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40-718: Each of the line's initial three vessels was owned by one of its initial investing partners. The first, the Royal Viking Star , was completed in July, 1972. Its owner was Bergenske Dampskibsselskab (Bergen Line). The second, the Royal Viking Sky , was owned by Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskab of Trondheim. She was completed in July 1973. The third ship, the Royal Viking Sea , was ready in December of

80-465: A Letter of Intent for the construction of a new cruise ship with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The new ship was modeled after the line's three newest vessels, Seabourn Odyssey , Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest . Delivery was completed in 2016. The vessel replaced the capacity that left the Seabourn brand with the sale of Seabourn Pride , Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend . In July 2018,

120-514: A feature not found on either of her fleet-mates nor any of the Scandinavian-built cruise ships of that generation. Other differences included the placement of small lounges and facilities such as the library. These vessels were intended for longer voyages to exotic destinations, and a significant percentage of the line's passengers were wealthy retirees. As such, they featured numerous single staterooms and suites, and thus their capacity

160-707: A fourth ship, the Royal Viking Sun . Constructed by Wärtsilä in Turku , Finland, she was 38,848  GT and carried 850 passengers. The final ship built for Royal Viking was the Royal Viking Queen completed in 1992. She was just 9,961  GT , carrying only 212 passengers and sharing a general arrangement with the Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit of Seabourn Cruise Line ; the new home of Warren Titus. In 1990 and 1991, Kloster moved

200-455: A single, scooped Queen Elizabeth 2 -esque funnel . However, the Star was two feet shorter (581 feet), and her interior arrangement differed slightly from her two fleet-mates. Each ship featured a double-height theatre occupying an interior space on the two lowest passenger decks; however, on the Star the space just forward of the theatre on the higher of these decks was occupied by a chapel ,

240-572: Is creating a new residential ship Njord , and has revived the original Royal Viking Line logo. Royal Viking Star MS Black Watch was a Royal Viking Star -class cruise ship . She was built by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard , Finland for Royal Viking Line as Royal Viking Star , entering service in 1972 as the lines first ship. She has also sailed for Norwegian Cruise Lines as Westward and Royal Cruise Line as Star Odyssey . As of June 18, 2022 she has been beached for scrapping as Odin at Alang , India. Royal Viking Line

280-702: The Seabourn Sojourn in 2010 and the Seabourn Quest in June 2011. The three ships share most features. The Odyssey , Sojourn , and Quest have a maximum passenger capacity of 450 guests, quartered in 225 suite cabins, 90% of which have a balcony. The 650-foot (200 m) vessels cost approximately US$ 250 million each. The ships have 11 decks, an 11,500-square-foot (1,070 m ) indoor/outdoor spa, and four alternative dining venues. On March 31, 2011, Seabourn moved operations from Miami, Florida, to

320-615: The Boudicca was beached for scrapping in Aliağa , Turkey . The former Royal Viking Star would follow a year later in June 2022. The former Royal Viking Sea sailed for the German company Phoenix Reisen as the Albatros . Layout-wise, she has probably changed the least, with the majority of public rooms remaining in their original configuration after the 1983 refit. In October 2020 Albatros

360-689: The Panama Canal simultaneously in different directions, the Sky sailing westbound and the Star eastbound. Beginning in 1980, under the leadership of then CEO Torstein Hagen , each of the three ships was stretched to 28,000  GRT by adding a 93-foot prefabricated midships section at the AG Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven . This increased each ship's capacity by 200 passengers and mainly included

400-539: The Queen Odyssey , which was then renamed Seabourn Legend . In 1998, in partnership with a consortium of a Norwegian businessmen, Carnival purchased the remaining 50% stake in Seabourn, as well as acquiring the Cunard Line from Kvaerner ASA, and merged the two brands into an entity called Cunard Line. In 1999, three Cunard ships, Sea Goddess I , Sea Goddess II , and Royal Viking Sun were transferred into

