Crystal Endeavor left Reykjavik on Sunday (July 18) for the expedition yacht’s maiden voyage, a 10-night circumnavigation of Iceland.
The inaugural voyage marks the first in a series of five Luxury Iceland Expedition sailings which include Zodiac trips and kayaking excursions launched directly from the ship.
The cruise line said Endeavor is “the most spacious, fastest and most powerful expedition ship” in the industry.
It can sail in Arctic and Antarctic waters and carries 200 guests in 100 all-verandah, all-butler serviced suites.
Onboard, there are 18 Zodiacs, 14 sea kayaks, snorkel gear, and a six-guest submersible plus two helicopters in selected regions of the world.
More: New ship Crystal Endeavor set for maiden voyage
Exploration equipment aboard the ship includes a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) to view the sea at a 300-metre depth and a long-range camera on the mast that can zoom in to view wildlife and scenery over a mile away.
All ports of call for Crystal Endeavor’s Iceland voyages feature free excursions led by naturalist experts from the ship’s expedition team.
Crystal Endeavor’s expedition leaders and guides for its Iceland voyages include a marine biologist, ornithologist, geologist/glaciologist, historian, two professional photographers, polar expedition specialists and an artist-in-residence who will encourage guests to capture travel memories with snapshot sketches and drawings.
Jack Anderson, president of Crystal, said: “Our new expedition yacht will take our guests further than ever before on bold adventures to the far corners of the globe and offering explorations, enrichment and immersive experiences beyond anything they’ve experienced before.”
All passengers and crew are fully vaccinated
After the Iceland series, it Crystal Endeavor will embark on a 10-night sailing to Tromso in Norway. Additional departures in the autumn include the 13-night Norwegian Fjords & Scottish Isles Exploration from Tromso to London, departing September 15, and the 11-night Breton, Bordeaux and Beyond from London to Lisbon departing September 28.