Crystal Symphony

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Crystal Symphony, Fremantle, 2018 (03).jpg
Crystal Symphony departing from Fremantle, Australia
History
NameCrystal Symphony
Owner
Operator
Port of registry Nassau, Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
Ordered1992
Builder Kværner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
CostUS$250 million
Yard number1323
Launched5 January 1995
Completed1995
In service3 May 1995
Identification
StatusSold in Freeport, Bahamas for US$25 million
General characteristics
Tonnage51,044  GT
Length238 m (781 ft)
Beam30.18 m (99.02 ft)
Draught7.59 m (24.90 ft)
Decks
  • 12 decks
  • 8 decks passenger accessible
Installed power
  • Six Wärtsilä-Sulzer diesel engines
  • 25,260 kW (33,880 hp) (combined)
Propulsion Diesel-electric; two shafts
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (service)
  • 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (maximum)
Capacity650 passengers
Crew495

Crystal Symphony is a cruise ship owned by Abercrombie & Kent and operated for Crystal Cruises. She was built in 1995 at Kværner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland. [1] She is the oldest vessel in the Crystal Cruises fleet.

Contents

Concept and construction

Crystal Symphony was ordered in December 1992 and entered service in May 1995. [1]

The ship was docked in Sydney Harbour for the Olympics in 2000.

The ship was refitted a second time in 2006. [2] This process, which cost US$23 million, was the largest refit ever for Crystal Cruises. [2] During this refit, Crystal employed over 750 external workers to join the existing 545 crew to ensure a timely completion. [2] The refit was done in BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair in Norfolk, Virginia. [2]

In 2009 Crystal Symphony underwent a third refit costing US$25 million. [3] The refit was completed at Boston Ship Repair's South Boston Dry dock.[ citation needed ]

In June 2012, the ship completed a two-week "extreme makeover" done by 1,100 workers (including the crew) at the Blohm + Voss docks in Germany. [4] [5]

Insolvency and arrest

At the beginning of 2022, Crystal Cruises' parent company, Genting Hong Kong, was experiencing financial difficulties. Due to the outstanding balance of approximately $4.6 million in fuel bills, [6] a warrant was issued in January 2022 for the vessel's arrest should it re-enter U.S. waters. [7] As a result, the ship changed course to Bimini, Bahamas, and arrangements were made to transport its passengers back to the United States. [7] Genting Hong Kong subsequently filed for bankruptcy and suspended operations of its cruise ships. Thereafter, on February 4, 2022, both Crystal Symphony and its sister ship, Crystal Serenity , were arrested in Bahamian waters. [6] The ships were then placed under the management of V.Ships Leisure, which was appointed by the liquidators to assume control of Crystal's ships. [8]

Change of ownership

On June 22, 2022, it was announced that A&K Travel Group had purchased the brand and two ocean vessels of the bankrupt cruise line, intending to return the ships to service in 2023. [9] The Crystal Symphony was acquired for $25 million. [10]

Beginning in July 2022, the ship underwent a refurbishment in Trieste, Italy, [11] and on September 1, 2023, returned to service under the Crystal Cruises brand. [12]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Crystal Symphony Fact Sheet". Crystal Cruises. 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A New Crystal Symphony To Emerge Following Crystal Cruises' Largest-Ever Dry Dock This Fall" (Press release). Crystal Cruises. 30 August 2006. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Final Touches Complete Crystal Symphony's Dramatic New Look". Crystal Cruises. 9 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Big Reveal: Crystal Symphony Completes Dazzling Extreme Ship Makeover". Crystal Cruises. 18 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Extreme Makeover: Crystal Symphony Dry Dock 2012 - Photos". Crystal Cruises. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  6. 1 2 Walker, Jim (5 February 2022). "Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity Arrested in Freeport, Bahamas". Cruise Law News. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Cruise diverted to Bahamas after arrest warrant issued for Crystal Symphony". WPLG. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Crystal Cruises Shutting Down; V.Ships To Manage Ships". Cruise Industry News. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Gollan, Doug (22 June 2022). "A&K Purchase Of Crystal Cruises Receives Applause From Travel Industry". Forbes. New York. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Kalosh, Anne (15 June 2022). "Crystal Symphony, Serenity reported sold for $128m". Seatrade Cruise News. seatrade-cruise.com. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Crystal Cruises".
  12. ↑ "Crystal Symphony Returns to Service Following Multi-million Dollar Refurbishment". Crystal Cruises. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
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