Crystal Cruises’ Edie Rodriguez

Crystal Cruises named Edie Rodriguez president in fall 2013, and she hasn’t stopped moving since. Promoted to CEO with the sale of Crystal to Genting Hong Kong earlier this year, the one-time Carnival and Azamara Club Cruises executive unveiled Crystal’s long-anticipated expansion plans last week on the line’s President’s Cruise. Freshly returned from France, Rodriguez talked with cruise editor Tom Stieghorst about the plan’s fine points.  

Q: Crystal has never before built river cruise ships. Do you think you can finish them by the beginning of the 2017 season?

A: Lloyd Werft has been contracted to build our ocean ships and two exclusive-class river boat vessels, as well, and the answer is yes. They can very easily be delivered by 2017.

Q: There’s concern that Crystal will become unaffordable for some past passengers with limited budgets. Do you anticipate that to be a problem?

A: No, we do not. We obviously don’t want to price ourselves out of the market. Our experiences will be delivering value for the price points they’re priced at.

Q: The residences are obviously a new twist. Will travel agents be able to sell these residences?

A: We are evaluating how the residences will be sold and compensation for sale. As the only cruise line I know of that enjoys 96% of its bookings coming from travel partners, I’m very bullish on travel agents as our partners. As to the residences, we are evaluating that at this point as to any sort of structure there.

Q: Will owners be able to rent them out once they’ve bought them in a condo-hotel type arrangement?

A: The answer to that is most likely yes. Because we’re in the embryonic stages, they will have the opportunity to design, custom fit and decorate those units. Let’s just say 4,000 square feet isn’t enough for you and you want two [units]. Depending on how each sale closes, there will be no more than 48 apartments on each vessel. Most likely, there will be an opportunity to rent them out.

Q: What will you be able to do with the extra space you’re building into this new class of ships?

A: With higher guest space ratios, what these three triplets will do is in fact counter the two old canards that we always hear. One was the main dining room didn’t have open seating. That was because we didn’t have space. That criticism will be gone with the triplets; it will be dine when you want with whom you want — full open-seating dining.  There is a dance floor. The second challenge was not every stateroom on our two vessels currently has balconies, walk-in closets, walk-in showers and bathtubs. Well, guess what? Every room will be a suite with a balcony, with a tub, with a walk-in closet, and with a walk-in shower.

Q: Will there be a wrap-around promenade on the new ships?

A: Yes. It’s one of the hallmarks of Crystal Cruises.

Q: The shipyard where you’re building these ships has been known as a specialist in refurbishment. Why did you choose this yard?

A: They are a stellar yard, and they have also built passenger cruise ships in the past. We wanted a partner that would embrace [our] creativity. And they could live up to building and delivering the first of our [ships] no later than the end of ’18. It was the myriad of things, all the things you look for when you’re exploring shipyard options for new builds.