By the Caribbean Journal staff

Luxury cruise brand Crystal Cruises has shared the first renderings of its hotly-anticipated new “Diamond Class” ships.

The new ships, the first of which will join the fleet in 2022, will weigh 67,000 gross tons, with room for 800 guests, according to a statement from the company.

The new class is part of what is a new focus on smaller, more intimate ships, even for a brand whose ships are already decidedly boutique.

As a point of comparison, Crystal Serenity, which was built back in 2003, has a guest capacity of 1,070 passeners.

“Our ocean ships are the heart of the Crystal brand and have been loved by our guests for more than 28 years,” says Crystal president and CEO, Tom Wolber.

Despite their smaller size, the Diamond Class will have similar amenities and design features as the brand’s existing Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity ships.

Crystal is building the ships at MV Werften in Germany.

“We are delighted to expand this celebrated fleet with amenities and spaces that our guests have come to love along with more choices and new experiences that will take luxury to the next level,” Wolber said. “We look forward to sharing more details next year with our guests and travel partners.”

Crystal’s global cruising portfolio includes a heavy presence in the Caribbean region.