Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama is a cruise ship operated by Nicko Cruises, with a service history under Holland America Line, P&O Cruises Australia, and Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Vasco da Gama is a cruise ship operated by the German cruise line Nicko Cruises, part of the Mystic Cruises group. The vessel was completed in 1993 at Fincantieri and began its career as Statendam, the lead ship of Holland America Line's Statendam, or S, class. After more than two decades with Holland America Line, it was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and extensively refurbished and renamed Pacific Eden in 2015. It later entered the fleet of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, adopting the name Vasco da Gama in 2019 after a naming vote among members of the company's Columbus Club. As Statendam, the ship was ordered in November 1989, assigned hull number 5881, and had its keel laid in 1991. It completed construction and sea trials before undertaking its maiden voyage on 25 January 1993. The ship became the fifth Holland America Line vessel to carry the Statendam name. During its inaugural season it also became the first Holland America Line ship in more than two decades to operate a European itinerary, broadening the company's deployment beyond its traditional routes. The vessel underwent major dry-dock work at Grand Bahama Shipyard in 2006 and again in 2011. In 2013, while operating in Alaska, Statendam responded to an alert from Glacier Bay National Park concerning the tour vessel Baranof Wind, which had become stranded in ice near Hopkins Glacier. Statendam launched two lifeboats and assisted approximately 105 passengers and crew, who were taken to the park's ranger station. Holland America Line announced the ship's transfer to P&O Cruises Australia in May 2014. After its final Holland America season, the vessel sailed to Singapore for a substantial refurbishment at Sembcorp Marine's Admiralty Yard. Work carried out between October and November 2015 included interior and exterior changes intended to reposition the vessel for the Australian market. It was renamed Pacific Eden at a ceremony in Sydney on 25 November 2015, with entertainer Kate Ritchie serving as godmother. In March 2018, Pacific Eden was sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages, although delivery took place in March 2019. The company invited members of its Columbus Club to select a new name from four explorer-related options. Vasco da Gama was chosen, linking the ship's identity to the Portuguese navigator. Following a Singapore refit, the renamed ship departed on 23 April 2019 for Tilbury on a voyage calling at destinations in Malaysia, Thailand, India, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. It was christened in Bremerhaven on 9 June 2019 by German singer Annett Louisan and entered service with CMV's Transocean Tours operation, with planned seasonal deployments in Europe and Australia. The ship's operations were heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, passengers were reorganized between CMV vessels near Phuket so that European passengers could return to the United Kingdom aboard Columbus, while Australian and New Zealand passengers travelled on Vasco da Gama. The ship reached Fremantle on 27 March 2020. Western Australian passengers were transferred to Rottnest Island for quarantine, while other passengers were accommodated in Perth or repatriated to New Zealand. Vasco da Gama subsequently sailed without passengers to Tilbury, arriving at the end of April. CMV entered administration on 20 July 2020 after being unable to resume normal operations. Mystic Invest acquired Vasco da Gama at auction in October 2020 on behalf of Mystic Cruises. Since July 2021, the ship has operated under Nicko Cruises, the group's German cruise brand. A 2025 dry-dock upgrade enabled the vessel to use shore power, reducing the need to run onboard generators while berthed where compatible port infrastructure is available.
