Louis buys new cruise liner

LOUIS Cruise Lines is forging ahead with expansion plans with the purchase of the 1957-built liner Mermozfrom Prestige Cruises, a member of the Italian Group Costa Crociere.The purchase of the latest vessel brings the total of ships in the Louis fleet to seven, with a capacity for 5,449 passengers, making it one of the top 10 biggest cruise firms in the world.The cost of the Mermozis not known, but according to shipping newspaper Lloyds List, the ship was bought by the Costa Crociere group during the first half of the 1998-1999 financial year for $6.29 million.The Italian cruise company has operated the Mermozunder charter since 1992.The ship is currently operated by Costa Crociere for the French market under the Paquet brand and is on a round the world cruise due to end on October 23 in Marseilles.The Mermozis 162 metres long and 20 metres wide. It has 300 cabins, two swimming pools, a sauna, hairdresser, casino, theatre, library, two restaurants and several lounges.Apart from running mini-cruises to Greece, Israel, Egypt and Lebanon, Louis also leases two other cruise liners, Sapphireand Emeraldto British travel giants Thomson and the Ausoniato First Choice.

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