MS Bahamas Celebration
 Prinsesse Ragnhild in July 2005. |
|
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | 1981–2008: MS Prinsesse Ragnhild 2008 onwards: MS Bahamas Celebration |
| Owner: | 1981–1990: Jahre Line 1990–2008: Color Line 2008 onwards: Celebration Cruise Holdings[1] |
| Operator: | 1981–1990: Jahre Line 1990–2008: Color Line[1] 2009 onwards: Celebration Cruise Line[2] Manager: International Shipping Partners[3] |
| Port of registry: | 1981–1990: Sandefjord,  Norway1990–2008: Oslo, Norway2008 onwards: Nassau,  Bahamas[1] |
| Builder: | HDW, Kiel, West Germany |
| Yard number: | 164[1] |
| Laid down: | 29 February 1980[3] |
| Launched: | 31 July 1980[3] |
| Completed: | 30 January 1982[3] |
| In service: | 1981–[1] |
| Identification: | IMO number: 7904891[1] |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics (as built, 1980)[1] | |
| Type: | Cuiseferry |
| Tonnage: | 16,631 GRT 3,210 DWT |
| Length: | 170 m (557 ft 9 in) |
| Beam: | 24 m (78 ft 9 in) |
| Draught: | 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in) |
| Ice class: | 1B |
| Installed power: | 2 × Stork-Werkspoor 20TM410 18,600 kW (combined) |
| Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Capacity: | 892 passengers 892 passenger berths 603 cars |
| General characteristics (as rebuilt, 1992)[3] | |
| Tonnage: | 35,483 GT 19,854 NT 3,210 DWT |
| Length: | 205.25 m (673 ft 5 in) |
| Beam: | 24 m (78 ft 9 in) |
| Draught: | 6 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Depth: | 13 m (42 ft 8 in) |
| Ice class: | 1B |
| Installed power: | 4 × Stork-Wärtsilä 9FEDH240 diesels 2 × Stork-Wärtsilä 9FEDH240G 36,356 kW (combined) |
| Propulsion: | Two controllable pitch propellers |
| Capacity: | 1,900 passengers 1,875 passenger berths 700 cars |
| Notes: | Otherwise the same as built |
MS Bahamas Celebration is a mid-size cruise ship owned by Celebration Cruise Line.[1] Since March 2009 she had been operating two- and three-day cruises from Port Everglades to the Bahamas.[4] In March 2010 she started operating two-day cruises from the Port of Palm Beach.[5]
The ship was built in 1981 by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, Germany as MS Prinsesse Ragnhild for Jahre Line. In 1990 she was transferred to Color Line. In 1992 she was extensively rebuilt at Astilleros Españoles in Cadiz, Spain. She was withdrawn from service with Color Line on 6 May 2008.[1]
Service history
Prinsesse Ragnhild
From 1981 to 2004 MS Prinsesse Ragnhild operated on the Oslo–Kiel route, first for Jahre Line and, from 1990 onwards, for their successor Color Line. In 1992 she was radically rebuilt at Astilleros Españoles, Cadiz, increasing her length by 35.25 meters and passenger capacity by 858.[1] On 8 July 1999, there was a fire in the engine room, resulting in a complete evacuation of the ship.[1] With the Scandinavian Star disaster fresh in mind, a full emergency was called and all ships in the area came to the rescue. Helicopters and firecrews from Norway, Sweden and Denmark all participated in the rescue effort,and the evacuation was described by most passengers as "controlled".[citation needed] However, one woman died after the fire as a result of a heart attack.[6] After repairs at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany, the ship resumed operations on the third of September. On 1 March 2002, the ship suffered another engine room fire, which was quickly extinguished.[1]
In 2003 Color Line spent 60 mil NOK on upgrading the on-board interior.[citation needed] In 2005 she was transferred to the new Bergen—Stavanger—Hirtshals route, when Color Line introduced the new MS Color Fantasy on the Oslo-Kiel route.[1] On 8 January 2008 Prinsesse Ranghild was moved to Oslo–Hirtshals route, replacing MS Color Festival that was sold to Corsica Ferries.[1][7] In April 2008 Color Line announced that due to "negative financial development" in the service, the Oslo–Hirtshals route was closed down on 6 May 2008, and the Prinsesse Ragnhild was placed for sale.[8] Following closure of the route the Prinsesse Ragnhild was laid up at Sandefjord.[1] On 3 September 2008 Color Line reported the Prinsesse Ragnhild had been sold to the United States-based Celebration Cruise Holdings for €23 million.[9][10] The ship was delivered to her new owners on 1 October 2008, renamed Bahamas Celebration and left Sandefjord on the same date for Grand Bahama Island.[1]
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Asklander, Micke. "M/S Prinsesse Ragnhild (1981)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Celebration Cruise Line". Celebration Cruise Line. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Bahamas Celebration (12433)". DNV Exchange. Det Norske Veritas. https://exchange.dnv.com/exchange/main.aspx?extool=vessel&subview=summary&vesselid=12433. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- ^ "Eyewitness Everglades". Maritime Matters. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Paul Quinlan (22 January 2010). "Cruise ship to move to Port of Palm Beach, offer sails to Bahamas". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ^ Boyle, Ian. "Prinsesse Ragnhild". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ (Norwegian) Color Line press release 21. 11. 2007: Color Line selger Color Festival for 400 mill kroner, retrieved 2007-11-21.
- ^ "Color Line to focus on its engagement in cruise and transport". Color Line press release. Color Line. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ "M/S Prinsesse Ragnhild has been sold". Color Line press release. Color Line. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Color Line sells Prinsesse Ragnhild to Celebration Cruises for €23 million". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
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