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Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by WikiEK (talk | contribs) at 01:14, 11 May 2022 (Updated page. Corrected the name of the ship is the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The ship has been refitted and is now back at the Port of Palm Beach.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Grand Classica departing the Port of Palm Beach
History
Name
  • 1991–2014: Costa Classica
  • 2014–2018: Costa neoClassica
  • 2018–2022: Grand Classica
  • 2022-On: Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
Owner
Operator
  • 1991–2018: Costa Crociere
  • 2018–2022: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
  • 2022-On: Margaritaville at Sea
Port of registry
BuilderFincantieri (Overall Construction), Cammell Laird(Additional Midsection Completed But Never Added)
Launched2 February 1991
CompletedDecember 1991
Acquired7 December 1991
Maiden voyage17 December 1991
Renamed2014, 2018, 2022
Identification
StatusIn Service
General characteristics
Class and typeClassica-class cruise ship
Tonnage52,926 GT
Length722 ft (220 m)
Beam102 ft (31 m)
Draught25 ft (7.6 m)
Decks14
Speed
  • 18.5 knots (normal)
  • 20 knots (maximum)
Capacity
  • 1,308 passengers (normal)
  • 1,680 passengers (maximum)
Crew620
Notes[1]

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise (formerly Grand Classica, Costa neoClassica, and Costa Classica) is a cruise ship that is operating for Margaritaville at Sea. She was built by Italian company Fincantieri Shipyards in 1991. On board are two restaurants, 9 bars, 2 swimming pools, and 4 whirlpools. The ship left the Costa fleet in March 2018 after being sold to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and began sailing on April 13, 2018 as the Grand Classica.[2] Starting May 2022, the ship will sail as the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, after the cruise line announced a partnership with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels.[3]

2000 Lengthening Refit Cancellation

A major refit of the Costa Classica was scheduled to have taken place between November 2000 and early 2001. In the summer of 1999, Costa contracted the United Kingdom shipbuilder Cammell Laird to construct a new 146 ft/44.8m midsection to lengthen the ship to 870 ft/265.4m. The lengthening would also see a refit of the ship's interiors. The new section was constructed and ready for the ship's arrival. However, Costa cancelled the refit when the ship was due to arrive. This contract cancellation was in part responsible for causing the shipbuilder to go into receivership in April 2001. The constructed section that was built was never added to the ship. It was later sold and demolished for scrap.[4][5][6]

Refit as the Costa neoClassica

Costa neoClassica in Argostoli, Cephalonia Greece

The Costa Classica underwent a refit in 2014 to join the Costa neoCollection as the Costa neoClassica. It retained its original design while its sister ship the Costa Romantica underwent a €90 million refurbishing to become the Costa neoRomantica. The sister ship received a complete overhaul which saw the increase in tonnage and additional cabins.[7]

Sale To Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines

On 2 August 2017, Costa Cruises announced that the vessel had been sold to an unnamed buyer and will leave the Costa Cruises fleet in March 2018.[8] On 13 December 2017, it was revealed that the ship had been purchased by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, who would rename the vessel Grand Classica. The ship began sailing out from the Port of Palm Beach starting on 13 April 2018. The ship initially operated 2 day round trip cruises to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. After the island of Grand Bahama was devastated by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the ship was rescheduled to operate 2 day round trip cruises to Nassau that began on October 12.[9] The other line's sister ship, the Grand Celebration would continue to sail to Grand Bahama Island.[10] The ship continued to sail to Nassau until March 2020 when the cruise line took the ship out of service for a wet dock renovation and maintenance that was scheduled through May. The ship was expected to return to service in June.[11] During this time, the cruise ship industry was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ship had remained laid up at Freeport since then. Following the sale of the line's other ship the Grand Celebration in November 2020, the Grand Classica was slated to return to sailing to Freeport as soon as the cruise lines are able to operate.[12] In June 2021, the ship left Freeport and returned to the Port of Palm Beach in preparation for the cruise line's return to service.[13] The ship returned to service on July 24.[14] On September 3rd, it was announced that the ship was chartered for a month long contract to house Entergy workers as they work to restore the power in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida. The ship departed Palm Beach the next day and sailed to New Orleans and arrived on September 7.[15] The ship returned to Palm Beach and resumed service on September 26.[16]

Partnership & Rebrand with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels

On 8 December 2021, that Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line entered into an agreement/partnership with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels to operate the brand beginning in April 2022, Bahamas Paradise is still the brand's owner.

