Crystal has taken a major step forward in its fleet expansion, securing funding for two brand-new luxury cruise ships through an export credit facility supported by Italy’s SACE.

Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and Co-Chair of luxury travel company Abercrombie and Kent, has been appointed as Chair-Elect of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Crystal has finalised an order for its third vessel with shipbuilder Fincantieri, with the 690-passenger ship representing a major milestone in the cruise line’s latest chapter.

Crystal has unveiled an extraordinary new experience, the Crystal Chairmen’s Cruise, sailing 2-8 April 2024 aboard Crystal Symphony from Jeddah to Rhodes. Guests will have the rare opportunity to sail alongside travel industry titans, A&K Travel Group Executive Chairman, Manfredi Lefebvre, and Geoffrey Kent, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Abercrombie & Kent.

Following completion of an investment in the Abercrombie & Kent Group by Heritage Group, Manfredi Lefebvre will become Co-Chairman with Geoffrey Kent who is also the Founder of Abercrombie & Kent. “We will be working together to translate our shared vision for the future into concrete strategies that will allow A&K to reach its goals in the next phase of development, building on seven years of double-digit growth,” explained Kent.

This week saw the announcement that Abercrombie & Kent’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, Geoffrey Kent, had forged ties with Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of Heritage group and the Executive Chairman of Silversea Cruises, to jointly acquire 100% of Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies from Zhonghong Holding. LATTE spoke directly with Kent and Lefebvre from A&K’s Chicago head office to learn more about the venture.

Geoffrey J.W. Kent, Founder, Chairman and CEO of luxury travel company, Abercrombie & Kent, has formed a strategic partnership with Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of Heritage group, to jointly acquire 100% of the Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies S.A. (Abercrombie & Kent). The union brings together two visionaries in luxury travel to further develop Abercrombie & Kent as the premier brand in luxury and experiential travel.