MS Golden Iris
MS Golden Iris was the 2009–2018 operating name of a cruise ship originally built for Cunard and later operated by Mano Maritime.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MS Golden Iris was the name used by a cruise ship operated by the Israel-based company Mano Maritime from 2009 until the end of its commercial service in 2018. The vessel had a long and varied career under several names, beginning as Cunard Conquest during construction and entering service in 1977 as MS Cunard Princess. It was designed as a relatively informal cruise ship, in contrast with Cunard's more traditional luxury image, and was conceived as one of a pair of vessels whose early design process involved Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, around the idea of a floating Playboy Club. Although the ships were initially ordered for Overseas National Airways, the incomplete vessels were acquired by Cunard before completion. The hull was built by Burmeister & Wain in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rather than completing the interior at the Danish yard, Cunard transferred the ship to Navali Mechaniche Affini in La Spezia, Italy, where the accommodation and public interiors were installed. The vessel was delivered to Cunard in 1975 and completed under the Cunard Princess name in early 1977. It was christened in New York by Princess Grace of Monaco and began service in April 1977 with cruises from New York to Bermuda before joining its sister ship, Cunard Countess, in Caribbean operations. During its Cunard career, the ship sailed from Fort Lauderdale, San Juan and European ports, and also undertook Alaska cruises. It was registered in Southampton initially and moved to the Bahamian registry in 1980, with Nassau as its homeport. During the Gulf War, the vessel was chartered by the United States Armed Forces Recreation Center as accommodation and recreation for military personnel in the Persian Gulf. It reached Bahrain on 24 December 1990. Although short cruises were initially planned, the ship was instead kept permanently moored there for economic reasons. It returned to civilian cruise service in October 1991. In 1993 the ship moved into Cunard Crown Cruises, a short-lived mid-market subsidiary. In 1995 it was chartered and then acquired by StarLauro Cruises, following the loss of MS Achille Lauro in a fire. The ship was renamed MS Rhapsody. StarLauro was rebranded as Mediterranean Shipping Cruises later in 1995, and the company subsequently became MSC Cruises. Rhapsody operated mainly Mediterranean cruises and was later registered in Naples. MSC Cruises sold the ship to Mano Maritime on 9 April 2009. Following a refit, the vessel entered Mano Maritime service as Golden Iris on 31 May 2009, sailing from Haifa to destinations including Cyprus, the Greek Islands, Montenegro, Italy and Croatia. The ship was withdrawn after the 2018 season and laid up at Chalkis Shipyard in Greece, while Mano Maritime used Crown Iris for its cruise operations. In November 2021 the vessel was renamed Gold Club. It was sold for demolition in 2022, arriving at a recycling yard in Aliağa, Turkey, on 11 July. The ship was subsequently dismantled, ending a career that spanned Cunard, StarLauro, MSC and Mano Maritime operations.
History
The vessel later known as MS Golden Iris originated in an order for two cruise ships placed by Overseas National Airways with Burmeister & Wain in Copenhagen. The proposed ships had an unusual informal-resort concept, with Hugh Hefner involved in the design discussions and the idea of creating floating Playboy Clubs. Before construction was completed, the vessels were sold to Cunard. Cunard retained the informal concept even though the company was historically associated with more conventional luxury liners. The ship was launched from dry dock in December 1974 as Cunard Conquest. Its hull was completed in Copenhagen, but Cunard transferred it to Navali Mechaniche Affini in La Spezia, Italy, for interior installation. It was delivered to Cunard on 30 October 1975 and sailed to La Spezia in November of that year. During the fitting-out period, the name was changed to Cunard Princess. Completion took place in early 1977, after which the vessel sailed to New York. Princess Grace of Monaco conducted the christening, and the ship began commercial service in April 1977 with a New York–Bermuda itinerary. Cunard Princess initially operated alongside its sister ship Cunard Countess in Caribbean service. It sailed from Fort Lauderdale and, after a 1979 charter to Lauro Line, from San Juan. In summer 1981 it operated Alaska cruises. The ship was initially registered in Southampton, but changed to the Bahamian registry in 1980 with Nassau as its homeport. Later Cunard operations included European cruises, while Cunard Countess remained more closely associated with the Caribbean. A major interruption came during the Gulf War. The United States Armed Forces Recreation Center chartered the ship for personnel in the region, and it arrived in Bahrain on 24 December 1990. The original plan called for short Persian Gulf cruises, but the ship was instead kept permanently moored because the proposed operation was not considered economical. It left that role after the conflict and was docked at Valletta, Malta, on 23 September 1991. Normal Cunard cruises resumed on 19 October. In 1993 the vessel was transferred to Cunard Crown Cruises, a mid-market subsidiary that operated only briefly. In 1995 it was chartered by StarLauro Cruises, which needed a replacement after MS Achille Lauro was lost following a fire in 1994. The ship initially retained its Cunard Princess name, but StarLauro later acquired it and renamed it Rhapsody. The ownership change coincided with a Panamanian re-registration. StarLauro was rebranded as Mediterranean Shipping Cruises on 1 October 1995 and later developed into MSC Cruises. Rhapsody primarily sailed Mediterranean routes from Italy and was registered in Naples from 2001. On 9 April 2009 MSC Cruises sold Rhapsody to Mano Maritime, an Israeli cruise operator. Following refurbishment, it became Golden Iris and entered Mano Maritime service on 31 May 2009. Its principal base was Haifa, from which it served Cyprus, the Greek Islands, Montenegro, Italy and Croatia. Mano Maritime withdrew the ship after the 2018 season and replaced it with Crown Iris. Golden Iris then remained laid up at Chalkis Shipyard in Greece. The vessel was renamed Gold Club in November 2021. In 2022 it was sold for demolition in Turkey and arrived at Aliağa on 11 July. Its recycling ended a career of approximately four and a half decades, during which it served as a Cunard cruise ship, a Gulf War support vessel, an MSC-associated Mediterranean ship and a regional Israeli cruise ship.
