MV Boudicca

MV Boudicca was a Royal Viking Star-class cruise ship launched in 1972 and delivered in 1973 as Royal Viking Sky. Built at Wärtsilä’s Helsinki shipyard in Finland for Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap of Trondheim, she was one of three closely related ships created for the Royal Viking Line, a company associated with premium and luxury international cruising. Her sister ships were Royal Viking Star and Royal Viking Sea. The vessel entered service as Royal Viking Sky, initially offering long-distance luxury cruises. In 1982 she was lengthened at the A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, increasing her overall length from approximately 177.7 metres to 205.5 metres. This major conversion extended the ship’s useful commercial life and allowed her to remain competitive as cruise vessels grew larger and more elaborate. After Kloster Cruise acquired Royal Viking Line in 1984, the ship moved through a succession of operators and identities. In 1991 she joined Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet as Sunward. She briefly became Birka Queen for Baltic Sea cruises in 1992 before being chartered back to NCL under the Sunward name. In 1993 Princess Cruises chartered her as Golden Princess. After the arrival of newer ships, the Princess charter ended, and the vessel was transferred to Star Cruises, which renamed her SuperStar Capricorn. In 1998 Star Cruises chartered the ship to Hyundai Merchant Marine. Under the name Hyundai Keumgang, she operated cruises from South Korea toward North Korea. Hyundai’s cruise business failed in 2001, after which the ship returned to Star Cruises and resumed the SuperStar Capricorn name. Iberocruceros acquired her in 2004 and renamed her Grand Latino for Mediterranean operations from Spain. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines purchased the vessel in 2005 and renamed her Boudicca. Following replacement of her main engines at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg, she entered Fred. Olsen service in February 2006. In 2010 the company based her in Liverpool, where she replaced another Fred. Olsen ship, MV Black Prince. During her Fred. Olsen career, Boudicca served the company’s predominantly British market with regional and international cruises. The ship experienced a serious operational incident in January 2015 when an engine-room fire caused a loss of power off Morocco. Fred. Olsen reported that the vessel remained stable and that several engines were restored, although passenger accounts described darkness, listing, and disruption. Boudicca later received a substantial refurbishment at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg in 2018. In October 2019 she became the first passenger ship to use newly developed facilities at Walvis Bay, Namibia, after the port’s redevelopment. Fred. Olsen announced in August 2020 that Boudicca and sister ship Black Watch had been sold for use as accommodation vessels for shipyard workers in the Tuzla area of Turkey. The vessel was subsequently resold for recycling. She was beached at Aliağa, Turkey, on 17 May 2021 and dismantling began in July of that year. As a result, MV Boudicca is no longer an operating cruise ship and is best understood as the final commercial identity of a vessel that spent nearly five decades moving among international cruise brands and markets.

