MS Celestyal Olympia

MS Celestyal Olympia is a cruise ship owned by the Cyprus-based Celestyal Cruises, formerly Louis Cruise Lines. In April 2012 she was named Louis Olympia after operating as the Thomson Destiny for Thomson Cruises.[5] She was built in 1982 at Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as MS Song of America. Between 1999 and 2004 she sailed for Sun Cruises as MS Sunbird.[1] She was previously under charter to the United Kingdom-based Thomson Cruises until April 2012 as the MS Thomson Destiny. She has since sailed for Louis Cruises as MS Louis Olympia, and as MS Celestyal Olympia since 2014.

Celestyal Olympia in 2015.
History
Name:
  • 1982–1999: Song of America[1]
  • 1999–2005: Sunbird
  • 2005–2012: Thomson Destiny
  • 2012–2014: Louis Olympia
  • 2014 onwards:Celestyal Olympia
Owner:
  • 1982–1999: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
  • 1999–2004: Airtours
  • 2004 onwards: Louis Cruise Lines[1]
Operator:
  • 1982–1999: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
  • 1999–2005: Sun Cruises
  • 2005–2012: Thomson Cruises[1]
  • 2012 onwards: Celestyal Cruises
Port of registry:
Ordered: 1 November 1979[3]
Builder: Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard, Helsinki, Finland[1]
Cost: $ 140 million[4]
Yard number: 431[1]
Laid down: 17 February 1981[2]
Launched: 26 November 1981[2]
Completed: 9 November 1982[2]
Acquired: 11 November 1982[1]
In service: 5 December 1982[1]
Identification:
Status: Operating
General characteristics (as built)[1]
Type: Cruise ship
Tonnage:
Length: 214.51 m (703 ft 9 in)
Beam: 28.41 m (93 ft 3 in)
Draught: 6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
Decks: 11
Installed power:
Propulsion: Twin propellers[4]
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity: 1,575 passengers
Crew: 540
General characteristics (as Thomson Destiny)
Tonnage:
Decks: 12
Capacity: 1,664 passengers
Crew: 540[4]

Concept and construction
Thomson Destiny at Gran Canaria in 2007.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines had operated throughout the 1970s with three ships that had been built at the Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland. Two of these had been lengthened towards the end of the decade, but due to increased demand RCCL decided to order a larger new ship, again from the Wärtsilä Helsinki shipyard.[6]

For the interior layout of their new ship RCCL decided to adapt a system with cabins to the fore of the ship, furthest from engine noise, and public spaces to aft. This layout was widely used on ferries built by the Wärtsilä shipyard, but has been rarely used for cruise ships.[6] The public spaces on decks five and seven were built with 1½ times the standard deck height, leading to deck 6 only existing in the forward part of the ship.[7]

The Song of America was launched from drydock on 26 November 1981. Following fitting out she was delivered to her owners on 11 November 1982.[1]

History

1982–1999: Song of America

Following a voyage across the Atlantic, the Song of America entered service with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines on 5 December 1982 on a cruise from Miami to Nassau, San Juan and St. Thomas. This remained her main itinerary for the early parts of her career with RCCL.[1][6]

1999–2005: Sunbird
Sunbird laid up.

In May 1998, the Song of America was sold to Sun Cruises (owned by Airtours) for $94.5 million (recognized gain on the sale was $31.0 million). Sun Cruises then chartered the ship back to RCCL until March 1999. Unlike with earlier ships the RCCL sold, the 'sky lounge' around the ship's funnel was not removed before she was handed over to the new owners.

The ship was renamed MS Sunbird,[1][6] rebuilt with additional suites on deck 9 and used for cruising around Europe, mainly in the Mediterranean. Later during her Sun Cruises service the ship received MyTravel colours.[1][6] In 2004, Airtours decided to withdraw from the cruise business, and the Sunbird was sold to Louis Cruise Lines, who chartered her back to Sun Cruises until May 2004.[1]

2005–2012: Thomson Destiny

Following the end of her charter to Sun Cruises, Louis Cruise Lines chartered the Sunbird to Thomson Cruises, who renamed her MS Thomson Destiny.[1] With Thomson, the ship was used for cruising in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Canary Islands and the west coast of Africa. In the winter of 2009 she cruised in the Caribbean.

2012–2014: Louis Olympia

Thomson Destiny returned to Louis Cruises in April 2012 and started operating under its new name Louis Olympia.[8] She is used on Aegean cruises, to the Aegean Island and the Turkish coast, with its home port being Piraeus.

2014: Floating hotel

Louis Olympia was used as a floating hotel during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

2014 onwards: Celestyal Olympia

As part of Louis Cruise Lines re-branding in late 2014, the ship was renamed Celestyal Olympia with an updated livery, to reflect the new corporate identity.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all cruises from March 16th 2020 to March 6th 2021 have been suspended. [9]

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References
  1. Asklander, Micke. "M/S Song of America (1982)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  2. "Thomson Destiny (12706)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  3. "Det Norske Veritas". Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  4. Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 654–655. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
  5. "Maritime Matters". Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  6. Boyle, Ian. "Song of America". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  7. "Thomson Destiny Deck Plans". Thomson Cruises. TUI UK. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  8. "Seatrade Insider". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012.
  9. "Celestyal Cruises voluntarily extends suspension of cruise operations until 2021". Celestyal Cruises. 30 June 2020.
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