MS Costa Marina
MS Costa Marina was a cruise ship converted from a 1969 container vessel and operated under several names before being scrapped in 2014.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MS Costa Marina was a cruise ship whose career spanned several owners, identities, and operating markets. The vessel was originally constructed in 1969 at the Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, as the container ship Axel Johnson for Rederi AB Nordstjernan, a Swedish shipping company, and was operated on Johnson Line services. Its later conversion into a cruise ship reflected the changing economics of older cargo vessels and the expansion of the cruise sector during the late twentieth century. In 1986, Axel Johnson was sold to Regency Cruises, which intended to convert her into a passenger vessel and rename her Regent Sun. The planned conversion did not immediately take place, and the ship remained laid up. In 1987 she was sold to Navyclub Italia and renamed Italia, but she continued to be inactive rather than entering regular cruise service. Costa Cruises acquired the vessel in 1988 and undertook a substantial rebuild at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy. Following the conversion, the ship entered service in 1990 under the name Costa Marina. As a Costa Cruises vessel, Costa Marina operated as an older, comparatively compact member of the company's fleet. From 2002, the ship was marketed more heavily toward German-speaking passengers, reflecting Costa's effort to broaden the geographical and linguistic reach of its customer base. Her itineraries included Mediterranean and other regional cruise operations, while later fleet deployment also connected the vessel with Red Sea cruising. The ship's Costa Cruises career ended as the company modernized its fleet. On August 3, 2011, Carnival, Costa Cruises' parent group, announced that new ships would be built to replace older Costa vessels, with Costa Marina identified as the first ship to leave. She departed the Costa fleet in November 2011. Her Red Sea duties were initially covered by Grand Voyager, a ship associated with Iberocruceros. After leaving Costa Cruises, the vessel was chartered to South Korea's Harmony Cruise. It was renamed Harmony Princess, registered in the Marshall Islands, and used for cruises between South Korea and Japan. In 2012, the owners changed the name again to Club Harmony. The ship was laid up in January 2013, ending her active passenger-service career. In September 2014, she was sold for demolition in India and arrived at Alang the following month under the name Harmony 1. MS Costa Marina is therefore best understood not as an enduring standalone consumer brand, but as the most prominent operating identity of a vessel that moved from container shipping into cruise service and later passed through several regional operators.
History
The vessel later known as MS Costa Marina was built in 1969 at the Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland. It was launched as Axel Johnson, a container ship commissioned for the Swedish company Rederi AB Nordstjernan and operated on Johnson Line services. Its original role was cargo transport rather than passenger cruising. The ship changed direction in 1986 when Regency Cruises purchased it with plans to convert it into a cruise ship named Regent Sun. The conversion was not completed at that stage, and the vessel was laid up. In 1987, Navyclub Italia acquired the ship and renamed it Italia, but the new owner also did not place it into active service immediately. The vessel consequently spent several years inactive while its future was uncertain. Costa Cruises acquired the ship in 1988. It was rebuilt as a cruise ship at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, a project that transformed the former container vessel for passenger operations. After the rebuild, it entered service in 1990 as Costa Marina. The conversion gave Costa an additional vessel without requiring construction of an entirely new ship and allowed the company to use an older hull in the expanding cruise market. During its Costa Cruises career, Costa Marina operated on cruise itineraries associated with the company's European and regional network. From 2002 onward, the vessel was marketed more toward German passengers, showing a deliberate effort to address a specific national and linguistic market within the broader European cruise business. The ship also became associated with Red Sea cruising later in its career. By the early 2010s, Costa Cruises was modernizing and expanding its fleet with newer vessels. On August 3, 2011, Carnival announced that new Costa ships would be built to replace older members of the fleet, beginning with Costa Marina. The vessel left Costa Cruises in November 2011. Grand Voyager, operated through Iberocruceros, initially replaced it on Red Sea itineraries. After its Costa service ended, the ship entered a new phase under South Korean operator Harmony Cruise. It was chartered and renamed Harmony Princess, registered in the Marshall Islands, and used for cruises linking South Korea and Japan. In 2012, the owners changed its name to Club Harmony. The ship was laid up in January 2013, marking the end of its active cruise operations. The former cruise ship was sold for demolition in September 2014. It arrived at Alang, India, in October of that year under the name Harmony 1. Its final disposal ended a career that had included container shipping, several proposed or actual passenger identities, a major conversion in Italy, service with Costa Cruises, and a later attempt to operate in the East Asian cruise market.
