The third time the charm. After at least two previous attempts to buy Crystal Cruises, Manfredi Lefebvre of Ovid (Forbes Billionaires, #1929, $1300 million) bought the bankrupt line logo and two transoceanic ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. This is your third adventure in the upper seas. In the late 1980s, his family circle sold Sitmar Cruises to P
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, industry publication Travel Weekly reports that the Serenity, built in 2003, sold for $103 million, and the Symphony, which debuted in 1995, came out for $25 million.
For 3 decades, Crystal has amassed award shelves from publications such as Travel Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Cruise Critic as the most productive luxury cruise line. She is also innovative in spaces such as specialty restaurants in partnership with celebrity Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa. consumers have spent six figures securing the same cabin each year for cruises around the world and other exotic itineraries that have lasted two to three months.
This time, Lefebvre will mix the luxury of the ocean with Abercrombie
In a statement, Lefebvre said: “I am extremely happy to begin this new bankruptcy and to be back in an industry that has had and will have a special position in my heart. “He added: “When the opportunity to win Crystal Cruises came up, I didn’t think twice. Having my amazing friend and inspirational leader Geoffrey Kent by my side makes this adventure even more enjoyable.
Obtained
Crystal’s ships have been moored since January, when Hong Kong-based parent company Genting led to a series of bankruptcies with its stakes in the cruise industry, adding a German shipyard.
Mary Jean Tully, one of the most sensible luxury cruise distributors and CEO of Tully Luxury Travel, said: “Manfredi is smart. . . I’m sure he’ll rehire the team (on board) the Crystal. This is what the good fortune of the company has done for all those years. “
The deal covers Crystal’s debts, adding up to $100 million in deposits for long-haul cruise ships that were canceled when the line closed. “Many consumers were burned by Crystal’s disappearance,” Tully adds.
Anne Scully, wife of luxury firm EmbarkBeyond, says of the new buyer: “It couldn’t be better. Look at how Manfredi built Silversea from the ground up to become the top-rated luxury cruise line in its elegance in just a few years. He is a legend in the industry. I think it’s smart for the industry. “
Scully points out that Lefebvre is up there with competitors. Viking Cruises founder and president Torstein Hagen named one of the restaurants on his oceanic ships Manfredi.
You may not be surprised if incentives or credits are presented to former Crystal consumers and those who have lost money. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea to say thank you for your support. Manfredi is very smart and builds more productive teams, and everything he does has been very customer-centric. I’m expecting some other winner. “
James Shillinglaw, editor-in-chief of Insider Travel Report, adds, “It’s wonderful that he’s back in the cruise industry. “choice” for A
It also expects long-term orders for new ships. “The ships (Crystal Ocean) have been superbly maintained, but the service life will be limited at some point. If you need to be successful, you have to order new boats,” Shillinglaw said.
According to the press release, the law firm Paul Hastings LLP acted on behalf of A