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Louis Cruise Lines

Louis Hellenic Cruises

 

Page 2: 2000-

 

 

These pages are devoted to postcards and photographs of the Louis Cruise Lines fleet. This page covers ships acquired from 2001. Louis Page 1 covers ships before 2001.

 

Louis have operated short cruises out of Cyprus for many years, and more recently have operated ships under charter for other companies such as Thomson. In 2004 they acquired the ships of Airtours/MyTravel, of which one has been chartered to Thomson.

 

The table below gives links to complete postcard career histories of the various ships. Below the table I have added the cards that I have collected so far in Louis Cruise Lines colours. Louis Cruise Lines acquired a controlling interest in Royal Olympia Cruises, although this interest had been disposed of before the collapse of Royal Olympic.

 

In April 2004, the ships of the Airtours/MyTravel/Sun Cruises fleet were taken over, following financial troubles with the My Travel parent company. There was a phased handover of the three ships Sundream, Carousel and Sunbird over the next four weeks, after which Louis took over their operation. Seawing also joined the Louis Cruise Lines fleet, under the name of Perla. In 2005 she operated cruises out of Piraeus to the Greek Islands and Turkey, after a winter in the Far East. Sundream continued operating for MyTravel until 26th September 2004. She was then laid up at Piraeus under the name Dream Princess. No further details available yet, although there are rumours that she will become a casino ship. The MyTravel company website indicated that she would join Louis Cruise Lines along with other ships in the fleet. Carousel also joined the Louis Cruise Lines fleet, under the name Aquamarine. She was initially chartered back to MyTravel, and was due to continue with them until May 2005, the last MyTravel ship to remain in service. From June 2005 Aquamarine cruised out of Genoa on a 7-day Mediterranean itinerary, under the Louis Hellenic Cruises banner. Sunbird operated as Thomson Destiny in the Thomson fleet, also owned and managed by Louis Cruise Lines. Also in 2005, the Holland America cruise ship Noordam was acquired, and chartered to Thomson as the Thomson Celebration. Following the withdrawal of Airtours/MyTravel and collapse of Royal Olympic, Louis created Louis Hellenic Cruises to fill the gap in the market left behind. the ships of both fleets are included here since frequent interchange is possible. Sea Diamond was lsot of Santorini Island, Greece, on 6th April 2007. Reports have suggested that she will be replaced by the Opera, ex-Silja Opera, which has been laid up at Tilbury for some time.

 

Louis have a good website with full fleet details, including their chartered out ships: http://www.louiscruises.com/

 

 

Ships on this Page 2:-

Aegean I - Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2005-

Aquamarine - Louis Cruise Lines: 2004-

Arielle - Louis Cruise Lines (Transocean Tours charter): 2005-

Coral - Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2004-

Cristal - Louis Cruise Lines: 2007-

Oceanic II - Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2007 (charter)

Orient Queen - Louis Cruise Lines: 2006-

Perla - Louis Cruise Lines: 2004-

Ruby - Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2007 (charter)

Sea Diamond - Louis Cruise Lines: 2006-2007

Thomson Celebration - Louis Cruise Lines: 2005-

Thomson Destiny - Louis Cruise Lines: 2005-

 

Ships on Page 1:--

Aegean Two - Louis Cruise Lines: 2007 - ex-Ivory, The Ausonia, Ausonia

Ausonia - Louis Cruise Lines: 1998-2006 - later: The Ausonia, Ivory, Aegean Two

Calypso - Louis Cruise Lines: 2000-

Emerald - Louis Cruise Lines: 1996-

Ivory - Louis Cruise Lines: 2006-2007 - ex-The Ausonia, Ausonia - later: Aegean Two

La Palma

Princesa Amorosa - Louis Cruise Lines: 1994-2003

Princesa Cypria - Louis Cruise Lines: 1988-

Princesa Marissa - Louis Cruise Lines: 1987-

Princesa Victoria - Louis Cruise Lines: 1994-

Sapphire - Louis Cruise Lines: 1996-

Serenade - Louis Cruise Lines: 2000-

The Ausonia - Louis Cruise Lines: 2006 - ex-Ausonia - later: Ivory, Aegean Two

 

