THERE will be no change in existing management and business direction at Crystal Cruises despite the acquisition by Genting Hong Kong announced last month.
Edie Rodriguez, president and COO of the luxury cruise line, said: “Genting lets us run independently and our plan in Asia remains unchanged. With published itineraries through 1Q2018, we will certainly continue to call on Asia. In fact, our third vessel is targeted to deliver in 2018.”
“We hosted a travel consultant dinner in Hong Kong last week and some of their talk included if Genting would turn Crystal Cruises into Star Cruises. This is absolutely not (true) and we’ll sail on our own.”
Rodriguez told TTG Asia e-Daily the only think she could reveal prior to the closing of the deal is that Crystal Cruises intends to maintain its guest-to-space ratio, guest capacity and on-board ambience.
The US$550 million deal closes in six weeks’ time.
Asian travellers account for 10 per cent of Crystal Cruises’ business and Rodriguez said the company would grow this segment organically.
Travel consultants contribute 96 per cent of Crystal Cruises’ business.
