MS Clio

MS Clio, also referred to as MV Clio, is a small cruise ship whose operating history spans several names and cruise companies. The vessel was built in 1998 at the Alstom Leroux shipyard in Saint-Malo, France. It entered service as Le Levant under Compagnie du Ponant, a French operator associated with upscale small-ship cruising in European and overseas destinations. The ship’s initial identity was therefore closely connected with boutique and luxury cruise travel rather than mass-market cruising. In December 2012, the vessel was refurbished and transferred to Paul Gauguin Cruises. It was renamed Tere Moana, a Tahitian expression meaning “Ocean Traveller.” Under that name, the ship continued operating as a small-scale cruise vessel, including voyages in regions associated with the company’s international itinerary portfolio. A photograph referenced in the available source material shows the vessel in Panama in February 2015, illustrating its operation in the Americas during this period. Paul Gauguin Cruises sold the ship to Grand Circle Cruises in August 2015. The vessel was subsequently renamed Clio and began sailing for Grand Circle Cruises under the Maltese flag in July 2016. The current name is generally presented as MS Clio, while MV Clio is also used as an alternative vessel designation. Grand Circle Cruise Line operates the ship on cruises in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The ship’s onboard facilities include two restaurants, two bars, a swimming pool, a fitness center, and the Deep Nature Spa. These amenities support the vessel’s positioning as a comparatively intimate cruise product, with a smaller-ship experience and destination-focused itineraries. Unlike a consumer brand with independently purchased products, MS Clio is primarily the name and identity of a specific cruise vessel marketed through its operating cruise line. The available reference material does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, independent ownership structure beyond Grand Circle Cruise Line, financial performance, passenger capacity, technical specifications, or a detailed current itinerary. Its documented history is principally one of construction, operator transfers, refurbishment, renaming, and continued use in regional cruising.

MS Clio is a small cruise ship constructed in 1998 at the Alstom Leroux shipyard in Saint-Malo, France. The vessel was originally commissioned for Compagnie du Ponant and operated under the name Le Levant. Its early career was associated with the company’s small-ship and upscale cruise business, which served European and overseas destinations. In December 2012, the ship was refurbished and transferred to Paul Gauguin Cruises. The transfer brought a new name, Tere Moana, a Tahitian phrase identified in the available reference material as meaning “Ocean Traveller.” The renamed ship continued in international cruise service. Its documented operating area during this period included the Americas; the source material includes a reference to the vessel at Panama in February 2015. Paul Gauguin Cruises sold Tere Moana to Grand Circle Cruises in August 2015. Following the acquisition, the ship was renamed Clio. It began sailing for Grand Circle Cruises in July 2016 under the Maltese flag. Grand Circle Cruise Line is identified as the vessel’s owner and operator in the available material, and the ship is associated with cruises in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The vessel’s onboard facilities comprise two restaurants, two bars, the Deep Nature Spa, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. These features complement a small-ship cruise format centered on regional itineraries and onboard hospitality. The ship has therefore carried several commercial identities over its operating life—Le Levant, Tere Moana, and Clio—while remaining a single vessel rather than a broad product family. The available sources do not provide a complete technical profile, including tonnage, dimensions, passenger capacity, propulsion system, or detailed refurbishment specifications. They also do not document financial results, independent corporate management, or a separately incorporated brand entity. Accordingly, MS Clio is best classified as the vessel identity and marketed cruise product associated with Grand Circle Cruise Line.

• 2016

  Launch of Clio operations

  [1]MS Clioen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was renamed Clio and began sailing for Grand Circle Cruises under the Maltese flag in July.

• 2015

  Sale to Grand Circle Cruises

  [1]MS Clioen.wikipedia.org

  Paul Gauguin Cruises sold Tere Moana to Grand Circle Cruises in August.

• 2012

  Refurbishment and renaming as Tere Moana

  [1]MS Clioen.wikipedia.org

  In December, the vessel was refurbished and transferred to Paul Gauguin Cruises, which operated it under the name Tere Moana.

• 1998

  Construction at Saint-Malo

  [1]MS Clioen.wikipedia.org

  The cruise ship was built at the Alstom Leroux shipyard in Saint-Malo, France, and entered service as Le Levant.

A small-ship cruise vessel positioned for destination-oriented European, Caribbean, and Latin American voyages, with hotel-style leisure amenities and an intimate onboard environment.

• Small-ship cruises · 2016

  MS Clio cruise voyages

  The principal offering associated with MS Clio is cruise travel aboard the vessel. Grand Circle Cruise Line operates the ship on destination-oriented itineraries in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The experience combines regional touring with onboard accommodation, dining, bars, leisure facilities, and other cruise hospitality services.

• Cruise amenities · 1998

  Onboard hospitality and leisure facilities

  MS Clio is equipped with two restaurants, two bars, the Deep Nature Spa, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. These facilities form part of the shipboard experience marketed alongside its cruise itineraries and support its small-scale leisure and hospitality positioning.

• 2016

  Rebranding as Clio under Grand CircleStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2015 sale, Grand Circle Cruises integrated the vessel into its cruise operation.

  Action taken

  The ship was renamed Clio and began operating under the Maltese flag in July 2016.

  Aftermath

  The vessel became associated with Grand Circle’s European, Caribbean, and Latin American cruise offerings.

  Source

• 2015

  Sale to Grand Circle CruisesM&A

  Background

  Paul Gauguin Cruises decided to dispose of the vessel after its period of operation as Tere Moana.

  Action taken

  The ship was sold to Grand Circle Cruises in August 2015.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition led to a further change of name and operator, with the ship subsequently marketed as Clio.

  Source

• 2012

  Refurbishment and transfer to Paul Gauguin CruisesGeneration change

  Background

  The vessel’s first documented major operating transition occurred after its period as Le Levant under Compagnie du Ponant.

  Action taken

  The ship was refurbished, transferred to Paul Gauguin Cruises, and renamed Tere Moana.

  Aftermath

  It continued operating as an international small-ship cruise vessel under a new commercial identity.

  Source

• 2016

  The vessel entered Grand Circle service as Clio under the Maltese flag[1]MS Clioen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  After its sale, the vessel was renamed Clio and began sailing for Grand Circle Cruises under the flag of Malta in July 2016.

• 2015

  Paul Gauguin Cruises sold Tere Moana to Grand Circle Cruises[1]MS Clioen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Paul Gauguin Cruises sold the vessel to Grand Circle Cruises in August 2015, initiating another change in ownership and operating control.

• 2012

  Le Levant was refurbished and transferred to Paul Gauguin Cruises as Tere Moana[1]MS Clioen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  The ship underwent refurbishment and changed operators from Compagnie du Ponant to Paul Gauguin Cruises. It adopted the name Tere Moana, translated in the reference material as “Ocean Traveller” in Tahitian.

1. 1MS Clioen.wikipedia.org