![]() On 9 March 2009 the Regal Empress was retired by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. Her last voyage took place on 6 March 2009. She returned to service in December 2008. She was laid up in Texas for about 2 months. In September 2008, the Regal Empress was removed from service to be used as an aid in the recovery of the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. The Regal Empress was featured in a late-2007 episode of the TV show MythBusters, where it was used to demonstrate that it is possible to waterski from the back of a cruise ship. įollowing the collapse of Regal Cruises, the Regal Empress was purchased by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line for their two-night cruise service to The Bahamas, the Regal Empress being cheaper to operate and carrying more passengers than their own ship OceanBreeze. She is now described as being only 14,500 GRT. In 1993 she was sold to Regal Cruises and renamed Regal Empress, and began sailing out of Port Manatee in the winters and New York City during the summers. In 1988, this was replaced by a more traditional funnel. The ship's original funnel had been replaced by exhaust pipes decorated in a framework design. When the hotel plan was cancelled she returned to cruising and was renamed Caribe I in 1983, in the Commodore Cruise Line fleet. One public room that remained untouched throughout her life was her gorgeous, paneled library on Promenade deck. ![]() The Derby Room and Taverna, aft of the Olympian Hall restaurant on restaurant deck was converted into a casino. These modifications included but were not confined to: Removal of the Agean pool and converting that space into the Mermaid Bar, conversion of the Calypso Room, Card Room and Drawing Room into suites. In addition to the new power plant, extensive interior modifications were carried out. ![]() The Diesel engines would reduce her service speed to approximately 18 knots. She was renamed Caribe and refitted with Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz diesels of 20,270 shp replacing the steam turbines. In 1981, the Olympia was bought by Sally Shipping with the plan was to use the ship as both a floating hotel and for occasional Caribbean cruises. She was laid up at Piraeus in 1974, and the Greek Line suffered financial collapse the following year. By this time she had been re-measured at 17,400 GRT. In 1968, Olympia was registered in Greece, and spent an increasing number of voyages cruising, this becoming her exclusive occupation in 1970. Olympia was a frequent caller with immigrant families to Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia making 86 calls at Halifax. Her voyages to New York usually included numerous intermediary stops. In 1961, the route was extended to Haifa, Israel. Her first voyage on the intended route from Piraeus to New York City as an ocean liner did not take place until March 1955 due to legal complications. The maiden voyage left Glasgow for Liverpool and New York City on 20 October 1953. Parsons turbines of 25,000 shp drove her at a service speed of 21 knots (23 knots maximum). She was initially measured at 22,979 gross register tons (GRT), and carried 138 First Class, and 1169 Tourist Class passengers. Olympia was completed by Alexander Stephen & Sons, on the River Clyde, in 1953. One of the longest serving passenger ships in history, and the only ship expressly built for the Greek Line was initially named Olympia. The Regal Empress was also the last vintage passenger ship to regularly sail from the United States. She operated for Imperial Majesty Cruise Line from 2003 until 2009. ![]() In 1993 she was sold to Regal Cruise Line and received her final name. Following an extended lay-up period and reconstruction into a diesel-engined Caribbean cruise ship, the ship re-emerged in 1983 as MS Caribe I for Commodore Cruise Line. Greek Line withdrew the Olympia from service in 1974. She was built in 1953 by Alexander Stephen & Sons at Glasgow, Scotland as the ocean liner SS Olympia for the Greek Line. MS Regal Empress was a cruise ship that recently operated for Imperial Majesty Cruise Line. Two Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz diesel engines General characteristics (after 1983 refit) 2003–2009: Imperial Majesty Cruise Line Īlexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow, Scotland ġ38 First class, 1,169 Tourist class passengers.2004–2009: Celebration Cruise Holdings.1985–1993: Olympia Caribbean Shipping Co.
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