Marella Explorer 2
 Marella Explorer 2asCelebrity Century
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner | Celebrity Cruises(1995–1997)
Royal Caribbean Group(1997–2019) Marella Cruises(2019–present) |
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | |
| Builder | Meyer Werft,Papenburg,Germany |
| Yard number | 637 |
| Laid down | January 1994 |
| Launched | 18 May 1995 |
| Completed | 30 November 1995 |
| Maiden voyage | 20 December 1995 |
| In service | 1995–present |
| Identification | |
| Status | In service |
| Notes | [1][2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Century-classcruise ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 248 m (813 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 32 m (105 ft 0 in) |
| Draught | 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in) |
| Decks | 12 |
| Speed | 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph) |
| Capacity | 1,814 passengers |
| Crew | 843 |
| Notes | [1][2] |
Marella Explorer 2,formerlyCelebrity CenturyandSkySea Golden Era,was the lead ship of theCenturyclass ofcruise shipsforCelebrity Cruises,and the co-flagship of the Celebrity fleet, along withMillennium-class shipCelebrity Constellation,and the newestSolsticeclass,Celebrity Reflection.Other ships belonging to theCenturyclass includeMarella Explorer(formerlyCelebrity Galaxy) andMein Schiff 2(2011)(formerlyCelebrity Mercury).
In March 2018, it was announced thatRoyal Caribbean CruisesandCtripwere to close the SkySea Cruise Line brand and that the line's sole shipSkySea Golden Erawould join the Marella fleet in place ofMein Schiff 2which would stay with TUI Cruises.[3][4]Skysea Golden Erawould take her final voyage on 29 August 2018. It was a 4-night sailing fromShanghaiwith a call atFukuoka, Japan.[5]
SkySea Golden Eraunderwent a major refurbishment, in Cadiz, Spain, in order to becomeMarella Explorer 2.Its first sailing forMarella Cruiseswas in April 2019.
History[edit]
Centurywaslaunchedin 1995 and went into a five-week drydock in April 2006 for refurbishment. Designed to incorporate a variety of Celebrity'sMillennium-class attributes, the revitalization ofCenturywas the line's most extensive refurbishment to-date, and the largest cruise ship modification completed byFincantieri'sPalermo,Italy, shipyard.
In late December 2013, it was rumored that the ship would transfer toCDF Croisières de Francein 2015.[6]Celebrity Cruises continued to deny the rumors until 13 February 2014 when they formally announced her departure from the fleet in April 2015, from March 2014 through April 2015,Celebrity Centuryvisited 77 ports in 32 countries, the most destinations of any ship in the Celebrity fleet. The line celebrated this final season with several special events, including a 14-night President's Cruise to Asia with Celebrity President and CEOMichael Bayley.[7]On 2 September 2014, it was announced that SkySea Cruises, a joint venture betweenCtripand Royal Caribbean,[8]would acquire the vessel and begin operations after April 2015.[9]
[edit]
On 25 March 2020, four crew members tested positive ofCOVID-19and were stranded inBarbados.[10]On 30 March, the ship was sailing along theYucatancoast with plans to dock inProgreso, Yucatan.[11]On 3 April, a male British passenger died from the disease while his wife had also been infected.[12]On 19 April, out of 19 Jamaican crew members on the ship, two of them tested positive.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ab"Celebrity CenturyVessel Details and Current Position ".Marine Traffic.2012.Retrieved29 April2012.
- ^ab"Advanced Masterdata for the VesselCelebrity Century".VesselTracker.2012.Retrieved29 April2012.
- ^Mathisen, Monty (20 March 2018)."Royal Caribbean and Ctrip to Kill SkySea Brand".www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
- ^Mathisen, Monty (20 March 2018)."SkySea Shutdown Sparks Ship Transfer Shuffle".www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
- ^"SkySea Announces Final China Season".Cruise Industry News.29 March 2018.Retrieved30 March2018.
- ^"Celebrity Century to join CDF Croisières de France in 2015".Seatrade Insider.28 December 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 31 December 2013.Retrieved1 January2014.
- ^"Celebrity Cruises Confirms Departure of Celebrity Century".Cruise Critic.Retrieved16 May2016.
- ^"Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Ctrip Announce Joint Venture through SkySea Cruises"(Press release). Ctrip.com International, Ltd. 21 November 2014.Retrieved16 May2016.
- ^"Ctrip to Acquire Celebrity Century from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd".Yahoo! Finance.2 September 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2014.Retrieved14 August2020.
- ^"Cruise ships still being turned away from ports worldwide due to coronavirus".The Independent.25 March 2020.
- ^"Report: Cruise ship with COVID-19 patients awaits entry into Progreso".Yucatán Expat Life.30 March 2020.
- ^"Cruise ship passenger brought to Yucatan dies of coronavirus".Yucatán Expat Life.4 April 2020.
- ^Mills, Claude (19 April 2020)."Heartbreaking account from J'can on COVID-afflicted ship off UK coast".loopjamaica.com.Retrieved14 August2020.
Bibliography[edit]
- Saunders, Aaron (2013).Giants of the Seas: The Ships that Transformed Modern Cruising.Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN9781848321724.
- Smith, Peter C. (2010).Cruise Ships: The World's Most Luxurious Vessels.Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime.ISBN9781848842182.
External links[edit]
