MS Jubilee

MS Jubilee was a cruise ship constructed in Malmö, Sweden, in 1986 for Carnival Cruise Line. It was the second of three vessels in Carnival's Holiday class, following Holiday and preceding Celebration. Although the ship was associated with several different commercial identities during its career, the vessel itself remained the same underlying product: a mid-sized passenger liner designed for leisure cruising and capable of being redeployed among regional markets. During its Carnival career, Jubilee operated from a number of North American ports. Its early and best-known itineraries included cruises from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera, with calls at Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlán. In 1989 it also operated seasonal voyages from Vancouver to Alaska and Hawaii. Later deployments included Caribbean cruises from Miami and a Miami-to-San Diego itinerary through the Panama Canal. Jacksonville eventually became the ship's final Carnival homeport. Its last passenger voyage for Carnival departed on 26 August 2004 for Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas. In 2004 the ship moved to P&O Cruises Australia and was renamed Pacific Sun. It reached Australia in November of that year and began year-round service from Sydney to the South Pacific and Tropical North Queensland. From late 2007, Brisbane became its base, making the ship the largest year-round liner then homeported in Queensland. P&O gave Pacific Sun a multimillion-dollar refurbishment and repainted it in the company's white livery. The work also included changes to public amenities and a substantial alteration to the funnel, removing elements of Carnival's distinctive winged design rather than merely repainting them. Pacific Sun's Australian service included a notable storm incident in late July 2008, when 42 passengers were injured. Video footage of the event later circulated online and brought renewed public attention to the incident. P&O announced in December 2011 that the vessel would leave its fleet in July 2012. Its farewell voyage was an eight-day round trip from Brisbane calling at Nouméa, Lifou, and Port Vila, with additional days at sea. Across its P&O service, the ship reportedly completed more than 300 cruises, spent 2,707 nights at sea, and carried an estimated 586,000 passengers. The ship was subsequently sold to Chinese interests and entered service for the newly established HNA Cruises operation. Renamed Henna in September 2012, it began its first voyage under Chinese ownership on 26 January 2013, sailing from Sanya to Vietnam. HNA presented the vessel as a significant entry into mainland China's cruise market. At that stage it was described as a 47,000-ton-class liner with 739 passenger cabins and capacity for up to 1,965 passengers, including suites, ocean-view rooms, and interior staterooms. Its itineraries included Vietnam and South Korea. The HNA period was short-lived. In September 2013, the ship was detained at Jeju, South Korea, after Jiangsu Shagang International sought its seizure in connection with a dispute involving a Chinese shipping service company. Passengers remained aboard for several days before HNA arranged for the 1,659 travelers to return to China by air on Hainan Airlines. HNA Cruises ended its cruise-ship operation in November 2015 after approximately three years of regional losses. Henna was then laid up and offered for sale, reportedly at an asking price of US$35 million. With no buyer found, the vessel was sold for demolition in Alang, India. It arrived under the shortened name Hen and was photographed there on 1 May 2017. Breaking began by late June and was completed before the end of 2017. MS Jubilee therefore represents a long-lived but ultimately discontinued cruise-ship platform whose commercial identity changed from Carnival's Jubilee to P&O Australia's Pacific Sun and finally HNA's Henna.

MS Jubilee was built by Kockums Varv in Malmö, Sweden, and entered service in 1986 as the second ship of Carnival Cruise Line's Holiday class. The class was conceived for contemporary leisure cruising and gave Carnival a set of closely related vessels for deployment in different regional markets. Jubilee initially served Carnival's North American network, particularly the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. Its later Carnival assignments broadened to Alaska and Hawaii from Vancouver, the Caribbean from Miami, and a Panama Canal route linking Miami with San Diego. Jacksonville became its final Carnival base, and the ship completed its last Carnival passenger voyage on 26 August 2004. The ship then transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and received the name Pacific Sun. It arrived in Australia on 9 November 2004 and operated year-round itineraries from Sydney to the South Pacific and Tropical North Queensland. From late 2007, it was based in Brisbane, where it became the largest year-round liner homeported in Queensland at the time. P&O carried out a multimillion-dollar refurbishment, introducing updated amenities and an all-white exterior scheme. The funnel was materially redesigned after the ship left Carnival, including removal of parts of the former Carnival wing and shielding arrangement. A storm in late July 2008 resulted in injuries to 42 passengers. The incident attracted broader attention after video footage was posted online approximately two years later. P&O announced in December 2011 that Pacific Sun would depart its fleet in July 2012. The ship's farewell cruise left Brisbane and visited Nouméa, Lifou, and Port Vila. P&O's reported operating totals were more than 300 cruises, 2,707 nights at sea, and approximately 586,000 passengers. Following its P&O career, the vessel was sold to Chinese interests and joined HNA Cruises. It was renamed Henna on 13 September 2012 and made its first voyage for the new operator on 26 January 2013, sailing from Sanya to Vietnam. HNA positioned the ship as an important early mainland Chinese cruise product. The vessel was described as having 739 cabins and maximum capacity for 1,965 passengers, with suites, ocean-view staterooms, and interior rooms. Its routes included Vietnam and South Korea. In September 2013, Henna was detained at Jeju after Jiangsu Shagang International sought seizure of the vessel in a commercial dispute. The ship remained held for several days, after which HNA arranged air travel for the 1,659 passengers aboard. HNA ended its cruise operation in November 2015 after losses in the regional market. Henna was laid up and marketed for sale, reportedly for US$35 million, but no buyer emerged. It was ultimately sold to a demolition yard in Alang, India, renamed Hen, and photographed there on 1 May 2017. Scrapping began by late June and was completed before the end of that year.

