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Crystal Harmony to Asuka II; Asuka to Amadea
July 11, 2005

Crystal Harmony's last cruise for Crystal Cruises is a seven day Mexican Riviera itinerary starting November 18. On completion the 1990-built ship will proceed to Victoria Shipyards in British Columbia to undergo refurbishment and transformation to Asuka II for NYK Cruises. She will replace NYK’s current ship 592-passenger capacity Asuka, resulting in a doubling of lower berths in the local market for the cruising arm of the giant Japanese shipping group.

The 940-passenger Asuka II is scheduled to leave Vancouver on December 23 and sail across the Pacific to Japan where she will undergo Japanese authorities inspections before commencing a 102-day voyage around the world, departing Yokohama April 4, 2006.

The westbound sailing via Suez proceeds through the Med up into the Baltic and across the Atlantic to Canada and New York before passing through the Panama Canal, onto San Fransisco and back to Japan. The circumnavigation finishes in Kobe on July 14.

Meanwhile Asuka sails her final voyage for NYK Cruises’ in January/February 2006, a 33-night Yokohama roundtrip calling China Vietnam, Singapore, Bali and Guam. Asuka will then head for Europe and start a new life for Germany’s Phoenix Seereisen, to be renamed Amadea.

Seatrade Insider

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Japanese makeover for Crystal Harmony
July 27, 2005

A Sushi bar, Tatami room and Mah Jong room will be added to Crystal Harmony during her transformation into NYK Cruises’ Asuka II in preparation for the Japanese market, Seatrade Insider has learnt.

As reported earlier here some of the refit work will be completed at Victoria Shipyards, Vancouver in late November/early December before the ship sails to Japan for further refurbishment at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Yokohama Yard which will take until the end of February.

A Japanese restaurant with Sushi Bar named Umihiko, will be added and a Grand Spa with dry and steam saunas - similar to those found on the original Asuka - will be scaled up for the new acquisition, Yuko Komatsuzaki, PR manager of NYK Cruises told Seatrade.

Other new additions will be a Tatami room (Japanese-styled room) for traditional Japanese activities such as tea and flower ceremonies and a Mah Jong room will be incorporated into the casino area.

NYK Cruises says it is currently discussing any alterations to the interior furnishings and confirms that there will no special changes to the cabins although the passenger capacity will be a maximum of 720, compared to 960 lower berths in its current state. The crew compliment for Asuka II will be about 400.

Asuka II’s inaugural voyage is a 102-day world cruise departing Yokohama April 4, 2006. The current Asuka sails her final voyage for NYK Cruises’ in January/February 2006, before passing into Phoenix Seereisen ownership to be renamed Amadea.

Seatrade Insider

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[ 07-27-2005: Message edited by: Rex ]

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jeffrossatsea wrote:
hey bulbousbow....do you want a pic of her in vancouver?

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Jeff, just add some pics to your Photo Gallery album here at Cruise Talk and link an image to this thread so that we can all see her. Thanks mate.

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Morgan brings Harmony to Asuka II
February 15, 2006

London-based SMC Design specified Morgan’s Chevy chairs, sofas and tables as part of a rebranding and repositioning of Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Harmony to NYK Cruises under the new name of Asuka II.

The layout and design of many public rooms on Asuka II have been replanned and restyled to provide a Japanese ambience where culture, hospitality and service are of prime importance. The ship is tailored to the more sophisticated Japanese cruiser in the over-50 age group.

Morgan furniture was chosen for several areas of the ship, including Prego, the Lido Café, Conference Rooms, the Arts Centre, the Sushi Restaurant (Umihiko) and the Bridge Lounge. Other new additions to the vessel are a Mah Jong room, Grand Spa and a Tatami room, which will be used for traditional Japanese activities such as tea and flower ceremonies.

‘NYK and SMC have been so successful in creating a traditional Japanese feel to the interiors of what is clearly a classic, timeless ship,’ said Rodney McMahon, md of Morgan, a UK company that has supplied numerous cruise operators.

Asuka II accommodates 720 passengers, a reduction from Crystal Harmony’s 960-passenger capacity.

Seatrade Insider

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Originally posted by BTF:
I did manage to see Crystal Harmony on her last day late in November in Vancouver as a Crystal product, before her transformation. Quite a beautiful ship and no doubt she will serve her Japanese guests well in her new role.

As a `Japanese`cruise ship, will she be flagged in Japan or what flag will she now sailing under as Asuka II?

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She will be flagged in Japan and Asuka II to be the first cruise ship to register at Yokohama Port.

[ 02-16-2006: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]