MS Thomson Destiny

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MS Thomson Destiny
Builder:	Wärtsilä, Helsinki, Finland
Owner:	Louis Cruise Lines
Operator:	Thomson Cruises
Entered service:	1982 as Song of America 1999 as Sunbird 2005 as Thomson Destiny
Homeport:	Limassol
Tonnage:	37 584 gross register tons (GRT)
Length:	214,51 meters
Width:	28,41 meters
Depth:	6,80 meters
Propulsion:	4 × 8-cyl Sulzer-Wärtsilä diesels combined 17 060 kW
Maximum speed:	21 knots
Passenger capacity:	1575
Passenger beds:	1575
Status:	In service

MS Thomson Destiny is a cruise ship owned by the Cyprus-based shipping company Louis Cruise Lines, under long-term charter to the United Kingdom-based Thomson Cruises. She was built in 1982 at Wärtsilä Helsinki, Finland for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as MS Song of America. Between 1999 and 2004 she sailed for Sun Cruises as MS Sunbird.

[edit] History

The Song of America was the fourth new ship to be built for Royal Caribbean, and the largest to date. She was the first cruise ship to have a deck layout with cabins to the fore of the ship, furthest from engine noise, and public spaces to aft. Additionally the public spaces on decks five and seven were built with 1½ times the standard deck height, leading to deck 6 only existing in the forward part of the ship. With RCCL she was mainly used for cruising in the Caribbean. In May 1998, the Song of America was sold to Sun Cruises (owned by Airtours) for $94.5 million (recognized gain on the sale was $31.0 million). Sun Cruises then chartered the ship back to RCCL until March 1999. Unlike with earlier ships the RCCL sold, the 'sky lounge' around the ship's funnel was not removed before she was handed over to the new owners. The ship was renamed MS Sunbird, rebuilt with additional suites on deck 9 and used for cruising around Europe, mainly in the Mediterranean. Later during her Sun Cruises service the ship received MyTravel colours. Airtours withdrew from the cruise business in 2004, and the Sunbird was sold to a Norway bas company, who chartered the ship to Louis cruise lines, whi in turn sub chartered her and crewed her to Thomson Cruises as MS Thomson Destiny. With Thomson the ship has been used for cruising in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Canary Islands and the west coast of Africa. Recently Louis Cruise Lines purchased the ship off the norway based company with the Thomson Spirit.

[edit] Decks

Thomson Destiny has twelve decks, eleven of which are accessible to passengers.

Engine room, crew spaces
Outside and inside cabins
Outside and inside cabins
Outside and inside cabins, internet room, reception, library, Seven Seas restaurant
Outside and inside cabins, Can Can lounge, Casino Royale, Clipper Bar, Oklahoma Lounge nightclub, beauty salon
Outside and inside cabins (deck only exists in the forward part of the ship)
Deluxe cabins, Blake's bar/café/lounge, kidzone
Saunas, gym
Suites, lido café, swimming pools, sun deck, lido buffét restaurant
Mast bar
Toilets below the skybar
Skybar