Ocean Countess

Ocean Countess was a cruise ship originally built as Cunard Countess for Cunard Line. Completed in 1976 after construction and fitting-out work in Denmark and Italy, she was designed for the contemporary premium cruise market and became particularly associated with Caribbean itineraries. Her near-sister ship was Cunard Princess, completed the following year. During her early career, the vessel operated from San Juan and later from other Caribbean ports, serving North American and British and European passengers with a combination of private passenger cabins, public rooms, entertainment and warm-weather deck facilities. The ship entered commercial service in the Caribbean in August 1976 after being christened at San Juan by Janet Armstrong, the wife of astronaut Neil Armstrong. For approximately two decades she was a familiar presence in the Caribbean and the middle Atlantic. Her regular calls at Grenada during the island's revolutionary period from 1979 to 1983 were unusual and helped maintain a tourist connection during a politically difficult period. In 1982, following the Falklands War, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence chartered the vessel for six months to support personnel movement between Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands while Port Stanley Airport was being restored. The charter also carried relatives and friends of British personnel who had died in the conflict on a commemorative voyage. After returning to commercial cruising, the ship changed registry to Nassau in 1990. In 1996, before Carnival Corporation's later acquisition of Cunard Line, she left Cunard ownership and became Awani Dream II under Awani Cruises. Financial problems at Awani led to a further transfer in 1998, when Royal Olympic Cruises operated her as Olympic Countess. In 2004, Maximus Navigation Ltd, a subsidiary of Majestic International Cruises, purchased the vessel and renamed her Ocean Countess. She was registered in Madeira on Portugal's International Shipping Register. The ship subsequently worked through several charter and operating arrangements. Louis Cruise Lines chartered her as Ruby in 2007, although she resumed the Ocean Countess name later that year. From Piraeus, she operated Greek and Turkish cruises calling at destinations such as Mykonos, Patmos, Crete, Santorini and Kusadasi. In 2009, Spanish operator Quail Cruises leased the vessel for Mediterranean sailings from Valencia. A substantial refurbishment preceded her 2010 charter to Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which used her alongside Marco Polo on cruise programs departing from British ports. The refit refreshed passenger areas with British-themed names and décor and added flat-screen satellite televisions to cabins. Ocean Countess left the Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet in late 2012 after a final 13-night Canary Islands and Madeira voyage ending in Barcelona. She was laid up at Chalkis, Greece, pending a possible return to service. On 30 November 2013, a fire in the central superstructure caused extensive damage from the waterline to the funnel. The five caretaker crew members were accounted for. The damaged ship was sold for demolition, towed from Chalkis on 7 March 2014 and scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey. Ocean Countess is therefore no longer an operating brand or vessel, but her career illustrates the long commercial life of a mid-sized cruise ship that passed through multiple owners, names, flags and charter markets.

The vessel that became Ocean Countess was constructed in Denmark during 1974 and 1975 for Cunard Line. Final fitting-out took place at the INMA shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, where trials were conducted before completion in July 1976. Initially registered in Southampton, the ship sailed to her Caribbean base through Barcelona and Antigua. A partial charter group traveled on the delivery voyage, and the ship was formally christened at San Juan shortly before entering full commercial service in August 1976. As Cunard Countess, she was marketed as a contemporary premium cruise ship. Her facilities and entertainment offering appealed to North American as well as British and European travelers, and she became strongly identified with Caribbean cruising. San Juan was an important base, followed later by calls and departures involving Miami, Santo Domingo and other regional ports. The ship was also notable for maintaining calls at Grenada during the island's revolutionary period between 1979 and 1983, when many tourism operations faced difficult conditions. The vessel's career temporarily moved beyond leisure cruising after the Falklands War. In October 1982, the British Ministry of Defence chartered her for six months to help transport personnel between Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands while Port Stanley Airport was being reinstated. A commemorative round voyage also carried families and friends of British personnel who had died in the conflict. At the conclusion of the charter, Cunard assigned the ship's refurbishment to Malta Shipyards, a decision reported at the time as costing approximately £2 million, before she returned to Caribbean cruising in July 1983. In 1990, her registry changed from Southampton to Nassau. In 1996, Cunard Countess was sold to Awani Cruises and renamed Awani Dream II. Awani subsequently encountered financial difficulties, and in 1998 the ship moved to Royal Olympic Cruises, becoming Olympic Countess under the Greek flag. Maximus Navigation Ltd, a subsidiary of Majestic International Cruises, acquired her in 2004 and gave her the Ocean Countess name. She was registered in Madeira under Portugal's International Shipping Register. The later part of her working life was defined by charters and changes of operator. Louis Cruise Lines used her as Ruby in 2007, with the Ocean Countess name restored in December of that year. Her Greek-based itineraries included Piraeus, Mykonos, Patmos, Crete, Santorini and Kusadasi. Quail Cruises leased her in 2009 for Mediterranean cruises from Valencia. In 2010, after refurbishment, she joined Cruise & Maritime Voyages for an extensive program from British ports, operating alongside Marco Polo. Passenger accommodations and public areas received British-themed names and treatment, while cabins were equipped with flat-screen televisions and satellite channels. The ship left the CMV fleet in late 2012 and was laid up at Chalkis in anticipation of a possible return to service. That prospect ended after a major fire on 30 November 2013 damaged the central superstructure. All five caretaker crew members were accounted for, but the damage extended from the waterline to the funnel. Ocean Countess was sold for demolition, towed from Chalkis on 7 March 2014 and ultimately scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey.

