Crystal's New 777 Is a Cruise Ship You Can Fly
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The latest aircraft pick from Crystal AirCruises isn't your average Boeing 777-200LR. Rather, it's a modern luxury cruise liner for the sky — emphasis on luxury. In fall 2017, Crystal, which is known for its super-luxe cruises, will launch its exclusive AirCruise for passengers to use as their mode of transportation between remote destinations.
The 77L will hold just 84 guests — for comparison, Delta's -200LR holds 291, Emirates' holds 290 and Qatar's holds 259 — and will transport travelers to remote destinations on 14-, 21- and 28-day itineraries. The cabin of the aircraft, which is still being transformed to meet Crystal's luxe needs, will feature lie-flat seats in a 2-2-2 configuration to accommodate couples traveling together, social spaces, large flat-screen TVs, butler and concierge service and food/beverage options that you'll likely find to be a step above what's available with US-based carriers.
The cabin will also feature a full dining room — yes, with tables and chairs. In fact, there will be four dining tables, each with six chairs where travelers can eat their meals as they mingle with fellow passengers. Of course, there'll be the amenities that even commercial flyers are used to — Wi-Fi, interactive entertainment screens, USB ports and power outlets, blankets and amenities in the bathroom.
In addition, the plane will offer a social lounge and a stand-up bar, which actually isn't all too uncommon. Emirates' A380 has a stand-up bar on the upper deck, as does Etihad's A380, Korean Air's A380 and Virgin Australia's 777, for example.
Itineraries will be announced sometime next month. There's also no word on the price as of yet, but according to Forbes, similar trips are priced in the low six figures. While that might be out of the reach for the average traveler, Crystal believes there's a market of luxury travelers who will enjoy the comfort and privacy only available with such a package. Plus, you can look forward to racking up a tremendous number of points on a purchase like that — perhaps more than 300,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you book with your Chase Sapphire Reserve and get 3x points on travel!
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