It’s official: Fred. Olsen buys Crown Dynasty
09/04/01

At last, Fred. Olsen is getting a third ship: the 800-passenger Crown Dynasty. Laid up in Aruba since Commodore Holdings Ltd.'s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late December, Dynasty will transfer to Fred. Olsen in May, Nigel Lingard tells Seatrade Insider. Ganger Rolf and Bonheur (both publicly quoted Fred. Olsen companies in Oslo) will pay £52m for the 1993-built vessel and for refurbishments to be carried out at a North European yard (still to be named). Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd. in the UK will then operate the Dynasty under charter, initially from the UK on itineraries yet to be announced. Lingard anticipates only minor renovations will be needed to brand the ship as part of the Fred. Olsen fleet: ‘Our technical boys are still looking at her, but we don’t anticipate anything major. She’s in pretty good shape.' The company, which also operates the Black Watch and Black Prince, has been searching for a third ship for many months. ‘We continue to enjoy our most successful year to date, and the good news is that it’s not just about volume, it’s about yields as well,’ Lingard says. He adds that unlike their US counterparts, UK cruise lines are performing well in 2001: ‘I don’t think anybody is struggling. The market has held up better here than in the US.’

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Source: Lloyds List website

Olsen lands his third cruiseship
Tuesday April 10 2001

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has finally found the third ship it has been seeking for at least three years.

The UK-based company has paid £52m ($76.4m) for Commodore Cruise Line’s eight-year-old vessel Crown Dynasty .

The cost includes an extensive refurbishment in a European shipyard which has still to be chosen. Commodore went into Chapter XI bankruptcy in the US at the end of last year.

The 800-berth ship will join Black Watch and Black Prince and raise Olsen’s fleet capacity by 55% to 2,240 berths. Managing director, Paul Brigginshaw admitted that the search for the third ship had taken a long time. “But we are extremely pleased with the result,” he said.

Olsen carries about 20,000 passengers a year, most of them British. It concentrates on the Mediterranean and Scandinavia, but also goes to South America.

Next year it is taking the unusual step of basing a series of cruises on Cuba, a move only made possible by Mr Olsen’s strong Spanish ferry connections.

Fred. Olsen expects to have Crown Dynasty cruising this summer and intends to publish her itinerary shortly. The company uses both Dover and Southampton as base ports for its ships.

It is understood that Mr Olsen himself has taken a particular interest in finding a third ship for his cruise line.

Commodore was formerly owned by Silja Line, the Baltic ferry operator, and still owes that company $28m on two ships.

Regards

Crown Dynasty
Entered Service: July 1993
Gross Tonnage: 19,089
Total Crew: 320
Passenger Capacity (basis 2): 802
(All berths): 916
Total Cabins:401
Cabins Outside:277
Cabins Inside:124
Cabins with balcony:10
Cabins (Wheelchair Acces.):4
Dining Room:1
Casino:Yes
Outdoor Pool:1
Whirlpools:3
Fitness Centre:Yes
Suana/Steam:Yes

A short review: http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/ships/cn_dynas.asp

Willy, I must agree that Dynasty's space ratio's of 23.8 - 20.8 are not over impressive, being more typical of a budget ship/line. (Olsen's prices are a little higher than 'budget').

In fact Dynasty's gross tonnage is approximately 9000 tons less than that of the Black Watch, yet her passenger capacity is very similar! However, Olsen may decide not to sell all the berths, which will reduce the capacity?

On the other hand, Dynasty's space ratios are similar to those of the ever popular Black Prince?

I wonder what they will rename her?

To tell you the truth, i would really like to see Star take the current Norwegian Star, and the other sister (not the Black Watch) and have those ships go to Orient Line, or just start completely with a whole new line. I have never sailed on any of those ships or with that line, but apparently, from what i have learned, it was great....

quote:

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Originally posted by Willy Paul:
We were on her sister ship the Crown Jewel ...

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What became of this ship?

quote:

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Originally posted by gohaze:
Hi...Crown Jewel is now the Superstar Gemini.

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Thanks Peter! Superstar Geminin:

http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/ships/sr_gemini.asp

I know that Cunard planned to take her along with the other two but I'm fairly certain certain that didn't happen. Or if it did, they got rid of her within a month or so.

Do you know if she ever sailed for Cunard?