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MS Renaissance (1992)

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Aegean Myth as Maasdam in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, with Noordam seen in background.
History
NameAegean Myth
OwnerSeajets
Ordered29 November 1989
BuilderFincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy
CostUS$180 million
Yard number5882
Launched12 January 1992
Christened1993
Completed26 October 1993
Maiden voyage3 December 1993
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes[1][2][3]
General characteristics
Class and typeS-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length220 m (721 ft 9 in)
Beam30.937 m (101 ft 6.0 in)
Height40 m (131 ft 3 in)
Draught7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
Decks10
Ice class1D
Installed power(All engines built under license by Fincantieri/Grandi Motori Trieste) 2 × Sulzer 12ZAV40S, 3 × Sulzer 8ZAL40 diesels
PropulsionElectric shaftline
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity1,258 passengers
Crew580
Notes[2][3][4][5]

MS Aegean Myth is a cruise ship laid up in Greece, and scheduled to re-enter service as the Renaissance in 2023. The ship was previously named Maasdam for Holland America Line. While sailing for Holland America, the vessel operated primarily in North American waters.

Design and description

Aegean Myth features a teak promenade deck and her interior motifs pay homage to the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company. The centerpiece of the ship's atrium is a sculpture crafted by Luciano Vistosi and features over 2,000 pieces of glass. Other pieces of ancient artifacts and art pieces are also spread throughout the ship.[6]

Construction and career

Maasdam and Westerdam at Half Moon Cay

Maasdam was a member of Holland America's Statendam class, otherwise known as S class. She was ordered in November 1989 alongside two sister ships of her class, and was designated hull number 5882.[1] Her keel was laid by Fincantieri in early 1992.[7] Throughout 1992 and 1993, the ship was completed and underwent sea trials, and on 3 December 1993, Maasdam was christened by actress June Allyson at Port Everglades, Florida. Upon her maiden voyage into the Caribbean Sea, she became the fifth Holland America Line ship to bear the name Maasdam.[6]

During her early planning and architectural design phases, there were concerns that Maasdam and the S class would not be in compliance with specific vessel stability requirements mandated by SOLAS 90. The hull design of Maasdam and her sister ships are largely based on Costa Classica, a ship operated by sister brand Costa Cruises. These fears were alleviated, however, following the successful sea trials of the class's lead ship, MS Statendam.[1]

Maasdam served different regions of the world based on the seasons during her tenure at Holland America. During winter months, she cruised to the Caribbean from Port Everglades. During the summer season, she sailed from Boston, Massachusetts to Europe, Atlantic Canada and New England.

In 2006, Maasdam underwent dry dock renovations at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Grand Bahama. In 2011, Maasdam underwent dry dock renovations at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Grand Bahama which increased her passenger capacity.[8]

In December 2016, she visited Oceania, where she undertook voyages from New Zealand.[9]

On 7 November 2018, during a 'Polynesian & South Seas Sampler' cruise, a 70-year-old female American passenger fell between the ship's Deck 3 tender platform and one of the ship's tenders. She was crushed, and she fell into the waters off of Rarotonga, Cook Islands and was later pronounced dead on board the same day. Maasdam returned to Rarotonga a few days later, but despite much calmer seas, Captain Ryan Whitaker canceled all tender operations.[10][11][12][13][14]

In December 2019, the New Zealand Youth Choir used the Maasdam as a way to complete a planned South Pacific tour. The choir boarded Maasdam in Auckland, and gave several concerts aboard the ship, as well as at ports of call including Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia and Sydney.

On 19 March 2020, 842 guests and 542 crew members on board Maasdam were barred from disembarkation in Honolulu, Hawaii due to fears surrounding COVID-19.[15] The ship was allowed to take on appropriate provisions and supplies, however, and began a return journey to the Port of San Diego for debarkation.[16]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Holland America suspended its cruise operations through 30 June, and sailings aboard Maasdam were cancelled.[17] In July 2020 it was announced that the ship was sold to Seajets, and laid up in Greece.[18][19]

In September 2022, after 2 years of lay up, it was announced the ship was purchased by newly created cruise line Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) and renamed Renaissance. Capacity will be reduced from 1,258 passengers to 1,100 passengers, served by 560 crew, with a launch date in February 2023 from Le Havre, France.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Cruise Ship Staatendam (and sister ships)" (PDF). June 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Maasdam Info". 6 March 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b "M/S Maasdam Info (In Swedish)". 6 March 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  4. ^ "ABB Marine References Cruise & Ferry" (PDF). ABB. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  5. ^ "MS Maasdam". 2 August 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  6. ^ a b "140 Years Young: Maasdam Sets Sail". Holland America Blog. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Keel Layed For Cruise Ship Maasdam At Fincantieri Shipyard". Maritime Reporter and Engineering News. May 1992. p. 11. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Holland America Line's ms Maasdam Completes Signature of Excellence Upgrades" (Press release). Holland America Line. Retrieved 25 March 2020 – via prnewswire.com.
  9. ^ McAvinue, Shawn (27 December 2016). "Cruise ship season gets twice as nice". Otago Daily Times Online News.
  10. ^ "Captain Ryan C. Whitaker". Holland America. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  11. ^ Walker, Jim (11 November 2018). "Fatal Tender Mishap on Holland America Line's Maasdam in Rarotonga". cruiselawnews. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  12. ^ Hignett, Katherine (13 November 2018). "Elderly Passenger Dies After Falling From Cruise Ship in 'Rough' Seas". Newsweek. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  13. ^ Scott, Cameron (14 November 2018). "Cruise ship cancels island visit". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Tender Unloading Accident on Maasdam". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  15. ^ Carrega, Christina (19 March 2020). "Despite no reported coronavirus, Hawaii won't let cruise ship passengers disembark". ABC News. Retrieved 1 April 2020 – via Yahoo News.
  16. ^ "Holland America Line Ship Disembarkation Update". Holland America Blog. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  17. ^ Norton, Theresa (15 April 2020). "Cruise lines Holland America, Princess Cruises and Seabourn suspend sailings through June 30". Fox News. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Holland America Sells Ships With Two to Olsen in Carnival's Downsizing". Maritime Executive. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Four Holland America Line Ships Sold". Cruise Industry News. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  20. ^ "New French cruise line CFC to revive long sea voyages". seatrade-cruise.com. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
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