Originally founded in 1988 by the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Crystal Cruises soon established itself as a leader in the luxury cruise travel sector, with its first ship, Crystal Harmony (49,400gt), entering service in 1990.
Its success led to the order of a second, slightly larger, ship, Crystal Symphony (51,044gt), which joined the fleet in 1995. The third vessel, larger and modified, was the flagship Crystal Serenity, which entered service in 2003. Over time, the trio acquired sterling reputations for their excellent service, accommodations, cuisine and far-flung itineraries. In 2006 Crystal Harmony was transferred to parent company NYK, being renamed Asuka II, as which she still sails.
