- A second Crystal Cruises ship is on course for Bimini after the company said Aruba turned away Crystal Serenity.
- The ship had been scheduled to arrive at Oranjestad late Saturday to disembark passengers today, after which it was to pause operations.
- Aruba’s reasons were unclear.
A recent news article published in the Seatrade Cruise News by Ann Kalosh states that turned away from Aruba, Crystal Serenity heads to Bimini.
Crystal says services were paid in advance
According to a Crystal Cruises statement, ‘… all services [were] paid for in advance and even though there are no reasonable risks or claims made against the vessel, local officials informed the company late Friday afternoon that the ship [would] be not permitted to dock in Aruba as scheduled.’
The statement continued: ‘After receiving this unfortunate news, Crystal’s management team spent hours conferring with Aruba officials toward a positive resolution — with even our humanitarian pleas falling on deaf ears — to no avail.’
Bimini on Monday
So now the Bahamas-flag ship will be concluding its voyage in Bimini on Monday morning, where passengers will be transferred to Port Everglades via Balearia fast ferry. Crystal said they’ll then be taken to an area hotel where overnight accommodations will be provided by the company and that it will reimburse applicable airline change fees.
The Crystal statement added: ‘All of our attention is now focused on taking care of our guests and returning them home or to their next destination. There are simply no words to express our deep regret and disappointment.’
Crystal Serenity has capacity for 900 passengers but Seatrade Cruise News was unable to confirm the number currently on board.
Joins Crystal Symphony
In Bimini the ship joins Crystal Symphony, which had diverted there instead of completing its cruise in Miami as planned, following an arrest warrant for unpaid fuel bills granted by a US judge Jan. 21.
An affiliate of Crystal Cruises’ parent company, Genting Hong Kong, owns a dock and resort in Bimini.
Crystal Endeavor’s expedition scheduled to end Feb. 4
Earlier, Crystal said it would suspend ocean and expedition cruises through April 29 when the ships completed their current sailings. Crystal Endeavor is on an Antarctica expedition that’s due to end at Ushuaia, Argentina, Feb. 4.
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Source: Sea Trade Cruise News
