Crystal Symphony. Photo: Shutterstock Luxury cruise line Crystal is expanding its cruise program and unveiling a series of new itineraries for October 2028 to May 2029, with cruises in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean, South America and the Atlantic Ocean.
At the center of the plan is Crystal Grace, the company's new ship currently under construction at Fincantieri shipyards and expected to join the fleet in 2028.
After its launch season, the ship will set sail for South America for the first time in February 2029, on a journey that will connect some of the continent's most prominent destinations and events.
Crystal Grace will first sail Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale starting in November 2028, then head south.
In February 2029, her first season in South America will begin, with a cruise along the coast of Brazil and an extended stay in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival season.
From there, the ship will continue to Uruguay and Argentina, before heading towards Patagonia.
On February 27, a cruise in the Cape Horn area is planned, followed by an entry into the fjords of Chile, with visits to Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco, Castro, Puerto Monte and Valparaiso.
From there, Crystal Grace will continue north along the Pacific coast of South America, with visits to Peru and Ecuador.
The ship is expected to make its first transit of the Panama Canal on March 22, 2029, one of the highlights of the new itinerary. After returning to the Caribbean and Central America, it will continue to Bermuda, cross the Atlantic to the Azores, and also visit Madeira, the Canary Islands and Morocco, before concluding the itinerary in Lisbon on May 2, 2029.
The new announcement also includes itineraries for the company's two older ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.
Crystal Symphony will operate routes in Japan and South Korea, and later continue to Taiwan, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Among the innovations are new ports of call in Japan, including Akita, Amami and Kumamoto, along with additional new destinations in the Asia Pacific region.
Crystal Serenity will depart Fort Lauderdale in December 2028 and continue through Central America and Mexico to itineraries in the Pacific, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Australia and Southeast Asia.
Crystal is in a significant phase of expansion after Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group acquired the brand in 2022.
The two ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. have since undergone renovations with a total investment of approximately $170 million, and at the same time the company began building a new generation of ships.
Crystal Grace is expected to be the first and enter operation in 2028, followed by two additional sister ships in 2031 and 2034.
The new ship will be the first Crystal has built in about 25 years. It will feature 337 suites and is designed to accommodate about 650 passengers in double occupancy, reflecting the company's focus on a relatively intimate luxury product and a high staff-to-guest ratio.
As mentioned, the new itineraries will be available for booking starting October 20, 2026, with Crystal Grace's journey to South America emerging as one of the company's new flagship products.