The Crystal Cruises brand along with luxury vessels Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are now part of A&K Travel Group, and plans are underway to return the ships to service in 2023 after extensive refurbishment.
In a press release, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, co-chairman of A&K Travel Group, Crystal Cruises and Abercrombie & Kent, said he is “thrilled to start this new chapter and to be back in an industry that has always had, and always will have a special place in my heart”.
The Lefebvre family acquired control of Sitmar Cruises 35 years ago and pioneered a new way of cruising, but the business was eventually sold away.
“Selling the cruise business that belonged to my family for a quarter of a century was a difficult decision, as I knew I would miss this industry immensely. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to acquire Crystal Cruises, I did not think about it twice,” d’Ovidio said.
Geoffrey Kent, co-chairman of A&K Travel Group and Crystal Cruises, and founder, co-chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Kent, commented: “The idea of combining the unparalleled onboard service that Crystal Cruises is known for, with the extraordinary tailor-made experiences Abercrombie & Kent has been successfully providing for our guests for the past 60 years, fills me with excitement, enthusiasm and pride.”
Crystal Cruises and Abercrombie & Kent will report to Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group.
The Crystal Cruises brand along with luxury vessels Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are now part of A&K Travel Group, and plans are underway to return the ships to service in 2023 after extensive refurbishment.
In a press release, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, co-chairman of A&K Travel Group, Crystal Cruises and Abercrombie & Kent, said he is “thrilled to start this new chapter and to be back in an industry that has always had, and always will have a special place in my heart”.
The Lefebvre family acquired control of Sitmar Cruises 35 years ago and pioneered a new way of cruising, but the business was eventually sold away.
“Selling the cruise business that belonged to my family for a quarter of a century was a difficult decision, as I knew I would miss this industry immensely. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to acquire Crystal Cruises, I did not think about it twice,” d’Ovidio said.
Geoffrey Kent, co-chairman of A&K Travel Group and Crystal Cruises, and founder, co-chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Kent, commented: “The idea of combining the unparalleled onboard service that Crystal Cruises is known for, with the extraordinary tailor-made experiences Abercrombie & Kent has been successfully providing for our guests for the past 60 years, fills me with excitement, enthusiasm and pride.”
Crystal Cruises and Abercrombie & Kent will report to Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group.