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”.
Crystal Serenity (pictured) and Crystal Symphony will return to service in 2023 under the same brand
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.