RichardInSF

Crystal cruises is starting a private air cruise subsidiary. The good news is that it is on a bespoke 777 with lay flat seats, at roughly lower end business class standard but claiming superior catering. Seat pitch is around 61" and not every seat has direct aisle access. (Their printed catalog shows the plane layout but I can't find it online.)

Here's the URL: http://www.crystalcruises.com/aircruises

Their inaugural cruise is an "All-Peninsula hotel" cruise at $159,000 for 27 days with the following very tame itinerary:

NYC-Chicago-L.A.-Tokyo-Beijing-Shanghai-Hong Kong-Manila-Bangkok-Paris-NYC.

There is no mention that suites will be given to participants, so the assumption is they are entry-level rooms. For all subsequent trips, there is simply no mention at all of what hotels they will be using.

I guess this is for people who have never been to Asia and have never heard about air alliance RTW tickets, as these are all very frequent routes. Seems like a total waste of money to me.

Their other itineraries are somewhat better and cheaper as well, but still strike me as something for wealthy retirees who have never travelled much.

Terms and conditions allow them to substitute other aircraft or make anything other than very limited "major changes" without any compensation or refund. So if they stick you in economy on Spirit air instead of your custom 777, tough.

Maybe I'm too jaded for this sort of thing!

Kagehitokiri

24 seat restaurant (on plane) is something different, but doesnt fit all 84 pax

an operator could use EK's plane that has 10 F suites and a shower plus lounge

wish there was cheap charter splitting for within EU, US, countries like thailand

view

Here is the link for itinerary for second trip including hotel listings:
http://www.crystalcruises.com/docs/d...l.pdf?sfvrsn=4

Seems a bit of a mixed bag, including JW Marriott in Lima.

One can click on the itinerary for each trip for hotel details.

I thought the winelands trip looked interesting, though not at that price.

RichardInSF

Based on reviews in this forum, sounds like they made a bad choice in Prague as well by not picking the FS. Makes me wonder about the rest of the hotels -- and note they are still not mentioning suites or even club level rooms. You could easily find yourself stuck in a 27sqmt entry-level room.

offerendum

At this price it's another rip off and waste of money

Kagehitokiri

if comparing to cost of charter(s) its not a rip off
(also, cost of top cabins on crystal/other cruises)

84/2 = 42 rooms - easier for hotel buyouts than FS
52/2 = 26 rooms for FS plane

ridefar

There must be a market for this stuff that is wholly reliant on relatively uninformed but highly brand conscious wealthy travellers. First FS, now Crystal? They wouldn't spend that kind of money outfitting a plane, even a light modification of a leased plane would be millions in all likelihood. Which means somebody has done a bunch of research, talked to their customer base, and concluded they can make (a lot) of money doing this.

I have neither the brand awareness or the money to fund it, but if there truly is a market it would seem possible to undercut these guys by a lot, appeal to the same group only ones with more intelligence than a squirrel, and set up a private travel company dedicated to this sort of thing. Lease the type of jet that sports teams travel on, pretty it up, rebrand it, actually try to offer some value for the hotel dollar (you would, at very least, get a heck of a volume discount with your preferred hotel partner) and go for it. Spend as much on marketing as everything else combined, and ... profit. As the saying goes.

It doesn't surprise me it is being done at all. There is clearly a market. PT Barnum identified it long ago.

Actually, to offer a second hypothesis: there is another market I can identify, which is travellers with moderate health concerns which make standard commercial travel and the attendant headaches unappealing. Rightly or wrongly.

obscure2k

We have friends who have taken 2 World cruises on a Luxury cruise ship. They get a large suite, great service and , I believe the cruise is approx 90 days. Great ports of call. I don't recall if the ship is a Silversea or or possibly Seaborne. Cost is 150K, I think J class air is included. They have already booked and paid for their next one in 2018. They love traveling this way. The Crystal Private jet air cruise would not appeal to them.

RichardInSF

$150K for 90 days in a large suite on an upscale (or above) cruise line --not for me, but at least I can see the value proposition. Somewhat more for a 29 day chartered jet experience -- tend to doubt. And I really don't like the T&C's, like most cruise ship contracts they are highly customer unfriendly. Way worse than typical airline conditions of carriage.

tcmb99

I think that plane is as good as it gets if you want to fit 84 people on a 777 and take them around on a world trip. the dining area looks awesome, and the seats are very nice full flat business class. if they wanted to fit sky suites in there it would probably fit 50-60 people max, and personally I think they feel isolated and weird. not something you are looking for on a this sort of a trip where you probably want guests to socialise a little. the jet looks much better than the four seasons, a&k jet.

the peninsula trip looks very boring. but iconic sights look awesome. i cant imagine the logistical nightmare of setting something like that myself. where else can you see lima. easter island, uluru, kathmandu, ho chi minh, jaipur, mauritus, victoria falls all on one trip without transfer problems and all business amenities.

i think the purpose of these jets should be to take you to remote places on land and sea combined that are difficult to get to, and do it in great luxury. that I would pay for if I could afford it.

hedoman

Unless they find success with the Asian market, I predict a short lifespan. It's probably not a high risk proposition for Crystal.

wripro

I agree completely. This is a bad business model and will appeal to a very limited market. Even forgetting about the itineraries for the moment the plane itself is outdated with subpar seating. And what do the other sixty passengers do while the 24 are dining at the tables? Or will they give passengers a limited time and hurry them through their meals so the next shift can eat? Neither represents a luxury product imo. And as already stated here no mention of the kind of accommodations they'll get at the hotels.

I predict one of two things. They go belly up or they drastically cut their fares.

KatW

So, every two and a half days you're in a different megopolis? And that's supposed to be appealing? And, it costs $160K? I wouldn't do it if someone paid ME $160K.

The anti-travel business model.

Kagehitokiri

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...scription.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...asons-jet.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...r-seasons.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...jet-tours.html

these trips are not targeting 'luxury hotel' travelers, let alone this forum

operators have been selling these trips with less luxury for decades. pretty sure operators always charter the planes for their trips, rather than being paid to manage trip.

crystal (genting) purchased >
- 777-200LR (these trips plus charter)
- Global Express (charter only)
- 787-800 (crystal is selling this plane)

Crystal (japanese company) sold in 2015 to >
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genting_Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resorts_World
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Cruises
who bought Norwegian Cruise Line in 2000
(sold 50% in 2007, IPO'd 22% in 2013)
so their marketing database is enormous

would make interesting plane for trip - 10 F suites plus shower etc
emirates-executive.com/en/the-experience/ultimate-comfort

first aman jet trip >

aa213bb

This does not in the slightest appeal to me, but I am sure there are more than a few for whom it does. In fact, I think ridefar nailed it in his (her?) post upthread.

As long as the people taking this - and FS, and others - happy, good for them.