New 20,000 ton Crystal Endeavor being built in German yard.
Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel was guest of honour last Tuesday at the keel-laying ceremony at the MV Werften shipyard in Stralsund for the 20,000-ton 200-berth luxury Ice Class expedition ship Crystal Endeavor.
According to Seatrade Cruise News, Merkel said it was an emotional day for her as she returned to her political home, Mecklenburg Vorpommern. ”People here in Stralsund will always do their best to create great value … We know how to compete. We are very proud in Mecklenburg Vorpommern and Germany and we want to make the label “Made in MV” an attraction,” she said.
Genting Hong Kong chairman and ceo Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay was also in attendance as part of Genting’s plan to revive shipbuilding on the northern shores of Germany. Historically, Germany has built 25% of the world’s cruise ships. Thanks to Genting Hong Kong’s investment, that will now go up to 35% by 2020, said Lim.
After a spate of European river ship introductions, Crystal Endeavor’s keel-laying shifts the focus back to Crystal’s ocean-going itineraries.
The Crystal Endeavor’s 20,000-ton sister ship is now scheduled for delivery in 2021, a year later than had been planned. And the Crystal Diamond, the line’s first 65,000-tonner, will follow in 2022.
Crystal Endeavor is now open for bookings for her first season, running from August 2020 through January 2021. And some 25% of her inaugural Antarctic seasion is already booked.
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