MS Costa Allegra
MS Costa Allegra was a Costa Cruises passenger ship converted from a 1969-built container vessel and withdrawn from service after a generator-room fire in 2012.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MS Costa Allegra was a cruise ship operated by the Italian cruise company Costa Cruises, itself part of the Carnival Corporation group. The vessel began life not as a passenger ship but as Annie Johnson, a container ship built for Sweden-based Rederi AB Nordstjernan. Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Finland launched the ship on 29 April 1969 and delivered it to its owners on 4 December of that year. It remained in cargo service for Nordstjernan until 1986. In August 1986, the ship was sold to Greece-based Regency Cruises, renamed Regent Moon, and intended for conversion into a cruise vessel. The proposed reconstruction did not take place, and the ship remained laid up at Perama, Greece. In 1988 it was sold to Compania Naviera Panalexandra and renamed Alexandra, but it continued to be laid up. Costa Crociere acquired the ship on 28 August 1990 and sent it to the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa for an extensive reconstruction. The work included a new passenger-ship superstructure, new engines, and a 13.4-metre lengthening. The project followed the conversion of the related vessel Costa Marina at the same shipyard. Although Costa initially considered the name Costa Azzurra, the completed ship was named Costa Allegra and delivered to Costa Cruises on 16 November 1992. Costa Allegra entered passenger service on 23 November 1992, sailing from Genoa to St. Thomas. During the early part of its Costa career, the ship followed a seasonal pattern, operating in the Mediterranean during the Northern Hemisphere summer and moving to the Caribbean during winter. In 2006 it was transferred to the Asian cruise market. Its interiors were refurbished for that market, and voyages departed from Singapore and Hong Kong while visiting destinations in China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The ship returned to European operations in 2010, when its Asian itineraries were taken over by Costa Classica and Costa Romantica. That year Costa also used Costa Allegra in cooperation with TMR of Marseille and the Paquet Cruises brand for selected French-market voyages. The ship was marketed in France as Allegra and operated several spring and autumn cruises with a French master, cruise director, maître d’s, reception staff, and two French chefs. This arrangement connected the vessel with Costa’s Paquet Cruises operations, which Costa had owned since 1996. Costa Allegra’s commercial career ended after a generator-room fire on 27 February 2012 while the vessel was approximately 200 miles southwest of the Seychelles. The onboard suppression system extinguished the fire, but the ship lost power and drifted without propulsion. A French tuna-fishing vessel, Trevignon, towed it toward Mahé in the Seychelles. There were 636 passengers and 413 crew members aboard, and no injuries were reported in the reference account. Costa Cruises arranged for Costa Voyager to take over the ship’s scheduled voyages from 18 March to 1 July 2012. On 9 March 2012, Costa announced that Costa Allegra would not return to its fleet. It was transferred to Themis Maritime Ltd, renamed Santa Cruise, and sent for dismantling at Aliaga, Turkey. Before beaching at the scrapyard, its characteristic yellow Costa funnel was painted white.
History
Costa Allegra originated as Annie Johnson, the second of five container ships built by Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard for the Swedish shipping company Rederi AB Nordstjernan. Launched in Finland on 29 April 1969, it was delivered on 4 December 1969 and entered cargo service immediately. The ship remained with Nordstjernan until August 1986, when Regency Cruises purchased it with the intention of converting it into a passenger vessel. Under the name Regent Moon, it was laid up at Perama after the planned conversion failed to proceed. In May 1988 the vessel changed hands again, going to Compania Naviera Panalexandra and receiving the name Alexandra. It continued to remain laid up until its acquisition by Costa Crociere in 1990. Costa began reconstruction at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa on 4 September 1990. The conversion was extensive: the original cargo-ship configuration was replaced with a cruise-ship superstructure, new engines were installed, and the hull was lengthened by 13.4 metres. The resulting vessel was delivered to Costa Cruises on 16 November 1992 as Costa Allegra. It entered service on 23 November with a voyage from Genoa to St. Thomas. During its first Costa years, the ship operated on seasonal Mediterranean and Caribbean programs. Costa later repositioned it to Asia in 2006, refurbishing its interiors for passengers in that market. Singapore and Hong Kong served as principal departure points, while itineraries included China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. In 2010 the vessel moved back to Europe. Costa Classica and Costa Romantica assumed the Asian itineraries, while Costa Allegra was also used for a French-market arrangement involving TMR of Marseille and the Paquet Cruises brand. For selected cruises it was marketed as Allegra and carried French operating and culinary staff. The vessel’s service ended abruptly in February 2012. On the morning of 27 February, a generator-room fire occurred while the ship was southwest of the Seychelles. Although the fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported in the cited account, the loss of electrical power left the ship adrift. Trevignon, a French tuna-fishing vessel operated by the Compagnie Française du Thon Océanique, towed it toward Mahé. Costa subsequently announced that the ship would not return to service and arranged for Costa Voyager to replace its planned sailings. The vessel was transferred to Themis Maritime Ltd, renamed Santa Cruise, and sent to Aliaga, Turkey, for dismantling. Its yellow Costa funnel was painted white before the ship reached the scrapyard.
