MS Formosa Queen

MS Formosa Queen was a Finnish-built cruise ship launched in 1970 as Song of Norway, the first vessel constructed for Royal Caribbean International. The ship belonged to an early generation of purpose-built cruise vessels, at a time when cruising was developing from a primarily seasonal leisure activity into a large-scale international tourism business. Its original capacity was approximately 724 passengers and its gross tonnage was about 18,000 tons. In 1978, strong demand for cruising led to a major refit and lengthening of the vessel by approximately 85 feet. After the work, passenger capacity rose to about 1,024 and gross tonnage increased to roughly 23,000 tons. As Song of Norway, the ship operated seven- and fourteen-day itineraries from Miami and became the first Royal Caribbean vessel to visit Labadee, Haiti, a destination that later became closely associated with the cruise line. By the 1990s, however, the ship had been overtaken in size and amenities by newer vessels. In 1996 it was sold to Sun Cruises, part of the Airtours/MyTravel organization, and renamed Sundream. Before entering service for its new operator, the sky lounge around the funnel was removed. The vessel changed hands and identities repeatedly during the following decade. In 2004 it was sold, refitted, and renamed Dream Princess for Israel-based Caspi Cruises. During the 2005 season it operated from Haifa on cruises to destinations including Alanya, Rhodes, Larnaca, Marmaris, and Santorini. In early 2006 it was also used as temporary accommodation for students from Tulane University following Hurricane Katrina. In 2007 it was acquired by Pearl Owner Ltd., associated with Denmark's Clipper Group, and management was assigned to Miami-based International Shipping Partners. Following refitting in Turkey and Malta, it was chartered to the Peace Boat organization and renamed Clipper Pacific for an around-the-world program. The Peace Boat deployment was disrupted by repeated technical and operational difficulties. In September 2007, while the ship was anchored at Rhodes under its Dream Princess identity, it developed a pronounced list and was evacuated. Investigators found that waste-discharge hatchways had been crudely blocked, contributing to the retention of waste and stability problems. The ship later broke loose from its moorings during strong winds and collided with a nearby cargo vessel, causing minor damage. In 2008, while operating as Clipper Pacific, it was detained in New York over multiple safety deficiencies, including a leaking hull, and was subsequently detained in Seward, Alaska, for additional code violations. Further repairs and inspections took place in Tampa and Istanbul. After returning to service as Festival and later Ocean Pearl, the vessel worked Mediterranean itineraries and was chartered for the 2010 and 2011 seasons by Quail Travel's Happy Cruises. That arrangement ended after Happy Cruises ceased operations in September 2011, forcing a voyage to terminate in Málaga. In 2012 the ship was sold for use in China as a floating casino and renamed Formosa Queen by Asia Star Cruises. It was sold for scrap in 2013 and dismantled in China in 2014. The vessel is therefore defunct as an operating ship, but remains historically notable for its role in Royal Caribbean's formative years and for its unusually long sequence of operators and names.

The vessel that became MS Formosa Queen was constructed in Helsinki, Finland, and completed in 1970 as Song of Norway. It was one of the earliest ships purpose-built for cruising rather than adapted from another maritime role. Its original operator was Royal Caribbean International, for which it was the first ship. The vessel initially measured about 18,000 gross tons and accommodated approximately 724 passengers. It operated from Miami on seven- and fourteen-day cruises and was the first ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet to visit Labadee, Haiti. Cruise demand increased during the 1970s, and Song of Norway underwent a substantial 1978 refit. The ship was lengthened by about 85 feet, increasing its size to approximately 23,000 gross tons and raising passenger capacity to about 1,024. This modification extended the commercial life of a vessel that would otherwise soon have been eclipsed by larger cruise ships. In 1996, Royal Caribbean sold Song of Norway to Sun Cruises, then associated with Airtours/MyTravel. The ship was renamed Sundream, and its sky lounge around the funnel was removed before it entered service for the new operator. In 2004 the vessel changed ownership again, was refitted, and became Dream Princess under Caspi Cruises of Israel. During the 2005 season it sailed from Haifa on short regional cruises. It was also used in 2006 to house Tulane University students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In 2007, Pearl Owner Ltd., linked to Denmark's Clipper Group, acquired the ship. International Shipping Partners of Miami was placed in charge of management, and after refitting in Turkey and Malta the vessel was chartered to Peace Boat. Renamed Clipper Pacific, it was intended to support a world tour associated with Peace Boat's international mission. Repeated mechanical and operational problems interrupted that program, and the voyage was abandoned in Piraeus, Greece. The ship's 2007 period was marked by serious stability and safety concerns. While anchored at Rhodes on September 18, it developed a ten-degree list and was evacuated. Four officers on duty were detained. Divers found that hull hatchways intended for untreated waste discharge had been crudely plugged, apparently to prevent discharge into the sea. The retained waste was cited as a factor in the listing. On November 18, strong winds caused the ship to break free from its moorings and collide with a neighboring cargo vessel. The damage was minor, but the ship remained at Rhodes for nearly two months while its seaworthiness was restored and was later towed to Kuşadası. In 2008, Clipper Pacific was detained in New York by the United States Coast Guard over numerous safety deficiencies, including a leaking hull. Repairs were required before it could leave, and subsequent dry-dock work in Tampa revealed further problems. The vessel was detained again in Seward, Alaska, in August for code violations and later spent part of the year laid up in Istanbul for engine repairs. The ship returned to cruise service under the name Festival, including Mediterranean voyages for Caspi Cruises, and later operated as Ocean Pearl under charter to Quail Travel's Happy Cruises during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Happy Cruises ended operations on September 24, 2011, and an Ocean Pearl voyage had to finish in Málaga. In April 2012 the ship was sold for use as a floating casino in China and renamed Formosa Queen. It was sold for scrap in November 2013 and dismantled in China during 2014, ending the career of a ship that had passed through Royal Caribbean, regional cruise, charter, educational accommodation, Peace Boat, and casino-related operations.

