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Crystal abandons plans to relaunch flagship ocean liner
Thursday, 08 Aug, 2016
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Luxury operator Crystal Cruises has scrapped plans to bring back the Iconic ocean liner SS United States as a functioning cruise ship.
The company said the barriers to restoring it are ‘insurmountable.’
Crystal commissioned a $1 million six-month feasibility study in February which has concluded the vessel could not be commercially viable.
Crystal CEO Edie Rodriguez said: "Over the past six months, Crystal has conducted an extensive feasibility study to restore ‘America’s Flagship’ to oceangoing service.
"Unfortunately, the hurdles that would face us when trying to bring a 65-year-old vessel up to modern safety, design and international regulatory compliance have proven just too great to clear in both a technically and commercially responsible manner."
The study found the ship is still structurally sound but would require major work replacing part of the hull to bring it in line with modern operating standards.
"Our company has great affection for this historic and irreplaceable vessel, and we will be making a $350,000 donation which will help support the Conservancy preserve the vessel through the remainder of the year," added Rodriguez.
"We firmly believe the SS United States is an American treasure and deserves to be preserved and redeveloped as a stationary destination for future generations.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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