MS Celestyal Olympia

Concept and construction

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines had operated throughout the 1970s with three ships that had been built at the Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland. Two of these had been lengthened towards the end of the decade, but due to increased demand RCCL decided to order a larger new ship, again from the Wärtsilä Helsinki shipyard.

For the interior layout of their new ship RCCL decided to adapt a system with cabins to the fore of the ship, furthest from engine noise, and public spaces to aft. This layout was widely used on ferries built by the Wärtsilä shipyard, but has been rarely used for cruise ships. The public spaces on decks five and seven were built with 1½ times the standard deck height, leading to deck 6 only existing in the forward part of the ship.

The Song of America was launched from drydock on 26 November 1981. Following fitting out she was delivered to her owners on 11 November 1982.

1982—1999: Song of America

Following a voyage across the Atlantic, the Song of America entered service with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines on 5 December 1982 on a cruise from Miami to Nassau, San Juan and St. Thomas. This remained her main itenerary for the early parts of her career with RCCL.

1999—2005: Sunbird

In May 1998, the Song of America was sold to Sun Cruises (owned by Airtours) for $94.5 million (recognized gain on the sale was $31.0 million). Sun Cruises then chartered the ship back to RCCL until March 1999. Unlike with earlier ships the RCCL sold, the 'sky lounge' around the ship's funnel was not removed before she was handed over to the new owners.

The ship was renamed MS Sunbird, rebuilt with additional suites on deck 9 and used for cruising around Europe, mainly in the Mediterranean. Later during her Sun Cruises service the ship received MyTravel colours. In 2004, Airtours decided to withdraw from the cruise business, and the Sunbird was sold to Louis Cruise Lines, who chartered her back to Sun Cruises until May 2004.

2005-2012: Thomson Destiny

Following the end of her charter to Sun Cruises, Louis Cruise Lines chartered the Sunbird to Thomson Cruises, who renamed her MS Thomson Destiny. With Thomson, the ship was used for cruising in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Canary Islands and the west coast of Africa. In the winter of 2009 she cruised in the Caribbean.

2012-2014: Louis Olympia

Thomson Destiny returned to Louis Cruises in April 2012 and started operating under its new name Louis Olympia. She is used on Aegean cruises, to the Aegean Island and the Turkish coast, with its home port being Piraeus.

2014: Floating hotel

Louis Olympia was used as a floating hotel during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

2014 onwards: Celestyal Olympia

As part of Louis Cruise Lines re-branding in late 2014, the ship was renamed Celestyal Olympia with an updated livery, to reflect the new corporate identity.

As Thomson Destiny

Thomson Destiny has twelve decks, eleven of which are accessible to passengers.

1. Engine room, crew spaces, gangway
2. B deck - Outside and inside cabins, gangway
3. A deck - Outside and inside cabins, gangway
4. Main deck - Outside and inside cabins, internet cafe, reception, library, Aegean restaurant (formal), Kalimera shops
5. Cabaret deck - Outside and inside cabins, Muses Lounge (show lounge), casino Fiesta, Argo bar, Selene Lounge (Nightclub), Sana Beauty salon, video arcade, Ocean photo service phpto shop
6. Upper deck - Outside and inside cabins (deck only exists in the forward part of the ship)
7. Promenade deck - Deluxe cabins, Blakes bar/café/lounge, Kidzone, outdoor promenade
8. Bridge deck - Bridge, saunas, Oceans gym
9. Sun deck - Suites & Grand Suites (deck only exists in the forward part of the ship)
10. Compass deck - Lido bar, swimming pools, Lido buffét restaurant, sundeck
11. Mast bar, sundeck
12. Skybar