Louis Pages:-

Louis Cruise Line Postcards - Page 1: 1987-2000

Louis Cruise Line Postcards - Page 2: 2001-

 

Louis Brochure Archive:-

2008 Louis Preview Brochure (5Mb Adobe PDF File)

2007 Louis Brochure (9Mb Adobe PDF File)

1994 Louis Brochure (1Mb Adobe PDF File) - Scan: Odd Tom Høgstøl

 

Associated Pages:-

Airtours/MyTravel

Coast Lines

Costa Line - Linea "C"

Finnlines

Princess Cruises

Regency Cruises

Royal Olympic Cruises

Thomson Cruises

Louis Cruise Lines - Official Louis Home Page

Cruise Ship Postcards

Ocean Liner Postcards

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

References:-

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Table of Ship Histories

Name	Other Names	Built	Acquired
Aegean I	Aegean Dolphin	1973	2005
Aquamarine	Nordic Prince, Carousel, Arielle	1971	2004
Arielle	Nordic Prince, Carousel, Aquamarine	1971	2004
Ausonia	Ausonia, Ivory	1966	1998
Calypso	Canguro Verde, Regent Jewel	1967	2000
Coral	Cunard Adventurer, Sunward II, Triton	1971	2004
Cristal	Viking Saga, Sally Albatross, Leeward, SuperStar Taurus, Silja Opera	1980
Emerald	Santa Rosa, Regent Rainbow	1966	1995
Orient Queen	Starward - Bolero	1968	2006
Perla	Southward, Seawing	1971	2004
Princesa Amorosa	Scottish Coast	1953	1993
Princesa Marissa	Finnhansa, Princessan	1966	1987
Princesa Victoria	Dunnottar Castle	1936	1993
Ruby (charter)	Cunard Countess, Olympic Countess, Ocean Countess, Lili Marleen	1974	2007
Sapphire	Italia, Ocean Princess	1967	1994
Thomson Destiny	Song of America, Sunbird	1982	2004

 

 

 

 

 

Louis Cruises Lines Fleet

 

 

Perla

(Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2004- )

 

Perla was originally NCL's Southward. Following the success of NCL's Starward and Skyward, a second pair of sisters were ordered from Italian builders, to be named Southward and Seaward. The cost of the second ship increased following the nationalisation of the builders, and the order was cancelled. She eventually appeared as P&O's Spirit of London. Southward entered service in 1971, and operated with NCL, including service from California, until sold to Airtours in 1994, becoming the Seawing of Sun Cruises. Airtours later became known as MyTravel. In April 2004, MyTravel's Seawing joined the Louis Cruise Lines fleet, under the name of Perla. In 2005 she operated cruises out of Piraeus to the Greek Islands and Turkey, after a winter in the Far East.

 

Complete history of Perla

 

 

Louis Cruises postcard of Perla.

Scan: Rogerio Gouveia

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Louis Cruises image of Perla.

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Louis Cruises image of Perla.

 

 

Photograph of Perla.

Photo: © Bert Pellegrom - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg

 

 

Photograph of Perla at Rhodes, 18th May 2005.

Photo: © Miho Radulic

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Perla at Piraeus with Ocean Monarch

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Perla at Piraeus with Ocean Monarch

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Perla at Piraeus with Ocean Monarch

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Perla at Piraeus with Ocean Monarch

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Perla at Piraeus with Ocean Monarch and Ivory

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Perla, Ivory and Calypso at Piraeus, with Ocean Monarch

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Perla in 2007

Photo: © Ernst Galutschek - ships.galutschek.at

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Aquamarine - Arielle

(Louis Cruise Lines: 2004- )

 

