CELESTYAL CRYSTAL is being scrapped

An overview of the ship’s eventful history

Renamed NEW DAWN, then SUN BRIGHT, and finally RIGHT, the former CELESTYAL CRYSTAL was beached in Alang, India, on May 14. The sleek liner will now be scrapped there. This marks the end of this ship’s eventful and unusual history.

It was built in 1980 as the car and passenger ferry VIKING SAGA (IMO 7827213) by Wärtsilä in Turku, renamed SALLY ALBATROSS in 1986 and used for cruises in the Baltic Sea. In 1988, she underwent a conversion at Schichau-Seebeck in Bremerhaven.

A fire at the Finnboda shipyard in Stockholm in 1990 damaged large parts of the ship’s hull. Ultimately, the hull and machinery were able to be reused. The ship was converted into a cruise ship with a completely different appearance and then re-entered service under the name SALLY ALBATROSS.

From 1994 to 2000, the ship sailed under the name LEEWARD on charter for Norwegian Cruise Line, then from 2000 to 2001 for Star Cruises under the name SUPERSTAR TAURUS. In 2002, the cruise liner was acquired by Silja Line, which returned her to the Baltic Sea to operate her for short cruises under the name SILA OPERA.

After a layup period from 2006 to 2007, the cruise ship entered its final phase. It was acquired by Louis Cruises for use on Mediterranean cruises under the name CRISTAL resp. LOUIS CRISTAL. With the renaming of Louis Cruises to Celestyal Cruises, the ship was renamed CELESTYAL CRYSTAL. She remained in service until 2023.

Foto: Symbolbild