The ship that ultimately became MV Boudicca was ordered by Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap of Trondheim for the Royal Viking Line service. She was constructed by Wärtsilä at its Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, as one of three related Royal Viking Star-class vessels. The other two were Royal Viking Star, owned by Bergenske Dampskibsselskap of Bergen, and Royal Viking Sea, owned by A. F. Klaveness & Co of Oslo. The ship was launched from dry dock on 25 May 1972 and delivered to her owners on 5 June 1973. Named Royal Viking Sky, she entered the premium and luxury cruise market with itineraries around the world. In 1982 the ship was lengthened at the A.G. Weser shipyard in Bremerhaven, West Germany. The conversion extended the vessel from 177.70 metres to 205.47 metres and helped prolong her operating life as the cruise industry moved toward larger ships. Kloster Cruise acquired the entirety of Royal Viking Line in 1984. In 1991 Royal Viking Sky was transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line, also controlled by Kloster, and renamed Sunward. She was sold to Birka Cruise in 1992 and briefly operated as Birka Queen on Baltic Sea cruises during that year’s northern summer season. Later in 1992 she was chartered back to NCL and once again used the Sunward name. Princess Cruises chartered the vessel in 1993 and marketed her as Golden Princess. That arrangement ended after Princess received newer tonnage. The ship then moved to Star Cruises, which renamed her SuperStar Capricorn. In 1998 Star Cruises chartered her to Hyundai Merchant Marine for a South Korean cruise operation. Hyundai renamed her Hyundai Keumgang and used her for cruises from South Korea toward North Korea. The venture ended after Hyundai’s cruise business failed in 2001, and the vessel returned to Star Cruises as SuperStar Capricorn. Iberocruceros bought the ship in 2004 and renamed her Grand Latino. She operated Mediterranean cruises from Spain under that identity. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines acquired her in 2005, gave her the name Boudicca, and replaced her main engines at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg. She entered Fred. Olsen service in February 2006. In March 2010 she moved to a new home port in Liverpool, replacing the company’s MV Black Prince. Boudicca’s later history included both routine refurbishment and operational disruption. In January 2015 an engine-room fire off Morocco caused a loss of electrical power. Fred. Olsen reported that the ship was stable and that multiple engines had been restarted, although passengers described a difficult incident involving darkness and an apparent list. The vessel underwent a significant renovation at Blohm + Voss in 2018. In October 2019 Boudicca became the first passenger ship to call at redeveloped facilities in Walvis Bay, Namibia. The port marked the arrival with tugboats spraying water and officials presenting gifts to passengers. In August 2020 Fred. Olsen announced that Boudicca and Black Watch had been sold for accommodation use near Tuzla, Turkey. The ship was later resold for scrap, beached at Aliağa on 17 May 2021, and dismantled from July 2021 onward. Her career therefore ended not with another cruise operator but with recycling after nearly fifty years of service under seven principal names.

• 2021

  Beached and dismantled at Aliağa

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was beached at Aliağa on 17 May for recycling, with dismantling beginning in July.

• 2020

  Sold for accommodation use

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Fred. Olsen announced the sale of Boudicca for use as accommodation near Tuzla, Turkey.

• 2019

  First passenger ship at redeveloped Walvis Bay facilities

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship made the inaugural passenger call at newly developed Walvis Bay facilities in Namibia.

• 2018

  Major refurbishment

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Boudicca underwent substantial renovation at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg.

• 2015

  Engine-room fire off Morocco

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  A fire caused a temporary loss of power during a voyage off Morocco. The operator reported that the vessel remained stable and that several engines were restored.

• 2010

  Based in Liverpool

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Fred. Olsen relocated Boudicca to Liverpool, where she replaced MV Black Prince.

• 2006

  Entered Boudicca service

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  After main-engine replacement at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg, the ship entered service with Fred. Olsen in February.

• 2005

  Acquired by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Fred. Olsen purchased the ship and renamed her Boudicca.

• 2004

  Sold to Iberocruceros as Grand Latino

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Iberocruceros acquired the vessel, renamed her Grand Latino, and used her for Mediterranean cruising from Spain.

• 1998

  Entered Hyundai Keumgang service

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Star Cruises chartered the vessel to Hyundai Merchant Marine, which renamed her Hyundai Keumgang for cruises from South Korea toward North Korea.

• 1993

  Chartered to Princess Cruises

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship became Golden Princess under a Princess Cruises charter.

• 1992

  Brief Baltic operation as Birka Queen

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Birka Cruise operated the ship as Birka Queen for the 1992 northern summer season before she returned to charter service with NCL as Sunward.

• 1991

  Transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line as Sunward

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  Following Kloster Cruise’s acquisition of Royal Viking Line, the ship moved into the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet and received the Sunward name.

• 1982

  Lengthened in Bremerhaven

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  A major conversion at A.G. Weser extended the ship to approximately 205.47 metres.

• 1973

  Delivered to Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was delivered on 5 June and entered international luxury cruising as Royal Viking Sky.

• 1972

  Launched as Royal Viking Sky

  [1]MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was launched from dry dock at Wärtsilä’s Helsinki shipyard on 25 May as one of three ships designed for Royal Viking Line service.

