Celestyal Olympia
Celestyal Olympia was the final operating name of a cruise ship built in 1982 that served several international cruise companies before being scrapped in 2025.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Celestyal Olympia was the final commercial identity of a cruise ship originally built as MS Song of America for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Constructed at the Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, the vessel entered service in December 1982 and was designed as a relatively large cruise ship for the period. Its layout placed passenger cabins toward the forward part of the vessel and public rooms toward the stern, an arrangement influenced by Finnish ferry design. The ship also featured a Viking Crown lounge encircling the funnel, providing panoramic views, and a large show lounge whose structural design reduced the need for obstructive columns and improved audience sightlines. The ship spent its first major operating period with Royal Caribbean, initially serving Caribbean routes from Miami to destinations including Nassau, San Juan and Saint Thomas. During the early 1990s it also operated seasonal cruises between New York and Bermuda. In 1998 it was sold to Sun Cruises, a subsidiary of Airtours, while remaining under charter to Royal Caribbean until March 1999. It was then renamed Sunbird and repositioned primarily to European and Mediterranean cruising. During this phase the ship received additional suites and later appeared in MyTravel colors. In 2004, as Airtours withdrew from the cruise business, ownership passed to Louis Cruise Lines. The vessel continued under charter to Sun Cruises for a period before being chartered to Thomson Cruises and renamed Thomson Destiny. Thomson deployed the ship across a broad range of itineraries, including the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Canary Islands and the western coast of Africa; it also operated in the Caribbean during a winter season. The ship returned to Louis Cruises in April 2012 and was renamed Louis Olympia. Based mainly at Piraeus, it operated cruises around the Aegean islands and the Turkish coast. In 2014 it was temporarily used as a floating hotel during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Later that year, following Louis Cruise Lines' corporate rebranding, the vessel adopted the name Celestyal Olympia and a livery associated with the new Celestyal identity. Under Celestyal Cruises, the ship continued to serve Greek Isles and related regional itineraries. Its operations were suspended from 16 March 2020 to 6 March 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, after which it resumed cruising on 28 June 2021. The vessel was eventually laid up at Lavrion in late 2023 after Celestyal announced that the former AIDAaura, renamed Celestyal Discovery, would replace it in 2024. Following its sale, the ship left the Celestyal fleet and was renamed Bella Fortuna under the Liberian flag in January 2024. It moved to Çeşme, Turkey, and later sailed under tow to Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. In early January 2025 it was renamed Fortu under the Comoros flag. The vessel departed Ras Al Khaimah under tow on 21 January 2025, reached the Alang ship-breaking yard in India on 2 February 2025, and was dismantled. Celestyal Olympia therefore represents a retired ship identity rather than an active cruise offering.
History
Celestyal Olympia began life as Song of America, a new-generation cruise ship ordered by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines from the Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki. The design reflected the company's experience with earlier Finnish-built vessels but introduced a larger platform and several distinctive architectural features. Passenger cabins were concentrated toward the bow, away from engine noise, while public spaces occupied the stern. The ship also had unusually tall public-room decks, a funnel-surrounding Viking Crown lounge with panoramic views, and a broad show lounge supported by structural web frames rather than numerous columns. The vessel was launched from drydock on 26 November 1981 and delivered on 11 November 1982. It entered Royal Caribbean service on 5 December 1982. Opera singer Beverly Sills named the ship, and its maiden voyage carried former United States President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter on a Caribbean itinerary from Miami to Nassau, San Juan and Saint Thomas. Caribbean cruising remained its principal role during its first years, although it later operated a seasonal New York–Bermuda service. In 1998, Song of America was sold to Sun Cruises, an Airtours subsidiary. Royal Caribbean chartered the ship back until March 1999, after which the vessel was renamed Sunbird and moved into European and Mediterranean service. Sun Cruises added suites on deck nine, and the ship subsequently appeared in MyTravel branding. When Airtours withdrew from cruise operations, Louis Cruise Lines acquired the vessel in 2004 and initially chartered it back to Sun Cruises. After that charter ended, Louis Cruise Lines placed the ship with Thomson Cruises. It was renamed Thomson Destiny and served a wide geographic area, including the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Canary Islands and the western coast of Africa. A winter Caribbean deployment was also recorded. In April 2012 the vessel returned to Louis Cruises, became Louis Olympia and was based primarily at Piraeus for cruises around the Aegean islands and the Turkish coast. The ship's role briefly expanded beyond conventional cruising in 2014, when it served as floating accommodation for the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Later in 2014, the corporate rebranding of Louis Cruise Lines produced the name Celestyal Olympia and a revised livery. The ship then continued regional service under Celestyal Cruises, particularly in the Greek Isles. Like much of the cruise industry, it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: all cruises were suspended from 16 March 2020 until the vessel returned to service on 28 June 2021. Celestyal Olympia was laid up at Lavrion in late 2023 after Celestyal selected the former AIDAaura, renamed Celestyal Discovery, as its replacement. Following its sale, the ship was renamed Bella Fortuna in January 2024 and registered in Liberia. It moved to Çeşme and later traveled to Ras Al Khaimah. In January 2025 it adopted the name Fortu under the Comoros flag, departed Ras Al Khaimah under tow on 21 January, and arrived at Alang ship-breaking yard on 2 February. It was subsequently dismantled, ending a service career that had lasted more than four decades under multiple owners, charterers and names.
