Festival Cruises Fleet List

 

 

The Azur

(Festival: 1994-2003)

 

The Azur originally entered service as Eagle for a new cruise ferry service from Southampton-Lisbon-Tangier. Southern Ferries were part of the General Steam Navigation Co, who became part of P&O. In 1975, Eagle was sold to Nouvelle Cie. de Paquebots, Marseille (Paquet) and renamed Azur for ferry work and cruising in the Mediterranean. In 1981 Azur was rebuilt as a fulltime cruise ship, with cabins added in the car decks. In 1987 she was sold to Chandris Lines, and re-named The Azur, followed by a further sale to Festival Cruises in 1994, with name remaining as The Azur. Following the collapse of Festival Cruises, The Azur was sold for $10.5 million to an unknown operator, being renamed the Eloise. However, in 2005 she is sailing for Mano Cruises of Israel as the Royal Iris.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Festival Cruises official card of The Azur.

 

 

Festival Cruises official card of The Azur.

 

 

Festival Cruises official card of The Azur (and Bolero).

 

 

A more recent Festival official card of Azur.

 

 

CT Postcards Serial 055 of The Azur in Festival Cruises colours.

 

 

2001 issued Festival official card of The Azur.

 

 

 

 

 

Bolero

(Festival: 1994-2003)

 

Bolero was completed in 1968 by AG Weser of Bremerhaven, as the Starward for the Kloster subsidiary NCL (Norwegian Caribbean Line, later Norwegian Cruise Line). She operated out of Miami, on seven day cruises to the Caribbean islands. She originally had a stern car door and garage space to take trailers, particularly to Jamaica. This space was later converted to cabins. She is a sister to Skyward (later Leisure World).

 

Starward was sold to Festival Cruises in 1994, their second ship, becoming the Bolero. In 2000, Bolero is chartered to First Choice Cruises, although it has been announced that the charter will not be renewed for 2001. Following the collapse of Festival Cruises, Bolero became the Orient Queen of Orient Queen Shipping.

 

Bolero details: 12949 Gross Tons, Length: 450ft, Passengers 850, Crew 240, Speed 16 knots, Engines 2 x MAN 12792 Kw

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Festival official card of Bolero.

 

 

A later Festival official card of Bolero.

 

 

In year 2000, Festival chartered the Bolero to UK Operator First Choice during the summer.

This is an official First Choice card of Bolero. The charter is not to be repeated in 2001.

 

 

Ramsey Postcards (serial no. 90) of Bolero.

 

 

RMGS postcard of Bolero on charter to SCL (Spanish Cruise Line).

Photo: © RMGS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flamenco

(Festival: 1998-2003)

 

Flamenco was to have been a sistership to Norwegian Caribbean Line's Southward, to be named Seaward. Norwegian Caribbean Line pulled out of the deal after price rises following the Italian builders' nationalization, and the hull was sold to P&O. The new ship was named Spirit of London, and she was eventually completed in the autumn of 1972. When P&O later acquired Princess Cruises in 1974, Spirit of London was transferred to that fleet, becoming the Sun Princess. Sun Princess was sold to Premier Cruises in 1988, becoming StarShip Majestic, one of their "big red boats", and she retained the red hull when bought by CTC Lines in 1994 as Southern Cross. In 1998, she became the third ship in the Festival Cruises fleet as Flamenco. Following the collapse of Festival Cruises, Flamenco was sold for $12.25 million to Cruise Elysia, being renamed the New Flamenco.

 

Flamenco details: 17042 Gross Tons, Length: 450ft, 700 Passengers, Crew 300, Speed 20.5 knots, Engines 4 x FIAT 133248 Kw

 

A complete postcard history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Festival official card of Flamenco.

 

 

A more recent Festival official card of Flamenco.

 

 

2001 issued Festival official cards of Flamenco.