element.

About Crystal

 Only the world-renowned Crystal Experience offers an unwavering, unparalleled standard of excellence and luxury across four distinct cruising options: Crystal Cruises, the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line; Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line; Crystal Yacht Cruises, offering boutique luxury and bold adventure in the world’s most elite harbors; and Crystal Expedition Cruises, taking Crystal’s acclaimed elegance to the farthest reaches of the world.

Crystal has been recognized with top honors in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for a record 27 years including, in 2019, for Best Medium-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Cruises, Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for Crystal Yacht Cruises, and Best River Cruise Line for Crystal River Cruises.

Crystal was also voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure for 24 years, including, in 2017 and 2020, Best River Cruise Line for Crystal River Cruises; and won “Cruise Line of the Year” and “Most Luxurious Guest Experience” by Virtuoso for 2018 & 2019. Crystal is proud to be a platinum partner of the advisors of ASTA.