Aquamarine was built as the Nordic Prince, the second of two sisters built for Royal Caribbean, being delivered from Helsinki builders Wartsila in 1971. She was 18000 tons as built, and carried 724 passengers. In 1980, Nordic Prince was lengthened by 85 feet, to carry a total of 1024 passengers and increase size to 23000 gross tons. She initially operated on 7 and 14-day cruise out of Miami, but later served throughout the world, breaking new territories for RCCL, when superseded by larger ships in the Caribbean. Nordic Prince was sold to Airtours for their Sun Cruises fleet in 1994, becoming the Carousel. The distinctive sky lounge on the funnel was removed as part of the deal, greatly improving her appearance. In later years she received a revised MyTravel colour scheme. In April 2004, it was announced that she would join the Louis Cruise Lines fleet, under the name Aquamarine. She was initially chartered back to MyTravel, and was due to continue with them until May 2005, the last MyTravel ship to remain in service. From June 2005 Aquamarine cruised out of Genoa on a 7-day Mediterranean itinerary, under the Louis Hellenic Cruises banner. From April 2006, Aquamarine was chartered for five years for use by Transocean Tours, who have renamed her Arielle.

 

Complete history of Aquamarine

 

 

Louis image of Aquamarine.

Scan: Marika Millar

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Photograph of Arielle.

Photo: © Ivo Batricevic, Dubrovnik.

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Coral

(Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2004- )

 

Coral was originally the Cunard Adventurer, which then became NCL's Sunward II.

 

Following the success of Norwegian Caribbean's Starward and Skyward, a second pair of NCL sisters were ordered from Italian builders, to be named Southward and Seaward. The cost of the second ship Seaward increased following the nationalisation of the builders, and the order was cancelled. She eventually appeared as P&O's Spirit of London. Norwegian Caribbean waited until 1977 before acquiring more tonnage, when they bought Cunard Line's Cunard Adventurer, which was renamed Sunward II. The first Sunward had been their pioneer cruise ship, originally built in 1966 for a UK-Spain-Portugal service, which was sold in 1972.

 

In 1991, Sunward II was sold to Epirotiki as the Triton. She passed to the combined Royal Olympic Cruises fleet in 1995. Following the collapse of Royal Olympic, Triton was sold to Louis Hellenic Cruises at auction in 2004, and was renamed Coral.

 

Complete history of Coral

 

 

 

Louis Cruises postcard of Coral.

Scan: Rogerio Gouveia

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Louis Cruises publicity image of Coral.

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Photograph of Coral at Piraeus, 08/07/2005.

Photo: © Andreas Wörteler - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg

 

Photograph of Coral at Piraeus, 08/07/2005.

Photo: © Andreas Wörteler - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg

 

 

 

 

 

Thomson Celebration

(Louis Cruise Lines: 2005- )

 

Thomson Celebration is the ex-Noordam of Holland America, taken over by Thomson for the 2005 season. She is the sister of Thomson Spirit.

 

 

Official postcard of Thomson Celebration.

Scan: Lesley Brough.

 

 

 

 

 

Thomson Destiny

(Louis Cruise Lines: 2005- )

 

Thomson Destiny is the ex-Sunbird of My Travel, taken over by Thomson for the 2005 season. Thomson Destiny was built in 1982 as the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Song of America. Unlike the previous two purchases from RCI, the 'Sky Lounge' around the funnel was not removed when sold in 1999. Thomson Destiny is managed, and later owned, by Louis Cruise Lines.

 

Complete history of Thomson Destiny

 

 

 

From 2005, Sunbird operated as Thomson Destiny in the Thomson fleet,

 

 

Thomson Destiny postcard

Scan: Juan Freitas

 

 

Thomson Destiny postcard

Scan: Juan Freitas

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Photograph of Thomson Destiny at Villefranche, 11/06/2005.

Photo: © Lars Helge Isdahl - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg

 

 

Photograph of Thomson Destiny.

Image supplied by Mary Bland.

 

 

 

 

 

Aegean I

(Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2005?- )

 

The Aegean Dolphin was owned by Dolphin Hellas Cruises, Piraeus, but has operated on various charters to Epirotiki, Renaissance Cruises and Golden Sun Cruises. She was built in 1973 as the Zim ro-ro ferry Narcis, but was bought by Dolphin Hellas cruises in 1986, and renamed Aegean Dolphin after conversion to a cruise ship in 1988. In 1995 she was listed as operating for Epirotiki. She was renamed Aegean I in whilst on charter to Renaissance Cruises in 1996. She has operated for Golden Sun Cruises on Mediterranean cruises since 1997/8, still owned by Dolphin Hellas. In 2005, she was bought by Louis Cruise Lines, but delivery was delayed due to legal problems.

