MS Windward

MS Windward was a cruise ship constructed in 1993 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Kloster Cruise and its Norwegian Cruise Line operation. Originally named Windward, she was the second of two sister ships built for the company and entered passenger service as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. The vessel was designed for cruise itineraries rather than for freight or naval use, and her early service included Caribbean voyages. A notable early charter took place in January 1995, when the ship hosted a five-day Caribbean cruise for approximately 350 leading salespeople from Prudential Assurance’s United Kingdom direct-sales force and their partners. The charter was promoted under the special theme “Salute to the Stars,” which was displayed in additional lettering on the ship’s hull and funnel for the event. In 1998 the ship underwent a major lengthening at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. The project inserted a roughly 130-foot, or 40-metre, midsection into the vessel and was accompanied by a name change to Norwegian Wind. The conversion expanded the ship’s accommodation and public-space capacity and kept her within Norwegian Cruise Line’s operating fleet during a period when cruise companies were modernizing and enlarging existing vessels. Ownership was transferred in 2004 to Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line’s parent company at the time, in preparation for a later fleet move. In April 2007 the ship entered Star Cruises service as SuperStar Aquarius. After refurbishment of public areas and adoption of a Star Cruises livery, she was initially based at Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal and subsequently operated from various ports in the Asia-Pacific region. Her repositioning reflected Star Cruises’ focus on regional cruising and the growing importance of Asian passenger markets. The ship remained in passenger service until the global COVID-19 disruption halted much of the cruise industry in 2020. In April of that year, SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini were leased to the Singapore government for use as accommodation facilities for foreign workers who had recovered from COVID-19. This temporary use came during a period when cruise vessels around the world were idled or repurposed because of restrictions on passenger operations. In January 2022, Genting Hong Kong, the parent company associated with Star Cruises, filed for bankruptcy after the prolonged shutdown of cruise operations. The insolvency and liquidation process led to the reported disposal of several Star Cruises vessels, including SuperStar Aquarius. The ship was renamed Arius and sold for demolition. After being laid up with SuperStar Gemini at Hambantota, Sri Lanka, the vessel departed for Alang, India, where it was beached for shipbreaking on 26 November 2022. The ship therefore ended its career as a scrapped vessel rather than returning to commercial cruising.

MS Windward was built in 1993 by Chantiers de l’Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire, France, for Kloster Cruise, the company operating Norwegian Cruise Line at the time. She was the second of two sister ships commissioned for the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. The vessel entered service as Windward and was used for passenger cruising, including itineraries in the Caribbean. In January 1995, Windward hosted a private five-day Caribbean charter arranged for Prudential Assurance’s United Kingdom direct-sales organization. The cruise was attended by approximately 350 leading salespeople and their partners. For the event, additional wording identifying the “Salute to the Stars” competition was placed beneath the ship’s normal name on the hull and funnel. The charter illustrates the ship’s use not only as a scheduled cruise vessel but also as a venue for corporate incentive travel. The ship received a substantial structural modification in 1998 at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. A midsection approximately 130 feet, or 40 metres, long was inserted into the hull. Following the lengthening, the vessel was renamed Norwegian Wind. The work extended the useful capacity of an existing cruise ship while preserving its role in Norwegian Cruise Line service. In 2004, ownership of Norwegian Wind was transferred to Star Cruises, the parent company connected with Norwegian Cruise Line. The transfer anticipated a later change in operating fleet. In April 2007, the vessel moved into Star Cruises service and was renamed SuperStar Aquarius. Star Cruises refurbished the public areas, applied its fleet livery and adapted the ship for the Asia-Pacific market. Hong Kong served as the vessel’s initial base, after which it operated from different ports in the region. SuperStar Aquarius continued to carry passengers until the worldwide cruise-industry shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. With normal cruising suspended, the ship was leased in April 2020 to the Singapore government, together with SuperStar Gemini, for accommodation for foreign workers who had recovered from COVID-19. The arrangement was part of the emergency repurposing of passenger ships during the pandemic. The vessel did not return to sustained passenger service. In January 2022, Genting Hong Kong, the parent company of Star Cruises, filed for bankruptcy following the financial effects of the prolonged suspension of cruise operations. The resulting liquidation process led to the reported sale of SuperStar Aquarius for scrap, along with other Star Cruises ships. The vessel was renamed Arius and was laid up with SuperStar Gemini at Hambantota, Sri Lanka, during 2022. Both ships later sailed to Alang, India, where the former MS Windward was beached for shipbreaking on 26 November 2022. Its career consequently spanned nearly three decades and several commercial identities: Windward, Norwegian Wind, SuperStar Aquarius and finally Arius.