- 2025
Arrives for scrapping
[1]Under the name Fortu, the vessel arrived at Alang on 2 February for dismantling.
- 2021
Resumes operations after pandemic suspension
[1]The ship returned to service on 28 June 2021 with Greek Isles cruises.
- 2014
Adopts the Celestyal Olympia identity
[1]The ship was renamed Celestyal Olympia as part of Louis Cruise Lines' corporate rebranding.
- 2012
Returns as Louis Olympia
[1]The vessel returned to Louis Cruises and shifted toward Aegean and Turkish-coast itineraries.
- 2005
Renamed Thomson Destiny
[1]The ship entered Thomson Cruises service under the name Thomson Destiny.
- 2004
Acquired by Louis Cruise Lines
[1]Louis Cruise Lines acquired the ship after Airtours withdrew from cruise operations.
- 1999
Renamed Sunbird
[1]The vessel began operating for Sun Cruises after a transitional Royal Caribbean charter.
- 1982
Delivered and enters Royal Caribbean service
[1]Delivered on 11 November and placed into service as Song of America on 5 December.
- 1981
Launched at Wärtsilä Hietalahti
[1]The ship was launched from drydock in Helsinki on 26 November 1981.
Products and positioning
A classic, long-serving international cruise vessel repositioned over its life from Caribbean cruising to European, Mediterranean and Aegean itineraries. Under Celestyal branding, it was positioned as an established regional cruise ship serving Greek Isles and Turkish-coast routes.
Cruise ship · 1982
Celestyal Olympia cruise ship
A passenger cruise vessel built for Royal Caribbean and operated over its lifetime by Royal Caribbean, Sun Cruises, Thomson Cruises, Louis Cruise Lines and Celestyal Cruises. Its itineraries included the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Aegean, Red Sea, Canary Islands, West Africa and Turkish coast. Under Celestyal branding, it primarily served Greek Isles and nearby regional routes.
Brand decisions
2023
Replace the ship with Celestyal DiscoveryGeneration changeBackground
Celestyal planned to renew this part of its fleet with the former AIDAaura.
Action taken
Celestyal Discovery was selected to replace Celestyal Olympia, which was laid up at Lavrion and subsequently sold.
Aftermath
The ship left the Celestyal fleet, changed names and registrations, and was later dismantled.
2020
Suspend cruises during the COVID-19 pandemicOtherBackground
The pandemic disrupted international passenger shipping and cruise operations.
Action taken
All cruises operated by the vessel were suspended from 16 March 2020.
Aftermath
The ship resumed service on 28 June 2021, focusing on Greek Isles itineraries.
2014
Rebrand the vessel as Celestyal OlympiaStrategyBackground
Louis Cruise Lines was adopting the Celestyal corporate identity and needed its active fleet to reflect the new brand.
Action taken
The ship was renamed Celestyal Olympia and received an updated livery.
Aftermath
It continued regional cruising under the Celestyal Cruises name until it was withdrawn and sold after fleet renewal.
Recent events
- 2025
Former Celestyal Olympia reaches Alang for dismantling[1]
Other
Renamed Fortu under the Comoros flag, the former Celestyal Olympia was towed from Ras Al Khaimah to Alang, India, where it arrived for scrapping.
- 2024
Former Celestyal Olympia leaves the fleet under a new name[1]
M&A · Product generation
After its sale, the ship was renamed Bella Fortuna, placed under the Liberian flag and moved to Çeşme, Turkey, before later traveling to Ras Al Khaimah.
- 2023
Celestyal Olympia is laid up and replaced by Celestyal Discovery[1]
Product generation
The vessel was laid up at Lavrion after Celestyal announced that Celestyal Discovery would replace it in the fleet.
- 2021
Celestyal Olympia resumes Greek Isles cruising[1]
Product launch
The ship resumed service on 28 June 2021, operating cruises around the Greek Isles.
- 2020
Cruises suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Regulation
Operations were suspended from 16 March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2014
Louis Olympia serves as a Sochi Winter Olympics floating hotel[1]
Other
The ship was temporarily used as floating hotel accommodation during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
- 2014
Louis Olympia is rebranded as Celestyal Olympia[1]
Product generation
As Louis Cruise Lines adopted the Celestyal corporate identity, the ship received the name Celestyal Olympia and an updated livery.
- 2012
Louis Olympia returns to Louis Cruises[1]
Product generation
The vessel returned from Thomson Cruises, adopted the name Louis Olympia and began focusing on Aegean and Turkish-coast cruises from Piraeus.
- 2005
Thomson Destiny begins charter operations[1]
Other
Following the end of its Sun Cruises charter, Louis Cruise Lines placed the ship with Thomson Cruises, which renamed it Thomson Destiny.
- 2004
Sunbird moves into Louis Cruise Lines ownership[1]
M&A
Louis Cruise Lines acquired the vessel as Airtours withdrew from the cruise business, initially maintaining a charter arrangement with Sun Cruises.
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