MS Thomson Spirit

MS Thomson Spirit was the operating name used from 2003 by a large cruise ship that began its career in 1983 as MS Nieuw Amsterdam for Holland America Line. Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire, France, the ship was the first of a pair of closely related vessels designed with North American cruising in mind. Its sister ship was later operated as MS Thomson Celebration. The vessel entered service after a construction delay caused by a fire that destroyed its main switchboard in June 1983, and it was delivered to Holland America Line in July of that year. Under the Nieuw Amsterdam name, the ship initially operated transatlantic and Caribbean services, followed by summer cruises between Vancouver and Alaska. As Holland America Line expanded, the vessel also received itineraries in other parts of the world. Holland America Line became part of Carnival Corporation in 1989, although the cruise line continued to operate as a distinct entity. By the end of the 1990s, the ship was considered surplus to Holland America Line's requirements and was sold to American Classic Voyages. In 2000 the ship was renamed MS Patriot and assigned to a revived United States Lines cruise venture. After a refit, it operated from Honolulu on cruises around the Hawaiian Islands. The project was linked to a broader plan to develop new United States-flagged cruise ships under the Project America program. The Patriot was notable as the first oceangoing passenger ship since 1958 to enter service under the United States flag. The venture did not last: the tourism downturn after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks compounded the company's financial problems, and American Classic Voyages entered bankruptcy in October 2001. The ship was subsequently laid up in Honolulu. Holland America Line repurchased the vessel in January 2002 and restored the Nieuw Amsterdam name, but did not return it to active service. It was instead chartered to Louis Cruise Lines, renamed MS Spirit, and sent to Perama, Greece, for refitting. Louis Cruise Lines then sub-chartered the ship to Thomson Cruises. From 2003 it operated as MS Thomson Spirit, primarily serving the British holiday-cruise market. Its routes included the Western Mediterranean, Red Sea, northern Europe, and selected departures from English ports including Harwich, Newcastle, and Liverpool. The ship also served as temporary floating accommodation during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In the wake of Thomson Cruises' 2017 rebranding as Marella Cruises, the vessel was renamed MS Marella Spirit. Its charter ended in October 2018, when it was replaced in the Marella fleet by MS Marella Explorer. After no operator elected to retain the aging ship, it was sold for demolition, renamed Mare S for its final voyage, and beached at Alang, India, on 5 December 2018.

The vessel was constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, as the first of two related cruise ships ordered by Holland America Line. The design was intended in part for North American cruising. It was launched from drydock on 20 August 1982, but a fire on 24 June 1983 destroyed the main switchboard during the final construction phase. This delayed delivery by approximately three weeks. Holland America Line accepted the ship in July 1983 and named it MS Nieuw Amsterdam. The Nieuw Amsterdam began service with a transatlantic crossing from Le Havre to New York. During subsequent years it followed a seasonal pattern that included Caribbean cruises in winter and Alaska cruises from Vancouver in summer. As Holland America Line's fleet expanded, the ship operated a broader selection of international itineraries. Holland America Line was acquired by Carnival Corporation in 1989, while remaining an operating brand within the wider group. The ship's first major change of ownership occurred near the end of the 1990s, when it was sold to American Classic Voyages. It completed its last Holland America Line cruise in August 2000 and sailed to Sydney without passengers, where it was used as a hotel ship during the 2000 Summer Olympics. In October 2000 it was handed over in San Francisco and renamed MS Patriot. American Classic Voyages intended the vessel to anchor a revived United States Lines cruise operation based in Honolulu. The ship was granted an exceptional United States registration arrangement so that it could operate among Hawaiian ports while the company pursued plans for newly built American cruise ships. After a refit, the Patriot sailed to Honolulu in December 2000 and began Hawaiian Island cruises. The operation faced a difficult market after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and was burdened by substantial company debt. American Classic Voyages declared bankruptcy in October 2001, and the Patriot was laid up. Holland America Line repurchased the ship in January 2002 and restored its original name, but kept it out of active service. In May 2002, Holland America Line chartered the ship to Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines. It was renamed MS Spirit and sent to Perama, Greece, for an extensive refit. Louis Cruise Lines then sub-chartered it to Thomson Cruises, which placed it into service in 2003 as MS Thomson Spirit. The ship became a recurring part of Thomson's Mediterranean and winter Red Sea programs. It also undertook northern European voyages from English ports, including Harwich and Newcastle, and later operated selected departures from Liverpool. During periods between programs it was laid up, including a winter lay-up at Limassol, Cyprus. The vessel's commercial identity changed again after TUI Group announced that Thomson Cruises would be renamed Marella Cruises. The ship was given the MS Marella Spirit name and had its charter extended for a further year. That charter ended in October 2018, when Marella replaced it with Marella Explorer. With limited interest from potential operators, the aging ship was sold for demolition. It was renamed Mare S for its final voyage from Piraeus to Alang and was beached at Alang on 5 December 2018.

