Posted on: November 15, 2024, 12:14h.
Last updated on: November 15, 2024, 12:24h.
The first-ever Monte-Carlo Casino at sea has embarked on its maiden voyage.
In July, Casino.org broke the news that Crystal Cruises had reached a branding deal with Société des Bains de Mer, a publicly traded gaming company based in Monaco that runs the historic Monte-Carlo on the famed French Riviera. The partnership allows Crystal Cruises to use the Monte-Carlo Casino brand for its gaming operations aboard its two vessels — Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.
Crystal Symphony set sail on Thursday with the first Monte-Carlo Casino. The gaming area measures over 1,000 square feet and offers 29 slot machines and three live dealer table games, including blackjack, American roulette, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
Crystal Symphony and its Casino de Monte-Carlo set sail from Venice, Italy. The one-way, four-day voyage ends in Croatia.
Crystal Cruises was owned by a subsidiary of Genting Hong Kong before the cruise line went underwater amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Italian billionaire Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio and his private equity firm, Heritage Group, bought Crystal’s two vessels for $128 million. The acquisition additionally included Geoffrey Kent, the founder and chairman of international luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent.
Renovations Complete
Lefebvre and Kent purchased the cruise ships under a newly formed entity called A&K Travel Group. The company paid $25 million for Symphony, which entered service in 1995, and $103 million for the newer Serenity, which debuted in 2003.
After purchasing the ships, A&K invested in renovating each ship, with all suites and staterooms undergoing upgrades. New wellness offerings were also brought to the vessels.
For the cruiser with gambling in mind, the casinos were fully modernized and a luxury interior was incorporated to align with the Monte-Carlo brand.
We could not be prouder to unveil the first-ever Casino de Monte-Carlo at sea aboard Crystal Symphony. There was no better choice for a gaming partner than Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, founded more than 160 years ago and remains a global leader in the casino industry,” said Lefebvre, the executive chairman of A&K Travel Group.
“I’ve known the team for many years and, like Crystal, they are fully committed to delivering upscale experiences that cater to the discerning tastes of travelers from around the world. The future is bright for both of our brands,” Lefebvre continued.
The Casino de Monte-Carlo aboard Crystal Serenity is scheduled to make its maiden voyage on December 18. That casino is slightly larger than Symphony with 32 slot machines and three table games.
Monaco Ties
Born in Rome in April 1953, Lefebvre has long called Monaco home. The man worth more than $1.6 billion inherited his father’s cruise line, Monaco-based Silversea Cruises, after he died in 2011.
Lefebvre sold Silversea to Royal Caribbean Group in June 2018 for $1 billion and a 2.5% stake in what is the world’s second-largest cruise line behind only Carnival.
The cruise ship magnate continues to reside in Monte Carlo and frequents the Casino de Monte-Carlo property. The Government of Monaco retains a nearly 60% stake in the Casino de Monte-Carlo, which opened in July 1865.