- 2012
Fire, withdrawal, and scrapping
[1]A generator-room fire disabled the ship off the Seychelles. Costa withdrew it from service, after which it was renamed Santa Cruise and sent to Aliaga for dismantling.
- 2010
Returned to European operations
[1]The vessel left its Asian deployment and resumed European service, including selected French-market cruises connected with Paquet Cruises.
- 2006
Repositioned to the Asian market
[1]Costa moved the ship to Asian operations, refurbished its interiors, and based voyages primarily from Singapore and Hong Kong.
- 1992
Delivered and enters Costa service
[1]The rebuilt vessel was delivered as Costa Allegra on 16 November and began passenger service on 23 November.
- 1990
Costa Crociere begins reconstruction
[1]Costa acquired Alexandra on 28 August and began the conversion at Genoa’s T. Mariotti shipyard on 4 September.
- 1988
Renamed Alexandra
[1]Compania Naviera Panalexandra purchased the laid-up ship and renamed it Alexandra.
- 1986
Sold for a proposed cruise conversion
[1]Regency Cruises acquired the vessel, renamed it Regent Moon, and planned to convert it into a cruise ship, but the vessel was laid up instead.
- 1969
Launch and delivery as Annie Johnson
[1]Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard launched the container ship on 29 April, and Rederi AB Nordstjernan took delivery on 4 December.
Products and positioning
A mid-sized Costa Cruises passenger vessel offering seasonal leisure cruises across European, Caribbean, Asian, and Southeast Asian markets. In its later European period, it was also adapted for French-market operations through the Paquet Cruises relationship.
Cruise travel · 1992
Costa Allegra cruise voyages
The vessel’s core offering was leisure cruising under the Costa Cruises brand. Its route network changed over time, moving between Mediterranean and Caribbean seasonal service, Asian itineraries from Singapore and Hong Kong, and later European programs. Destinations listed for its Asian period included China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Cruise travel · 2010
Allegra / Paquet Cruises French-market cruises
In 2010, Costa used the vessel for a limited French-market program in cooperation with TMR of Marseille and the Paquet Cruises brand. The ship was marketed in France as Allegra and operated four spring cruises and seven autumn cruises with French personnel in several hospitality roles, including onboard culinary staff.
Brand decisions
2012
Permanent withdrawal after generator fireOtherBackground
A generator-room fire left the ship without power and required a tow to the Seychelles.
Action taken
Costa announced that Costa Allegra would not return to service, reassigned planned voyages to Costa Voyager, and transferred the vessel for dismantling.
Aftermath
The ship was renamed Santa Cruise and scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey.
2010
Return to Europe and French-market deploymentStrategyBackground
Costa replaced the ship’s Asian deployment with Costa Classica and Costa Romantica and returned Costa Allegra to European operations.
Action taken
Costa used the vessel for selected cruises marketed in France through the Allegra and Paquet Cruises names, with French hospitality and culinary staff.
Aftermath
The arrangement provided a specialized French-market program during the ship’s final European service period.
2006
Repositioning to AsiaStrategyBackground
Costa shifted Costa Allegra from its earlier Mediterranean and Caribbean pattern into Asian cruising.
Action taken
The ship was relocated to Asia and its interiors were refurbished for the regional market, with Singapore and Hong Kong used as departure points.
Aftermath
The vessel operated itineraries across East and Southeast Asia until returning to Europe in 2010.
Recent events
- 2012
Generator-room fire disables Costa Allegra off the Seychelles[1]
Other · Regulation
A fire in the generator room extinguished by the ship’s suppression system left Costa Allegra without power approximately 200 miles southwest of the Seychelles. The vessel was later towed toward Mahé by the French tuna-fishing vessel Trevignon. No injuries were reported among the 636 passengers and 413 crew members described in the reference material.
- 2012
Costa Voyager replaces Costa Allegra itineraries[1]
Other · Product generation
After the disabling fire, Costa Cruises announced that Costa Voyager would operate Costa Allegra’s planned voyages from 18 March through 1 July 2012.
- 2012
Costa Allegra withdrawn and sent for dismantling[1]
Other
Costa announced that the ship would not return to service. It was transferred to Themis Maritime Ltd, renamed Santa Cruise, and sent to Aliaga, Turkey, for scrapping.
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