• 2018

  Beached for demolition

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  After the Marella charter ended, the ship was renamed Mare S and beached at Alang on 5 December for scrapping.

• 2017

  Adopted the Marella Spirit name

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was rebranded from Thomson Spirit to Marella Spirit during TUI's Thomson-to-Marella transition.

• 2014

  Sochi Olympic floating hotel

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  The ship provided floating accommodation during the 2014 Winter Olympics.

• 2003

  Entered Thomson Cruises service

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  The ship began operating as MS Thomson Spirit under a Louis Cruise Lines charter and Thomson Cruises sub-charter.

• 2002

  Returned to Holland America Line ownership

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  Holland America Line repurchased the ship and restored the Nieuw Amsterdam name.

• 2001

  United States Lines operation ends

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  American Classic Voyages entered bankruptcy and the ship was laid up in Honolulu.

• 2000

  Renamed MS Patriot

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  American Classic Voyages acquired the vessel and assigned it to the revived United States Lines cruise operation.

• 1983

  Delivered as MS Nieuw Amsterdam

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  Holland America Line took delivery of the ship in July after a construction delay caused by a switchboard fire.

• 1982

  Launch from drydock

  [1]MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org

  The ship was launched from drydock at Chantiers de l'Atlantique on 20 August.

A large, traditional ocean-going cruise ship deployed under successive operators and brands, with particular importance to Holland America Line, United States Lines, Thomson Cruises, and later Marella Cruises.

• Cruise ship · 2003

  MS Thomson Spirit

  The name used by Thomson Cruises from 2003 until the 2017 rebranding. In this role, the ship served holiday-cruise itineraries aimed primarily at the British market, including Western Mediterranean and Red Sea programs, seasonal northern European voyages, and selected departures from ports in England.

• Cruise ship · 1983

  MS Nieuw Amsterdam

  The vessel's original name under Holland America Line. Its service included transatlantic crossings, Caribbean cruises, Alaska itineraries from Vancouver, and later routes in other parts of the world.

• Cruise ship · 2000

  MS Patriot

  The name used from 2000 to 2002 under American Classic Voyages' revived United States Lines concept. The ship operated from Honolulu on cruises around the Hawaiian Islands before the venture ended following the company's bankruptcy.

• Cruise ship · 2017

  MS Marella Spirit

  The final commercial operating name used by the vessel. It reflected TUI Group's conversion of the Thomson Cruises brand into Marella Cruises. The charter ended in 2018, after which the ship was sold for demolition.

• 2018

  Retirement and sale for demolitionOther

  Background

  After the end of its Marella charter, the aging vessel attracted little interest from potential operators.

  Action taken

  The ship was sold for scrapping, renamed Mare S for its final voyage, and sent from Piraeus to Alang.

  Aftermath

  It was beached at Alang, India, on 5 December 2018.

  Source

• 2017

  Transition from Thomson to Marella brandingStrategy

  Background

  TUI Group announced that Thomson Cruises would be renamed Marella Cruises as part of a broader brand transition.

  Action taken

  The ship's charter was extended by one year and the vessel was renamed MS Marella Spirit.

  Aftermath

  The charter ended in October 2018, and Marella Explorer replaced the ship in the fleet.

  Source

• 2003

  Entry into Thomson Cruises serviceStrategy

  Background

  After a refit in Perama, Louis Cruise Lines had a vessel available for onward charter to Thomson Cruises.

  Action taken

  Thomson Cruises placed the ship into service under the MS Thomson Spirit name, initially concentrating on Western Mediterranean cruises and later adding Red Sea and northern European itineraries.

  Aftermath

  The ship remained associated with Thomson Cruises for approximately fifteen years, including seasonal departures from several English ports.

  Source

• 2002

  Holland America Line repurchase and charterM&A

  Background

  Following the bankruptcy of American Classic Voyages, the ship was no longer required for the United States Lines venture.

  Action taken

  Holland America Line repurchased the vessel, restored the Nieuw Amsterdam name, and then chartered it to Louis Cruise Lines rather than returning it to its own active fleet.

  Aftermath

  Louis Cruise Lines renamed the ship Spirit and later sub-chartered it to Thomson Cruises for long-term passenger service.

  Source

• 2000

  Deployment in the revived United States Lines operationStrategy

  Background

  American Classic Voyages sought to re-establish United States Lines as a cruise brand based in Honolulu while pursuing plans for new American-built passenger ships.

  Action taken

  The former Nieuw Amsterdam was acquired, refitted, renamed MS Patriot, and assigned to Hawaiian Island cruises under an unusual United States registration arrangement.

  Aftermath

  The operation was short-lived. The ship was laid up after American Classic Voyages entered bankruptcy in 2001.

  Source

1. 1MS Marella Spiriten.wikipedia.org