Crystal Cruises announced overnight that it would be launching a 200-passenger polar class megayacht to be named Crystal Endeavor – with a design that looks uncannily similar the Scenic Eclipse.
Both ships boast similar specs and appear aimed at the same luxury expedition market. They are even being launched in the same month – August 2018.
Last night, Scenic – who are taking bookings for the Eclipse – declined to comment publicly, but a spokesperson maintained their vessel was “100 per cent going ahead” and pointed out their announcement of a “world first” was well before that of Crystal.
Scenic made their designs public at a major gala dinner in January, while Crystal announced their project at the Seatrade Miami conference yesterday.
Crystal Endeavor has an impressive list of credentials – it will be the “first purpose built yacht in the world” with a PC6 Polar Class designation. Dynamic positioning technology will enable her to float above delicate coral reefs without damaging them.
Onboard, all suites will be a minimum of 400 square feet and the two luxurious Owner’s Suites will be a massive 3,122 square feet and feature two bedrooms, a private conservatory and garden, and an outdoor Jacuzzi. The ship will be stocked with plenty of toys, including two helicopters, two seven-person submarines, eight Zodiacs, jet skis and wave runners.
The design, the specs, the onboard features are almost identical to the “game changer” Scenic Eclipse yacht announced in January, and which was described as “three years in the making”.
The vessel was created by Scenic owner and ship designer Glen Moroney.
Scenic said of the ship at their launch announcement: “Three years in planning, the launch of Scenic’s Ocean Cruising Line heralds a new direction for the award winning luxury travel operator which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.”
You can see renderings of the two vessels in the image gallery below – do you think the ships look similar? Tell us below.
Well spotted. However, according to a release on PR Newswire, the Crystal vessel will be constructed at “the Lloyd Werft Group, a collection of four shipyards in Bremerhaven, Germany, which has built over a thousand vessels, including cruise ships, ice-breakers, and megayachts.” We know that the Scenic vessel is supposed to be built in Croatia by The Uljanik Group. It is not inconceivable that sharing of design (or copying!) may have taken place between the two. Would be interesting to find out who the naval architect was in each case.