440-806: The Royal Viking Star and the Royal Viking Sky to its Norwegian Cruise Line brand, where they became the Westward and the Sunward and the Royal Viking Sea to its Royal Cruise Line brand, where she took the name Royal Odyssey . In 1993, the Westward ex Royal Viking Star became the Star Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line . The passenger capacity on each of the original three ships had been increased to 850, mainly with

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480-558: The Seabourn Sun , as by this time, Seabourn had been acquired by Cunard's parent, Carnival, and merged into Cunard Line Ltd. This phase lasted until 2002, when she was transferred again to Holland America Line Inc. (another Carnival subsidiary), becoming the second Prinsendam , for Holland America Line, where she remained until 2019. In July 2018 the Prinsendam (ex Royal Viking Sun ) was also bought by Phoenix Reisen. The ship

520-628: The Star Legend . The Royal Viking line ships were featured prominently in the book "Voyages of the Royal Viking " by the photographer and artist Harvey Lloyd . The book "Ever Higher, The Birth of the Royal Viking Sun" describes the line's history and construction of the line's fourth ship. Although the last remnants of the original Royal Viking Line have long been phased out, a few former owners have tried to revive elements of

560-690: The Holland America Line quarters in Seattle, Washington. It was announced on February 19, 2013, that Seabourn reached an agreement with Windstar Cruises for the sale of the three smaller Seabourn ships. Seabourn Pride departed the fleet in April 2014, sisters Seabourn Legend & Seabourn Spirit departed in April and May 2015, respectively. No cruises were cancelled as the ships sailed with Seabourn until their initial dry dock periods. On October 18, 2013, Seabourn announced it had signed

600-485: The Seabourn fleet as Seabourn Goddess I , Seabourn Goddess II , and Seabourn Sun . In 2001, Carnival bought out the Norwegian shareholders, and Seabourn's parent company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival. That summer, Seabourn Goddess I and Seabourn Goddess II were sold to Seabourn's original founder, Atle Brynestad, in order to establish his own cruise line SeaDream Yacht Club . In 2002, Seabourn Sun

640-421: The addition of cabins. The size of the main restaurant was also doubled and now occupied nearly half of one deck in order to maintain single-seating dining. Royal Viking Star was stretched in 1981, followed by Royal Viking Sky in 1982 and Royal Viking Sea in 1983. The lengthening of the ships improved both their profiles and their economics. In 1984, Torstein Hagen arranged a $ 240 million management buyout of

680-508: The addition of staterooms amidships on the Bridge Deck, in what used to be officers' quarters. A buffet was also added in the lounge on the top deck, since the ships did not have the casual indoor/outdoor dining area (often called a Lido) that was becoming de rigueur . That same year, the Sunward ex Royal Viking Sky was chartered to Princess Cruises which operated her for one year as the "Golden Princess." In 1994, when Kloster Cruise

720-554: The bridge remains. The length of Bridge Deck is now occupied by passenger cabins (with the ship's officers scattered around the ship). Aboard the Black Watch , the aft portion of the formerly vast main dining-room has been converted to two smaller restaurants and an additional lounge. A spacious, glass-lined space on the top deck hosts the fitness center and spa. The former chapel has been carved into three additional staterooms. The changes on Boudicca are even more radical, where

760-463: The buyers of a former cruise ship to block its imminent beaching in India. Such a move would violate a sales contract clause calling for green scrapping of the vessel once its end-of-life job as an accommodation vessel is over. In June 2022, Fred Olsen secured a last-minute stay of execution for its former vessel seeking its return to Turkey to be properly recycled per its agreement of sale. The beaching

800-463: The company, with the assistance of venture capital firm JH Whitney . After the buyout had been announced, but before it closed, the two companies owning Royal Viking decided to sell the company instead to Norwegian Caribbean Line , then part of the Kloster group. The offices were moved to Coral Gables , Florida , and Warren Titus departed in 1987. While under Kloster ownership, Royal Viking built

