Crystal enters 2026 on the crest of strong commercial momentum, high guest satisfaction, and renewed confidence from both guests and the global travel advisor community, marking the next chapter in the brand’s carefully considered revival.
Following its acquisition by A&K Travel Group in 2022, Crystal underwent a methodical and highly visible transformation.
The brand’s two ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, returned to service in 2023 after extensive multi-million-dollar refurbishments, re-emerging with larger, refined suites, enhanced public spaces and a renewed focus on space, service and sophisticated elegance.
Susan Haberle, A&K and Crystal vice-president for sales and partnerships in Australia and New Zealand remarked on the occasion: “For more than three decades, Crystal has represented a very particular standard of luxury at sea. What we are seeing now is the result of deliberate investment in the things that matter most to our guests: space, service, thoughtful design and experiences. This along with our investment in our Trade Sales team to support our partners to grow their Crystal business has resulted in the momentum we are experiencing heading into 2026. We as always thank our partners so much for all their support of Crystal.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Crystal enters the year from a position of strength, with bookings tracking ahead of prior years and a clear concentration of demand across its most sought-after itineraries.
A solid partnership
Crystal’s pioneering partnership with sister brand Abercrombie & Kent, brought to life through the ‘By Abercrombie & Kent’ program, continues to set the brand apart, extending the experience far beyond the ship.
Throughout 2025, Crystal significantly expanded this portfolio of A&K-curated journeys, integrating immersive shore experiences, overland adventures and pre- and post-cruise extensions directly into its itineraries.
Crystal’s momentum in 2025 was further reinforced by continued investment in the fleet, including a drydock for Crystal Symphony in late 2025, focused on further refining guest suites, public spaces and technical systems to enhance both comfort and sustainability.
The brand’s evolution has also been validated by industry recognition. In 2025, Crystal was named the Top Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, a title the brand held for nearly 30 consecutive years prior to its pause and relaunch.
Additionally, the brands announced a transformative new chapter for A&K’s Expedition Cruises division through a strategic partnership with Crystal collaborating to deliver A&K's celebrated cultural voyages aboard Crystal's award-winning fleet.
The initial August 2026 sailing sold out within weeks and 10 more voyages are scheduled for 2027.
A time for stabilisation
2025 marked Crystal’s second full year of operations, representing an important period of stabilisation and growth.
Throughout the past year, the brand achieved net positive profitability, a foundation that continues to translate into strong demand.
As of press time, the 2026 Asia season is nearing capacity, with Alaska also filling fast, and the Mediterranean and Northern Europe continuing to perform exceptionally strong.
Select sailings remain available, particularly on summer and autumn voyages, including in The Americas and Caribbean and Europe and the Mediterranean.
The art of refined luxury cruising
Long regarded as the grand dame of luxury ocean cruising, Crystal offers an experience that feels closer to staying in one of the world’s greatest hotels than a conventional cruise.
With one of the highest guest-to-space ratio at sea and nearly one crew member per guest, life onboard is defined by calm sophistication, intuitive service and a sense of being genuinely looked after.
Dining remains a cornerstone of the Crystal experience, with nine restaurants across the fleet, including Umi Uma, the only dining venue at sea by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the ocean’s only Beefbar in collaboration with visionary restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi, and a specially curated Osteria d’Ovidio menu by three-time Michelin-starred Italian chef Massimiliano and celebrated restaurateur Raffaele Alajmo.
Additionally, each vessel offers Le Casino de Monte-Carlo, created in partnership with Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. Wellness and enrichment are equally integral, from the Aurōra Spa to Broadway-standard entertainment and thoughtfully curated cultural programming.
Sailing into the future
Crystal’s confidence in its long-term future is underscored by the announcement of Crystal Grace, the brand’s first new ocean ship in 25 years, scheduled for delivery in May 2028.
The 650-guest, all-suite vessel will represent a natural evolution of Crystal’s design and service philosophy, with generous public spaces, world-class dining and one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the segment.
Per current information, Crystal Grace’s 2028 inaugural season is set to go on sale in April of this year.
