Transocean Tours
Encyclopedia
Transocean Tours is a Germany
-based cruise line
that operates three ocean-going cruise ship
s on the German and British
markets, as well as five river cruise ships
on the German market. The company was formed in 1954 and first begun operating cruise ships in 1972, using tonnage chartered from the Soviet Union
-based Baltic Shipping Company.
Transocean Tours Turistik was formed in West Germany
in 1954. In 1967 the company became the West German agents of the Soviet Union
-based Baltic Shipping Company, marketing cruises on the and MS Estonia 1960. In 1972 Transocean Tours chartered the Estonia for full-time German market cruising. She was subsequently followed by a large number of ships, including river cruise ships, chartered from both the Baltic Shipping Company and the Black Sea Shipping Company. Until the 1990s the chartered ships retained their Soviet funnel colours even when in Transocean service. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union the company begun chartering ships from other companies, starting with MS Calypso in 1994. At the same ships in Transocean service started to be painted in the company's white/blue livery.
Between 1997 and 2001, the company fleet consisted of just two ships, the ocean-going cruise ship and the river cruise ship RMS Moldavia. In 2001, the river cruise ship MS Ukraina re-joined the fleet, followed by the Astors near-sister in 2002. Another river cruise ship joined the fleet in 2005, while was chartened in 2006 for British-market cruising. In 2008 the Arielle was replaced by .
In 2008, Transocean Tours stated the charter of the Astoria would be terminated in 2009, and that the company are looking for another ship to replace her. At present (as of July 2009) the liner is in the Coaling Island port of Gibraltar.
On 4 September 2010, Transocean Tours announced that the Germany-based line will be going through a restructuring. This restructuring is also known in the U.S. as Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-based cruise line
Cruise line
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the ship's captain,...
that operates three ocean-going cruise ship
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...
s on the German and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
markets, as well as five river cruise ships
River cruise
A River cruise is a voyage along inland waterways, often stopping at multiple ports along the way. Since cities and towns often grew up around rivers, river cruise ships frequently dock in the center of cities and towns.- Descriptions :...
on the German market. The company was formed in 1954 and first begun operating cruise ships in 1972, using tonnage chartered from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-based Baltic Shipping Company.
History
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in 1954. In 1967 the company became the West German agents of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-based Baltic Shipping Company, marketing cruises on the and MS Estonia 1960. In 1972 Transocean Tours chartered the Estonia for full-time German market cruising. She was subsequently followed by a large number of ships, including river cruise ships, chartered from both the Baltic Shipping Company and the Black Sea Shipping Company. Until the 1990s the chartered ships retained their Soviet funnel colours even when in Transocean service. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union the company begun chartering ships from other companies, starting with MS Calypso in 1994. At the same ships in Transocean service started to be painted in the company's white/blue livery.
Between 1997 and 2001, the company fleet consisted of just two ships, the ocean-going cruise ship and the river cruise ship RMS Moldavia. In 2001, the river cruise ship MS Ukraina re-joined the fleet, followed by the Astors near-sister in 2002. Another river cruise ship joined the fleet in 2005, while was chartened in 2006 for British-market cruising. In 2008 the Arielle was replaced by .
In 2008, Transocean Tours stated the charter of the Astoria would be terminated in 2009, and that the company are looking for another ship to replace her. At present (as of July 2009) the liner is in the Coaling Island port of Gibraltar.
On 4 September 2010, Transocean Tours announced that the Germany-based line will be going through a restructuring. This restructuring is also known in the U.S. as Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
Fleet
| Ship | Built | In service | Chartered from | Tonnage | Flag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
1965 | 1979—1984 2008 onwards |
Baltic Shipping Company Global Maritime |
|
 The Bahamas |
|
| |
1987 | 1988—1990 2001 onwards |
American Black Sea Line American Black Sea Line The American Black Sea Line was a shipping company based in the United States which operated from 1921 until 1923.The company was founded in 1921 by Stephen D. Stephendis.Its fleet included:... Astor Shipping/Premicon |
The Bahamas |
||
| 1981 | 2002—2009 | 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... |
The Bahamas |
Entered service in 2009 as MS Saga Pearl II with Saga Cruises Saga Cruises Saga Cruises, also known as Saga Holidays is a British based cruise line, a division of the Saga Group. Only passengers of 50 years of age or older are allowed on board Saga's vessels as they are designed specifically for this demographic's needs.... . |