MV Boudicca

Boudicca in Funchal, Portugal
Name:
  • 1973–1991: Royal Viking Sky
  • 1991–1992: Sunward
  • 1992: Birka Queen
  • 1992–1993: Sunward
  • 1993–1997: Golden Princess
  • 1997–1998: SuperStar Capricorn
  • 1998–2001: Hyundai Keumgang
  • 2001–2004: SuperStar Capricorn
  • 2004–2005: Grand Latino
  • 2005 onwards: Boudicca[1]
Owner:
Operator:
Port of registry:
Builder: Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Helsinki, Finland[1]
Cost: $22.5 million[3]
Yard number: 396[1]
Launched: 25 May 1975[1]
Christened: Mrs Vesla Darre Hirsch[3]
Acquired: 5 June 1973[1]
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics (as built, 1973)[1]
Class and type: Royal Viking Star-class cruise ship
Tonnage:
Length: 177.70 m (583 ft 0 in)
Beam: 25.19 m (82 ft 8 in)
Draught: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 propellers[4]
Speed: 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph)
Capacity: 536 passengers
Crew: 324[5]
General characteristics (as rebuilt, 2005)[6]
Tonnage:
Length: 206.96 m (679 ft 0 in)
Beam: 25.22 m (82 ft 9 in)
Draught: 7.55 m (24 ft 9 in)
Depth: 13.67 m (44 ft 10 in)
Decks: 8 (passenger accessible)[3]
Installed power:
  • 4 × MAN 7L32/40
  • 14,000 kW (combined)[1]
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)[1]
Capacity: 900 passengers[3]
Crew: 320[3]
Notes: Otherwise the same as built

MV Boudicca is a cruise ship owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland as Royal Viking Sky for Nordenfjeldske Dampsibsselskap, Trondheim, which placed the ship in Royal Viking Line service.

Prior to entering service with her current owners, the ship has also sailed under the names Sunward (for Norwegian Cruise Line), Birka Queen (with Birka Cruises), Golden Princess (with Princess Cruises), SuperStar Capricorn (with Star Cruises), Hyundai Keumgang (with Hyundai Merchant Marine) and Grand Latino (with Viajes Iberojet (now Iberocruceros)).[7]

Concept and construction

Royal Viking Sky was ordered by Nordenfjeldske Dampsibsselskap, Trondheim from the Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland.[1] She was one of three near-identical ships ordered by different companies from for Royal Viking Line service. Her sister ships were Royal Viking Star, owned by Bergenske Dampskibsselskap, Bergen, and Royal Viking Sea, owned by A. F. Klaveness & Co, Oslo.[5] The Royal Viking Sky was launched from drydock on 25 May 1972 and delivered to her owners on 5 June 1973.[1]

Service history

Following delivery to Kloster/Royal Viking the Royal Viking Sky was used for luxury cruises around the world. In 1982 she was lengthened from 177.70 metres (583 ft 0 in) to 205.47 metres (674 ft 1 in) at the A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany.[1] In 1984 Kloster Cruise acquired the entirety of Royal Viking Line.[5] Subsequently in 1991 Royal Viking Sky was transferred to the fleet of Norwegian Cruise Line (also owned by Kloster) under the name Sunward. Already in 1992 the Sunward was sold to Birka Cruise, who renamed the ship Birka Queen for Baltic Sea cruising. Her career with Birka only lasted for the 1992 northern hemisphere summer season, and in late 1992 was chartered back to NCL, reverting to the name Sunward. In 1993 the ship was chartered to Princess Cruises, becoming their Golden Princess. Following delivery of newer tonnage to Princess Cruises, the company terminated the charter of the Golden Princess. Subsequently Birka Cruises sold the ship to Star Cruises, who renamed her SuperStar Capricorn.[7]

In 1998 the SuperStar Capricorn was chartered by Star Cruises to Hyundai Merchant Marine, who renamed the ship Hyundai Keumgang for cruises from South Korea to North Korea.[1][7] Huyndai's cruise operations failed already in 2001, and the Hyundai Keumgang was returned to Star Cruises and resumed service under the name SuperStar Capricorn.[1] In 2004 the ship was sold to Iberocruceros, who renamed her Grand Latino for Mediterranean cruising out of Spain.[7] In 2005 the ship was sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and renamed Boudicca. Following changing of her main engines at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, the ship entered service with Fred. Olsen in February 2006.[1]

In March 2010, the ship was relocated to its new base in Liverpool, England, where it has replaced the MV Black Prince, which was also owned by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.[8]

On 25 January 2015, the ship carrying more than 1,000 people was left without power off Morocco after an engine room fire. The fire at 04:00 BST left the ship "listing" and "in pitch black", said Dave Tonkin, whose father is on board. Fred Olsen, the company which owns the ship, said it was now fully stable and had five engines running again.[9]

Public spaces

The three formal restaurants, Heligan Room and Tintagel Restaurant to starboard and Four Seasons Restaurant to port, are on Deck 6, the Lounge Deck. There is a common buffet servery for breakfast and lunch. There is also an informal, buffet restaurant amidships, the Secret Garden. The main show lounge, the Neptune Lounge, sits aft and contains a stage and dance floor. In the daytime this lounge is used for lectures. Between the Neptune Lounge and the various Restaurants are lounges and bars for reading and conversation. Finally, right at the back there is open outside decking and the main swimming pool, plus a poolside buffet which is used when weather permits.

The Lido Lounge, an alternative show lounge for cabaret-style performances, is aft on Deck 7, Lido Deck. Also on this deck are the card room and library, as well as cabins placed centrally and towards the bow.

The Observatory is forward on Deck 9, Marquee Deck, with its own bar; it provides excellent views. The Marquee Bar and a smaller pool are aft, with suites between the two. Above lies the Sun Deck, Deck 10.

The shop, reception and shore tours office are in the centre of Deck 5, Main Deck, and Atlantic Deck 4 contains the fitness centre and beauty salon.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Asklander, Micke. "M/S Royal Viking Sky (1973)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  2. ↑ "Boudicca (07938)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 224–225. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
  4. ↑ Miller, William H (1995). Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. Mineola: Dover. p. 111. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.
  5. 1 2 3 Plowman, Peter (2007). Australian Cruise Ships. Rosenberg. pp. 16–19. ISBN 978-1-87705-850-9.
  6. ↑ "Boudicca (07938)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Boyle, Ian. "Royal Viking Sky". Simplon Postcardsh. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Liverpool's new cruise liner makes her regal entry". Liverpool Echo. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  9. ↑ "Cruise ship Boudicca hit by engine room fire". BBC News. 25 January 2015.
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