• 2014

  Dismantling

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  After being sold for scrap in 2013, the ship was broken up in China.

• 2012

  Conversion for floating-casino use

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was sold for use in China and renamed Formosa Queen.

• 2010

  Ocean Pearl charter service

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  The ship operated under the Ocean Pearl name for Happy Cruises during the 2010 season.

• 2007

  Peace Boat charter

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  Following another ownership change and refitting, the ship was renamed Clipper Pacific and chartered for Peace Boat service.

• 2004

  Renamed Dream Princess

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  After a sale and refit, the vessel entered the Caspi Cruises operation as Dream Princess.

• 1996

  Transfer to Sun Cruises

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  The ship left Royal Caribbean service and was renamed Sundream.

• 1978

  Major lengthening and refit

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was lengthened by approximately 85 feet, increasing gross tonnage to about 23,000 tons and capacity to approximately 1,024 passengers.

• 1970

  Construction and inaugural cruise service

  [1]MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org

  Built in Helsinki as Song of Norway, the ship became the first vessel constructed for Royal Caribbean International.

A pioneering early-generation cruise ship that evolved from a Royal Caribbean flagship into a multi-operator charter, cruise, and casino vessel.

• Cruise ship · 1970

  Song of Norway

  The ship's original identity and Royal Caribbean service platform. Song of Norway offered seven- and fourteen-day cruises from Miami and represented Royal Caribbean's first purpose-built vessel. It also inaugurated the line's early connection with Labadee, Haiti.

• Regional cruise service · 2004

  Dream Princess

  Under Caspi Cruises, Dream Princess operated short cruises from Haifa to eastern Mediterranean and nearby destinations, including Alanya, Rhodes, Larnaca, Marmaris, and Santorini.

• World-tour cruise service · 2007

  Clipper Pacific

  The Clipper Pacific identity was used during a Peace Boat charter intended for global itineraries. The program was interrupted after repeated technical and operational problems, and the world tour ended in Piraeus.

• Mediterranean cruise service · 2010

  Ocean Pearl

  Ocean Pearl was the vessel's operating identity during Happy Cruises charters for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. It served Mediterranean itineraries until Happy Cruises ceased operations.

• Floating casino vessel · 2012

  Formosa Queen

  The final operating name was adopted after the ship was sold for use in China as a floating casino. The vessel did not remain in service indefinitely and was ultimately dismantled.

• 2007

  Rhodes listing and waste-discharge investigation

  The ship developed an approximately ten-degree list at Rhodes and was evacuated. Four officers were detained. Divers reported that waste-discharge hatchways had been crudely blocked, causing waste retention that contributed to the vessel's stability problem.

  Source

Read more

• 2012

  Shift from cruise service to floating casino useStrategy

  Background

  The collapse of Happy Cruises left the vessel available for sale or charter after its cruise employment ended.

  Action taken

  The ship was sold for use in China as a floating casino and renamed Formosa Queen.

  Aftermath

  The vessel was sold for scrap in 2013 and dismantled in China in 2014.

  Source

• 2007

  Deployment for Peace Boat world-tour serviceStrategy

  Background

  After ownership changed to Pearl Owner Ltd. and management moved to International Shipping Partners, the ship was repositioned for a charter associated with Peace Boat.

  Action taken

  The vessel was refitted in Turkey and Malta, renamed Clipper Pacific, and chartered for a world-tour program.

  Aftermath

  Repeated ship problems caused the world tour to be abandoned in Piraeus.

  Source

• 1978

  Lengthening to expand passenger capacityGeneration change

  Background

  Growing demand for cruising created a commercial reason to extend the useful life of the relatively small Song of Norway.

  Action taken

  The ship was lengthened by approximately 85 feet and refitted, increasing capacity from about 724 to approximately 1,024 passengers.

  Aftermath

  The modification increased the vessel's size to roughly 23,000 gross tons and allowed it to continue operating in the expanding cruise market.

  Source

1. 1MS Formosa Queenen.wikipedia.org