Monégasque casino operator Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) has inked a deal to bring its own unique brand of gambling excitement to a pair of cruise ships operated by Crystal Cruises Limited.
The firm behind the principality’s world-renowned Casino de Monte-Carlo and Casino Café de Paris venues declared the arrangement ‘marks an exciting new chapter’ in its 160-year history and is set to offer those aboard the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity vessels ‘an elevated level of entertainment and gaming experiences’.
SBM revealed this latest partnership is due to kick off from November 14 when the 295-room Crystal Symphony departs Venice, Italy, for a ten-day cruise through the eastern Mediterranean.
The casino operator explained the alliance will then continue in December as the 151-room Crystal Serenity sails around the Caribbean while stopping off at some of the planet’s most idyllic destinations including Puerto Rico, Antigua, Guadeloupe and the British Virgin Islands.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for SBM, Stephane Valeri, stated both ships are to feature onboard casinos branded on his firm’s Casino de Monte-Carlo property and offering travellers ‘an array of gaming activities’ encompassing slots and games of roulette and blackjack designed to ‘elevate their experience to unprecedented heights’.
“We are excited to join forces with Crystal Cruises Limited to deliver the unique Casino de Monte-Carlo experience at sea,” Valeri said. “With our combined expertise, we are confident that we will provide a gaming moment unlike any other in the cruise industry.”
For its part, the owner of Crystal Cruises Limited, A&K Travel Group Limited, asserted its subordinate’s fresh relationship with SBM is destined to ‘redefine onboard entertainment for cruisers worldwide’ by fusing ‘expertise and innovation’.
It disclosed the understanding will involve onboard casinos of at least 1,000 sq ft that may additionally be introduced to any ocean-going vessels it premieres in the future.
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio serves as the Executive Chairman for A&K Travel Group Limited and he expressed his delight at being able to welcome SBM as his company’s ‘newest collaborator’.
“This affiliation symbolizes our commitment to offering our guests the finest entertainment and gaming experiences available at sea,” Lefebvre said. “Together, we aim to create unforgettable moments and continue to set new standards of excellence in the cruise industry.”
The Chief Executive Officer for A&K Travel Group Limited, Cristina Levis, echoed these sentiments before describing her firm as being ‘renowned for its exceptional voyages and outstanding entertainment’.
She moreover divulged the understanding came as a result of customer feedback expressing the desire ‘to have casinos back on board’.
“At Crystal Cruises Limited, like at SBM, guest satisfaction and enjoyment are paramount and this alliance underscores our dedication to fulfilling their wishes and exceeding their expectations,” Levis said.
“We are confident the reintroduction of casinos will further enhance the overall cruise experience, providing our guests with the entertainment options they crave while sailing with us.”
Alan Campbell has been reporting on the global gambling industry ever since graduating from university in the late-1990s with degrees in journalism, English and history. Now headquartered in the northern English city of Sheffield, he has written on a plethora of topics, companies, regulatory developments and technological innovations for a large number of traditional and digital publications from around the planet.
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