MS Sunward (1966)

MS Sunward was a cruise ship built in 1966 for Kloster Sunward Ferries and then later on with Norwegian Cruise Line. She served with NCL and was chartered to Compangnie Generale Transméditerranéenne in 1973, and later on with other companies.

History

Kloster/NCL

In 1966, Knut Kloster and founded Kloster Sunward Ferries, and ordered a 8,666 ton ship from the Norwegian shipyard Bergens Mekaniske Verksted. Launched on 24 March 1966 she entered service with Kloster on route between Southampton - Vigo - Lisbon - Gibraltar. By November of the same year Kloster Sunward Ferries shut down due to the unsuccessful service that it had, Nonetheless representatives from Silja Line were looking at the ship with a possible purchase, but backed off the vessel due to Sunward not having an ice class. In December 1966 she moved to Miami and entered into service for Norwegian Cruise Lines, a joint-venture between Knut Kloster and Ted Arison.

The Sunward was such an immediate success that Norwegian Caribbean expanded to a four ship fleet with the addition of the Starward in 1968, Skyward in 1969 and Southward in 1971.

Sunward

Sunward may refer to:

See also

MV Boudicca

MV Boudicca is a cruise ship owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland as Royal Viking Sky for Nordenfjeldske Dampsibsselskap, Trondheim, which placed the ship in Royal Viking Line service.

Prior to entering service with her current owners, the ship has also sailed under the names Sunward (for Norwegian Cruise Line), Birka Queen (with Birka Cruises), Golden Princess (with Princess Cruises), SuperStar Capricorn (with Star Cruises), Hyundai Keumgang (with Hyundai Merchant Marine) and Grand Latino (with Viajes Iberojet (now Iberocruceros)).

Concept and construction

Royal Viking Sky was ordered by Nordenfjeldske Dampsibsselskap, Trondheim from the Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland. She was one of three near-identical ships ordered by different companies from for Royal Viking Line service. Her sister ships were Royal Viking Star, owned by Bergenske Dampskibsselskap, Bergen, and Royal Viking Sea, owned by A. F. Klaveness & Co, Oslo. The Royal Viking Sky was launched from drydock on 25 May 1972 and delivered to her owners on 5 June 1973.