Celestyal Journey

Celestyal Journey is a cruise ship completed in 1994 for Holland America Line. The vessel was constructed by Fincantieri as the third ship in Holland America’s Statendam, or S class, and entered service under the name Ryndam. Its career has included several ownership and operating changes across the cruise industry. After approximately nine years with Holland America Line, the ship moved within the Carnival group to P&O Cruises Australia, where it was extensively refurbished and renamed Pacific Aria. In that role it was positioned for the Australian cruise market and operated alongside the similarly transferred Pacific Eden. The vessel’s time as Ryndam included multiple refurbishment periods and several operational incidents. It underwent major work at Grand Bahama Shipyard in 2006 and again in 2010. Between 2007 and 2008, several voyages were affected by norovirus outbreaks, leading to vessel returns, disinfection work, and deep-cleaning procedures. In 2010, an intoxicated passenger released the ship’s stern anchor while it was in international waters; no damage was reported. In 2015, two passengers were found dead in a stateroom in circumstances treated as a suspected murder-suicide, although the formal cause was not immediately clear. A further norovirus outbreak caused a 2015 itinerary to end early and was followed by a deep clean in Harwich. Holland America announced in 2014 that the ship would leave its fleet after the 2015 season. It then sailed to Singapore for a substantial conversion at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard. The work included extensive interior and exterior changes, and the ship was renamed Pacific Aria. P&O Cruises Australia presented the vessel as one of two new additions to its fleet, alongside Pacific Eden. Both ships were renamed in Sydney on 25 November 2015, with Australian singer Jessica Mauboy serving as Pacific Aria’s godmother. The ceremony was promoted through Twitter and the godmothers’ social-media channels. Pacific Aria was laid up in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. A planned transfer to Cruise & Maritime Voyages had been announced in 2019. Under that proposal, the ship would have been delivered in 2021, renamed Ida Pfeiffer after the Austrian explorer, refurbished, and operated through CMV’s TransOcean Tours brand. The plan did not proceed after Cruise & Maritime Voyages entered administration in July 2020. Instead, the ship was sold to Seajets and renamed Aegean Goddess. While laid up at Heraklion, the vessel was associated with the death of a Greek crew member in May 2022. In 2023, the ship was sold to Celestyal Cruises and received its current name, Celestyal Journey. Celestyal undertook an extensive refurbishment and technical overhaul reported at approximately $21 million, preparing the vessel for renewed passenger service. The ship has operated in Celestyal’s Mediterranean program and has also been used for longer regional and world-voyage segments. In December 2023, Phoenix Reisen chartered Celestyal Journey for the opening section of a world voyage that had originally been intended for MS Amera, whose shipyard delay prevented it from undertaking that portion of the itinerary. The vessel’s latest documented operating profile reflects both Mediterranean cruising and occasional Middle Eastern deployment. Reference material states that in 2026, following the outbreak of hostilities associated with a joint American-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February, Celestyal Journey and sister ship Celestyal Discovery canceled scheduled Middle Eastern voyages. Celestyal Journey was in Doha, Qatar, when the disruption occurred, and the cancellations ended its Arabian winter season earlier than planned. The ship later departed Doha on 17 April, traveling through the Strait of Hormuz with several other cruise vessels. Its long career illustrates the reuse and repositioning of mature cruise tonnage across brands, regions, ownership structures, and passenger segments.

Celestyal Journey was ordered in November 1989 as hull 5883, one of three ships in Holland America Line’s Statendam class. Its keel was laid at Fincantieri in 1993, and construction, trials, and completion took place between 1993 and 1994. The ship was christened by Madeleine Arison and made its maiden voyage in 1994 under the name Ryndam. Ryndam spent its first major operating period with Holland America Line. A dry-dock refurbishment at Grand Bahama Shipyard in 2006 was followed by additional work at the same yard in 2010. During 2007 and 2008, several voyages were affected by norovirus outbreaks. In early 2007, three successive outbreaks caused the ship to return to San Diego, with 355 passengers and 47 crew reported sick across the affected voyages. A further outbreak in February 2008 affected 113 passengers and eight crew. The ship also experienced an isolated security incident in November 2010 when an intoxicated passenger released the stern anchor in international waters; the incident caused no reported damage. In April 2015, two passengers were found dead in a stateroom in circumstances that appeared to indicate a murder-suicide. Holland America secured the cabin and notified authorities, including the FBI, while the formal cause of death remained unclear in the available account. In July of the same year, another norovirus outbreak forced a 14-day Iceland-and-Norway itinerary to end early. The ship was deep-cleaned in Harwich before returning to service. Holland America announced in May 2014 that Ryndam would be transferred to P&O Cruises Australia after completing its 2015 season. The ship sailed to Singapore for work at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard beginning on 31 October. By 12 November, extensive interior and exterior modifications had been completed. It emerged as Pacific Aria and was renamed in Port Jackson, Sydney, on 25 November alongside Pacific Eden. Jessica Mauboy served as Pacific Aria’s godmother. P&O promoted the ships’ introduction through a social-media-focused christening campaign. Pacific Aria was laid up in 2020. A transfer to Cruise & Maritime Voyages had been announced in November 2019, with delivery planned for May 2021 and a proposed new name of Ida Pfeiffer. The intended refurbishment and TransOcean Tours deployment did not occur because CMV entered administration on 20 July 2020 and ceased trading. Pacific Aria was instead sold to Seajets and renamed Aegean Goddess. In May 2022, a Greek crew member was found dead aboard the laid-up ship at Heraklion. Celestyal Cruises acquired the vessel in 2023 and renamed it Celestyal Journey. The new operator carried out a major refurbishment and technical overhaul reported at approximately $21 million. In December 2023, Phoenix Reisen chartered the ship for the opening section of a world voyage, replacing the originally planned MS Amera for that segment because Amera was delayed at a shipyard. Reference material also records a 2026 interruption to the ship’s Middle Eastern program. After hostilities began on 28 February, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery canceled Middle Eastern voyages. Celestyal Journey was docked in Doha when the disruption occurred. It later departed Doha on 17 April, transiting the Strait of Hormuz with other cruise ships. The vessel remains documented as an active Celestyal Cruises ship.

