New Flamenco (ship)
Encyclopedia
The Spirit of London was an Italian built cruise ship put into service in 1972. After being inactive for almost two years the vessel was sold for scrap.
as Seaward. The shipyard, Cantieri Navali del Tirreno & Riuniti, encountered financial troubles and was consequently taken over by the IRI Group, who canceled the building contract of Seaward. After much protest from NCL the IRI Group agreed to partially complete the vessel. Despite this Norwegian Caribbean sold the hull to P&O
, who would complete the Seaward as Spirit of London.
Due to being originally ordered for Norwegian Caribbean Line the Spirit of London had a sister ship in the NCL fleet, the Southward. Both vessels superstructure
s are identical. Although Southward is smaller in tonnage then Spirit of London, both are 537 feet long.
and transferred the Spirit of London to their fleet, with Princess operating her as Sun Princess, alongside the Island Princess
and Pacific Princess
.
1988 saw the sale of the Sun Princess by P&O to Premier Cruises, where it was initially named Majestic, becoming the Starship Majestic in 1989. In 1994, she was purchased by CTC and was renamed the Southern Cross. She was renamed again in 1998 when Festival Cruises began operating her as the Flamenco. When Festival Cruises
collapsed in 2004, she was sold for $12.25 million at a bankruptcy auction to Cruise Elysia, who renamed her New Flamenco. In 2007 Club Cruise
acquired New Flamenco.
until they failed in late 2008. The vessel was sold for scrap after over a year of lay up off Singapore
. However, as of September, 2011, she is still in lay-up off Singapore in poor condition.
, as well as in Herbie Goes Bananas
(1980). She was also featured in at least one episode of The Love Boat
involving a competition between Captain Stubing of the Pacific Princess and the captain of the Sun Princess.
Delayed construction
The vessel was originally ordered in 1970 by Norwegian Caribbean LineNorwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is a company operating cruise ships, headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. It began operations in 1966 under the name Norwegian Caribbean Line. The company is best known for its Freestyle Cruising concept, which means that there are no set times or...
as Seaward. The shipyard, Cantieri Navali del Tirreno & Riuniti, encountered financial troubles and was consequently taken over by the IRI Group, who canceled the building contract of Seaward. After much protest from NCL the IRI Group agreed to partially complete the vessel. Despite this Norwegian Caribbean sold the hull to P&O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
, who would complete the Seaward as Spirit of London.
Due to being originally ordered for Norwegian Caribbean Line the Spirit of London had a sister ship in the NCL fleet, the Southward. Both vessels superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
s are identical. Although Southward is smaller in tonnage then Spirit of London, both are 537 feet long.
History
In 1974, P&O bought Princess CruisesPrincess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
and transferred the Spirit of London to their fleet, with Princess operating her as Sun Princess, alongside the Island Princess
Discovery (cruise ship)
MV Discovery is a cruise ship, currently in operation with Voyages of Discovery-History:...
and Pacific Princess
Pacific (ship)
MS Pacific is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Brazil-based Viagens CVC. She was built in 1971 by Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany as Sea Venture for Flagship Cruises. She operated cruises between the USA and Bermuda, which had been settled by the survivors of the original Sea Venture...
.
1988 saw the sale of the Sun Princess by P&O to Premier Cruises, where it was initially named Majestic, becoming the Starship Majestic in 1989. In 1994, she was purchased by CTC and was renamed the Southern Cross. She was renamed again in 1998 when Festival Cruises began operating her as the Flamenco. When Festival Cruises
Festival Cruises
Festival Cruises was a Greece-based cruise line that operated between 1994 and 2004. It was founded in 1992 by the Greek entrepreneur George Poulides using second-hand ships...
collapsed in 2004, she was sold for $12.25 million at a bankruptcy auction to Cruise Elysia, who renamed her New Flamenco. In 2007 Club Cruise
Club Cruise
Club Cruise was a Holland-based cruise ship company, that charterede vessels to other operators, including Transocean Tours and Phoenix Reisen. The company had also operated ships under its own brands, first in 1999 on short cruises from the Netherlands and during 2008 in the United Kingdom cruise...
acquired New Flamenco.
End of service
Club Cruise had New Flamenco serve as a hotel ship in New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
until they failed in late 2008. The vessel was sold for scrap after over a year of lay up off Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. However, as of September, 2011, she is still in lay-up off Singapore in poor condition.
In popular culture
The ship appeared in the 1975 Columbo episode "Troubled Waters", guest starring Robert VaughnRobert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
, as well as in Herbie Goes Bananas
Herbie Goes Bananas
Herbie Goes Bananas is the fourth of a series of films made by Walt Disney Productions starring Herbie – the white Volkswagen racing Beetle with a mind of its own. The film stars former Mel Brooks collaborators Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman....
(1980). She was also featured in at least one episode of The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
involving a competition between Captain Stubing of the Pacific Princess and the captain of the Sun Princess.