The resurrected Crystal luxury cruise line has extended its plan to compensate guests and travel advisors who lost money when the old Crystal Cruises collapsed in early 2022.
Crystal on Thursday said it would credit guests who lost money on bookings for Crystal’s expedition ship and five river ships. The original program was limited to funds lost on bookings for the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, two ocean ships that the new Crystal is renovating and reintroducing this summer.
Similar to the original plan, guests must book five cruises with the new Crystal to get the full credit.
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To qualify for the expanded program, eligible guests must apply directly for the credit with Crystal by Aug. 1. The line instructs that customers should file because applications filed by travel advisors will result in a delay of the verification process.
Eligible applicants must hold a verified claim in the Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors process in the Crystal Cruises LLC case. The court claim must still be valid with sums currently outstanding and owned, minus any funds returned by the legal assignee, credit card companies, insurance or other compensation.
For travel advisors to be eligible to claim lost commissions, the advisor must be named in the customer’s claim and must be registered with the new Crystal brand. The first credit must be applied to a booking made on or before Oct. 1, 2023.
The customer credit will be split evenly among the newly booked cruises and will be applied to the final payment.
Should the credit exceed the final payment, excess funds will be applied to the deposit. Should the credit exceed the total charge, the difference will be forfeited and the invoice will be considered fully settled.
Crystal said the decision to broaden the claim is a direct result of feedback received from guests and travel advisors.
Crystal’s former expedition ship is now sailing for Silversea as the Silver Endeavour. Crystal’s former Europe river ships were acquired by startup Riverside Luxury Cruises. The Mozart re-entered service earlier this year.