Pearl II
Pearl II was the final name of a German-built cruise ship whose long career included service as Astor, Arkona, Astoria, Quest for Adventure and Saga Pearl II.
Last updated October 14, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Pearl II was the final commercial identity of a small cruise ship built in Germany in 1981. Constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft at its Ross facility in Hamburg as yard number 165, the vessel was launched as Astor and originally intended for the newly established Hadag Cruise Line, a company owned by the City of Hamburg. The ship was designed for a relatively intimate cruise experience, carrying substantially fewer passengers than the large resort-style cruise ships that later came to dominate the industry. As built, it measured approximately 18,834 gross tons, had an overall length of about 164.35 metres and was designed for a service speed of approximately 18 knots. Four MAN medium-speed diesel engines drove two controllable-pitch propellers. An onboard fire during fitting out delayed delivery by more than three months. The first Astor entered service in December 1981, several months later than planned. Hadag positioned her for Caribbean winter cruises and European summer itineraries, but the operation was not profitable and the company decided to sell the ship in 1983. Safmarine acquired her in February 1984 and refitted her for a mixed programme of European and southern African cruises, alongside Southampton–Cape Town voyages intended to revive the traditional ocean-liner route. The vessel was not fast enough to maintain the planned liner schedule, however, and Safmarine ultimately sold her in August 1985. Contemporary accounts have associated the sale with a controversial and alleged three-way arrangement involving South African technology procurement, East German purchasing arrangements and the HDW shipyard. The available reference material presents this as an allegation rather than an established corporate fact. The ship was acquired by the East German state shipping company Deutfracht/Seereederei Rostock and renamed Arkona. During the East German period, she carried selected party officials on some voyages and was also chartered to Western operators for other parts of the year. After German reunification, DSR was privatised and acquired Seetours of Bremen. Arkona cruises were then marketed through the Seetours franchise. P&O Princess Cruises acquired Seetours in 1999, and Arkona was retired from that operation in 2001. Renamed Astoria in 2002, the ship was bareboat chartered to Transocean Tours of Bremen. Her itineraries focused on European waters, especially Norway, and later included coastal cruises aimed at German, Norwegian and Swedish passengers seeking lower-cost voyages. A serious mechanical problem interrupted a world cruise in November 2008 after a refit in Barcelona. The vessel remained laid up there until June 2009 and was subsequently towed to Gibraltar. Saga Cruises acquired her at auction in August 2009 after an earlier attempt to purchase the ship had not succeeded. Saga sent the vessel to Swansea, Wales, for an extensive three-month refit costing approximately £20 million, including an engine overhaul. The modernised ship entered Saga service as Saga Pearl II in March 2010, replacing Saga Rose. Her maximum capacity was reduced to about 449 passengers, supported by approximately 252 crew members, allowing Saga to market a comparatively high-service, small-ship product. In 2012 she was renamed Quest for Adventure and used as Saga's flagship for discovery and adventure-oriented cruises. The name Saga Pearl II was restored in November 2013. Her final Saga voyage departed Portsmouth on 16 February 2019 for a 54-day South African cruise and returned on 11 April, linking the ship's final operating period with the southern African routes of her earlier career. Saga Pearl II was sold in 2019 to Aqua Explorer Holdings, renamed Pearl II and laid up at Salamis in Greece. In July 2022 she was renamed Pearl and towed to Aliağa, Turkey, where she was dismantled. The Pearl II identity therefore represents the final laid-up phase of a vessel whose commercial history spanned German, East German, South African, British and international cruise operations.
