Monday, June 26, 2017

Crystal (CrystalAir) cancels VIP air cruises on luxury Boeing 777

(Crystal Cruises)

Crystal Cruises has canceled its VIP air cruise program for the super affluent and offered refunds just weeks before its specially designed Boeing 777 is to be delivered.

The company will still accept delivery of its Crystal Skye Boeing 777-200LR on Aug. 1, but seven trips were affected by the move.

Travelers who booked on previously scheduled Crystal AirCruises journeys in 2017 and 2018 will receive a full refund, the company said. The luxury travel company said it would offer those passengers what it described as "a complimentary experience" on a Crystal ocean or river cruise in 2017 or 2018.

The canceled voyages, which were priced at up to $159,000 per person, are:


Aug. 31, 2017: Peninsula Grand Inaugural Crystal Air Cruise
Oct. 21, 2017: Around the World: Iconic Sites
Dec. 22, 2017: Holidays Around the World
March 31, 2018: Temples, Treasures & Safaris
June 1, 2018: Savoring the Winelands
Sept. 8, 2018: Exotic Adventures
Oct. 13, 2018: South Pacific Explorer

Instead, the Crystal Skye has been chartered for a 10-day, nine-night “Golden Week Holiday Air Cruise” between Friday, Sept. 29 to Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. The inaugural tour will start from Hong Kong or Macau, depending on client interest, the travel company said.

The luxury charter will be managed by Genting Hong Kong, Crystal’s Cruise's parent company.

“The Golden Week Holiday in China is an opportune time for the launch of Crystal AirCruises in Asia,” Genting Cruise Lines President Kent Zhu said in a news release. “The itinerary will be attractive to all Asians, including three-generation families, who often travel together during this extended holiday period. The detailed itinerary will be unveiled by the end of June."

The Crystal Skye, whose luxury interior was designed by Redmond-based Greenpoint Technologies and outfitted in Moses Lake, will then be available for charters and other special interest Air Cruises following that inaugural journey, the company said.

Crystal CEO and President Edie Rodriguez said the Crystal Skye "presents incomparable luxury travel options for guests and groups who wish to explore global destinations, events and culinary delights in multiple places, flying nonstop up to 19 hours between destinations.”


(Andrew McIntosh - Puget Sound Business Journal)

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