Serenity Marks Crystal’s Return to Port Everglades – Cruise Industry News

Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades welcomed back the Crystal Serenity on Nov. 9, 2024, according to a press release.

The call marked the return of Crystal to its winter homeport, Port Everglades said, with the luxury vessel now set to offer cruises to the Caribbean departing from Fort Lauderdale through early 2025.

On hand for the welcoming ceremony were Crystal Serenity’s Captain Vincent Tallaird, Broward County Commissioner Steven Geller, Port Everglades Chief of Staff Peg Buchan, leadership from the Seafarers’ House and Visit Lauderdale and the port’s law enforcement partners from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

“Our port is home to one of the most diverse collections of cruise ships, and Crystal’s reimagined luxury ships fit in perfectly,” said Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris.

“We look forward to welcoming their guests,” he added.

Port Everglades highlighted the refurbishment carried out onboard the Crystal Serenity in 2023, which reduced the ship’s capacity to 740 guests.

Now offering larger, updated suites, the 69,000-ton ship is scheduled to offer nine- to 18-night cruises to the Caribbean departing from Fort Lauderdale.

Port Everglades will also serve as the starting point for the vessel’s upcoming world cruise, which is scheduled to start on Jan. 7, 2025.

The 123-night journey includes visits to destinations in South America and the Caribbean before arriving in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Crystal’s return to Fort Lauderdale comes on the heels of the port’s announcement that it bested its own cruise passenger record, Port Everglades said.

According to the port authority, a preliminary count points to 4.01 million guests embarking and disembarking in Port Everglades during Fiscal Year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024.

The new record is expected to be short-lived, however, as 4.4 million guests are anticipated during Fiscal Year 2025.