Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 by Shawn Dake
HARMONY PRINCESS (ex COSTA MARINA). Courtesy Harmony Cruises
Two new cruise companies have announced that they will begin operations early in 2012. After Carnival Corporation previously stated that they would be unable to sell the COSTA MARINA (ex AXEL JOHNSON, REGENT SUN, ITALIA) at book value, their Costa Cruises division has bareboat chartered the 25,558 gross ton, 776-passenger ship, to a new start up company called Harmony Cruises.
HARMONY PRINCESS (ex COSTA MARINA) rendering
The South Korean firm has already renamed the ship HARMONY PRINCESS. Refurbishment work to make the vessel suitable for Korean passengers is taking place in Pusan. Management of the ship is being handled by Polaris Shipping, a bulk carrier line based in Seoul. The former COSTA MARINA was originally constructed as a cargo carrying container ship for the Johnson Line in 1969, before being converted to a cruise ship in 1990, so maybe the idea of a cargo shipping firm starting cruise operations with this vessel will be a harmonious transition.
DELPHIN at San Diego, January 15, 2001, Photo by Shawn J. Dake
In October, 2010 Hansa Kreuzfahrten and their 16,214 gross ton ship DELPHIN (ex BELORUSSIYA, KAZAKHSTAN II) were stopped mid-cruise at Villefranche over failure to pay 2.4 million Euros in charter fees. The subsequent bankruptcy of their parent company caused an enormous amount of consternation in Germany. Beginning in April, 2012, the 1975-built ship will see a return to service under the banner of Passat Kreuzfahrten, a new firm based in Hamburg, Germany, owned by Indian investor, Pradeep Agrawal. His purchase of the ship was announced in early December. Andrew Hey and Klaus Ebner will handle management of the new company as they did with the previous operator, with many of the original crew members also returning. The DELPHIN has 466 lower berths but can regularly carry up to 550 passengers. Like many former Soviet-era vessels, this ship has frequently changed hands over the years, but has managed to attract a very loyal following among her German passenger base. The 513- foot (156.3 meters) long ship is currently in the Viktor Lenac Shipyard in Rijeka, Croatia undergoing an extensive refurbishment. The interior, which was already quite attractive, is being renewed and flat-screen TVs will be added to all cabins, along with much technical work on the hull and propulsion machinery.
The DELPHIN entered the Viktor Lenac Shipyard in Rijeka, Croatia on December 9, 2011 for a nearly four month refurbishment. Photo copyright Passat Cruises.
While this may be a tough economic time to begin new single-ship cruise lines, these operators feel there is a niche for their type of cruise product. While Harmony Cruises and Passat Cruises are brand new lines, it is nice to see an attractive pair of seasoned veteran ships returning to the sea lanes.
Kalle Id
December 21, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Great news, particularly about the DELPHIN. She’s an extremely attractive ship and it’s great to see her return to service. Let’s hope Passat Kreuzfahrten will be a success.
Avery Boyer
December 21, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Very cool that COSTA MARINA will carry on. I would have been sad if she had been sent to the breakers, she is a unique and interesting ship with a great history. Here’s to another 42 years!
Kenneth Eden
December 22, 2011 at 4:09 am
Nice to see the two ships will continue sailing. Often, as viewed in the States, starting up a new business in tough economic times can actually benefit a company, its worked for me in the past, although as much I would love to “own” a passenger ship, that will never happen.
The drums along the Hudson are beating, for shoring up a mooring spot for Big Blue – would’nt that be a great New Years gift!
Raik
December 23, 2011 at 12:36 am
don´t forget Viking Ocean Cruises. They just ordered two new ships at STX France in St. Nazaire. Starting in 2014 they will be the 3rd new ocean cruise venture. Of course they do have a customer base and a lot of experiences in river cruising.
Kenneth Eden
December 23, 2011 at 4:47 am
Word out of STX has announced a new cruise line, Viking Ocean Cruises, building 2 new ships at STX France, other sources say this effort from Viking River Cruises is a reflection on the interests from former Royal Viking Line founders and other famed names from the past in the cruise industry.
Specs are for two ships, at 40,000 GRT with 444, with construction to begin September 2012.
Kalle Id
December 23, 2011 at 11:01 pm
The long-time CEO of Viking River Cruises, Torstein Hagen, is also the former CEO of Royal Viking Line. Also, the ships are for 888 passengers with 444 crew (which is quite a nice passenger/crew ratio), not for 444 passengers. This does seem to be becoming an interesting venture, it will be interesting to see what the ships will look like.
Kenneth Eden
December 25, 2011 at 4:30 am
My above was for 444 staterooms, the word staterooms was not noted – staterooms was obviously omitted. (probably my error)!
It is so very nice to see that not all new builds are the sea monsters that fit a small town into the ships, and that there are cruise lines that realize this.
When anyone, even me, gets a picture or drawing, please lets have it posted of the ship(S).
Jim Piggins
January 2, 2012 at 11:30 am
There seems to be still another German start-up this year, since cruise ship SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE (ex-Princess Mahsuri, ex-Berlin) has been sold to a company called FTI. It appears that the ship will revert in May 2012 to almost her original name, as she will become FTI BERLIN, and will operate in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Link: http://www.schiffe-und-kreuzfahrten.de/ms-fti-berlin-beschreibung-daten-fakten-bilder-buchen/
Shawn Dake
January 2, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Excellent catch Jim. I actually have known about FTI for some time now and just neglected to mention it previously. And I personally really like the former BERLIN as a ship. Here is a brief summary of the vessel details in the new role:
FTI Touristik
FTI BERLIN 1980 9,570 tons 457’ x 57’ 420 passengers. Former Names: BERLIN, PRINCESS MAHSURI, BERLIN, ORANGE MELODY, SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE. Note: Originally built for Peter Deilmann Reederei cruising with German passengers. After many years in a wide variety of roles plans call for this ship to return to German cruising in April, 2012.
Maritime Education
January 2, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Excellent News.. Niche always win
Phil C
February 1, 2012 at 1:29 am
Costa Marina somehow looks better and better as time goes by. I remember seeing her (or her sister) in Hong Kong harbour many years ago and not seeing any appeal. Perhaps it is the low profile. Quite unique ships with an interesting history.
Joe Sturges
February 8, 2012 at 3:07 am
Can’t help but be happy that Costa Marina will continue to sail, albeit under a different moniker. Ships of her size, and throwback styling with the knuckle in her bows, are a joy to behold. Not only more spacious inside, but wonderfully stylistic and reminiscent of great ships like Regal Empress, a credit to her original Scottish builders. Besides, you don’t have to share your vacation with 3,200 or more other “fun seekers”!!!!!
Fair winds and following seas to Harmony Cruises.
Ralph Teutsch
June 18, 2012 at 10:00 am
Don’t forget the upgraded Plantours, now sailing the former
c.Columbus as the Hamburg. But can the German market really support all these little 1 ship operations?