History
The vessel associated with the Pearl II name was built in Hamburg by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft as yard number 165. Launched on 16 December 1980, she was originally planned to be named Hammonia but entered service as Astor. The ship was ordered for Hadag Cruise Line, a newly formed German operator owned by the City of Hamburg. Her construction was delayed by an onboard fire, and her maiden voyage ultimately took place on 4 December 1981. Astor was designed for cruises in the Caribbean during winter and Europe during summer. The initial programme was unsuccessful, and Hadag put the ship up for sale in 1983. Safmarine acquired her in February 1984 and reduced passenger capacity during a refit. The company attempted to combine European and southern African cruises with Southampton–Cape Town liner voyages, but the ship lacked sufficient speed for the liner schedule. Safmarine sold her in August 1985. Accounts have alleged that the transaction was connected to a covert arrangement involving South African submarine technology, an East German intermediary and work for the HDW shipyard; the allegation should not be treated as a confirmed fact without additional documentation. Deutfracht/Seereederei Rostock, the East German state shipping company, acquired the ship and renamed her Arkona. She was used partly for cruises for favoured officials and partly under charter to Western operators. Following German reunification, DSR was privatised and acquired Seetours of Bremen. Arkona then operated under the Seetours marketing structure. P&O Princess Cruises acquired Seetours in 1999, and the ship was retired from the operation in 2001. In 2002 the ship became Astoria and entered a bareboat charter with Transocean Tours. She operated primarily in European waters, with a particular focus on Norway, and later provided lower-cost coastal cruises for German, Norwegian and Swedish travellers. Mechanical difficulties interrupted a world cruise in 2008. Following a prolonged lay-up in Barcelona and Gibraltar, Saga Cruises purchased the ship at auction in August 2009. Saga undertook a major refit at Swansea, including an engine overhaul. The work allowed the ship to enter the Saga fleet as Saga Pearl II in March 2010. Her capacity was approximately 449 passengers with 252 crew, supporting a premium small-ship proposition. In 2012 she became Quest for Adventure, a discovery-cruise flagship, before reverting to Saga Pearl II in November 2013. She remained with Saga until 2019, when the new Spirit of Discovery replaced her. Her last Saga voyage was a South African cruise that returned to Portsmouth in April 2019. The vessel was then sold to Aqua Explorer Holdings, renamed Pearl II and laid up at Salamis, Greece. In July 2022 she became Pearl and was towed to Aliağa, Turkey, for scrapping. The ship was therefore defunct as an operating cruise product by 2019 and ceased to exist as a vessel after the 2022 dismantling operation.
- 2022
Scrapping begins
[1]Renamed Pearl, the ship was towed to Aliağa, Turkey, for dismantling.
- 2019
Leaves Saga fleet
[1]After her final Saga voyage, the ship was sold, renamed Pearl II and laid up in Greece.
- 2013
Saga Pearl II name restored
[1]The ship resumed the Saga Pearl II name on 21 November 2013.
- 2012
Quest for Adventure conversion
[1]Saga changed the name and positioned the vessel for discovery-style adventure cruising.
- 2010
Saga Pearl II debut
[1]The refitted ship began her first Saga Pearl II cruise on 15 March 2010.
- 2009
Acquired by Saga Cruises
[1]Saga Cruises purchased the ship at auction after her 2008 mechanical breakdown and subsequent lay-up.
- 2002
Renamed Astoria
[1]The former Arkona entered Transocean Tours service as Astoria.
- 1985
Renamed Arkona
[1]The ship was acquired by East Germany's DSR and renamed Arkona.
- 1981
Enters cruise service
[1]After a construction delay, Astor began service on 4 December 1981.
- 1980
Launched as Astor
[1]The ship was launched at Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Hamburg on 16 December 1980.
Products and positioning
A small, traditional cruise-ship experience focused on intimate passenger capacity, higher service levels, European itineraries and, during its Quest for Adventure period, discovery-oriented cruising.
Cruise ship · 2010
Saga Pearl II
Saga Pearl II was the ship's principal Saga Cruises identity from 2010 to 2012 and again from late 2013 until 2019. Following a major Swansea refit and engine overhaul, it operated as a small premium cruise ship with capacity for approximately 449 passengers and a crew of about 252. Its programme included European voyages, Norwegian fjords, coastal itineraries and longer South African and South Atlantic cruises.
Discovery cruise product · 2012
Quest for Adventure
Quest for Adventure was the name used from May 2012 to November 2013 when Saga repositioned the ship as the flagship of its discovery-style adventure-cruise programme. The vessel retained its existing facilities, captain and crew rather than receiving a separate full refit for the renaming.
Brand decisions
2019
Retirement and sale from the Saga fleetStrategyBackground
Saga Pearl II was replaced by Spirit of Discovery, Saga's first new-build ship.
Action taken
Saga sold the vessel to Aqua Explorer Holdings, which renamed her Pearl II and laid her up in Greece.
Aftermath
The ship did not return to regular cruise service and was later sent for scrapping.
2012
Repositioning as Quest for AdventureStrategyBackground
Saga sought to use the ship for a more discovery-oriented cruise proposition.
Action taken
The vessel was renamed Quest for Adventure and designated the flagship of Saga's adventure-cruise programme.
Aftermath
The name was restored to Saga Pearl II in November 2013, although the ship continued operating within Saga's cruise portfolio.
2010
Launch of Saga Pearl IIProduct launchBackground
Saga Cruises needed a replacement for Saga Rose and acquired the former Astoria after a period of mechanical trouble and lay-up.
Action taken
Saga invested approximately £20 million in a Swansea refit, including an engine overhaul, and introduced the vessel as Saga Pearl II.
Aftermath
The ship entered Saga service in March 2010 as a relatively intimate, high-service cruise vessel.
Refit cost. £20 million (2009-2010 refit)
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/pearl-ii · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled