Amera
MS Amera is a cruise ship operated by Phoenix Reisen and launched in 1988 as Royal Viking Sun.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MS Amera is a cruise ship operated by the German travel company Phoenix Reisen. The vessel entered service in 1988 as Royal Viking Sun for Royal Viking Line and has since passed through several cruise brands and names, reflecting a long career in the premium and upscale cruise segments. Before becoming Amera, the ship operated as Royal Viking Sun under Royal Viking Line and later Cunard Line, as Seabourn Sun under Seabourn Cruise Line, and as Prinsendam under Holland America Line. The ship was launched as Royal Viking Sun at a time when Royal Viking Line was known for relatively spacious, destination-focused cruising. She was the largest ship in that fleet when she entered service and was christened by actors James Stewart and Gloria Stewart. In 1994, Cunard Line acquired Royal Viking Line and continued operating the vessel under her original name. The ship retained aspects of her earlier identity during the transition, including the Royal Viking logo for a period, although her funnel was later repainted in Cunard colors. In 1996, while sailing in the Red Sea toward Aqaba, Royal Viking Sun struck a reef near Sharm El Sheikh and sustained a hull breach. The vessel was subsequently repaired and continued operating. In 1999, following the combination of Cunard and Seabourn within Carnival Corporation, the ship was transferred to Seabourn. After a substantial refit, she entered Seabourn service as Seabourn Sun. Seabourn later decided to concentrate on smaller vessels, and the ship was transferred in 2002 to sister brand Holland America Line. Renamed Prinsendam, the ship underwent another refit and became associated with Holland America's longer, more destination-intensive itineraries. Her relatively low height allowed her to transit the Kiel Canal, while her cruising program included Northern European, Mediterranean, South American, and Antarctic voyages. During this period she also became involved in several notable maritime incidents and rescue operations. In 2007, two large rogue waves struck the ship near Cape Horn, causing injuries to approximately 40 people. In 2012, Prinsendam responded to a distress call from the Portuguese fishing boat Dario, whose eight-person crew was abandoning the sinking vessel. The cruise ship recovered the fishermen and remained on scene while arrangements were made to transfer them ashore by helicopter. Holland America announced in 2018 that Prinsendam had been sold to Phoenix Reisen. The ship was chartered back to Holland America for scheduled voyages through 1 July 2019. Phoenix Reisen then commissioned a six-week renovation at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg. After the work, the vessel sailed to Bremerhaven, where it was rechristened Amera on 16 August 2019 by Petra Kaiser, a longtime Phoenix Reisen employee. Her maiden Phoenix Reisen voyage visited Antwerp, Amsterdam, and the Norwegian fjords, followed by Mediterranean cruises from October 2019. Amera is therefore best understood as the current operating identity of a mature cruise vessel rather than as an independent consumer brand or corporate enterprise. Its market proposition is based on classic shipboard cruising, extended itineraries, and access to ports and waterways that may be less practical for larger ships. The available reference material does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, public listing, financial profile, or standalone website for the Amera identity.