 

Louis postcards not available yet. If you can help, please email: simplon@simplon.co.uk

 

 

Dolphin Hellas Cruises postcard of Aegean Dolphin.

 

 

 

 

 

Sea Diamond

(Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2006-2007)

 

Sea Diamond was built as Birka Princess by Valmet, Helsinki, for Birka Line in 1986. She received a major refit in 1998, when the small garage originally provided was removed. She was sold to Louis Hellenic Cruises in 2006, who initially used her on 3- and 4-day cruises from Piraeus from April 2006. Sea Diamond was lost on 6th April 2007 off Santorini Island, Greece. Reports have suggested that she will be replaced by the Opera, ex-Silja Opera, which has been laid up at Tilbury for some time. In the short term she was replaced by chartered Oceanic II (ex-Mona Lisa and with Pullmantur for 2007) and then Ocean Countess which was renamed Ruby for use until October 2007.

 

 

Louis official postcard of Sea Diamond.

Scan: Dimas Almada

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Louis official postcard of Sea Diamond.

Scan: Dimas Almada

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Louis publicity image of Sea Diamond.

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Sea Diamond at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Sea Diamond at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Sea Diamond at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Sea Diamond at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Sea Diamond and Ocean Countess (chartered by louis in 2007 as Ruby) at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Sea Diamond and Ocean Countess (chartered by louis in 2007 as Ruby) at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Orient Queen

(Louis Cruise Lines: 2006- )

 

Orient Queen was completed as Starward in 1968 by AG Weser of Bremerhaven, for the Kloster subsidiary NCL (Norwegian Caribbean Line, later Norwegian Cruise Line). She operated out of Miami, on seven day cruises to the Caribbean islands. She originally had a stern car door and garage space to take trailers, particularly to Jamaica. This space was later converted to cabins. She is a sister to Skyward (later Leisure World).

 

Starward was sold to Festival Cruises in 1994, their second ship, becoming the Bolero. In 2000, Bolero was chartered to First Choice Cruises, followed by charters to other travel companies. Following the collapse of Festival Cruises, Bolero became the Orient Queen of Orient Queen Shipping. She passed to Louis Cruise Lines in 2006. She was used in the evaquation of US citizens from the Lebanon in July 2006. In 2007 she had a charter with Delphin Seereisen when there Delphin Voyager was not ready for their world cruise.

 

Complete history of Orient Queen

 

 

Louis Cruises image of Orient Queen.

Scan: Rogerio Gouveia

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Louis publicity image of Orient Queen.

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Orient Queen at Dubrovnik

Photo: © Ivo Batricevic 2007

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Orient Queen at Kusadasi 19th September 2006

Photo: © Teun van der Zee - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se

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Orient Queen at Kusadasi 19th September 2006

Photo: © Teun van der Zee - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se

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Orient Queen at Rhodes September 2005

Photo: © Gaute Sandnes - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se

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Oceanic II

(Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2007 - chartered)

 

Oceanic II was chartered from Louis Cruise Lines to replace the lost Sea Diamond during April and May 2007.

 

Oceanic II was built as Kungsholm (4) by John Brown, Clydebank in 1966, and entered service with Swedish America. She was sold to Flagship Cruises in 1975, retaining her name. The Kungsholm (4) was then bought by P&O in 1979 to replace the aging Arcadia. She was given a major overhaul in Bremen, which ruined her classic liner appearance, and renamed Sea Princess. Initially operated by P&O Cruises in the Australian, then British markets, she was later transferred to the US market and appeared in Princess Cruises colours. She eventually returned to P&O Cruises, and has subsequently been renamed Victoria. In Winter 1999/2000 Victoria operated a cruise on charter to the Union-Castle Line, and received a red/black funnel. It was announced in February 2001 that Victoria would be withdrawn and replaced in the P&O Cruises fleet from November 2002 with the Princess Cruises ship Ocean Princess, which would be renamed Oceana from November 2002. Victoria was sold to Leonardo Shipping, who chartered her to Holiday Kreuzfahrten as Mona Lisa. Holiday Kreuzfahrten failed in 2006, and the owners secured a charter with Pullmantur for summer 2007. Mona Lisa was renamed Oceanic II. Oceanic II was chartered from Louis Cruise Lines to replace the lost Sea Diamond during April and May 2007 before entering service with Pullmantur. From September 2007 she was chartered to The Scholar Ship.

