Festival Cruises
Ship transport | |
Founded | 1992 |
---|---|
Defunct | 2004 |
Fate | Bankruptcy |
Headquarters | Greece[1] |
Key people | George Poulides |
Products | Cruises |
Festival Cruises (known as First European Cruises in North America) was a Greece-based cruise line that operated between 1994 and 2004. It was founded in 1992 by the Greek entrepreneur George Poulides using second-hand ships. The company acquired three new-built ships between 1999 and 2002, but was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2004.[1][2][3][4]
History
Festival Cruises acquired their first newbuilt ship in 1999, when
Festival Cruises went bankrupt in early 2004, with all the company's ships were laid up and subsequently auctioned to other operators; European Stars and European Vision were sold to MSC Cruises,[2][4] Mistral to a French investor group who chartered her to Iberojet,[2][8] The Azur to Mano Maritime,[9] Bolero to Abou Merhi Lines and Flamenco to Cruise Elysia.[2]
Ships
Ship | Built | In service for Festival Cruises |
Tonnage | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MS Azur |
1971 | 1994–2004 | 11,609 GRT | Since 2017 MS Knyaz Vladimir for Black Sea Cruises | |
MS Bolero | 1968 | 1995–2001 | 12,948 GRT | Sold for scrap in 2018 | |
MS Caribe | 1948 | 2002–2004 | 15,614 GRT | Built for Swedish America Line as Stockholm. 2015-2021 Astoria for Cruise & Maritime Voyages , then laid up |
|
MS Flamenco | 1972 | 1997–2003 | 17,370 GRT | Originally ordered for Norwegian Cruise Line as Seaward. Capsized and partially sank on 27 February 2016 near Laem Chebang, Thailand | |
MS Mistral | 1999 | 1999–2004 | 47,276 GT | From 2019 MS AIDAmira until 2022 for AIDA Cruises, Since 2022 at Ambassador Cruise Line as Ambition |
|
MS European Vision | 2001 | 2001–2004 | 58,174 GT | Since 2004 MSC Armonia for MSC Cruises | |
MS European Stars | 2002 | 2002–2004 | 58,625 GT | Since 2004 MSC Sinfonia for MSC Cruises |
References
- ^ ISBN 0-7524-3886-7.
- ^ a b c d e f Boyle, Ian. "Festival Cruise Line". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ^ "Festival Cruises Cruise Reviews". CruiseReviews.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ^ ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
- ^ a b Asklander, Micke. "M/S Starward (1968)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ^ a b Asklander, Micke. "M/S Spirit of London (1972)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ^ Boyle, Ian. "MSC Crociere Italiane > MSC Lirica (2003– )". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ Ward (2006). pp. 380–381
- ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Eagle (1971)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-09-28.