Blue Sapphire
A cruise ship launched in 1982 that has operated under several names and cruise brands, including Europa, Holiday Dream, Bleu de France and Saga Sapphire.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Blue Sapphire is a cruise ship owned and operated by Turkey-based travel company ANEX Tour. The vessel was constructed at Bremer Vulkan in Bremen, Germany, for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and entered passenger service in January 1982 under the name Europa. It was designed as a premium cruise ship for the German market at a time when cruise vessels were substantially smaller than today’s mega-ships. Its design emphasized spacious accommodation, relatively high public-room ceilings, extensive outdoor deck areas and a separation between quieter passenger cabins forward and noisier machinery and service spaces toward the stern. The ship’s original career was closely associated with Hapag-Lloyd’s luxury cruising operation. Europa undertook international voyages, including itineraries in Africa, the Caribbean and other regions, and also operated on the Amazon River. Its early service included two significant incidents. In August 1985, the vessel grounded off Greenland and was refloated three days later. In April 1992, it collided with the Greece-registered container ship Inchon Glory outside Hong Kong. Passengers were evacuated after the ship was towed first to Kaohsiung and then to Singapore for repairs; Europa returned to service in July of that year. As Hapag-Lloyd prepared a newer ship bearing the Europa name, the original vessel was sold to Star Cruises in 1998 while remaining chartered to Hapag-Lloyd until mid-1999. Star Cruises took delivery in July 1999, renamed the vessel SuperStar Europe and carried out a reported major renovation at Sembawang shipyard. The ship was then renamed Superstar Aries in February 2000. A proposed transfer to Orient Lines as Ocean Voyager was announced but later abandoned after passenger demand weakened following the September 11 attacks. The ship instead continued operating in Asian waters, including service connected with Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore. During the SARS outbreak, it was based in Singapore while another Star Cruises vessel was redeployed to Australia. In 2004 the ship moved to Pullmantur Cruises and became Holiday Dream. It was principally marketed to Spanish-speaking passengers and operated Caribbean cruises. After Royal Caribbean Cruises acquired Pullmantur, the vessel was selected to launch the new French-market brand Croisières de France. A substantial 2008 refit in Barcelona preceded its renaming as Bleu de France. It operated Mediterranean cruises from Marseille during the European summer and Caribbean itineraries from La Romana during the winter season. The ship also completed seasons associated with Brazilian operator CVC before changing ownership again. Saga Cruises acquired the vessel in 2011 and renamed it Saga Sapphire. A major refit at Fincantieri from late 2011 to early 2012 renewed public areas, added or modified accommodation including balcony cabins, overhauled machinery and refreshed the hull. Its Saga career began with an engine failure that disrupted its maiden voyage in April 2012. In May 2014, an electrical fire near Scotland’s Isle of Mull interrupted power and required repairs while the vessel remained anchored in calm conditions. ANEX Tour reportedly agreed to acquire Saga Sapphire in 2019 for its planned entry into cruising. The sale was completed in June 2020, after pandemic-related uncertainty had raised questions about the timing of the transfer. The vessel was renamed Blue Sapphire and was scheduled to debut for ANEX Tour in 2021. Most of its planned sailings were cancelled in June 2023, and the ship returned to service in July 2024. Blue Sapphire therefore represents a long-lived, repeatedly refurbished cruise asset whose identity and customer proposition have changed with each operator, market and national cruise brand.
History
Blue Sapphire began life as Europa, a purpose-built cruise ship ordered by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises from Bremer Vulkan in Bremen. The vessel was launched on 22 December 1980 and delivered on 5 December 1981. It replaced an earlier Hapag-Lloyd flagship of the same name and was designed for the German luxury-cruise market. Its approximately 33,000-gross-register-ton design was large for its era but predates the much larger ships that later transformed the cruise industry. The ship’s architecture combined a streamlined superstructure, tiered aft decks and significant open-deck space. Passenger cabins were concentrated toward the bow, away from engine noise, while public rooms and storage areas were arranged farther aft. Cabins were prefabricated and installed with furnishings and sound insulation. Original features included illuminated wardrobes, color televisions, VCRs and, in many cases, bathtubs. Later refits added suites, balcony accommodation and French balconies. Europa’s maiden voyage departed Genoa on 8 January 1982 and visited African destinations. It subsequently operated global luxury cruises, including Amazon River voyages. In 1985 it grounded off Greenland but was refloated after three days. In 1992 it collided with Inchon Glory outside Hong Kong. No passenger injuries were reported, but the ship was towed for evacuation and repairs and resumed service in July. Hapag-Lloyd sold the vessel to Star Cruises in 1998 while retaining it on charter for a period. Star Cruises took control in July 1999, renamed it SuperStar Europe and renovated it at Sembawang shipyard. It became Superstar Aries in 2000. A proposed transfer to Orient Lines as Ocean Voyager was cancelled after the downturn in passenger demand following the September 11 attacks. The vessel remained in Asian service and was based in Singapore during the SARS outbreak. Pullmantur Cruises acquired the ship in 2004 and renamed it Holiday Dream, targeting Spanish-speaking travelers, especially on Caribbean cruises. In 2008, after a major Barcelona refit, it became Bleu de France, the first ship of Croisières de France. Its routes were tailored to French customers, with Mediterranean summer cruises from Marseille and Caribbean winter cruises from La Romana. It also completed seasons connected with Brazilian operator CVC. Saga Cruises acquired the ship in 2011 and renamed it Saga Sapphire. Fincantieri carried out an extensive refit between November 2011 and March 2012. The work updated interiors, modified accommodation, added balcony cabins, overhauled machinery and renewed the exterior. Mechanical and electrical incidents affected the Saga period: an engine failure cancelled the maiden voyage in April 2012, and an electrical fire near the Isle of Mull interrupted power in May 2014. ANEX Tour agreed to acquire the ship in the late 2010s, seeking to establish a cruise operation. The transaction was completed on 18 June 2020, during the COVID-19 period, and the ship was renamed Blue Sapphire. Its planned ANEX Tour debut was initially set for 2021. Most sailings were cancelled in June 2023, but the ship returned to service in July 2024. Its history illustrates how an older cruise vessel can be repeatedly reconfigured for different national markets, operators and brand propositions while retaining the same underlying hull and core passenger-ship function.