A long-serving, internationally deployed cruise vessel that began as a luxury Royal Viking ship and later served a succession of mainstream, regional, and premium cruise operators.

• Luxury cruise ship · 1973

  Royal Viking Sky

  The vessel’s original identity from 1973. As Royal Viking Sky, she operated international luxury cruises for Royal Viking Line and established the ship’s early reputation in premium ocean travel.

• Cruise ship · 1991

  Sunward

  The name used during the ship’s periods with Norwegian Cruise Line. She first adopted it after transfer from Royal Viking service in 1991 and later returned to it after a short charter to Birka Cruise.

• Cruise ship · 1993

  Golden Princess

  The identity used during a Princess Cruises charter beginning in 1993. The ship remained in the Princess fleet until newer vessels led the company to end the charter.

• Cruise ship

  SuperStar Capricorn

  Star Cruises’ name for the vessel. She used this identity before and after the Hyundai Merchant Marine charter for Korean and North Korean route operations.

• Regional cruise ship · 1998

  Hyundai Keumgang

  The name used from 1998 during Hyundai Merchant Marine’s cruise venture. The ship operated from South Korea toward North Korea until Hyundai’s cruise operations failed in 2001.

• Mediterranean cruise ship · 2004

  Grand Latino

  Iberocruceros’ identity for the vessel after its 2004 acquisition. Under this name she served Mediterranean itineraries departing from Spain.

• Cruise ship · 2006

  Boudicca

  Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ final passenger-service identity for the ship. Boudicca operated international and regional cruises for the company from 2006 until her sale for accommodation use in 2020.

• 2021

  Final sale and recyclingOther

  Background

  The former cruise ship had reached the end of its accommodation use and was sold for demolition.

  Action taken

  Boudicca was beached at Aliağa, Turkey, on 17 May and entered the ship-recycling process.

  Aftermath

  Dismantling began in July 2021, ending the ship’s nearly five-decade operational history.

  Source

• 2020

  Sale for accommodation useM&A

  Background

  After a long passenger career and amid a major change in the vessel’s commercial role, Fred. Olsen decided to dispose of Boudicca.

  Action taken

  The ship was sold with sister vessel Black Watch for use as accommodation for shipyard workers near Tuzla, Turkey.

  Aftermath

  The vessel ceased cruise operations and was subsequently resold for recycling in Turkey.

  Source

• 2018

  Significant refurbishmentGeneration change

  Background

  Fred. Olsen continued investing in the maintenance and guest-facing condition of the older vessel.

  Action taken

  Boudicca underwent significant renovation at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg.

  Aftermath

  The ship returned to service before later being withdrawn and sold during the 2020 fleet transition.

  Source

• 2010

  Relocation to LiverpoolStrategy

  Background

  Fred. Olsen adjusted its deployment strategy and sought a new base for Boudicca in the United Kingdom.

  Action taken

  The company moved the ship to Liverpool, where she replaced MV Black Prince.

  Aftermath

  Liverpool became an important operating base for the ship’s later Fred. Olsen career.

  Source

• 2005

  Fred. Olsen acquisition and renamingM&A

  Background

  After operating under several cruise brands, the ship was acquired by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for continued passenger service.

  Action taken

  Fred. Olsen purchased the vessel, renamed her Boudicca, and arranged main-engine replacement at Blohm + Voss.

  Aftermath

  She entered the Fred. Olsen fleet in February 2006 and remained there for approximately fourteen years.

  Source

• 1982

  Lengthening and modernizationGeneration change

  Background

  The aging Royal Viking Sky required a substantial physical upgrade to remain viable in the expanding international cruise market.

  Action taken

  The ship was lengthened at A.G. Weser in Bremerhaven from about 177.70 metres to 205.47 metres.

  Aftermath

  The conversion extended the vessel’s service life and enabled continued operation through multiple later ownership changes.

  Source

1. 1MV Boudiccaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – Boudiccafredolsencruises.com