MS Regal Empress
Encyclopedia
MS Regal Empress was a cruise ship
that recently operated for Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. She was built in 1953 by Alexander Stephen & Sons at Glasgow
, Scotland as the ocean liner
SS Olympia for the Greek Line
. Greek Line withdrew the Olympia from service in 1974. Following an extended lay-up period and reconstruction into a diesel-engined Caribbean cruise ship, the ship re-emerged in 1983 as MS Caribe I for Commodore Cruise Line
. In 1993 she was sold to Regal Cruise Line and received her final name. She operated for Imperial Majesty Cruise Line from 2003 until 2009. The Regal Empress was also the last vintage passenger ship to regularly sail from the United States
.
was initially named Olympia. Olympia was completed by Alexander Stephen & Sons, on the River Clyde
, in 1953. She was initially measured at , and carried 138 First Class, and 1169 Tourist Class passengers. She was registered in Liberia
. Parsons turbines of 25,000 shp drove her at a service speed of 21 knots (23 knots maximum). The maiden voyage left Glasgow
for Liverpool
and New York
on October 20, 1953. Her first voyage on the intended route from Piraeus
to New York
did not take place until March 1955 due to legal complications. In 1961, the route was extended to Haifa
, Israel
. In 1968, Olympia was registered in Greece
, and spent more time cruising, this becoming her exclusive occupation in 1970. By this time she had been re-measured at . She was laid up at Piraeus in 1974, and the Greek Line
suffered financial collapse the following year.
In 1981, the Olympia was bought by Sally Shipping with the plan was to use the ship as both a floating hotel and for occasional Caribbean cruises. She was renamed Caribe and refitted with Klockner-Humbolt-Deutz diesels
of 20,270 shp replacing the steam turbine
s. The Diesel engines would reduce her service speed to approximately 18 knots. In addition to the new power plant, extensive interior modifications were carried out. These modifications included but were not confined to: Removal of the Agean pool and converting that space into the Mermaid Bar, conversion of the Calypso Room, Card Room and Drawing Room into suites. The Derby Room and Taverna, aft of the Olympian Hall restaurant on restaurant deck was converted into a casino. One public room that remained untouched throughout her life was her gorgeous, paneled library on Promenade deck. When the hotel plan was cancelled she returned to cruising and was renamed Caribe I in 1983, in the Commodore Cruise Line
fleet. The ship's original funnel had been replaced by exhaust pipes decorated in a framework design. In 1988, this was replaced by a more traditional funnel. In 1993 she was sold to Regal Cruises and renamed Regal Empress, and began sailing out of Port Manatee
in the winters and New York City
during the summers. She is now described as being only .
Following the collapse of Regal Cruises, the Regal Empress was purchased by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line for their two-night cruise service to The Bahamas
, the Regal Empress being cheaper to operate and carrying more passengers than their own ship OceanBreeze
. The Regal Empress was used in a late-2007 episode of the TV show Mythbusters
. They confirmed a myth that you can waterski from the back of a cruise ship. A video of the event can be found on YouTube. However, this has already been proven in 2006 with the cruise ship —see the wepbage of the German TV show. In September 2008, the Regal Empress was removed from service to be used as an aid in the recovery of the aftermath of Hurricane Ike
. She was laid up in Texas for about 2 months. She returned to service in December 2008.
Her last voyage took place on March 6, 2009. On March 9, 2009 the Regal Empress was retired by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. She was laid up for sale and inspection in Freeport, Bahamas
until late March. It was reported by Maritime Matters on March 26 that the Regal Empress was sold for scrap. The Regal Empress was replaced by a newer ship, the MS Bahamas Celebration. The new ship carries on the same cruise itineraries as the Regal Empress did. However, the Bahamas Celebration is currently operating for a new cruise line, Celebration Cruise Line
. The new cruise line is owned by the same company that had operated the Regal Empress.
The Regal Empress departed Freeport in early April to sail to her final destination in Alang. Her voyage took over three months to complete. During her voyage, she was renamed the Regal Tmpress . She was beached on 24 July 2009. In October, scrapping began starting from the bow of the ship. The demolition of the ship was completed in early 2010.
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
that recently operated for Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. She was built in 1953 by Alexander Stephen & Sons at Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland as the ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
SS Olympia for the Greek Line
Greek Line
The Greek Line formally known as the General Steam Navigation Company of Greece was a passenger ship line that operated from 1939 until 1975. The Greek Line was owned by the Ormos Shipping Company. The line operated transatlantic and short to long distance voyages...
. Greek Line withdrew the Olympia from service in 1974. Following an extended lay-up period and reconstruction into a diesel-engined Caribbean cruise ship, the ship re-emerged in 1983 as MS Caribe I for Commodore Cruise Line
Commodore Cruise Line
Commodore Cruise Line was a United States -based cruise line that was in operation from 1968 until 2001. It was founded in 1966 by Sanford Chobol and Edwin Stephan. Following multiple changes in ownership, the company declared bankruptcy in 2001 due to raising fuel costs and increased competition...
