Due to high customer interest in river cruising, Crystal Cruises has doubled its order for new river cruise
ships to four and has purchased the Mozart, a former Peter Deilmann vessel.
Crystal also has selected names for its river ships and
has unveiled details about ship features and itineraries. Cruises go on sale Nov.
30.
Following an extensive renovation, the redesigned Mozart
will be renamed Crystal Mozart. Crystal will reduce the number of suites and
increase suite sizes, transforming a 203-passenger vessel into a 160-passenger
one. It is scheduled to set sail on July 13, 2016.
The Mozart was built in 1987 and was owned by Peter Deilmann
Cruises until that company filed for bankruptcy in 2009. Most recently, it had
been sailing as part of the Euro River Cruises fleet.
The updated Crystal Mozart will feature 203-square-foot
window suites, 215-square-foot deluxe suites, a 322-square-foot penthouse
suite, and two 860-square-foot Crystal Suites, each with with two bedrooms (the
largest suites on any river cruise vessel, Crystal said).
The Crystal Mozart, a former Peter Deilmann ship, is due to enter service in July 2016.
Crystal said some of the vessel’s current features will
remain, such as a public area that spans a single level, multiple dining rooms,
a wraparound promenade, a spa and fitness center, an indoor pool, a beauty
salon, and a library.
The Crystal Mozart will sail the Danube through Austria,
Germany, Slovakia, Hungry and Serbia.
In August, Crystal announced the construction of two
yacht-style ships at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Germany, and targeted March
2017 for the launch. Now, Lloyd Werft will build four ships, and launch dates
have been pushed back to June and August 2017.
The 110-passenger Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler will sail
on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, and the 84-passenger Crystal Ravel and
Crystal Debussy will sail France’s Seine and Garonne rivers.
All of the vessels will have 220-square-foot suites, 250-square-foot
deluxe suites, a 500-square-foot penthouse suite and a two-bedroom 750-foot Crystal
Suite. The suites will feature king-size beds, walk-in wardrobes and bathrooms
with double vanities.
Similar to the Crystal Mozart, the new river yachts will
have their public areas and dining venues located on one level. The new
vessels will feature a Palm Court with a dance floor and a glass-domed roof, a
library, a fitness center, a spa, and sporting equipment such as electric
bicycles, kayaks and water scooters.
Crystal will dedicate a portion of each cruise to sailing
during daytime hours, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy the nightlife in destinations
where ships will spend the night. Crystal will offer onshore culinary
experiences at Michelin-starred restaurants, evening events and cultural
entertainment.
For daytime excursions, Crystal will offer Crystal
Adventures or Active Exploration Adventures. The Crystal Adventures will take
place on luxury motorcoaches with complimentary Wi-Fi and local guides. For
guests who want exercise, Active Exploration Adventures will offer complimentary
excursions.