Mistral-class cruise ship explained

-- commercial vessel classes --> Ship Image: Mistral Kiel2003.jpg Ship Caption: MS Mistral in Kiel, Germany (2003) Builders: Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France Operators: Festival Cruises (1999–2004) MSC Cruises (2003–present) Ibero Cruises (2004–2013) Costa Cruises (2013–2019) AIDA Cruises (2019–2022) Ambassador Cruise Line (2022–present) Class Before: Renaissance Cruises: Class After: MSC Cruises: Subclasses: Lirica class Built Range: 1999–2004 In Service Range: 2000–present Total Ships Completed: 5 Total Ships Active: 4 Total Ships Laid Up: 1 pending refit Ship Type: Cruise ship Ship Tonnage: (AIDAmira), (MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia), (MSC Lirica, MSC Opera) Ship Length: 216m (709feet)275.25m (903.05feet) Ship Beam: 28.8m (94.5feet) Ship Draught: 6.8m (22.3feet) Ship Depth: 6.6m (21.7feet) Ship Decks: 9 (passenger accessible) Ship Power: 4 × Wärtsilä 12V38 31680 kW (combined) Ship Propulsion: 2 × Azimuth thrusters (20,000 kW) Ship Capacity: 1,500 to 2,000 passengers Ship Crew: 700, 740 (MSC Opera)

The Mistral class is a class of cruise ships, now owned and operated by MSC Cruises and Ambassador Cruise Line. There are currently five active Mistral-class cruise ships, the lead vessel, (1999 as Mistral), (2001 as European Vision), (2002 as European Stars), (2002) and (2003).

History

The lead vessel Mistral was originally ordered by Renaissance Cruises in the summer of 1996, but the order was later withdrawn.^[1] The yard and bankers together held ownership of the ship through a company called Auxiliaire Maritime.^[1] During construction at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the order was taken over by Festival Cruises, which would be receiving its first new-build vessel. Two additional newbuilt ships based on an enlarged version of the Mistral design were delivered in 2001 and 2002 as and, respectively.^[2] Festival Cruises had an option for two more ships of the enlarged Mistral design, but the company decided not to use the option. Two more Mistral class ships were however built for MSC Cruises as MSC Lirica and MSC Opera.^[3]

When Festival Cruises went bankrupt in early 2004, all the company's ships were laid up and subsequently auctioned to other operators; European Stars and European Vision were sold to MSC Cruises and renamed MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia respectively, while Mistral was sold to Ibero Cruises and renamed Grand Mistral.^[4] In 2013, Grand Mistral exited the Ibero Cruises fleet and was transferred to sister brand Costa Cruises as the Costa neoRiviera.^[5] Costa reportedly invested €10 million into transforming the ship to integrate it into its fleet.^[6] In 2014, MSC Cruises announced that the four Lirica-class ships would undergo renovation under the "Renaissance Programme".^[7] Each of the vessels was lengthened by in 2015, adding 193 extra cabins.^[8]

Costa neoRiviera exited Costa's fleet in 2019 and was transferred to sister brand AIDA Cruises as AIDAmira.^{[9] [10] [11]} She was sold in 2022 to Ambassador Cruise Line, which intends operating her as Ambition from 2023.^[12]

Incidents

On 2 June 2019, MSC Opera allided with the quay and struck a river cruise ship moored at the San Basilio Pier in the Giudecca Canal at Venice, Italy. The cause was later found to be technical difficulties with the engines while under tow. She sustained superficial scratches, while the smaller river vessel was more heavily damaged and five people were slightly injured.^[13]

On 12 March 2021, MSC Lirica was damaged by a fire amidships, which is believed to have started in a lifeboat; there were no casualties.^[14] The area affected (part of the vessel that was added in the 2015 lengthening) was later repaired.^[15]

Ships

• Ambition (1999–2005 as Mistral, 2005–2013 as Grand Mistral, 2013–2019 as Costa neoRiviera, 2019–2022 operated by AIDA), since January 2022 owned by Ambassador Cruise Line, entered service in 2023 as Ambition
• MSC Armonia (2001–2003 as European Vision, 2004–present operated by MSC)
• MSC Sinfonia (2002–2003 European Stars, 2005–present operated by MSC)
• MSC Lirica (2003–present), had fire accident in 2021
• MSC Opera (2004–present), served as the flagship of the company until MSC Musica entered service in 2006

References

Sources

• Book: Ward, Douglas. 2008. Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. 17th. Berlitz / APA. Singapore, London. 978-981-268-240-6. 271787333. 456–457. registration.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Festival Cruises' Mistral. Mazorra. Arturo Paniagua. 14 December 1999. Tutto Crociere: The Cyberspace Cruise Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517002436/http://www.cybercruises.com/mistral.htm. 17 May 2021.
2. Web site: Festival Cruise Line. 28 September 2008. Boyle. Ian. Simplon Postcards.
3. Web site: MSC Crociere Italiane > MSC Lirica (2003 -). 2008-10-01. Boyle. Ian. Simplon Postcards.
4. Ward (2006). pp. 380 - 381
5. Web site: Grand Mistral South America Season Cancelled, Ship Transferred to Costa. 2013-08-29. Cruise Industry News.
6. Web site: Costa investe mais de 10 milhões de euros na renovação e manutenção de sua frota. Capella. Daniel. 9 November 2013.
7. Web site: MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia's New Section. cruiseindustrynews.com. 20 May 2014. 12 May 2016.
8. Web site: New MSC Sinfonia features for 2015 cruises. cruiseshipnews.co.uk. 21 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160924102703/http://www.cruiseshipnews.co.uk/20150114/new-msc-sinfonia-features-for-2015-cruises/. 24 September 2016.
9. Web site: Costa neoRiviera to Become AIDAmira in 2019. Staff. C. I. N.. 25 May 2018. www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
10. Web site: Costa neoRiviera is transferring to become AIDAmira. Kalosh. Anne. 2018-05-25. Seatrade Cruise News.
11. Web site: Costa neoRiviera to Become AIDAmira After $55 Million Drydock. Mathisen. Monty. 2019-09-25. Cruise Industry News. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517043703/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21622-costa-neoriviera-to-become-aidamira-after-55-million-drydock.html. 17 May 2021.
12. News: Payne. Holly. Ambassador purchases AIDAmira, will enter service next year as Ambition. 27 January 2022. Seatrade Cruise News. 27 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127205544/https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/ambassador-purchases-aidamira-will-enter-service-next-year-ambition. 27 January 2022. Colchester.
13. Web site: Out-of-control cruise ship crashes into tourist boat on busy Venice canal. 2 June 2019. ABC News. https://web.archive.org/web/20210802231656/https://abcnews.go.com/International/control-cruise-ships-crashes-tourist-boat-busy-venice/story?id=63432819. 2 August 2021.
14. Web site: No injuries reported in fire on MSC Lirica in Corfu (Updated). Seatrade Cruise News. 12 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210312213515if_/https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/no-injuries-reported-fire-msc-lirica-corfu-updated. 12 March 2021.
15. News: Where is the MSC Fleet of Cruise Ships?. 16 April 2021. Cruise Industry News. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517043938/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24797-where-is-the-msc-fleet-of-cruise-ships.html. 17 May 2021.