MS Knyaz Vladimir

MS Knyaz Vladimir is a 1971-built passenger vessel whose career has included car-ferry, cruise-ferry, and full-time cruise operations. It was launched as MV Eagle by Southern Ferries, a P&O Ferries subsidiary, for a planned Southampton–Lisbon–Tangier service. That route did not meet expectations, and the ship was sold in 1975 to Nouvelle Cie. de Paquebots, a subsidiary of Paquet Cruises. Renamed Azur, it then operated Mediterranean cruise and ferry voyages. A major transformation took place in 1981, when Paquet abandoned ferry operations and rebuilt the vessel as a dedicated cruise ship. The conversion added passenger cabins within the former car-deck areas and installed an additional swimming pool at the stern. The rebuild changed the ship from a mixed transport vessel into a more conventional leisure product, although its earlier ferry configuration remained an important part of its history. In 1987, Azur was sold to the Greek company Chandris Lines and entered service with Chandris Fantasy Cruises as The Azur. Its funnels were repainted in the company’s blue-and-white livery. The ship is regarded as the last surviving vessel ever owned by Chandris Lines and the last surviving member of a group of three closely related ships. The other two were the ferry Bolero, associated with Fred. Olsen & Co., and Scandinavian Star, which later became associated with a fatal fire disaster. As Chandris phased out the Fantasy Cruises brand during the 1990s, The Azur was sold in 1994 to Festival Cruises. Festival operated the ship on cruises from Venice and Genoa. The company’s bankruptcy in 2004 resulted in the vessel being arrested by authorities in Gibraltar. At the subsequent bankruptcy sale, the ship was acquired by Israel-based Mano Maritime for a reported price exceeding US$10 million, although that figure is not independently documented here with a dedicated financial source. Mano renamed the vessel Royal Iris and gave it a distinctive visual identity featuring a smiling yellow fish painted on both sides of the hull. In this period, the ship offered cruises in the Greek Islands and around Cyprus. Its onboard facilities included swimming pools, nightclubs, a discotheque, a sauna, sports facilities, a casino, a hairdressing salon, and a cinema. A small onboard fire occurred on 21 June 2005 while the ship was anchored off Samos; the crew extinguished it promptly. Mano Cruises ended the ship’s commercial service in late 2014. The vessel was renamed Roy Star and moved to Chalkida, Greece, on 6 November 2014, where it remained laid up. In 2017, reports indicated that it had been acquired for a proposed Black Sea cruise operation involving Sovfracht and Rosmorport. A new company, Black Sea Cruises, was established in Sochi, and the ship was associated with a Russian-flag operation planned to serve destinations including Sochi, Yalta, Sevastopol, Istanbul, and other Black Sea ports. Under that project it became known as Knyaz Vladimir. The ship’s later operational status is uncertain.

The vessel was launched in 1971 as MV Eagle by Southern Ferries, a subsidiary of P&O Ferries. It was designed for a combined car-ferry and cruise-ferry service linking Southampton, Lisbon, and Tangier over a six-day itinerary. The route was unsuccessful, and in 1975 the ship was sold to Nouvelle Cie. de Paquebots, part of Paquet Cruises. The new operator renamed it Azur, repainted the hull, and used it for Mediterranean ferry and cruise voyages. Paquet made the vessel a full-time cruise ship in 1981. The conversion inserted additional cabins into the former car-deck spaces and added a stern swimming pool. This was the most important structural change in the ship’s career, allowing it to be marketed primarily as a cruise product rather than as a vehicle carrier with passenger accommodation. In 1987, Chandris Lines purchased Azur. Through Chandris Fantasy Cruises, the ship entered service as The Azur and received the company’s blue funnel design with a white chi emblem. Chandris later reduced and phased out its Fantasy Cruises activities. In 1994, the vessel was sold to Festival Cruises, which operated it on Mediterranean voyages departing from Venice and Genoa. Festival Cruises entered bankruptcy in 2004, and the ship was arrested in Gibraltar. It was subsequently sold at the bankruptcy proceedings to Mano Maritime, an Israeli operator. Mano renamed it Royal Iris and applied a recognizable yellow-fish hull design. The ship then served Mano’s cruise program, making regular voyages in the Greek Islands and around Cyprus. Its leisure facilities included pools, night entertainment venues, a discotheque, sauna, sports areas, casino, hair salon, and cinema. On 21 June 2005, a small fire occurred while the ship was anchored near Samos. The crew brought it under control quickly. The vessel continued operating for several years, but Mano Cruises discontinued its service in late 2014. It was renamed Roy Star and taken to Chalkida on 6 November 2014 for lay-up. The ship’s later history shifted toward a proposed Russian Black Sea operation. In 2017, reports said that Sovfracht and Rosmorport planned to use the vessel in a joint venture serving ports such as Sochi, Yalta, Sevastopol, and Istanbul. The associated company, Black Sea Cruises, was based in Sochi, and the ship was reported to carry the Russian flag under the name Knyaz Vladimir. Available reference material does not establish a sustained subsequent commercial operation or a definitive current status. The ship is notable historically as the last surviving vessel owned by Chandris Lines and as the last surviving member of its three-ship sister group.

