Crystal Cruises president and chief executive Edi Rodriguez has announced that the operator is building the world?s first purpose-built polar class megayacht. Measuring 183m long, the 25,000gt newbuild with 100 guest suites will be the largest megayacht afloat, the cruise operator said.
Crystal Endeavor Rendering
During a press event at the Seatrade Cruise Global convention in Florida, she said the line?s first-ever expedition megayacht, Crystal Endeavor will debut in August 2018.  The vessel will be designed for global expeditions in Arctic, Antarctic and tropical conditions.
Crystal said the megayacht will be the first purpose-built Polar Code-compliant yacht in the world with a PC6 Polar Class designation. It means that Crystal Endeavor will be able to cruise in Polar Regions during the summer and autumn in medium ?first year? ice which may include old ice inclusions. It will also be fitted with the state-of-the-art offshore dynamic positioning technology, with computer-controlled systems to automatically maintain the ship’s position with its own propellers and thrusters. This will enable the megayacht to float atop coral reefs and other underwater wonders without utilising anchors, which can damage the terrain in waters too deep for anchors. With the state-of-the-art offshore dynamic positioning technology, Crystal Endeavor will cruise in the Arctic; then follow the route of migrating whales along the coast of the Americas and Europe to Antarctica during the ...