• 2022

  Renamed Arius and sold for scrap

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  Following Genting Hong Kong’s bankruptcy and the liquidation of Star Cruises-related assets, the vessel was renamed Arius and sold for demolition.

• 2022

  Final beaching at Alang

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  After being laid up at Hambantota, Sri Lanka, the ship was beached at Alang, India, for shipbreaking on 26 November.

• 2020

  Pandemic accommodation service

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  The ship was leased to the Singapore government as accommodation for foreign workers who had recovered from COVID-19 after passenger cruising was suspended.

• 2007

  Entry into Star Cruises service

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  The ship became SuperStar Aquarius in April 2007 after refurbishment and adaptation for Star Cruises’ Asia-Pacific operations.

• 2004

  Ownership transferred to Star Cruises

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  Ownership moved to Star Cruises in preparation for the ship’s eventual transfer into that company’s operating fleet.

• 1998

  Lengthening and renaming

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  Lloyd Werft lengthened the ship by inserting a roughly 40-metre midsection. The vessel was renamed Norwegian Wind.

• 1995

  Prudential Assurance charter

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  Windward operated a five-day Caribbean charter for Prudential Assurance’s United Kingdom direct-sales force and their partners under the “Salute to the Stars” theme.

• 1993

  Completion and entry into service

  [1]MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org

  Chantiers de l’Atlantique completed the vessel in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Kloster Cruise. She entered Norwegian Cruise Line service as Windward.

A mid-sized international cruise vessel that transitioned from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Caribbean-oriented service to Star Cruises’ Asia-Pacific regional market.

• Cruise ship · 1993

  Windward

  The vessel’s original operating identity from its 1993 entry into service. Under Kloster Cruise and Norwegian Cruise Line, Windward served as a passenger cruise ship with Caribbean operations and was also available for private charter use.

• Cruise ship · 1998

  Norwegian Wind

  The name adopted after the ship underwent a major lengthening at Lloyd Werft in 1998. The insertion of a roughly 40-metre midsection expanded the existing vessel and allowed it to continue operating within Norwegian Cruise Line’s passenger fleet.

• Cruise ship · 2007

  SuperStar Aquarius

  The name used after the ship transferred to Star Cruises in 2007. Following refurbishment of public areas and a new fleet livery, SuperStar Aquarius was deployed from Hong Kong and other Asia-Pacific ports until the pandemic shutdown.

• Shipbreaking identity · 2022

  Arius

  The final name assigned to the former SuperStar Aquarius during the liquidation of Star Cruises-related assets. The ship was sold for scrap and beached at Alang in November 2022.

• 1995Salute to the Stars

  United Kingdom · Caribbean

  A private Prudential Assurance incentive cruise for approximately 350 leading members of the company’s United Kingdom direct-sales force and their partners. Windward operated a five-day Caribbean itinerary and displayed event-related wording on its hull and funnel.

  Outcome. The ship completed the charter as a corporate sales-force event.

  Source

• 2022

  Disposition through liquidationOther

  Background

  Genting Hong Kong filed for bankruptcy after the prolonged disruption to cruise operations, leading to the liquidation of associated cruise assets.

  Action taken

  The former SuperStar Aquarius was renamed Arius, sold for scrap and sent from Hambantota to Alang for demolition.

  Aftermath

  The ship was beached for shipbreaking on 26 November 2022, ending its nearly three-decade service history.

  Source

• 2020

  Temporary conversion to recovery accommodationOther

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic suspended normal cruise operations and created a need for additional accommodation facilities.

  Action taken

  SuperStar Aquarius was leased to the Singapore government for housing foreign workers who had recovered from COVID-19.

  Aftermath

  The ship did not return to sustained commercial cruising and was later sold for demolition during the liquidation of Star Cruises-related assets.

  Source

• 2007

  Transfer to Star Cruises’ Asia-Pacific fleetStrategy

  Background

  Star Cruises had acquired ownership in 2004 and prepared the vessel for a change in operating brand.

  Action taken

  The ship was renamed SuperStar Aquarius, refurbished in public areas and given Star Cruises’ fleet livery before deployment from Hong Kong and other regional ports.

  Aftermath

  The vessel operated as part of Star Cruises’ Asia-Pacific passenger network until the 2020 industry shutdown.

  Source

• 1998

  Lengthening and modernization of WindwardGeneration change

  Background

  The existing cruise ship was sent to Lloyd Werft as part of a substantial structural modification.

  Action taken

  A roughly 130-foot midsection was inserted, and the ship was renamed Norwegian Wind.

  Aftermath

  The vessel remained in Norwegian Cruise Line service under its new identity.

  Source

1. 1MS Windwarden.wikipedia.org