CRYSTAL WANTS THE UNITED STATES

Posted on 02/09/2016

Crystal Cruises has taken an option to rehabilitate the SS United States, that’s been rusting at a dock for a couple of decades. It was the fastest passenger vessel in the world when it was launched in 1952, but the U.S. flagged ship fell victim to jet travel and a number of schemes to renovate the ship failed over the years.
Crystal has signed a purchase option with the SS United States Conservatory, which owns the ship and pays for its upkeep at a dock in Philadelphia. A feasibility study over the next year will determine whether the rusting ship could be rebuilt with new engines and operate under modern environmental and safety standards. It’s a tall order and it would take at least $700-million to bring the ship back to service, carrying about 800 guests.