. In 1993 she was sold to Regal Cruise Line and received her final name. She operated for Imperial Majesty Cruise Line from 2003 until 2009. The Regal Empress was also the last vintage passenger ship to regularly sail from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Service history
One of the longest serving passenger ships in history, and the only ship expressly built for the Greek LineGreek Line
The Greek Line formally known as the General Steam Navigation Company of Greece was a passenger ship line that operated from 1939 until 1975. The Greek Line was owned by the Ormos Shipping Company. The line operated transatlantic and short to long distance voyages...
was initially named Olympia. Olympia was completed by Alexander Stephen & Sons, on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, in 1953. She was initially measured at , and carried 138 First Class, and 1169 Tourist Class passengers. She was registered in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. Parsons turbines of 25,000 shp drove her at a service speed of 21 knots (23 knots maximum). The maiden voyage left Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
for Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on October 20, 1953. Her first voyage on the intended route from Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
did not take place until March 1955 due to legal complications. In 1961, the route was extended to Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In 1968, Olympia was registered in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and spent more time cruising, this becoming her exclusive occupation in 1970. By this time she had been re-measured at . She was laid up at Piraeus in 1974, and the Greek Line
Greek Line
The Greek Line formally known as the General Steam Navigation Company of Greece was a passenger ship line that operated from 1939 until 1975. The Greek Line was owned by the Ormos Shipping Company. The line operated transatlantic and short to long distance voyages...
suffered financial collapse the following year.
In 1981, the Olympia was bought by Sally Shipping with the plan was to use the ship as both a floating hotel and for occasional Caribbean cruises. She was renamed Caribe and refitted with Klockner-Humbolt-Deutz diesels
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
of 20,270 shp replacing the steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
s. The Diesel engines would reduce her service speed to approximately 18 knots. In addition to the new power plant, extensive interior modifications were carried out. These modifications included but were not confined to: Removal of the Agean pool and converting that space into the Mermaid Bar, conversion of the Calypso Room, Card Room and Drawing Room into suites. The Derby Room and Taverna, aft of the Olympian Hall restaurant on restaurant deck was converted into a casino. One public room that remained untouched throughout her life was her gorgeous, paneled library on Promenade deck. When the hotel plan was cancelled she returned to cruising and was renamed Caribe I in 1983, in the Commodore Cruise Line
Commodore Cruise Line
Commodore Cruise Line was a United States -based cruise line that was in operation from 1968 until 2001. It was founded in 1966 by Sanford Chobol and Edwin Stephan. Following multiple changes in ownership, the company declared bankruptcy in 2001 due to raising fuel costs and increased competition...
fleet. The ship's original funnel had been replaced by exhaust pipes decorated in a framework design. In 1988, this was replaced by a more traditional funnel. In 1993 she was sold to Regal Cruises and renamed Regal Empress, and began sailing out of Port Manatee
Port Manatee
Port Manatee is a deepwater seaport located in northern Manatee County, Florida. It is the fifth largest of Florida's 14 deepwater seaports. The port is served by mostly cargo ships, but the Regal Empress cruise ship did sail out of the port until the early 2000s.- External links :*...
in the winters and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
during the summers. She is now described as being only .
Following the collapse of Regal Cruises, the Regal Empress was purchased by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line for their two-night cruise service to The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
, the Regal Empress being cheaper to operate and carrying more passengers than their own ship OceanBreeze
Ocean Breeze
Ocean Breeze may refer to one of these ships:* The SS Southern Cross , an ocean liner built in 1955* The Ocean Breeze , a luxury yacht formerly owned by Saddam Hussein...
. The Regal Empress was used in a late-2007 episode of the TV show Mythbusters
MythBusters (season 6)
The cast of the television series MythBusters perform experiments to verify or debunk urban legends, old wives' tales, and the like. This is a list of the various myths tested on the show as well as the results of the experiments .-Episode overview:-Episode 95 – "James Bond, Part 1":* Original...
. They confirmed a myth that you can waterski from the back of a cruise ship. A video of the event can be found on YouTube. However, this has already been proven in 2006 with the cruise ship —see the wepbage of the German TV show. In September 2008, the Regal Empress was removed from service to be used as an aid in the recovery of the aftermath of Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
. She was laid up in Texas for about 2 months. She returned to service in December 2008.
Her last voyage took place on March 6, 2009. On March 9, 2009 the Regal Empress was retired by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. She was laid up for sale and inspection in Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
until late March. It was reported by Maritime Matters on March 26 that the Regal Empress was sold for scrap. The Regal Empress was replaced by a newer ship, the MS Bahamas Celebration. The new ship carries on the same cruise itineraries as the Regal Empress did. However, the Bahamas Celebration is currently operating for a new cruise line, Celebration Cruise Line
Celebration Cruise Line
Celebration Cruise Line is a budget cruise line that operates 2 day voyages out of Port of Palm Beach to Freeport, Bahamas. The company was founded sometime in late 2008, and began operations on March 9, 2009. The cruise line took over the operations of Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, which was part...
. The new cruise line is owned by the same company that had operated the Regal Empress.
The Regal Empress departed Freeport in early April to sail to her final destination in Alang. Her voyage took over three months to complete. During her voyage, she was renamed the Regal Tmpress . She was beached on 24 July 2009. In October, scrapping began starting from the bow of the ship. The demolition of the ship was completed in early 2010.