SuperStar Aquarius

MS SuperStar Aquarius is a cruise ship that was last owned and operated by Star Cruises. She was built in 1993 by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France for Kloster Cruise (Norwegian Cruise Line) as Windward. In 1998 she was lengthened at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany and renamed Norwegian Wind. In 2007 she was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises.[1][5] As of April 2022, the ship is no longer in service for Star Cruises.

Not to be confused with Star Aquarius.
SuperStar Aquarius at Phoenix Island, Sanya Bay, Hainan, China
History
Name
  • 1993–1998: Windward
  • 1998–2007: Norwegian Wind
  • 2007 onwards: SuperStar Aquarius
Owner
Operator
  • 1993–2007: Norwegian Cruise Line
  • 2007–2022: Star Cruises[1]
Port of registryNassau,  Bahamas[1][3]
BuilderChantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Cost$240 million[4]
Yard numberD30[1]
Laid down16 December 1991[3]
Launched14 November 1992[1]
Acquired4 May 1993[1]
In service14 May 1993[1]
Out of service2020
Identification
FateSold for scrap in 2022
General characteristics (as built)[1]
Class and typeDreamward-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length190.04 m (623 ft 6 in)
Beam28.85 m (94 ft 8 in)
Draught7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
Ice class1 C[3]
Installed power
Propulsion
  • Twin propellers
  • 3 thrusters (2 bow, 1 stern)[5]
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (service)[5]
Capacity1,246 passengers (all berths)[5]
General characteristics (as Superstar Aquarius)[3]
Tonnage
Length229.84 m (754 ft 1 in)
Beam32.10 m (105 ft 4 in)
Draught7.01 m (23 ft 0 in)
Depth9.66 m (31 ft 8 in)
Decks10 (passenger accessible)[4]
Speed
  • 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (service)
  • 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (maximum)[6]
Capacity
  • 1,750 passengers (lower berths)[6]
  • 2,156 passengers (all berths)[4]
Crew700[4]

History
Norwegian Wind in Juneau, Alaska.

Entering service in 1993 as Windward, she was the second of two sister vessels built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique for Kloster Cruise for use under their Norwegian Cruise Line brand. In 1998 she was lengthened by insertion of a 130-foot (40 m) midsection and was renamed as Norwegian Wind. This work was completed by Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.

One of her early cruises was a private charter for Prudential Assurance of the UK. In January 1995 a 5-day cruise of the Caribbean was undertaken for the top 350 salespeople in the UK Direct Sales Force and their partners. For the booking the cruise liner had additional wording placed below her name on hull and funnel – 'Salute to the Stars' (The Prudential Sales force competition).

Norwegian Wind in port.

In 2004 ownership of Norwegian Wind was transferred to NCL's parent company Star Cruises, in anticipation of transference of the ship to the Star Cruises' fleet.[2] The transfer took place in April 2007, when the ship joined the Star Cruises fleet under the name SuperStar Aquarius. After refitting and refurbishment of the public areas to cater to the Asia-Pacific market, as well as a new livery to match the rest of the Star Cruises fleet, the vessel was initially based at the Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong. Subsequently, she was based at various ports in the region.[7][8][9] The ship continued to sail for the cruise line until early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic halted the cruise line industry. In January 2022, Genting Hong Kong, the parent company of Star Cruises filed for bankruptcy caused by the shutdown.[10] As part of the liquidation, the ship was reported to be sold for demolition in April along with the sister ship SuperStar Gemini and the Star Pisces.[11][12][13]

References
  1. Asklander, Micke. "M/S Windward (1993)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  2. Newman, Doug (2008-04-15). "Lloyd's List: Three NCL Ships Nearly Sold". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  3. "SuperStar Aquarius (21375)". DNV Vessel Register. DNV. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  4. Ward, Douglas (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 449–450. ISBN 981-246-739-4.
  5. Miller, William H. Jr. (1995). The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860–1994. Mineola: Dover Publications. pp. 136. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.
  6. "Our fleet – SuperStar Aquarius". Star Cruises. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  7. "SuperStar Aquarius makes maiden voyage to Bintulu Calling every Tuesday from November to March" (PDF).
  8. "Star Cruises Celebrates SuperStar Aquarius' Inaugural Voyage to the city of Puerto Princesa" (PDF).
  9. "Star Cruises Continues to Amass Accolades from International Events Across Asia". Star Cruises.
  10. McGillivray, Robert. "Genting Files for Bankruptcy, What's Next for its Cruise Brands?". CruiseHive. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  11. "Weekly Vessel Scrapping Report: 2022 Week 17". Ship & Bunker. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  12. "3 more cruise ships en bloc to the shipwreckers". Cruisedeck.de. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  13. Boonzaier, Jonathan. "Scrap buyers pick up trio of cruise ships from Genting Hong Kong's liquidators". TradeWinds. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

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