840-468: The cruise line announced it would add two expedition ships to its fleet. Seabourn Venture was delivered on June 29, 2022 and inaugural voyage on July 27, 2022. Seabourn Pursuit is scheduled for delivery in February 2023. On March 16, 2023 Seabourn announced that Seabourn Odyssey would be sold to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). The ship will remain with the brand under a charter agreement through

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880-559: The cruise ship moored up in the Firth of Forth , eight crew members tested positive for COVID-19 . On 21 August 2020, Fred. Olsen announced that the Black Watch and her sister ship Boudicca were sold as accommodation ships for workers. Both of the Black Watch's original sister ships were scrapped, making it the last surviving ship of the original Royal Viking Line trio. In May 2022, lawyers for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines went after

920-523: The dining-room space was broken up into no fewer than four separate restaurants and the space formerly occupied by the theatre has been converted into additional staterooms and a fitness centre. In August 2020, Fred. Olsen retired the Black Watch and the Boudicca after 24 and 15 years respectively due to the COVID-19 pandemic and sold them as accommodation ships for workers in Tuzla, Istanbul . In May 2021

960-462: The new ships, named Royal Viking Star , was launched on 12 May 1971 and entered service on 26 June 1972. Her sisters, Royal Viking Sky and Royal Viking Sea , followed in 1973. The Royal Viking Line brand was clearly a success and the elegantly furnished ships were considered to be amongst the five most luxurious cruise ships in the world at the time, alongside Norwegian America Line 's Sagafjord and Vistafjord . In 1981 Royal Viking Star

1000-491: The original line. This includes former Royal Viking CEO Torstein Hagen , who created Viking Ocean Cruises in 2013, with new ships based on a very similar design to the Royal Viking Sun , with philosophy aligned with the original Royal Viking in service, amenities, and worldwide itineraries. Kristian Stensby , former treasurer for Kloster Cruise Ltd., the parent of Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Cruise Line and Royal Viking Line, and now CEO of Ocean Residences Development Group,

1040-464: The same year. Her owner was A. F. Klaveness & Co , Oslo. Warren S. Titus became the first president of Royal Viking Line, which established its US head office in San Francisco. The ships were all built by Wärtsilä Helsinki New Shipyard , Finland , and were each approximately 21,500  gross register tons  (GRT) and nearly identical in appearance, with a tall superstructure and

1080-486: The ship was docked for two months at Blohm & Voss , Hamburg , Germany. During this time her engines were upgraded and interiors refurbished. In July 2007, the ship was the subject of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak which affected a number of passengers in their seventies and eighties. A norovirus outbreak infected 130 passengers and crew during a cruise to Scandinavia in September 2013. On 13 April 2020, when

1120-522: The use of the brand in 1999. After several more changes of name and ownership, the former Royal Viking Star and Royal Viking Sky sailed with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines , the Royal Viking Star as the Black Watch and the Royal Viking Sky as the Boudicca . Aboard both ships, the lounge/buffet on the top deck has been replaced with additional passenger cabins, while the observation lounge above

1160-532: Was lengthened by 27.77 metres (91 ft 1 in) at Seebeckwerft , Bremerhaven , West Germany . As the 1980s progressed it became clear that the luxury cruise lines such as Royal Viking could not survive without the support of a larger company, with the operating costs of a handful of luxury ships being too high to be truly profitable. Royal Viking Line was acquired by Kloster Cruises in 1984, but its operations were initially kept separate from those of Norwegian Cruise Line. In April 1991 Royal Viking Star

1200-476: Was charted back to Holland America for one final year before transferring to Phoenix REsisen and being renamed Amera . The Royal Viking Queen operated briefly as the Queen Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line , then joined her sister ships at Seabourn Cruise Line in 1996 as the Seabourn Legend , after Kloster liquidated Royal Cruise Line. In 2015, the Seabourn Legend was sold to Windstar Cruises as

1240-430: Was delayed due to investors' financial constraints and was ultimately purchased by Royal Viking Line in 1992 as Royal Viking Queen . In 1995, Royal Viking Queen was transferred to a Kloster subsidiary, Royal Cruise Line , as Queen Odyssey . In 1991, Carnival Corporation purchased a 25% stake in Seabourn. Carnival Corporation increased its stake to 50% in 1996, providing the company sufficient capital to purchase