- 2022
Arrival for scrapping
[1]After being sold to Turkish shipbreakers, the vessel arrived at Aliağa on 11 July 2022 for recycling.
- 2021
Renamed Gold Club
[1]The laid-up ship was renamed Gold Club in November 2021.
- 2018
Withdrawal from service
[1]Golden Iris was removed from active cruising after the 2018 season and laid up at Chalkis.
- 2009
Sale to Mano Maritime and renaming as Golden Iris
[1]Mano Maritime acquired the vessel from MSC Cruises, refitted it and began Haifa-based operations under the Golden Iris name.
- 1995
Renamed Rhapsody
[1]StarLauro Cruises acquired the ship and renamed it Rhapsody as the company entered the corporate lineage that later became MSC Cruises.
- 1991
Return to ordinary cruising
[1]After the Gulf War charter, the vessel returned to normal Cunard service on 19 October 1991.
- 1990
Persian Gulf charter
[1]The ship arrived in Bahrain on 24 December for a United States military recreation and accommodation charter during the Gulf War.
- 1980
Transfer to Bahamian registry
[1]The ship changed its registration from Southampton to the Bahamas, with Nassau designated as its homeport.
- 1977
Entry into service as Cunard Princess
[1]The completed ship was renamed and christened in New York before beginning commercial cruises in April.
- 1975
Delivery to Cunard and transfer to La Spezia
[1]Cunard took delivery of the incomplete ship on 30 October 1975 and sent it to La Spezia for interior fitting-out.
Products and positioning
A mid-sized, informal cruise ship whose market identity changed with each operator, from Cunard's early resort-cruise concept to StarLauro and MSC Mediterranean cruising and finally Mano Maritime's regional sailings from Haifa.
Cruise service · 2009
Golden Iris passenger cruises
Under Mano Maritime, Golden Iris provided regional Mediterranean cruises from Haifa. Itineraries included Cyprus, the Greek Islands, Montenegro, Italy and Croatia. The ship served as a destination-oriented cruise product for the Israeli market rather than as a standalone corporate brand.
Cruise service · 1977
Cunard Princess cruises
As Cunard Princess, the ship offered Bermuda, Caribbean, Alaska and European cruises. Its operating concept was comparatively informal and resort-like, reflecting the original design brief developed before Cunard acquired the vessel.
Cruise service · 1995
Rhapsody cruises
During its StarLauro and later MSC-associated career, Rhapsody operated mainly Mediterranean cruises from Italy. This phase connected the vessel with the corporate transition from StarLauro Cruises to Mediterranean Shipping Cruises and ultimately MSC Cruises.
Brand decisions
2022
Sale for recyclingOtherBackground
After several years laid up at Chalkis Shipyard and a 2021 name change to Gold Club, the vessel was no longer in commercial service.
Action taken
The ship was sold to Turkish shipbreakers and sent to Aliağa for dismantling.
Aftermath
The vessel was recycled, ending its operational history.
2009
Sale to Mano MaritimeM&ABackground
MSC Cruises sold the aging Rhapsody on 9 April 2009 as its fleet and product portfolio evolved.
Action taken
Mano Maritime acquired the ship, refitted it and renamed it Golden Iris.
Aftermath
The ship began Haifa-based Mediterranean cruising on 31 May 2009 and continued until its withdrawal after the 2018 season.
1995
Transfer from Cunard to StarLauroM&ABackground
StarLauro needed a replacement for MS Achille Lauro after that ship was lost following a fire in 1994.
Action taken
StarLauro first chartered and then acquired the vessel, eventually renaming it Rhapsody.
Aftermath
The ship entered Mediterranean service and remained within the corporate lineage that developed into MSC Cruises.
1990
Permanent Persian Gulf mooring during military charterStrategyBackground
The ship was chartered for United States military personnel during the Gulf War, with an initial plan for short recreational cruises around the Persian Gulf.
Action taken
For economic reasons, the planned cruise program was abandoned and the ship was kept permanently moored in Bahrain for the duration of the assignment.
Aftermath
After the charter ended, the vessel returned to Malta and resumed ordinary Cunard operations in October 1991.
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