“Nautica” of Oceania Cruises, ex “R Five”, Shanghai 2011 (WS)

American Classic Voyages
A failed startup at the turn of the century was United States Lines (American Classic Voyages), which had a short-term interlude on the market with the “Patriot”, the former “Nieuw Amsterdam” (33,930 gt) of Holland America Line. In 1999 the much bigger “Pride of the Americas” and a sister ship were commissioned, but after 9/11 the company was forced into bankruptcy. The “Pride of the Americas” was tugged to Bremerhaven, where she was extended to a tonnage of 80,439 and delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line as “Pride of America” in 2005.

Renaissance Cruises
Direct bookings should have become the way to success for that U.S.-based company, founded in 1988 by Farnley & Eger of Oslo. After a start with small vessels, they commissioned in the 90s a fleet of eight identical midsize ships, custom-built at Saint-Nazaire for an ‘upper premium’ mainstream market. In 2001 however, the overextended company was bankrupt. The fleet of the nice 30,277 gt ships, named “R One” to “R Eight”, found the way to other enterprises.

Oceania Cruises
That company, founded by former Renaissance CEO Frank del Rio and Joe Watters, ex-president of Crystal Cruises, introduced the “Insignia” (ex “R One”), “Regatta” (ex “R two”) and in 2005 the “Nautica” (the former “R Five”) on cruises worldwide. Then Oceania Cruises commissioned three 65,000-ton ships for delivery by Fincantieri, the “Marina” in 2010, the “Riviera” in 2011 and a sister in 2012, described as an evolution of the R series. In 2007 Oceania Cruises was acquired by Apollo management, which took over also Regent Seven Seas Cruises and became a main owner of Norwegian Cruise Line. Oceania was described as an ‘upper premium line’ with menus created by Jacques Pepin, the onetime personal chef to French President Charles de Gaulle.

Thomson Cruises
Thomson had used chartered ships for cruising from 1973 for a few years. In 2000 the Thomson Group became a subsidiary of TUI. During these years the company operated a TUI-labeled fleet of oldtimers, the oldest being “The Emerald” (23,428 gt), built in 1958 as “Santa Rosa” of Grace Line, after changes in ownership chartered from Louis, in 2009 transferred to Louis Cruises. To describe all the further fleet changes would go beyond this worldwide survey.

“The Emerald”, the former “Santa Rosa” of Grace Line, Corfu 2006 (WS)

“Thomson Spirit”, the former “Nieuw Amsterdam”, Sharm El-Sheikh 2009 (WS)

“Princesa Marissa”, the former “Finnhansa”, Santorini 2007 (WS)

Louis Cruises
Among the companies which had built up a fascinating mixed fleet of second-hand ships, Cypriot-owned Piraeus-based Louis Cruise Lines has become the best-known one. The enterprise had been founded by Louis Loizou, later managed by his sons Costakis and Vakis Loizou. The company started cruises with chartered ships in the 70s, acquired the “Prinsessan” from Birka Line in 1987 and later the former “Starward” and “Southward” of Klosters Rederi, named “Orient Queen” (from 2013 “Louis Aura”) and “Perla”, and Royal Caribbean’s “Nordic Prince” as “Aquamarine. The “Song of Norway” became the “Dream Princess”, changing for some time to the Peace Boat Organization as “Clipper Pacific”. The original ‘skybar’ had disappeared. After the “Sea Diamond” (ex “Birka Princess”) hit in 2007 a reef not recorded by nautical charts, she was replaced by the “Cristal”, the former “Sally Albatros”. In 2008 the trade press has reported the intention of commissioning newbuilds.

“Parla”, the former “Southward” of Klosters, Piraeus 2006 (WS)	“Ruby”, the former “Cunard Countess”, Piraeus 2007 (WS)
“Coral”, the former “Cunard Adventurer”, Piraeus 2010 (WS)	“Aquamarine”, the former “Nordic Prince”, departing from Piraeus, 2008 (WS)

Instead of newbuilds, a purchase of NCL’s “Norwegian Dream” (50,765 gt) was arranged in early 2008, then cancelled. The smaller “Norwegian Majesty” (1992/ 40,876 gt) was acquired, from late 2009 employed as “Louis Majesty” on cruises from Marseilles and Genoa, inaugurated with the “Coral” (ex “Cunard Adventurer”, “Sunward II”). In September 2009 Lloyd’s List has announced the start of Louis Cruises India from Kochi (Cochin). The “Aquamarine” (ex “Nordic Prince”, “Carousel”, “Arielle”) was listed for cruises to Sri Lanka and to the Maldives, starting in December 2009. However, on account of obstacles and rising fees, requiring tripling the fares, cruises from India were stopped already in January 2010 (according to www.expresstravelworld.com). In late 2013 the “Louis Cristal” got a new label on her blue funnel for cruising for the newcomer Cuba Cruise. The “Louis Aura” (the former “Starward”) was announced to cruise in 2014 for CVC of Brazil (according to Ferries). In the Mediterranean, Louis Hellenic Cruises surprised in 2012 with the “Louis Olympia”, the former “Song of America” of Royal Caribbean (1982/ 37,584 gt), then “Sunbird” of Airtours, “Thomson Destiny”, chartered back from Thomson Cruises. Louis entered Cuba Cruises of Canada and in 2015 the new label Celestyal Cruises appeared – for the fleet see ‘Ferries’ 2015/2. Fleet changes may continue.