- 2024
Return to service
[1]Blue Sapphire resumed operations in July after extensive cancellation of 2023 sailings.
- 2020
Sold to ANEX Tour
[1]ANEX Tour completed the acquisition on 18 June and announced the Blue Sapphire name.
- 2012
Saga Sapphire refit completed
[1]A Fincantieri refit upgraded machinery, interiors and passenger accommodation.
- 2008
Becomes Bleu de France
[1]A Barcelona refit prepared the vessel to launch Croisières de France.
- 2004
Acquired by Pullmantur Cruises
[1]The ship became Holiday Dream and was positioned primarily for Spanish-speaking cruise customers.
- 2000
Renamed Superstar Aries
[1]Star Cruises changed the ship’s name after only several months as SuperStar Europe.
- 1999
Transfer to Star Cruises
[1]The vessel became SuperStar Europe and received a major renovation.
- 1992
Collision and repair
[1]After colliding with Inchon Glory outside Hong Kong, the ship underwent repairs and returned to service in July.
- 1982
Maiden voyage
[1]Europa began its first voyage from Genoa on 8 January.
- 1981
Delivered to Hapag-Lloyd
[1]Bremer Vulkan delivered the new Europa to its owners on 5 December.
Products and positioning
A classic, mid-sized international cruise ship repositioned over time for German, Asian, Spanish-speaking, French, British and Turkish travel markets.
Cruise travel · 2020
Blue Sapphire cruise service
The vessel provides multi-day cruise travel combining transportation between ports with onboard accommodation, dining, entertainment and leisure facilities. Its itineraries and target customers have varied substantially under different operators, including luxury-oriented German cruising, Asian deployment, Spanish-speaking Caribbean cruises, French-market Mediterranean and Caribbean voyages, British Saga cruises and ANEX Tour operations.
Cruise accommodation · 1982
Passenger accommodation
The ship’s accommodation has evolved through multiple renovations. It originally offered spacious cabins with features such as illuminated closets, color television, VCRs and selected bathtubs. Later work added suites, balcony cabins and French balconies, allowing successive operators to refresh the ship’s appeal without replacing its original hull.
Hospitality and leisure · 1982
Onboard dining and entertainment
The vessel has featured a full-width main restaurant, additional dining venues, bars and a show lounge. Leisure facilities have included an outdoor swimming pool amidships and a large indoor pool. The arrangement and presentation of these spaces have been modified during successive refits for different national and demographic markets.
Brand decisions
2020
Acquisition by ANEX TourM&ABackground
ANEX Tour sought to establish a cruise business and had reportedly agreed to acquire Saga Sapphire. The COVID-19 pandemic created uncertainty about the timing of the planned transfer.
Action taken
The sale was completed on 18 June, and the vessel was renamed Blue Sapphire with a planned 2021 debut.
Aftermath
The ship became ANEX Tour’s principal cruise vessel, although later sailings were heavily disrupted and most planned voyages were cancelled in June 2023.
2008
Launch of Bleu de FranceProduct launchBackground
Royal Caribbean Cruises planned a new French-market cruise line, Croisières de France, and selected Holiday Dream as its initial vessel.
Action taken
The ship underwent a major refit in Barcelona, was renamed Bleu de France and entered service with Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries.
Aftermath
The vessel became the first operating ship associated with the Croisières de France brand.
Reported refit cost. €30 million (2008 refit)
2001
Orient Lines transfer cancelledStrategyBackground
Star Cruises had announced that Superstar Aries would move to its Orient Lines subsidiary and operate as Ocean Voyager. The plan was reconsidered after passenger numbers fell following the September 11 attacks.
Action taken
The proposed transfer and renaming were shelved, and the vessel remained in Star Cruises service in Asian markets.
Aftermath
The ship continued operating from destinations including Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore until its later sale to Pullmantur Cruises.
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