The Saga Pearl II in August 2010. |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | MS Saga Pearl II |
| Operator: | 1981-2009: Transocean Tours 2010-present: Saga Cruises |
| Launched: | 1981 |
| Status: | Currently in service |
| Notes: | Call sign: C6SI2 IMO Number: 8000214 MMSI: 311348000 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | cruise ship |
| Tonnage: | 18,591 gross tons[1] |
| Length: | 164.30 meters[1] |
| Beam: | 22.60 meters[1] |
| Propulsion: | Sulzer-Wartsila 15,400 kW[1] |
| Speed: | 21.4 knots (maximum) 20.3 knots (cruising)[1] |
| Capacity: | 602 passengers (maximum) 512 passengers (normal)[1] |
| Crew: | 220 crew[1] |
The cruise ship Astoria, now known as Saga Pearl II, has been operating for more than 28 years, making cruises world wide. The vessel has a sister-ship Astor. Both ships were operated by Transocean Tours. In August 2009, Saga Cruises made a successful bid for the ship at auction. The ship was renamed Saga Pearl II and embarked on her first cruise in March 2010.
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Astoria is a cruise ship with a long history. The ship was built in 1981 in the ship yard of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel. The builder was one of the highest quality builders of the time. The ship was ordered by the newly formed German company Hadag Cruise Line, which quickly sold it to South African company Safmarine, because the ship was not profitable enough. The vessel Astoria operated in the Atlantic ocean making cruises between South Africa and Europe. This continued for many years, before in 2002 it entered service for Transocean Tours, the company specialized in cruising in Norway and Europe. The vessel then operated closer to the shore, making low-cost cruises for German, Norwegian and Swedish passengers.
In November 2008, a world cruise had to be aborted after serious mechanical problems were identified during a refit in Barcelona. The ship remained laid up in Barcelona until June 2009 when she was towed to Gibraltar. After an auction in August, Saga Cruises acquired the ship after an unsuccessful attempt to do so earlier in the year.
In late 2009, the ship sailed to Swansea, Wales where she underwent a £20million three-month refit in the re-opened Swansea dry dock. She sailed on her first cruise as Saga Pearl II on 15 March 2010 to the Norwegian Fjords.[2][3]
She will be renamed MV Quest for Adventure in May 2012 and will be become the flagship for Saga's Discovery-style Adventure Cruises. It would appear that she will not be undergoing a refit at this time but will continue in her new role with the same facilities, captain and crew.
The Astoria has a length of 164.30 meters and beam of 22.60 meters. The cruise ship has capacity for a maximum of 602 passengers, who will be served by 220 crew members. In spite of the low ratio, the cruise ship offers a luxury service to its passengers. The gross tonnage of the vessel is 18,591 gross tons and this tonnage is driven by 4 main engines Sulzer-Wartsila with total power of 15,400 kW. The maximum speed of the vessel is 21.4 knots.
