Crystal Esprit Explained

Crystal Esprit is a cruise ship previously operated by Crystal Cruises. Built by Flender Werft in Lübeck, Germany, she was laid down in 1988 and floated out as Lady Diana in 1989. She was completed in December 1991 as Aurora I. She and sister ship Aurora II were purchased by Star Cruises in 1994. Aurora I was renamed Megastar Taurus and served from 1994 until being laid up in 2008.

In July 2015, Crystal Cruises announced that she would join its fleet as Crystal Esprit,[1] and on December 20, 2015, she was rechristened at Eden Island Marina in Mahé, Seychelles, by Lady Gaenor Anne Meakes (fiancée of yachtsman Mark Richards).

In September 2021, Crystal announced that they had sold the all-suite ship following a review of its post-pandemic offering.[2] The new owner is Lindblad Expeditions, which has renamed her National Geographic Islander II and intends to base her in the Galapagos Islands, replacing its current, in its the alliance with National Geographic Travel.[3] [4] The ship was christened in October 2022.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Machan. Teresa. Submarines and underwater weddings: cruising for the mega-rich has arrived. January 7, 2016. The Daily Telegraph (London). July 20, 2015.
  2. News: Kalosh . Anne . Crystal sells its all-suite yacht, Crystal Esprit . November 2, 2021 . Seatrade Cruise News . September 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210909055653/https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/crystal-sells-its-all-suite-yacht-crystal-esprit . September 9, 2021.
  3. News: Jainchill . Johanna . Crystal Esprit's new owner, Lindblad, will deploy yacht in the Galapagos . November 2, 2021 . Travel Weekly . September 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019173638/https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Crystal-Esprit-buyer-Lindblad-Expeditions-operating-ship-Galapagos . October 19, 2021.
  4. News: National Geographic Expeditions Buys Tour Operator to Enter Land Vacation Market . April 16, 2022 . Skift . May 5, 2017.
  5. Web site: Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Officially Names Newest Vessel, National Geographic Islander II. October 27, 2022. Lindblad Expeditions . https://web.archive.org/web/20221028140419/https://world.expeditions.com/about/press-room/lindblad-expeditions-national-geographic-officially-names-newest-vessel-national-geographic-islander-ii/ . October 28, 2022.

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