MS Celebration
 The Grand Celebration In Freeport, Bahamas 2015
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| History | |
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| Name |
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| Owner |
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| Operator |
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| Port of registry | |
| Builder | Kockums Varv, Malmö, Sweden |
| Cost | US$130 million |
| Yard number | 597 |
| Launched | 9 August 1986 |
| Acquired | February 1987 |
| Maiden voyage |
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| Identification | |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Holiday Class |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 223.37 m (733 ft) |
| Beam | 28.20 m (93 ft) |
| Draught | 7.75 m (25 ft 5 in) |
| Decks | 10 (passenger accessible) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | 2 propellers |
| Speed | 21.7 knots (40.2 km/h; 25.0 mph) |
| Capacity | 1,896 passengers |
| Crew | 670 |
The Grand Celebration is a Holiday class cruise ship, originally built for Carnival Cruise Lines. It entered service with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines on February 3, 2015 to replace the ill fated MS Bahamas Celebration.
The Grand Celebration has 2 sister ships. The Magellan, which is operated by Cruise & Maritime Voyages , and the Henna, which is operated by HNA Tourism.
Unlike her sister "Henna", the trademark whale tail funnel on Grand Celebration was painted over but not altered or removed.
History
The ship was built as the Celebration in 1986 by Kockums Varv in Malmö, Sweden for Carnival Cruise Lines. The Celebration was retired from the Carnival fleet in April 2008 and underwent an extensive refit before re-entering service with Iberocruceros as the Grand Celebration that summer. The refit included new hull artwork and updated interiors.
In May 2014, it was announced that the ship would be renamed Costa Celebration and transferred to Costa Cruises in November 2014.[1] After service with Iberocruceros had ended, the ship underwent refurbishment and was renamed the Costa Celebration. On November 21, 2014, on the day before the ship was scheduled to depart on its inaugural voyage, it was announced that the vessel had been sold to an unnamed buyer.[2] The next day, the Costa Celebration was removed from Costa's fleet and all bookings were cancelled. Passengers who had booked on Costa Celebration's future cruises were refunded.[3]
On December 23, 2014, it was revealed that the ship had been purchased by the newly formed Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, who would use the name Grand Celebration and sail out the Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach, Florida starting in February 2015.[4][5] Bahamas Paradise was formed by former executives from the defunct Celebration Cruise Line that operated the Bahamas Celebration.[6]
The Grand Celebration was scheduled to depart for its first cruise on February 1, 2015. Due to technical difficulties, the voyage was cancelled. Repairs were made and the ship set sail on February 3.[7]
Incidents
- On the morning of 10 February 1989, the Celebration collided with the Cuban freighter Captain San Luis, breaking the freighter in half and causing it to sink in 13 minutes.[8] Three crew members of the Captain San Luis, including its captain, were missing and presumed dead. The freighter was hauling cement at the time of the collision, and had been experiencing electrical problems which left it without lights, navigational equipment, or steering. The Celebration remained on-site, rescuing the 42 survivors from the water and transferring them to a Cuban navy ship and tugboat before continuing on to Miami.[citation needed]
Gallery
- Views of the ship as the MS Celebration (Carnival Cruise Lines)
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- Views of the ship as the Grand Celebration (Ibero Cruises)
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References
- ^ "Grand Celebration to become Costa Celebration Later This Year". Cruise News. Cruise Industry News. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Costa Celebration Moves Elsewhere".
- ^ "Costa Cruises sells the ship and cancels the trip". The Medi Telegraph. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Grand Celebration ship could launch in February - Protecting Your Pocket".
- ^ http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6173
- ^ South Florida Sun-Sentinel (24 December 2014). "Port of Palm Beach to get new cruise ship in February". Sun-Sentinel.com.
- ^ "Grand Celebration to set sail Tuesday, cruise line says". WPTV. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Cruise Ship, Freighter Collide". Sun Sentinel. 11 February 1989. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
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External links
| Former ships |
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Years indicate year of entry into service with Ibero Cruises. | ||