- 2014
Sold for scrap
[1]The ship was sold for demolition in India and arrived at Alang under the name Harmony 1.
- 2013
Laid up
[1]The vessel was laid up in January, ending its active cruise operations.
- 2012
Renamed Club Harmony
[1]Following its operation as Harmony Princess, the vessel was renamed Club Harmony by its owners.
- 2011
Leaves the Costa Cruises fleet
[1]Costa Marina left Costa Cruises in November after Carnival announced a program to replace older Costa ships with new vessels.
- 2002
Increased German-market marketing
[1]Costa Cruises marketed the ship more heavily toward German passengers from this period.
- 1990
Enters service as Costa Marina
[1]Following reconstruction, the vessel entered cruise service under the Costa Marina name.
- 1988
Acquired by Costa Cruises
[1]Costa Cruises acquired the ship and began its conversion into a cruise vessel at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa.
- 1987
Renamed Italia
[1]Navyclub Italia bought the vessel and renamed it Italia; it nevertheless remained laid up.
- 1986
Sold to Regency Cruises
[1]Regency Cruises acquired the ship with plans to convert it into a cruise vessel named Regent Sun, but it remained laid up.
- 1969
Built as Axel Johnson
[1]The vessel was completed at Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Finland as a container ship for Rederi AB Nordstjernan and its Johnson Line services.
Products and positioning
A converted, mature cruise ship operated first by Costa Cruises and later by Harmony Cruise, serving European, Red Sea, and East Asian regional cruise markets.
Cruise ship · 1990
Costa Marina cruise service
The ship's principal commercial offering was passenger cruising under Costa Cruises from 1990 until 2011. It provided accommodation and leisure voyages on regional itineraries, including cruises associated with the Mediterranean and Red Sea markets. From 2002, Costa emphasized German-speaking passengers in its marketing for the vessel.
Regional cruise service · 2011
Harmony Princess / Club Harmony cruise service
After leaving Costa Cruises, the vessel was chartered to Harmony Cruise and operated under the names Harmony Princess and later Club Harmony. Its East Asian deployment focused on cruises between South Korea and Japan, providing a regional alternative to its earlier Costa itineraries.
Brand decisions
2011
Fleet replacement and retirement from Costa CruisesStrategyBackground
Costa Cruises was moving toward a newer fleet, and Carnival announced that new ships would replace older Costa vessels.
Action taken
Carnival identified Costa Marina as the first older ship to be replaced, and the vessel left the Costa fleet in November 2011.
Aftermath
Grand Voyager initially covered the ship's Red Sea cruise duties, while the former Costa Marina later entered service with Harmony Cruise.
2011
Redeployment to the South Korean and Japanese marketStrategyBackground
After its retirement from Costa Cruises, the vessel remained available for another regional cruise operation.
Action taken
Harmony Cruise chartered the ship, renamed it Harmony Princess, registered it in the Marshall Islands, and deployed it between South Korea and Japan.
Aftermath
The ship was later renamed Club Harmony, laid up in 2013, and sold for scrap in 2014.
1988
Costa Cruises converts the vessel for passenger serviceStrategyBackground
The former container ship had remained laid up after earlier proposed conversions and ownership changes.
Action taken
Costa Cruises acquired the vessel and rebuilt it at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa for cruise operations.
Aftermath
The rebuilt ship entered service as Costa Marina in 1990.
Sources1 sources
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