Owner Fred. Olsen & Co. Yard number 561 Length 142 m | Cost $20 million Launched 14 May 1966 | |
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Name 2009– Ola Esmeralda
2009 Prince
1966–2009 Black Prince
1970–1985 (summers) Venus Operator 1966–1986 Fred. Olsen Lines/Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
1970–1983 (summers) BDS
1983–1985 (summers) DFDS
1985 (summer) Norway Line
1987 onwards Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Port of registry 1966–1986 Kristiansand, Norway
1986–1990 Manila, Philippines
1990–2001 Hvitsten, Norway
2001–2009 Nassau, Bahamas
2009– Venezuela Builders Flender Werke, Lübecker Flender-Werke | ||
Ola Esmeralda was a cruise ship, owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built in 1966 by the Lübecker Flender-Werke in Lübeck, West Germany for Fred. Olsen Lines for combined ferry/cruise ship operations. From 1970 until 1983 she sailed the northern hemisphere summer seasons on ferry service for Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab as Venus, while returning to cruise service with Fred. Olsen for the winter seasons. In 1983 the summer ferry service was taken over by DFDS, and in 1985 it passed to Norway Line. In 1986 Fred. Olsen bought the ship outright and she was converted to a full-time cruise ship, retaining the name Black Prince.
The Black Prince has been retired from the Fred. Olsen fleet on 16 October 2009. Although her withdrawal is reportedly due to the new SOLAS 2010 regulations, she has been sold to SAVECA for further cruise service in Venezuelan waters. SAVECA planned to use the ship for cruises between islands within Venezuelan waters, also as a floating hotel. The ship's last stop was in the port of Santo Domingo before being scrapped.
Facilities
The cruise ship Black Prince had on board: A show lounge (towards the stern) which was spread over two decks, with a bar on each level - the majority of the seating was on the lower level. The bar on the upper level opened to the outside, with waiter service on the open decks than as a traditional bar. A piano lounge & bar towards the bow also contained a small casino, a buffet-style restaurant on the upper deck and two traditional restaurants serving the same menu, and an outdoor pool with two Whirlpool spas.