History
MS Amera began its career in 1988 as Royal Viking Sun, built for Royal Viking Line. At entry into service, she was the largest vessel in that company's fleet. Her christening was conducted by James Stewart and Gloria Stewart. The ship was designed for a premium cruise role emphasizing comfortable accommodation and itineraries centered on destinations rather than very high passenger capacity. Royal Viking Line ceased operations as an independent operator after Cunard Line acquired the company and its Royal Viking brand in 1994. Cunard continued to operate the vessel as Royal Viking Sun. The ship initially retained elements of its former livery, including the Royal Viking logo, although the funnel was later repainted in Cunard colors. In April 1996, the vessel struck a reef in the Red Sea approximately fifteen miles from Sharm El Sheikh while sailing toward Aqaba. The impact created a hole in the hull, after which the ship underwent the necessary response and repair process. In 1999, Carnival Corporation combined Cunard and Seabourn operations and moved Royal Viking Sun to Seabourn Cruise Line. Following an extensive refit, the ship was renamed Seabourn Sun. She remained with Seabourn until 2002, completing a final South American circumnavigation before being transferred to Holland America Line. The transfer reflected Seabourn's decision to focus its fleet on smaller ships. Holland America refitted the vessel again and renamed her Prinsendam. Prinsendam spent the next phase of her career operating longer and more geographically varied voyages for Holland America. Her relatively low height above the waterline enabled Kiel Canal transits, giving her access to itineraries between the North Sea and Baltic region that may be restricted for larger cruise ships. Her reported programs included Northern European and Mediterranean cruising, South American voyages, and Antarctic itineraries. The Prinsendam period included both difficult maritime events and a notable rescue. On 1 February 2007, two rogue waves estimated at approximately twelve meters struck the ship near Cape Horn. About 40 injuries were reported, with some injured people taken to hospital. On 22 March 2012, the ship answered a distress call involving the Portuguese fishing boat Dario. The fishing vessel was sinking, and its eight crew members were entering a life raft when Prinsendam arrived. At the direction of the Portuguese Coast Guard, the cruise ship recovered the fishermen and remained nearby while a helicopter transfer to shore was organized. In July 2018, Holland America announced the sale of Prinsendam to Phoenix Reisen. Holland America chartered the ship back so that it could complete scheduled voyages through 1 July 2019. On 2 July 2019, the vessel entered a six-week renovation at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg. It departed Hamburg on 12 August for Bremerhaven and was formally rechristened Amera on 16 August 2019. Petra Kaiser, a longtime Phoenix Reisen employee, served as the vessel's godmother for the ceremony. Amera's first Phoenix Reisen voyage called at Antwerp, Amsterdam, and the Norwegian fjords. Mediterranean cruises followed from October 2019. The available reference material describes Amera as an operating cruise ship, not as a separately incorporated brand. No reliable information is supplied for a standalone website, public listing, revenue, headquarters, senior executives, or financial results.
- 2019
Phoenix Reisen renovation and rechristening
[1]After renovation at Blohm+Voss, the ship was rechristened Amera in Bremerhaven on 16 August.
- 2018
Sale to Phoenix Reisen announced
[1]Holland America announced the sale of Prinsendam to Phoenix Reisen, subject to a short-term charter-back period.
- 2012
Fishing-boat rescue
[1]Prinsendam rescued eight people from the sinking Portuguese fishing boat Dario.
- 2007
Rogue-wave incident near Cape Horn
[1]Two large waves struck the ship and approximately 40 injuries were reported.
- 2002
Renamed Prinsendam
[1]Holland America Line received the ship after Seabourn shifted toward smaller vessels and renamed it Prinsendam.
- 1999
Renamed Seabourn Sun
[1]After a transfer to Seabourn and a major refit, the vessel adopted the Seabourn Sun name.
- 1996
Red Sea reef collision
[1]The ship struck a reef near Sharm El Sheikh and sustained a hull breach.
- 1994
Cunard assumed operation
[1]Cunard Line acquired Royal Viking Line and continued operating the ship under the Royal Viking Sun name.
- 1988
Launch as Royal Viking Sun
[1]The vessel was launched for Royal Viking Line and entered service as the largest ship in that fleet.
Products and positioning
A classic, upscale cruise ship positioned for destination-rich itineraries and access to ports or waterways that can favor a comparatively smaller vessel.
Cruise travel · 2019
Amera ocean cruises
The vessel's principal offering is passenger service on ocean cruises operated by Phoenix Reisen. Amera's itineraries are associated with classic cruising and destination-oriented travel rather than a standalone retail product line. The ship has operated routes in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, South America, and Antarctica.