• 2014

  Demolition

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was towed to Aliaga and scrapped.

• 2013

  Lay-up fire

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  A fire at Chalkis caused severe structural damage while the vessel was laid up.

• 2012

  Retirement from active service

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  Ocean Countess left the CMV fleet after a final Canary Islands and Madeira voyage.

• 2010

  Cruise & Maritime Voyages refurbishment

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  Following refurbishment, the ship joined Cruise & Maritime Voyages for cruises from British ports.

• 2007

  Ruby charter

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  Louis Cruise Lines chartered the vessel as Ruby; the Ocean Countess name returned later in the year.

• 2004

  Renamed Ocean Countess

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  Maximus Navigation Ltd, a Majestic International Cruises subsidiary, acquired the ship and renamed her Ocean Countess.

• 1998

  Royal Olympic Cruises operation

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  After Awani Cruises experienced financial difficulties, the ship entered Royal Olympic Cruises service as Olympic Countess.

• 1996

  Sale to Awani Cruises

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel left Cunard service and was renamed Awani Dream II.

• 1982

  Falklands support charter

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence chartered the ship for personnel movements between Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands.

• 1976

  Completion and Cunard entry

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  After fitting-out and trials in La Spezia, the ship was completed and entered service as Cunard Countess from San Juan.

• 1974

  Construction begins

  [1]Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the future Cunard Countess began in Denmark.

A mid-sized, premium-oriented cruise ship positioned around traditional onboard hospitality, entertainment and destination-focused itineraries rather than the resort-scale attractions of later mega-cruise vessels.

• Cruise ship · 1976

  Ocean Countess

  A mid-sized cruise ship with approximately 800 passenger berths in about 400 cabins and a crew complement of roughly 350. The vessel had seven passenger decks, additional crew decks, private facilities in all cabins, deluxe rooms and suites, standard interior and exterior cabins, teak-covered outdoor areas, a lido deck and a sun terrace. Some cabins could be adapted for guests with special requirements. The ship operated under several names and ownership arrangements during its career.

• 2013

  Disposition after fire damageOther

  Background

  The ship was laid up at Chalkis while a possible return to service was considered.

  Action taken

  After a major fire damaged the central superstructure, the vessel was sold to a demolition yard.

  Aftermath

  Ocean Countess was towed to Aliaga and scrapped in 2014.

  Source

• 2010

  Refurbishment for British-port cruisingStrategy

  Background

  Cruise & Maritime Voyages added Ocean Countess to an expanding program serving passengers from British ports.

  Action taken

  The ship was refurbished with British-themed public-room and accommodation treatments and new flat-screen satellite televisions in cabins.

  Aftermath

  She operated extensive CMV cruises alongside Marco Polo until leaving the fleet in late 2012.

  Source

• 2004

  Acquisition by Majestic International Cruises subsidiaryM&A

  Background

  After operating for Awani Cruises and Royal Olympic Cruises, the vessel changed ownership again.

  Action taken

  Maximus Navigation Ltd purchased the ship and renamed her Ocean Countess.

  Aftermath

  The ship entered Majestic International Cruises' ownership structure and continued operating through later charter arrangements.

  Source

• 1982

  Temporary conversion to a Ministry of Defence transport roleStrategy

  Background

  Following the Falklands War, transport capacity was needed between Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands while Port Stanley Airport was being restored.

  Action taken

  The Ministry of Defence chartered Cunard Countess for six months, including a commemorative voyage for relatives and friends of British personnel who died in the conflict.

  Aftermath

  The ship returned to Caribbean cruising in July 1983 after refurbishment work.

  Source

1. 1Ocean Countessen.wikipedia.org