History
Vasco da Gama was built as Statendam, the lead vessel of Holland America Line's Statendam class. Ordered in 1989 and constructed by Fincantieri, it completed sea trials before beginning its maiden voyage on 25 January 1993. The ship was designed for international cruise service and, during its first season, became the first Holland America Line vessel in more than twenty years to operate a European itinerary. The vessel remained with Holland America Line until 2015. During that period it received dry-dock renovations in 2006 and 2011. It also assisted a nearby tour ship in Alaska in 2013, launching lifeboats to help approximately 105 people after the other vessel became stranded in glacial ice. Following an announced fleet transfer in 2014, Statendam moved to P&O Cruises Australia. It was refurbished at Sembcorp Marine's Admiralty Yard in Singapore between October and November 2015 and renamed Pacific Eden in Sydney. The rebranding formed part of P&O Cruises Australia's effort to introduce two new ships for its market. Cruise & Maritime Voyages bought the ship in 2018, with delivery in 2019. A customer vote selected the name Vasco da Gama from a group of explorer-related alternatives. After another Singapore refit, the ship undertook a repositioning voyage to Tilbury and was christened in Bremerhaven on 9 June 2019. Its operating plan combined European service through Transocean Tours with seasonal Australian deployment under the CMV brand. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted this plan. In March 2020, the ship carried Australian and New Zealand passengers after European passengers were moved to another CMV vessel for direct return to the United Kingdom. Vasco da Gama arrived in Fremantle on 27 March, and passengers were placed into quarantine arrangements in Western Australia or repatriated to New Zealand. The vessel later returned empty to Tilbury. CMV entered administration on 20 July 2020. Mystic Invest acquired the ship at auction in October of that year for US$10.2 million on behalf of Mystic Cruises. From July 2021, the vessel operated for Nicko Cruises. A 2025 dry-dock modification added shore-power capability, representing a later technical improvement to the ship's port operations.
- 2025
Shore-power capability added
[1]A dry-dock upgrade enabled the ship to connect to shore power where supported by ports.
- 2021
Begins Nicko Cruises service
[1]The vessel entered service with Nicko Cruises in July.
- 2020
Acquired by Mystic Invest
[1]Following CMV's administration, Mystic Invest bought the ship at auction for US$10.2 million on behalf of Mystic Cruises.
- 2019
Renamed Vasco da Gama and christened
[1]The ship sailed toward Tilbury in April and was christened in Bremerhaven on 9 June after entering the CMV fleet.
- 2015
Renamed Pacific Eden
[1]After a Singapore refurbishment, the ship was renamed Pacific Eden in Sydney on 25 November.
- 2013
Alaskan rescue assistance
[1]Statendam assisted approximately 105 people from the tour vessel Baranof Wind after it became stranded in ice near Hopkins Glacier.
- 2011
Second Grand Bahama dry dock
[1]The ship returned to Grand Bahama Shipyard for further refurbishment.
- 2006
First recorded major dry-dock refurbishment
[1]Statendam underwent renovation work at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport.
- 1993
Maiden voyage as Statendam
[1]The completed ship began service on 25 January as the fifth Holland America Line vessel named Statendam.
- 1991
Keel laid at Fincantieri
[1]Construction began at Fincantieri under hull number 5881.
Products and positioning
A mid-sized, internationally deployed cruise ship positioned for destination-focused European, Australian, and Asia-Pacific voyages under Nicko Cruises.
Passenger cruise ship · 1993
Vasco da Gama
A cruise vessel completed in 1993 for Holland America Line. The ship has operated under the names Statendam, Pacific Eden, and Vasco da Gama, providing ocean voyages across European, Australian, Asian, and other international itineraries. It currently operates for Nicko Cruises.
Brand decisions
2025
Shore-power upgradeOtherBackground
The vessel underwent a dry-dock upgrade during its continued operation under Nicko Cruises.
Action taken
Shore-power capability was added.
Aftermath
The ship can use compatible port electrical connections instead of relying solely on onboard generators while berthed.
2020
Acquisition by Mystic InvestM&ABackground
Cruise & Maritime Voyages entered administration after pandemic-related trading disruption.
Action taken
Mystic Invest purchased the ship at auction on behalf of Mystic Cruises.
Aftermath
The ship entered Nicko Cruises service in July 2021.
Auction purchase price. US$10.2 million (October 2020)
2018
Sale to Cruise & Maritime VoyagesM&ABackground
Pacific Eden was sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages, with delivery scheduled for March 2019.
Action taken
CMV acquired the ship and organized a customer vote to select a new explorer-themed name.
Aftermath
Vasco da Gama became the selected name, and the ship joined CMV's Transocean Tours operation after refitting.
2014
Transfer from Holland America Line to P&O Cruises AustraliaStrategyBackground
Holland America Line announced that Statendam would leave its fleet after its final season.
Action taken
The ship was repositioned for P&O Cruises Australia's market and refurbished in Singapore.
Aftermath
It entered service as Pacific Eden in November 2015.
Sources1 sources
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