Cruise travel · 2002
Prinsendam cruise program
Before adopting the Amera name, the ship operated as Prinsendam for Holland America Line. Its program included extended and geographically diverse voyages, including Antarctic cruises and itineraries using the Kiel Canal. These voyages formed the immediate operational history preceding the Phoenix Reisen relaunch.
Brand decisions
2019
Conversion to the Amera identityOtherBackground
Phoenix Reisen prepared the acquired vessel for operation under its own cruise portfolio.
Action taken
The ship received a six-week renovation at Blohm+Voss and was rechristened Amera in Bremerhaven.
Aftermath
Amera began Phoenix Reisen voyages to Antwerp, Amsterdam, the Norwegian fjords, and later the Mediterranean.
2018
Sale to Phoenix ReisenM&ABackground
Holland America decided to sell Prinsendam while preserving scheduled operations through a temporary charter-back arrangement.
Action taken
Phoenix Reisen acquired the ship, and Holland America continued to operate it on charter until 1 July 2019.
Aftermath
The ship underwent renovation, adopted the Amera name, and began Phoenix Reisen service in 2019.
2002
Transfer from Seabourn to Holland AmericaStrategyBackground
Seabourn chose to concentrate on smaller vessels, making the ship less aligned with its fleet strategy.
Action taken
Seabourn transferred the ship to sister brand Holland America Line, which refitted and renamed it Prinsendam.
Aftermath
The vessel entered a long period of Holland America service with destination-rich itineraries.
1999
Transfer from Cunard to SeabournM&ABackground
Carnival Corporation combined Cunard and Seabourn operations, creating a portfolio decision about where the former Royal Viking Sun best fit.
Action taken
The ship was moved to Seabourn, refitted, and renamed Seabourn Sun.
Aftermath
The vessel operated under the Seabourn identity until its later transfer to Holland America Line.
Recent events
- 2019
Prinsendam underwent renovation before Phoenix Reisen debut[1]
Product generation
The ship received a six-week renovation at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg before being prepared for its new Phoenix Reisen identity.
- 2019
Prinsendam rechristened Amera in Bremerhaven[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Phoenix Reisen rechristened the vessel Amera on 16 August 2019. Its inaugural voyage visited Antwerp, Amsterdam, and the Norwegian fjords, followed by Mediterranean operations.
- 2018
Phoenix Reisen acquired Prinsendam[1]
M&A
Holland America announced that the ship had been sold to Phoenix Reisen, with a temporary charter-back arrangement for scheduled Holland America voyages.
- 2012
Prinsendam rescued crew from sinking Portuguese fishing boat[1]
Other
The ship responded to a distress call from Dario, recovered its eight-person crew from a life raft, and stood by until a helicopter transfer to shore was arranged.
- 2007
Prinsendam struck by rogue waves near Cape Horn[1]
Other
Two exceptionally large waves hit the ship near Cape Horn, with approximately 40 injuries reported and some passengers requiring hospital treatment.
- 2002
Seabourn Sun transferred to Holland America Line[1]
Product generation
Seabourn transferred the ship to sister brand Holland America Line as Seabourn focused on smaller vessels. The ship was renamed Prinsendam after another refit.
- 1999
Ship renamed Seabourn Sun after transfer to Seabourn[1]
M&A · Product generation
Following the combination of Cunard and Seabourn within Carnival Corporation, the vessel moved to Seabourn and entered service as Seabourn Sun after a refit.
- 1996
Royal Viking Sun damaged after striking a Red Sea reef[1]
Other
The ship hit a reef near Sharm El Sheikh while sailing toward Aqaba and suffered a hull breach.
- 1994
Royal Viking Sun transferred to Cunard Line[1]
M&A
Cunard acquired Royal Viking Line and continued operating the ship under the Royal Viking Sun name.
- 1988
Royal Viking Sun launched for Royal Viking Line[1]
Product launch
The vessel entered service as Royal Viking Sun and was the largest ship in the Royal Viking Line fleet at the time.
Sources1 sources
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