• 2023

  Renamed Celestyal Journey

  [1]Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org

  Celestyal Cruises acquired the ship, refurbished it, and introduced it under its current name.

• 2020

  Sold to Seajets

  [1]Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org

  After being laid up during the pandemic and losing its planned CMV transfer, the vessel was sold to Seajets and renamed Aegean Goddess.

• 2015

  Renamed Pacific Aria

  [1]Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org

  Following a Singapore conversion, the ship transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and was renamed Pacific Aria in Sydney.

• 2006

  Grand Bahama refurbishment

  [1]Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org

  Ryndam underwent a dry-dock renovation at Grand Bahama Shipyard.

• 1994

  Ryndam entered service

  [1]Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was completed, underwent sea trials, was christened, and made its maiden voyage for Holland America Line.

• 1993

  Keel laid at Fincantieri

  [1]Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began at Fincantieri under the Ryndam name.

• 1989

  Ship ordered for Holland America Line

  [1]Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org

  Holland America Line ordered the future vessel as hull 5883, one of three Statendam-class ships.

A mature, extensively refurbished cruise ship used by Celestyal Cruises for Mediterranean and selected regional itineraries, with a history of service under several international cruise brands.

• Cruise ship · 2023

  Celestyal Journey

  The vessel’s current operating identity under Celestyal Cruises. It is a mature cruise ship originally built for Holland America Line and later adapted for P&O Cruises Australia and other proposed or actual operators. Celestyal’s refurbishment and technical overhaul prepared it for renewed passenger service, especially in Mediterranean and regional itineraries.

• Cruise ship operating identity · 2015

  Pacific Aria

  The name used from 2015 after the ship moved from Holland America Line to P&O Cruises Australia. The transfer involved extensive interior and exterior changes at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard in Singapore. Pacific Aria was marketed as a new P&O Cruises Australia flagship alongside Pacific Eden.

• Cruise ship operating identity · 1994

  Ryndam

  The ship’s original commercial name, used during its Holland America Line career beginning in 1994. The vessel received several dry-dock renovations and operated itineraries associated with Holland America’s North Atlantic, European, and North American cruise programs.

• 2022

  Crew member found dead aboard laid-up vessel

  A Greek crew member was found dead aboard the ship, then operating under the name Aegean Goddess, while it was laid up at Heraklion.

  Source

• 2015

  Deaths of two passengers aboard Ryndam

  Two passengers were found dead in a stateroom in circumstances that appeared to be a murder-suicide. The cabin was secured and authorities, including the FBI, were notified. The available reference states that the formal cause remained unclear.

  Source

Read more

• 2015Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden social-media christening

  Australia · International social media

  P&O Cruises Australia promoted the Sydney renaming ceremony for Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden through Twitter and the social-media accounts of their godmothers. The effort supported the public launch of the two transferred ships.

  Outcome. Pacific Aria entered P&O Cruises Australia service under its new name, although the ship was later sold and renamed.

  Source

• 2026

  Cancellation of Middle Eastern voyagesStrategy

  Background

  The ship was in Doha when hostilities in the region disrupted cruise operations.

  Action taken

  Celestyal canceled scheduled March Middle Eastern voyages and ended the ship’s Arabian winter season early.

  Aftermath

  The vessel later departed Doha and transited the Strait of Hormuz with other cruise ships.

  Source

• 2023

  Celestyal refurbishment and relaunchProduct launch

  Background

  Celestyal Cruises acquired the former Aegean Goddess and sought to return it to cruise service under a new identity.

  Action taken

  The company renamed the vessel Celestyal Journey and completed a substantial refurbishment and technical overhaul.

  Aftermath

  The ship entered Celestyal’s active fleet and was used for Mediterranean and selected regional itineraries.

  Reported refurbishment and technical-overhaul cost. $21 million (2023)

  Source

• 2019

  Planned sale to Cruise & Maritime VoyagesM&A

  Background

  Cruise & Maritime Voyages sought to acquire the ship for its TransOcean Tours operation.

  Action taken

  The proposed transfer, planned for 2021, included the new name Ida Pfeiffer and an extensive refurbishment.

  Aftermath

  The transaction did not proceed after CMV entered administration and stopped trading in 2020.

  Source

• 2014

  Transfer from Holland America Line to P&O Cruises AustraliaStrategy

  Background

  Holland America Line announced that Ryndam would leave its fleet after the 2015 season.

  Action taken

  The ship was sent to Singapore for extensive conversion work and entered P&O Cruises Australia service as Pacific Aria.

  Aftermath

  The vessel operated in the Australian market before being laid up in 2020 and later sold to Seajets.

  Source

1. 1Celestyal Journeyen.wikipedia.org