Festival Cruises

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Festival Cruises
IndustryShip transport
Founded1992
Defunct2004
FateBankruptcy
HeadquartersGreece[1]
Key people
George Poulides
ProductsCruises
MS European Stars in the Port of Palma, Mallorca May 2003

Festival Cruises (known as First European Cruises in North America) was a Greece-based cruise line that operated between 1994 and 2004. It was founded in 1992 by the Greek entrepreneur George Poulides using second-hand ships. The company acquired three new-built ships between 1999 and 2002, but was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2004.[1][2][3][4]

History[edit]

George Poulides founded Festival Cruises in 1992. The company begun operations in 1994 after purchasing MS The Azur from Chandris Cruises.[2] The following year the company acquired MS Starward from Norwegian Cruise Line, renaming her MS Bolero.[5] A third second-hand ship followed in 1997, when MS Southern Cross was acquired from CTC Lines and renamed MS Flamenco for service with Festival.[6]

Festival Cruises acquired their first newbuilt ship in 1999, when MS Mistral was delivered from Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France. In 2000 Festival Cruises announced that the company would be merged into Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), with the Festival Cruises brand being maintained under P&O ownership. The merger plan was abandoned later that year due to low value of cruise line shares at the time. Two additional newbuilt ships based on an enlarged version of the Mistral design were delivered in 2001 and 2002 as MS European Vision and MS European Stars, respectively.[2] Following delivery of the new ships the Bolero and Flamenco were chartered to other operators.[5][6] Festival Cruises had an option for two more ships of the enlarged Mistral design, but the company decided not to use the option. Two more Mistral class ships were however built for MSC Cruises as MSC Lirica and MSC Opera.[7]

Festival Cruises went bankrupt in early 2004, with all the company's ships were laid up and subsequently auctioned to other operators; European Stars and European Vision were sold to MSC Cruises,[2][4] Mistral to a French investor group who chartered her to Iberojet,[2][8] The Azur to Mano Maritime,[9] Bolero to Abou Merhi Lines and Flamenco to Cruise Elysia.[2]

Ships[edit]

Ship Built In service
for Festival Cruises		 Tonnage Notes Image
MS Azur 1971 1994–2004 11,609 GRT Since 2017 MS Knyaz Vladimir for Black Sea Cruises
MS Bolero 1968 1995–2001 12,948 GRT Sold for scrap in 2018
MS Caribe 1948 2002–2004 15,614 GRT Built for Swedish America Line as Stockholm. 2015-2021 Astoria for Cruise & Maritime Voyages, then laid up
MS Flamenco 1972 1997–2003 17,370 GRT Originally ordered for Norwegian Cruise Line as Seaward. Capsized and partially sank on 27 February 2016 near Laem Chebang, Thailand
MS Mistral 1999 1999–2004 47,276 GT From 2019 MS AIDAmira until 2022 for AIDA Cruises, Since 2022 at Ambassador Cruise Line as Ambition
MS European Vision 2001 2001–2004 58,174 GT Since 2004 MSC Armonia for MSC Cruises
MS European Stars 2002 2002–2004 58,625 GT Since 2004 MSC Sinfonia for MSC Cruises

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Miller, William H. (2006). Greek Passenger Liners. Stroud: Tempus. pp. 40–41. ISBN 0-7524-3886-7.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Boyle, Ian. "Festival Cruise Line". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  3. ^ "Festival Cruises Cruise Reviews". CruiseReviews.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  4. ^ a b Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
  5. ^ a b Asklander, Micke. "M/S Starward (1968)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  6. ^ a b Asklander, Micke. "M/S Spirit of London (1972)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  7. ^ Boyle, Ian. "MSC Crociere Italiane > MSC Lirica (2003– )". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  8. ^ Ward (2006). pp. 380–381
  9. ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Eagle (1971)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-09-28.
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