Louis adds new ship to replace sunken Sea Diamond

LOUIS CRUISE Lines yesterday announced it had acquired a new vessel to replace the Sea Diamond that sank of the Greek island of Santorini last month.

A statement from Louis said it had acquired the MV Opera from Opera Company Acquisition LCC for $49 million.

Opera was built in 1992 and has a gross tonnage of 25,611 tons. It has the capacity to carry 1,278 passengers in 483 cabins and suites.

The vessel will be put into service in July, operating three and four-day cruises from the Greek port of Piraeus on behalf of Louis Hellenic Cruises, which also ran the Sea Diamond.
The Sea Diamond sank on April 6, a day after running aground off Santorini forcing more than 1,500 passengers and crew to evacuate it. A French tourist and his daughter are still missing and feared drowned.

According to Louis, Opera features an array of amenities and is a luxury cruise ship of modern design with all the comforts of an upscale hotel.

It features various restaurants and dining areas, a large double-tiered show lounge, a large number of bars, spa facilities, including sauna and gym, a beauty salon, conference rooms, an outdoor swimming pool with a retractable glass cover, a casino and a large duty free shop area.

The vessel also complies with US Coast Guard requirements, Louis said.

Yesterday’s acquisition follows the charter of MV Ruby – the ex-Ocean Countess – on Wednesday.

Ruby has been chartered from May 28 until October 28 and will be replacing Oceanic II in the operation of the short cruise programme out of Piraeus until July.

The ship has a capacity for 884 passengers in 410 cabins.

“The charter forms part of Louis Hellenic Cruises’ efforts for the smooth and uninterrupted provision of services to its passengers,” Louis said.

Ruby will be operating other cruises when Opera commences its cruise programme out of Piraeus in July. The two new additions to the Louis fleet raise the number of the group’s operated cruise ships to fourteen.

Four of the cruise ships, chartered to Thomson Cruises of TUI AG and another one to Transocean of Germany.
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