During Seatrade Cruise Global 2016, Crystal Cruises officially revealed its Crystal Luxury Air brand?s Bombardier Global Express XRS jet, set to begin charters next month in April 2016, and my father and assistant, Mark Leppert, was on site to capture photos and additional details while I covered another concurrent event. The unveiling occurred when the company also announced its latest Crystal Endeavor megayacht new-build.

Accommodating 12 guests, down from the originally announced 13, the aircraft will mark the start of Crystal?s foray into air service, supporting the company?s other travel itineraries with private flights. The cost averages out to $8,000 per hour, what Crystal president and CEO, Edie Rodriguez, considers a value when shared among 6 couples compared to first class on Emirates. ?Crystal Luxury Air will open tremendous possibilities for luxury travelers seeking the next level of ease and exclusivity during their journeys,? said Rodriguez. ?And in the spirit of all things Crystal, and ensuring we offer customization to our guests, Crystal Luxury Air allows our travel agent partners and guests the ability to truly customize their vacation experiences to privately fly to combine our cruise, yacht, river, residence, and air experiences.?
Credit: Mark Leppert
The jet has been refitted with three separate cabins dedicated to business activities, relaxation and sleep. The forward cabin features four executive wide club seats with foldout tables. The mid cabin is ...