Royal Caribbean Group 'sSilversea Cruises acquired its new luxury expedition ship for $275 million.- The cruise vessel initially belonged to Crystal Cruises before the brand dramatically collapsed this year.
The cruise ship was delivered to Crystal Cruises in 2021 before the brand dramatically halted operations in February. Under its new management and name, the 200-passenger Silver Endeavour will return to sea with itineraries to Antarctica, servicing the growing number of "high-end, affluent customers" interested in expedition cruises, according to a press release.
Silversea's $275 million acquisition came at a steep discount: The cruise ship reportedly cost $385 million to build, making the vessel one of the most expensive cruise ships ever constructed, Gene Sloan reported for The Points Guy.
"With Endeavour, we are seeking to grow our ... fleet to meet the exceptional demand for ultra-luxury expedition cruising while also enhancing our profitability profile," Jason Liberty, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said in a press release.
Like any luxury expedition ship, the polar class ship can accommodate zodiac boats, kayaks, high-quality camera systems, and observation areas. But it wouldn't be a true cruise ship without recreational and leisure offerings. Besides expedition gear, the eight-deck vessel also has typical cruise amenities like a spa, several restaurants and bars, a swimming pool, and an almost equal ratio of guests to crew.
This new acquisition marks Silversea's fifth expedition ship in its now 11-ship fleet. And this addition comes at a fortuitous time: Silversea has been seeing strong demand for its expedition cruises, according to the company. In response, in late June, the Royal Caribbean Group's cruise brand added three additional Antarctica itineraries to its 2023 to 2024 cruise season.