Grand Classica will be named Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and will receive an extensive rebranding at Grand Bahama shipyard ahead of its April 2022 debut. The ship will continue to operate its 2 night sailing from Port of Palm Beach to Freeport. The line also expects to acquire more ships at a later date.[17][18] In April 2022 she underwent a major refit at the Grand Bahama Shipyard.[19]. The inaugural sailing was delayed until May. The renovated ship arrived back at the Port of Palm Beach on May 10th with the inaugural cruise taking place on the 14th. [20]

Incidents and accidents

MSC Poesia collision

On June 6, 2008, MSC Poesia and Costa Classica collided in the Adriatic Sea near Dubrovnik, after the anchor line became slack on MSC Poesia and she went adrift. There were no injuries, and the damage was minimal. Both vessels continued on their scheduled itinerary with no delays.

2009 passenger disappearance

A Hong Kong woman and her son disappeared while on a cruise from Beijing to Fukuoka in July 2009. A source confirmed three letters have been found in their cabin concerning the distribution of their belongings. Travel agency Hong Thai Travel confirmed the pair were among 35 tourists who boarded the cruise liner in Tianjin and its tour guide realized the pair were missing on 7 July. Costa Crociere said it had reported to law enforcement bodies in Korea, the mainland and Japan.[21]

2010 collision near Shanghai

On 18 October 2010, Costa Classica collided with the Belgian-flagged vessel near the deep water channel of the Yangtze River as it returned to Shanghai from Cheju, Korea. Several passengers reported to the infirmary with minor injuries. Three passengers were sent ashore for further medical checks. News images show a gash along the starboard side of Costa Classica that stretched about 60 feet and well above the ship's waterline. Costa Classica docked a few hours after the incident and passengers on the current voyage of the ship were disembarked.[22]

Costa Classica then sailed to Changxing, China to undergo an emergency drydock. It took just 96 hours to complete repairs and then she resumed her service.[23] Next voyage was resumed in Hong Kong on October 25 with two days short where Manila Port was cancelled.

2012 Mainland visitors were banned from entering Sanya, China

On 24 January 2012, more than 300 mainland visitors were banned from entering Sanya, China from Costa Classica. Those affected vowed their passports had been inspected by the staff on the cruise, but they were not told beforehand concerning their visa problem. Conflicts arose on the ship while hundreds and thousands of visitors were lining up to leave the ship. Costa Classica refused to take the responsibility of the fault and to compensate for the loss of other passengers not involved. Most passengers were forced to shorten and cancel their trips at Sanya due to the delay and chaos.[citation needed]

2019 Grand Classica banned from entering Havana, Cuba

Viva Travel, a Florida-based travel agency, chartered the Grand Classica for what was advertised as a Valentines Day cruise to reunite Cuban exiles with their relatives aboard the vessel. Despite claims by the cruise line and travel agency that they had secured the necessary governmental approvals, the ship was denied entry and diverted to Nassau, Bahamas. [24]

References

  1. ^ "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Costa Classica". VesselTracker. 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Bahamas Paradise: Ship Upgrades and New Vessel Named Grand Classica". 13 December 2017.
  3. ^ https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/locations/ways-to-stay/margaritaville-at-sea. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "Cammell Laird: what went wrong". BBC News. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  5. ^ "UK shipyard in choppy waters". BBC News. 29 January 2001. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Costa Classica". CyberCruises. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Arrival of Costa neoClassica - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruiseindustrynews.com. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  8. ^ "Costa Confirms: Victoria Back to Europe, neoClassica Sold". 2 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Bahamas Paradise Is Resuming Cruises to Grand Bahama". Caribbean Journal. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Bahamas Paradise: Ship Upgrades and New Vessel Named Grand Classica". 13 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Bahamas Paradise Refocuses on Freeport; Grand Classica to Wet Dock". Cruise Industry News. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  12. ^ Kalosh, Anne (18 November 2020). "Bahamas Paradise confirms the sale of Grand Celebration". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  13. ^ "A Grand Return for the Grand Classica to Palm Beach for Bahamas Paradise". Cruise Industry News. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  14. ^ Salisbury, Susan. "After 16-month hiatus, Grand Classica cruise line back on the seas". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Gets Entergy Charter for Hurricane Ida Housing". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  16. ^ Kalosh, Anne. "Grand Classica completes Hurricane Ida relief service". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  17. ^ https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/26365-margaritaville-buys-bahamas-paradise-cruise-line.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/locations/ways-to-stay/margaritaville-at-sea. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ "Grand Classica Undergoing Major Refit Ahead of Margaritaville at Sea Debut". 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  20. ^ Nam, Sooji. "Renovated cruise ship 'Margaritaville at Sea' is here and ready to set sail to Grand Bahama Island". WPBF 25 News. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  21. ^ Patsy Moy (July 16, 2009). "Cabin letters offer clues to mother and son". The Standard. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  22. ^ Gene Sloan (18 October 2010). "Costa Cruises ship damaged in collision with cargo ship; voyage canceled". USAToday. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  23. ^ "Costa Classica Repaired in 96 Hours". CruiseInd. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  24. ^ "The cruise ship promised an evening with Cuban relatives. They were turned away at the port". Miami Herald. 15 February 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 8716502.
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