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1280-584: Was established in 1970 as a joint project between the American businessman Warren Titus and three Norwegian shipping companies (including Kloster Cruises, the owner of Norwegian Cruise Line ). The aim of the new company was to offer luxury cruises to destinations around the world as an alternative to Caribbean cruising. For this end the company ordered three purpose-built luxury cruise ships from Wärtsilä Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland . The first of

1320-424: Was founded in 1986 under the name "Signet Cruise Lines" by the Norwegian private investor Atle Brynestad and Warren S. Titus. The name "Seabourn Cruise Line" was adopted shortly afterward following objections over trademark ownership by Signet Oil. Its first ship, Seabourn Pride , entered service in 1988, followed by an identical sister, Seabourn Spirit , in 1989. A third vessel, originally planned for 1990,

1360-643: Was in financial difficulties, the Royal Viking Line was dissolved. Royal Viking Queen was transferred to Royal Cruise Line as Queen Odyssey , while Royal Viking Sun and the Royal Viking brand were sold to Cunard Line Ltd . Cunard continued to operate the ship under the Royal Viking brand as a special segment of the Cunard fleet. Following acquisition by Carnival Corp and a merger with Seabourn Cruise Line , Cunard's Royal Viking and Sea Goddess fleets were consolidated with Seabourn, officially ending

1400-437: Was only about 550 compared to 750-850 on similarly-sized ships of other lines. Royal Viking Line prided itself on single-seating dining, and the restaurant was situated unusually high in the ship, with large windows. Another popular feature was a glass-enclosed lounge high atop the bridge, which afforded excellent views. On May 1, 1976 the Royal Viking Sky and Royal Viking Star became the first sister ships to have transited

1440-750: Was sold as a hotel vessel for the Pick Albatros Group in the Middle East, which operates some 15 hotels and resorts in Hurghada region. However, the project was never initiated, and the ship stayed at Hurghada until sold in 2021 for scrap, after a stop in Jeddah . She was beached in Alang on 27 July 2021. The Royal Viking Sun operated for Cunard Line with her original name until 1999, then she joined her former fleetmate, Royal Viking Queen, as

1480-519: Was stopped by court but the arrest can be canceled by a caution of $ 4.16 million, the value of the ship. The ship, based on AIS data, was beached at Alang , India on 18 June 2022. The scrapping process should begin soon due to the beaching of the ship. Seabourn Cruise Line Seabourn Cruise Line is a luxury small ship cruise line headquartered in Seattle, Washington . It is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc . Seabourn Cruise Line

1520-598: Was to prove short however, as Norwegian Cruise Line was facing financial difficulties in the mid-1990s and were forced to sell off various assets. In October 1996 the ship was sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines . The ship was renamed Black Watch (a traditional name in Fred. Olsen fleet) and entered service for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on 15 November 1996. In February 1997 the ship suffered engine problems while outside Marmaris , Turkey, and had to be docked for two weeks at Valletta , Malta for repairs. From April 2005 onwards,

1560-706: Was transferred from the Royal Viking Line to the Norwegian Cruise Line and renamed Westward . With NCL the ship was used for cruising from New York City to Bermuda and on to the Caribbean Sea. In April 1994, the ship was transferred to the fleet of NCL's subsidiary Royal Cruise Line , renamed Star Odyssey and used for cruising around the Mediterranean Sea . Here the ship joined her sister Royal Viking Sea that had sailed as Royal Odyssey since 1991. The career of Star Odyssey

1600-530: Was transferred to the Carnival-owned Holland America Line , reducing the Seabourn fleet to its three original sister ships, and the company was demerged from Cunard Line and reorganized as a stand-alone operating brand of Carnival Corporation & plc. In October 2006, Seabourn ordered three new, 32,000-ton cruise ships from Genoa 's T. Mariotti shipyard. The first, named Seabourn Odyssey entered service in 2009, followed by

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