The reflection of Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity sparkled on the surface of Nanaimo Harbour when it made its inaugural visit to the city this morning.
The ship, owned by Crystal Cruises, an American luxury cruise line based in Los Angeles, offers upscale cruises to destinations around the world including European river luxury excursions.
The Crystal Serenity, 250 metres in length with accommodations for 1,070 passengers, and with its fleet mate Crystal Symphony, conducts annual around-the-world voyages lasting about 110 days.
The ship is winding up an 11-day Alaska cruise and returns to Vancouver on Saturday (Aug.6), but is set to make history Aug. 16 when it sets sail from Anchorage, Alaska, for New York City on an expeditionary voyage through the Northwest Passage. Crystal Cruises is the first major luxury cruise line to attempt a sailing through the Northwest Passage.
The Crystal Serenity will be escorted by the icebreaker Ernest Shackleton, operated by the British Antarctic Survey.