Royal Cruise Line

Royal Cruise Line was a Greek cruise line that operated from 1974 to 1996 and founded by Pericles Panagopulos. The line catered mainly to American passengers looking for an upscale cruise experience and sailed mainly worldwide routes.

Royal Cruise Line
Founded1974
FounderPericles Panagopulos
Defunct1996
HeadquartersPiraeus, Greece
Area served
Worldwide Cruises

History
Golden odyssey, Royal Cruise Line's first ship
Crown Odyssey, the line's second new build

Royal Cruise Line was founded in 1974 with its first ship the Golden Odyssey, the first purpose built Greek ship, with an entirely Greek crew.[1][2] With success of the Golden Odyssey, the line purchased their second ship from Home Lines, the SS Doric, in 1982.[2] The ship was completely refurbished and debuted as the Royal Odyssey. The line ordered its second new build, the Crown Odyssey, in 1986, delivered in 1988.[3] The new ship would replace the Royal Odyssey, which would be sold to Regency Cruises.[4]

Royal Cruise Line became very successful and renowned as a high standard cruise line. In 1989, owner Panagopulos unexpectedly decided to sell the highly successful and profitable line.[2] Royal Cruise Line was acquired by Kloster Cruises, the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line for 225 million, with Kloster's intent of gaining a foothold in the upscale European cruise market.[5]

In 1991, Norwegian transferred the Royal Viking Sea from their subsidiary Royal Viking Line to Royal Cruise Line, and renamed it Royal Odyssey.[6] In 1994, Norwegian transferred her sister ship, which was had been sailing as the Westward, to Royal Cruise Line after a 30 million dollar refit and renamed it Star Odyssey.[7] The same year, the line would sell its first ship the Golden Odyssey.

In 1995, the Royal Cruise Line's fleet received a new addition with the Queen Odyssey, another ship that was transferred from the now former Royal Viking brand.

In 1996, parent company Kloster Cruises, was continuing to have financial difficulties, and was forced to reorganize.[8] The Royal Cruise Line brand was dissolved that year after 22 years in business. The fleet was transferred or sold, with the Crown Odyssey and Royal Odyssey transferred to the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet to become the Norwegian Crown and Norwegian Star; the Queen Odyssey sold to Seabourn Cruise Line to become Seabourn Legend; and the final ship to leave the fleet, the Star Odyssey, which went to Fred Olsen Cruise Line to become the Black Watch.

Fleet
Built Years in Fleet Current Status Notes
Golden Odyssey 1974 1974-1994 Gambling ship out of Hong Kong
Royal Odyssey 1964 1982-1988 Sank on the way to scrap yard in 2001
Crown Odyssey 1988 1988-1996 Sailing for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines as the Balmoral
Royal Odyssey 1973 1991-1996 Ended career as Phoenix Reisen's Albatros, Scrapped in 2021
Star Odyssey 1972 1994-1996 Ended sailing career with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines as the Black Watch, pending scrap as of 2022.[9]
Queen Odyssey 1992 1995-1996 Sailing for Windstar Cruises as Star Legend

References
  1. "Concept design of cruise vessel 'Golden Odyssey'". KNUD E. HANSEN. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  2. "Greek Shipping Miracle - Founding Supporters - MAGNA MARINE INC". Greek Shipping Miracle. 2022-02-20. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  3. "Crown Odyssey | Built by MEYER WERFT in 1988". MEYER WERFT. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  4. Peter, Bruce (2012). Knud E. Hansen A/S : 75 years of ship design. Isle of man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 978-1-906608-66-8. OCLC 841016017.
  5. Staff, C. I. N. (1989-12-01). "Kloster Acquiring Royal Cruise Line". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  6. Staff, C. I. N. (1993-06-30). "Fleet Changes". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  7. Staff, C. I. N. (2020-09-05). "A Cruise Ship History: Black Watch". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  8. Staff, C. I. N. (1995-01-17). "Battle for Kloster Cruise". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  9. Boonzaier (j_boonzaier), Jonathan (2022-06-10). "Fred Olsen arrests cruise ship ahead of beaching at Alang | TradeWinds". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
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