Space to boast about in new luxury liner

The largest shipping company in the world is about to get a boost of 68,000 tonnes.

Nippon Yusen Kaisha, the parent company of Crystal Cruises, has put in an order for another luxury ship to be added to the fleet. The ship, yet to be named, should be ready in 2003.

The liner, which will carry 1080 passengers, will have a much greater passenger/space ratio than its sister ships Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony, which are considered two of the most spacious cruise liners afloat.

Los Angeles-based Crystal Cruises operates its liners on worldwide itineraries ranging from seven days to a 104-day world cruise. This year and next, the ships cruise to Africa, Alaska, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Mexican Riviera, New England/Canada, Scandinavia, South America, the Amazon and the South Pacific.

The new ship will be constructed in the French shipyard of Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

Contact: Travel agent.