Cost $22.5 million Length 206 m Beam 25 m | Yard number 396 Launched 25 May 1975 | |
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Name 1973–1991 Royal Viking Sky1991–1992 Sunward1992 Birka Queen1992–1993 Sunward1993–1997 Golden Princess1997–1998 SuperStar Capricorn1998–2001 Hyundai Keumgang2001–2004 SuperStar Capricorn2004–2005 Grand Latino2005 onwards Boudicca Owner 1973–1991 Kloster Cruise1991–1997 Birka Cruises1997–2004 Star Cruises2004–2005 Iberocruceros2005 onwards Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Operator 1973–1991 Royal Viking Line1991–1992 Norwegian Cruise Line1992 Birka Cruises1992–1993 Norwegian Cruise Line1993–1997 Princess Cruises1997–1998 Star Cruises1998–2001 Hyundai Merchant Marine2001–2004 Star Cruises2004–2005 Iberocruceros2005 onwards Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Port of registry 1973–1987 Bergen, Norway1987–1992 Nassau, Bahamas1992 Mariehamn, Finland1992–1997 Nassau, Bahamas1997–1998 Singapore, Singapore1997–2005 Panama City, Panama2005 onwards Nassau, Bahamas | ||
Mv boudicca at liverpool 1 july 2016
MV Boudicca is a cruise ship owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland as Royal Viking Sky for Nordenfjeldske Dampsibsselskap, Trondheim, which placed the ship in Royal Viking Line service.
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Prior to entering service with her current owners, the ship has also sailed under the names Sunward (for Norwegian Cruise Line), Birka Queen (with Birka Cruises), Golden Princess (with Princess Cruises), SuperStar Capricorn (with Star Cruises), Hyundai Keumgang (with Hyundai Merchant Marine) and Grand Latino (with Viajes Iberojet (now Iberocruceros)).
Concept and construction
Royal Viking Sky was ordered by Nordenfjeldske Dampsibsselskap, Trondheim from the Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland. She was one of three near-identical ships ordered by different companies from for Royal Viking Line service. Her sister ships were Royal Viking Star, owned by Bergenske Dampskibsselskap, Bergen, and Royal Viking Sea, owned by A. F. Klaveness & Co, Oslo. The Royal Viking Sky was launched from drydock on 25 May 1972 and delivered to her owners on 5 June 1973.
Service history
Following delivery to Kloster/Royal Viking the Royal Viking Sky was used for luxury cruises around the world. In 1982 she was lengthened from 177.70 metres (583 ft 0 in) to 205.47 metres (674 ft 1 in) at the A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany. In 1984 Kloster Cruise acquired the entirety of Royal Viking Line. Subsequently in 1991 Royal Viking Sky was transferred to the fleet of Norwegian Cruise Line (also owned by Kloster) under the name Sunward. Already in 1992 the Sunward was sold to Birka Cruise, who renamed the ship Birka Queen for Baltic Sea cruising. Her career with Birka only lasted for the 1992 northern hemisphere summer season, and in late 1992 was chartered back to NCL, reverting to the name Sunward. In 1993 the ship was chartered to Princess Cruises, becoming their Golden Princess. Following delivery of newer tonnage to Princess Cruises, the company terminated the charter of the Golden Princess. Subsequently Birka Cruises sold the ship to Star Cruises, who renamed her SuperStar Capricorn.
In 1998 the SuperStar Capricorn was chartered by Star Cruises to Hyundai Merchant Marine, who renamed the ship Hyundai Keumgang for cruises from South Korea to North Korea. Huyndai's cruise operations failed already in 2001, and the Hyundai Keumgang was returned to Star Cruises and resumed service under the name SuperStar Capricorn. In 2004 the ship was sold to Iberocruceros, who renamed her Grand Latino for Mediterranean cruising out of Spain. In 2005 the ship was sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and renamed Boudicca. Following changing of her main engines at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, the ship entered service with Fred. Olsen in February 2006.
In March 2010, the ship was relocated to its new base in Liverpool, England, where it has replaced the MV Black Prince, which was also owned by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
On 25 January 2015, the ship carrying more than 1,000 people was left without power off Morocco after an engine room fire. The fire at 04:00 BST left the ship "listing" and "in pitch black", said Dave Tonkin, whose father is on board. Fred Olsen, the company which owns the ship, said it was now fully stable and had five engines running again.
Public spaces
The three formal restaurants, Heligan Room and Tintagel Restaurant to starboard and Four Seasons Restaurant to port, are on Deck 6, the Lounge Deck. There is a common buffet servery for breakfast and lunch. There is also an informal, buffet restaurant amidships, the Secret Garden. The main show lounge, the Neptune Lounge, sits aft and contains a stage and dance floor. In the daytime this lounge is used for lectures. Between the Neptune Lounge and the various Restaurants are lounges and bars for reading and conversation. Finally, right at the back there is open outside decking and the main swimming pool, plus a poolside buffet which is used when weather permits.
The Lido Lounge, an alternative show lounge for cabaret-style performances, is aft on Deck 7, Lido Deck. Also on this deck are the Bookmark Cafe, card room and library, as well as cabins placed centrally and towards the bow.
The Observatory is forward on Deck 9, Marquee Deck, with its own bar; it provides excellent views. The Marquee Bar and a smaller pool are aft, with suites between the two. Above lies the Sun Deck, Deck 10.
The shop, reception and shore tours office are in the centre of Deck 5, Main Deck, and Atlantic Deck 4 contains the fitness centre and Atlantis Spa.