MV Aegean Odyssey (original) (raw)

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Cruise ship

Aegean Odyssey
History
Name 1973–1985: Narcis 1985–1986: Alkyon 1986–1989: Aegean Dolphin 1989–1990: Dolphin 1990–1996: Aegean Dolphin 1996–2010: Aegean I 2010 onwards: Aegean Odyssey
Owner 1973–1985: Zim Navigation 1985–1998: Dolphin Hellas Shipping 1998–2008: Golden Sun Cruises 2008–2016: Aegean Experience Maritime Co Ltd[1] 2016 onwards: Aegean Odyssey Maritime-Pan
Operator Voyages to Antiquity
Port of registry 1973–1985: Haifa, Israel 1985–2009: Piraeus, Greece 2009–2016: Valletta, Malta 2016 onwards: Panama City, Panama
Builder Santierul Naval Galați, Galați, Romania
Yard number 617
Laid down 18 June 1971
Launched 18 June 1972
Completed 22 August 1973
Identification Call sign HOBW IMO number: 7225910 MMSI number: 374757000
Status In service
General characteristics
Type Cruise ship
Tonnage 11,906 GT
Length 461 ft (140.51 m)
Beam 67 ft (20.42 m)
Draught 20 ft (6.10 m)
Decks 8 decks 7 decks passenger accessible
Speed 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (service speed)
Capacity 380 passengers
Crew 180

MV Aegean Odyssey is a cruise ship owned and operated by Voyages to Antiquity, a one-ship cruise company established in 2009. Built as a ferry in 1973, it was converted to a cruise ship in 1988, and substantially rebuilt in 2010.

The MV Aegean Odyssey was built in 1973 as the Zim ro-ro ferry Narcis, later renamed Alkyon in 1985. In 1986, she was bought by Dolphin Hellas Cruises, which renamed the ship Aegean Dolphin and sent it to Perama to be converted into a cruise ship.[2] Following the completion of renovations in 1988, the ship remained in the cruise line's fleet until 1995, when she was sold to Epirotiki Line. It was renamed Aegean I whilst on charter to Renaissance Cruises in 1996. Then the ship operated for Golden Sun Cruises on Mediterranean cruises since 1997–1998, still owned by Dolphin Hellas. In 2005, she was to be bought by Louis Hellenic Cruise Lines, but the deal fell through due to legal problems, and the ship was laid up.

She was bought by the new cruise company 'Voyages to Antiquity' in 2009, as part of a new venture by cruise line veteran Gerry Herrod.[3] The cruise was operated by Turkish travel agency Etstur in 2013 and 2015 summer seasons for Greek Islands tours.

Aegean Odyssey docked next to Crystal Serenity.

The ship was refitted and renovated in Ermoupoli on the Greek island of Syros to cater for cruising in the coastal waters of the central and southern Mediterranean – she can visit ports that are too small for most cruise ships and began operation again in May 2010, renamed Aegean Odyssey.[4]

The passenger capacity was reduced from 570 to around 380 in order to provide more spacious accommodation; the cinema was removed in favour of a lecture hall, and new dining areas established.

The ship's ownership changed on 30 April 2010, four days before its inaugural cruise departure. Its registered owner is Samos (Island) Maritime Co. Ltd based in Piraeus.

Ship company owner Voyages to Antiquity announced that it ended its services at the end of October 2019, and the Oxford office was to close, due to motor failures and trips cancelled. From April 2020 to April 2023 the ship was to be chartered to US not-for-profit organization_Road Scholar_, undertaking educational voyages.[5]

  1. ^ Lloyd's Register[_specify_]
  2. ^ "100A1 (April 1986)". 100A1: the Magazine of Lloyd's Register of Shipping. No. April 1986. London, England: Lloyd's of London Press. April 1986. p. 7. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024. 100A1 pays a visit [to the Perama shipyard] with LR senior surveyor Panos Hadjiconstantinou; he's there to check progress on the 8224-gt roll-on/roll-off cargo ship Aegean Dolphin, being converted for Dolphin Hellas Shipping SA into a 600-berth cruise ship. All the conversion plans for the 128 m-long vessel were approved by LR's London headquarters and the actual conversion work is being surveyed from the LR Piraeus office. [...] Although it is still February the weather is magnificent, with a soft warm breeze gently moving the eucalyptus and olive trees. [...] The Aegean Dolphin is berthed at the last quay before the naval base and the magnitude of the conversion is immediately apparent by the sight of the new stern which has replaced the former roll-on/roll-off stern loading door. She has been completely remodelled, and as we climb up the interior to the upper deck we can see the extensive internal alterations. There is a new disco dance floor and restaurants, a casino, a theatre and several bars. Much of the original steelwork can be seen. On deck workmen are plastering concrete over new steelwork surrounding the newly-built swimming pool. "We'll go on top and take a look at the new superstructure," says Hadjiconstantinou. "What they've done is to raise the bridge by two metres and add some cosmetic steel around the original funnel to give it a more 'with it' appearance." We are joined by LR senior surveyor B. Dardanos, who points out that the Aegean Dolphin has been given an extended new bow to fit in with her new cruising image. He tells 100A1: "The conversion plans and the classification aspects of fire safety have all been approved by LR's London Headquarters. We are expecting the job to be completed soon."
  3. ^ "Founder of Orient Lines Announces New Voyages to Antiquity Line". 2009-11-18.
  4. ^ "A New Cruise Line, a new Philosophy". Hospitality Industry news. 2009-11-16.
  5. ^ "Road Scholar". same. 2019-09-12.