“Louis Cristal”, ex “Sally Albatros”, “Leeward” of NCL, “Superstar Taurus”, “Silja Opera”, Salamis 2013 (WS)	“Louis Majesty”, the former “Norwegian Majesty” of NCL, Piraeus 2011 (WS)
“Louis Olympia”, the former “Song of America” of Royal Caribbean, Piraeus 2014 (WS)	“Celestyal Crystal”, ex “Louis Cristal”, Patras 2015 (WS)
“easyCruiseOne”, the former “Renaissance Two”, Poros 2007 (WS)	“easyCruiseLife”, the former “Lev Tolstoy”, Piraeus 2008 (WS)

EasyCruise
In Cyprus, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, son of a shipowner and founder of the airline easyJet, targeted a new concept of informal cruises with easyCruise at fares covering only the cabin charge – the principle of the car ferries, tried also on cruise ships already before. He started in 2005 with the tiny “easyCruiseOne” (1990/4,077 gt), ex “Renaissance Two” of Renaissance Cruises. Ships Monthly (April 2007) informed: “A franchise agreement between easyCruise and Louis Cruise Lines in August 2006 means both will now jointly approach Neorion Holdings (shipyards) to increase the number of ships covered by the letter of intent (…) to three firm and three optional vessels.” However, “easyCruiseLife” (1981/ 12,811 gt, the former “Lev Tolstoy”) replaced the first ship. In 2009 Wikipedia informed that the newbuilding projects were abandoned and easyCruise (except their only ship, laid up) was sold to the ferry company Hellenic Seaways, via Cypriot-registered Sea Star Capital Plc connected with ANEK, which had offered already some Levant cruises with the ferry “El. Venizelos”.

GNMTC
In late 2010 surprising news were published via Internet, reporting that this Libyan enterprise, engaged in cargo shipping and connected to Captain Hannibal Muammar Qaddafi, son of ruler Muammar al-Qaddafi, concluded a contract with STX France for one 139,400-ton cruise ship, to be delivered in December 2012. It is a modified MSC Fantasia version, but MSC’s Gianluigi Aponte denied a cooperation. In any case, GNMTC would have profited from EU’s support for export. Shipping Online quoted chairman Captain Ali Belhag saying: “GNMTC was pleased to place this order with STX France, being the first Arab and Middle East state to own such a prestigious vessel, which marked another milestone in the Company’s re-generation, and looked forward to further success in other sectors of the maritime industry.” The media reported the engagement of Libya’s investment authority Lia in Italy, “based mainly on the good relations of Libya’s ruler to Italy’s minister president Silvio Berlusconi” (SZ, Jan.24, 2011). A few months later the upheaval against Muammar al-Qaddafi broke out, civil war changed the situation completely and the ship’s history continued with MSC (see the relevant chapter).

Other Enterprises
For Royal Viking Line with its luxury ships, then taken over by Kloster, and for Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, which acquired some of these ships, see the chapter Norwegian and Kloster. Salamis Cruise Line of Cyprus has become remarkable for operating the “Salamis Glory” (10,392gt), refurbished in 2009, originally the former Brazilian coastal ship “Anna Nery”. The “Salamis Filoxenia”, employed in the eastern Mediterranean from 2010, was the former “Gruziya” (1975/15,400gt, Belorussiya class) of the Black Sea Shipping Co., rebuilt as the “Odessa Sky”, then “Club 1”, “Van Gogh” for cruising. Like Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who has founded EasyJet, also another airline founder envisaged cruise shipping. In 2014 Ships Monthly reported this intention of Sir Richard Branson, who has got famous with Virgin Atlantic Airways.


“Salamis Filoxenia” of Salamis Cruises, lying between Aegina and Aghistri, 2011 (WS)


“Aegean Odyssey” of Voyages to Antiquity, launched in 1973 as a ro-ro for ZIM, Venice 2012 (WS)

For cruises from India, there had already been an early a precursor. Indian Ocean Cruises had started in 1990 and extended services to Africa (see the main chapter Branch Lines & Ferries/ India and Burma). Also in other world regions, may it be Latin America, Africa or East Asia, there is a coming and going of cruise providers, some ones employing ferries. Describing them all, would go beyond that worldwide survey.

Peace Boat
A fascinating matter is the ‘Peace Boat’. Via Wikipedia came the information: “Peace Boat is a global non-government organization headquartered in Japan, established for the purpose of raising awareness and building connections internationally among groups that work for peace, human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development.” It was instituted in 1983 by Kiyomi Tsujimoto, then a student. The German magazine Ferries (Dec.2013) stated: “Initially the organization was founded by Japanese peace activists, and also the passengers of the first journeys held the same views (…). Today most passengers (…) are using the ship as an inexpensive opportunity of undertaking a journey round the world.” For the history of some chartered ships see the chapters concerning their owners.

Peace Boat “Clipper Pacific”, the former “Song of Norway” of Royal Caribbean, at Piraeus in 2008 (WS)