 

Complete history of Oceanic II

 

 

Oceanic II at Mykonos 25/05/2007 in Louis service

Photo: © Georges Koutsoukis - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se

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Pullmantur publicity image of Oceanic II

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The Scholar Ship official postcard of Oceanic II

Scan: Micheal Kenyon

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Ruby

(Louis Hellenic Cruises: 2007 - chartered)

 

Ruby was built as the Cunard Countess. Launched by Burmeister & Wain in Copenhagen in 1974, Cunard Countess was moved to La Spezia for fitting out, entering service with Cunard Line in August 1976. Sistership was Cunard Princess. She originally had a white funnel like the Cunard Adventurer, which she replaced in service. Cunard Countess was given Cunard funnel colours in 1980. In 1982/83 she was used as a troop ship during the Falklands conflict. Cunard Countess was sold to Royal Olympic in 1997 becoming the Olympic Countess (later Olympia Countess). Following the collapse of Royal Olympia in 2004, Olympia Countess was bought by Majestic International Cruises who renamed her Ocean Countess. She was chartered to Globalia in 2005, and to the German tour operator Holiday Kreuzfahrten in 2006, as Lili Marleen. Holiday Kreuzfahrten failed later in 2006 and Lili Marleen was returned to her owners, Majestic International Cruises. She was advertised to operate 3- and 4-day cruises out of Piraeus in 2007 for subsidiary Monarch Cruises, in place of the advertised Ocean Monarch. However, she was chartered for 2007 to Louis Hellenic Cruise Lines and renamed Ruby, to replace the lost Sea Diamond. Ocean Monarch was reactivated in her place.

 

Complete history of Ruby

 

 

Ocean Countess (chartered by Louis in 2007 as Ruby) at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Ocean Countess (chartered by Louis in 2007 as Ruby) and Sea Diamond at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Ocean Countess (chartered by Louis in 2007 as Ruby) and Sea Diamond at Piraeus

Photo: © Tien-Lun Yao, 10th January 2007

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Ruby at Rhodes, 2007

Photo: © Ernst Galutschek - ships.galutschek.at

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Ruby at Mykonos 22/06/2007

Photo: © Georges Koutsoukis - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se

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Ruby at Rodos, 2007

Photo: © Ko Rusman

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Cristal

(Louis Cruise Lines: 2007- )

 

Cristal was built as the Baltic ferry Viking Saga in 1980 for Rederi Ab Sally, part of the Viking Line consortium, and used on their Helsinki-Stockholm service. Her sistership was Viking Song. She was replaced in 1986 by Olympia, and was modified for cruising out of Helsinki as the Sally Albatross. She was burnt out whilst undergoing a refit in Stockholm in 1990. By this time Rederi Ab Sally had been acquired by Effjohn International, owners of Silja Line. Although declared a total constructive loss, the lower hull was used to create a new ship, also called Sally Albatross, reappearing in 1992. In 1994, she grounded whilst on a cruise, suffering major damage. After repairs, she was chartered to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) as the Leeward. The Baltic cruise market had been hit badly by the Estonia disaster in September 1994. In 1999 the charter was transferred to NCL's owners, Star Cruises, for service in the Far East as SuperStar Taurus. The charter was terminated by Star Cruises in 2002, and she returned to her owners Silja Line for service as Silja Opera. Silja Opera was not part of the sale of Silja Line to Tallink in 2006, and she remained laid up at Tilbury for much of that year as the Opera. Opera was bought ny Louis Cruise Lines to replace the Sea Diamond which was lost on 6th April 2007 off Santorini Island, Greece. She was renamed Cristal and entered service in July 2007.

 

Complete history of Cristal

 

 

Louis Cruise Lines brochure image of Cristal

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Cristal between Kusadasi and Patmos 23/10/2007

Photo: © Gunnar Friberg - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se

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Cristal at Kusadasi 30/10/2007

Photo: © Andres Nygren - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se

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