How does a luxury cruise line with two ships evolve into a leader in luxury travel? According to Crystal Cruise Line, it starts with a guest base of the world’s wealthiest consumers; followed by a purchase by an international hospitality and leisure group; and then a substantial injection of new capital. That’s when you start to put in orders for submarines and helicopters.

Four months ago Crystal Cruise Line was purchased by Genting Hong Kong, the owners of Star Cruises, and a major shareholder of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, (Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises).

Money flowed into the company.  Announcements have been prolific.

By the end of the year the cruise line will launch high-end yacht-like cruising with Crystal Esprit.  This 62 passenger vessel will carry a 32 foot boat for adventuring in addition to zodiacs, jet skis, kayaks and a two person submarine.

By next summer Crystal will launch into the European river cruise market with the purchase of an existing river ship; the Mozart which will be ready to sail the Danube River July 216 after an extensive refurbishment.

The company has ordered four new river ships from Germany’s Lloyd Werft shipyard for delivery in 2017. Crystal President and CEO Edie Rodriguez suggested in a statement that the line's river ships (Crystal River Cruises) will be the most luxurious ever seen in Europe.

Two of the river ships will carry 110 passengers and sail on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The other two vessels will carry 84 passengers and operate on the Seine River in France and the rivers around Bordeaux, France.

The company will offer around the world trips with Crystal Luxury Air.  It is reconfiguring a Boeing 787 that typically seats 300 to accommodate 60 passengers in fully reclining seats. The itineraries will be for 28 days with guests staying at the world’s most exclusive hotels and resorts.

Crystal Cruise Line recently signed a letter of intent with Lloyd Werft shipyard to build three ocean vessels with all-suite accommodations with amenities such as submarines and helicopters. The ships will carry 1,000 guests and 1,000 crew members.

The ships will be designed with polar ice-rated hulls to allow travel to the Arctic and Antarctica.

In addition, the ships will have 48 residences for people to purchase as second homes.  The real estate will occupy a top deck and come with a private restaurant.

Rodriguez said, "We listened to our loyal customers. They have told us how they are going on other luxury vacations (that) are not on Crystal, but they would love for them to be on Crystal," she says.

"We really came up with a global strategy to become the world's premier luxury, hospitality and lifestyle brand portfolio.

"There is power in (the Crystal) brand."