• 2017

  Proposed Black Sea cruise deployment

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was associated with a planned Black Sea cruise venture involving Sovfracht, Rosmorport, and Black Sea Cruises.

• 2014

  End of Mano Cruises service

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  Mano stopped operating the ship, renamed it Roy Star, and sent it to Chalkida for lay-up.

• 2005

  Fire incident off Samos

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  A small fire was extinguished by the crew while the ship was anchored off Samos.

• 2004

  Acquired by Mano Maritime

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  After Festival Cruises entered bankruptcy, Mano Maritime bought the vessel and renamed it Royal Iris.

• 1994

  Transferred to Festival Cruises

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  Festival Cruises acquired the vessel and operated it from Venice and Genoa.

• 1987

  Acquired by Chandris Lines

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  The ship joined Chandris Fantasy Cruises as The Azur.

• 1981

  Conversion into a cruise ship

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  Paquet removed the vessel from ferry operations and rebuilt it with additional cabins and a stern swimming pool.

• 1975

  Sale to Paquet Cruises

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  The ship was sold to Nouvelle Cie. de Paquebots, renamed Azur, and placed into Mediterranean service.

• 1971

  Launch as MV Eagle

  [1]MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org

  Southern Ferries launched the vessel for a planned Southampton–Lisbon–Tangier car and cruise ferry service.

A multipurpose passenger vessel repositioned over time from a car and cruise ferry into a leisure-focused cruise ship, and later marketed for regional Black Sea cruising.

• Passenger shipping · 1971

  Mediterranean ferry and cruise service

  During its early career as MV Eagle and later Azur, the vessel combined vehicle transport with passenger cruising. It was intended for international routes linking Britain, Portugal, and North Africa, then operated Mediterranean ferry and cruise voyages after its sale to Paquet Cruises.

• Cruise ship · 1981

  Dedicated cruise operation

  After the 1981 rebuild, the ship focused on cruise operations. Added cabins, a stern pool, and onboard entertainment spaces supported a leisure-oriented product rather than a mixed car-ferry service. Later operators used it for Mediterranean itineraries from ports including Venice, Genoa, and Greek destinations.

• Regional cruising · 2004

  Royal Iris cruises

  Under Mano Maritime, Royal Iris offered cruises through the Greek Islands and around Cyprus. The onboard proposition included swimming pools, nightlife venues, a casino, sauna, sports facilities, cinema, and personal-service amenities.

• Regional cruising · 2017

  Knyaz Vladimir Black Sea cruises

  A proposed Russian operation was intended to base the renamed Knyaz Vladimir in Sochi and offer round-trip Black Sea voyages calling at destinations including Yalta, Sevastopol, and Istanbul. The available material confirms the proposal but not a sustained operating history.

• 2017

  Planned deployment in the Black SeaStrategy

  Background

  A joint venture involving Sovfracht and Rosmorport sought to establish a Black Sea cruise service from Sochi.

  Action taken

  The vessel was associated with Black Sea Cruises and the Knyaz Vladimir name for proposed routes to ports including Yalta, Sevastopol, and Istanbul.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not confirm the extent or duration of commercial service under this plan.

  Source

• 2014

  Withdrawal from Mano Cruises serviceStrategy

  Background

  Mano Cruises ended the ship’s commercial operation after its period of Mediterranean cruising.

  Action taken

  The vessel was renamed Roy Star and moved to Chalkida for lay-up.

  Aftermath

  The ship was subsequently linked to a proposed Russian Black Sea cruise project.

  Source

• 2004

  Mano Maritime acquisition and Royal Iris rebrandingM&A

  Background

  Festival Cruises’ bankruptcy placed The Azur under arrest in Gibraltar and led to a bankruptcy sale.

  Action taken

  Mano Maritime acquired the vessel, renamed it Royal Iris, and introduced a yellow-fish hull identity.

  Aftermath

  The ship entered Mano’s Mediterranean cruise program, including Greek Islands and Cyprus itineraries.

  Source

• 1981

  Conversion from cruise ferry to dedicated cruise shipGeneration change

  Background

  Paquet Cruises decided to discontinue ferry services and reposition Azur as a full-time cruise vessel.

  Action taken

  The operator added cabins in the former car-deck areas and installed another swimming pool at the stern.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt ship continued in cruise service under later owners for decades.

  Source

1. 1MS Knyaz Vladimiren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mano Maritime Royal Iris ship pagemano.co.il