• 2017

  Scrapped in India

  [1]MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org

  After failing to attract a buyer, the vessel was sent to Alang, India, and dismantled during 2017.

• 2013

  Began Chinese-market service

  [1]MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org

  Henna made its first HNA Cruises voyage from Sanya to Vietnam on 26 January.

• 2012

  Entered HNA Cruises ownership

  [1]MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org

  After leaving P&O Cruises Australia, the ship was sold to Chinese interests and subsequently renamed Henna.

• 2007

  Based in Brisbane

  [1]MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Sun was based in Brisbane from late 2007 and operated year-round Queensland and South Pacific cruises.

• 2004

  Transferred to P&O Cruises Australia

  [1]MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org

  After completing its Carnival career, the vessel moved to P&O Cruises Australia and became Pacific Sun.

• 1989

  Expanded Carnival deployment

  [1]MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org

  The ship operated cruises from Vancouver to Alaska and Hawaii, adding seasonal Pacific Northwest service to its North American network.

• 1986

  Built for Carnival Cruise Line

  [1]MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org

  Kockums Varv completed the ship in Malmö, Sweden, for Carnival Cruise Line as the second vessel in the Holiday class.

A mid-sized, mass-market leisure cruise ship repositioned across North American, Australian, and Chinese regional cruise markets during its operating life.

• Cruise ship · 1986

  Carnival Jubilee

  The vessel's original commercial identity under Carnival Cruise Line. It served a broad range of leisure itineraries, including Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles, Pacific voyages from Vancouver, Caribbean trips from Miami, and a Panama Canal route to San Diego.

• Cruise ship · 2004

  Pacific Sun

  The ship's P&O Cruises Australia identity from 2004 to 2012. Following refurbishment, Pacific Sun operated year-round from Sydney and later Brisbane, serving the South Pacific and Tropical North Queensland.

• Cruise ship · 2012

  Henna

  The vessel's final major operating identity, used by HNA Cruises from 2012. It sailed from Sanya to Vietnam and South Korea and was marketed as a large early entrant in mainland China's cruise market.

• 2015

  HNA exits cruise operationsStrategy

  Background

  HNA Cruises ended its cruise-ship operation after reporting several years of losses in the regional market.

  Action taken

  The company laid up Henna and offered the ship for sale.

  Aftermath

  No buyer was found, and the vessel was later sold for dismantling in India.

  Reported asking price. US$35 million (2015)

  Source

• 2012

  Repositioning into the Chinese cruise marketStrategy

  Background

  The former Pacific Sun was acquired for a newly formed Chinese cruise operation.

  Action taken

  HNA Cruises renamed the vessel Henna and based its initial service around Sanya and regional Asian destinations.

  Aftermath

  The ship operated voyages to Vietnam and South Korea before HNA withdrew from cruise operations in 2015.

  Source

• 2011

  P&O retirement decisionStrategy

  Background

  P&O Cruises Australia announced that Pacific Sun would leave its fleet in July 2012.

  Action taken

  P&O scheduled a farewell itinerary from Brisbane before removing the ship from service.

  Aftermath

  The vessel was sold to Chinese interests and subsequently entered HNA Cruises service.

  Source

• 2004

  Transfer from Carnival to P&O Cruises AustraliaM&A

  Background

  Carnival Cruise Line ended the ship's original commercial deployment after its final Carnival passenger cruise.

  Action taken

  The vessel was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed Pacific Sun.

  Aftermath

  It entered year-round Australian service from Sydney and later Brisbane after receiving a substantial refurbishment.

  Source

1. 1MS Jubileeen.wikipedia.org