MV Aegean Odyssey

	Aegean Odyssey
History
Name	1973–1985: Narcis; 1985–1986: Alkyon; 1986–1989: Aegean Dolphin; 1989–1990: Dolphin; 1990–1996: Aegean Dolphin; 1996–2010: Aegean I; 2010 onwards: Aegean Odyssey;
Owner	1973–1985: Zim Navigation; 1985–1998: Dolphin Hellas Shipping; 1998–2008: Golden Sun Cruises; 2008–2016: Aegean Experience Maritime Co Ltd; 2016 onwards: Aegean Odyssey Maritime-Pan;
Operator	Voyages to Antiquity
Port of registry	1973–1985: Haifa, Israel; 1985–2009: Piraeus, Greece; 2009–2016: Valletta, Malta; 2016 onwards: Panama City, Panama;
Builder	Santierul Naval Galați, Galați, Romania
Yard number	617
Laid down	18 June 1971
Launched	18 June 1972
Completed	22 August 1973
Identification	Call sign HOBW; IMO number: 7225910; MMSI number: 374757000;
Status	In service
General characteristics
Type	Cruise ship
Tonnage	11,906 GT
Length	461 ft (140.51 m)
Beam	67 ft (20.42 m)
Draught	20 ft (6.10 m)
Decks	8 decks; 7 decks passenger accessible;
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (service speed)
Capacity	380 passengers
Crew	180

MV Aegean Odyssey is a cruise ship owned and operated by Voyages to Antiquity, a one-ship cruise company established in 2009. Built as a ferry in 1973, it was converted to a cruise ship in 1988, and substantially rebuilt in 2010.

History

The MV Aegean Odyssey was built in 1973 as the Zim ro-ro ferry Narcis, later renamed Alkyon in 1985. In 1986, she was bought by Dolphin Hellas Cruises, which renamed the ship Aegean Dolphin and sent it to Perama to be converted into a cruise ship.^[2] Following the completion of renovations in 1988, the ship remained in the cruise line's fleet until 1995, when she was sold to Epirotiki Line. It was renamed Aegean I whilst on charter to Renaissance Cruises in 1996. Then the ship operated for Golden Sun Cruises on Mediterranean cruises since 1997–1998, still owned by Dolphin Hellas. In 2005, she was to be bought by Louis Hellenic Cruise Lines, but the deal fell through due to legal problems, and the ship was laid up.

She was bought by the new cruise company 'Voyages to Antiquity' in 2009, as part of a new venture by cruise line veteran Gerry Herrod.^[3] The cruise was operated by Turkish travel agency Etstur in 2013 and 2015 summer seasons for Greek Islands tours.

*Aegean Odyssey* docked next to *Crystal Serenity*.

The ship was refitted and renovated in Ermoupoli on the Greek island of Syros to cater for cruising in the coastal waters of the central and southern Mediterranean – she can visit ports that are too small for most cruise ships and began operation again in May 2010, renamed Aegean Odyssey.^[4]

The passenger capacity was reduced from 570 to around 380 in order to provide more spacious accommodation; the cinema was removed in favour of a lecture hall, and new dining areas established.

The ship's ownership changed on 30 April 2010, four days before its inaugural cruise departure. Its registered owner is Samos (Island) Maritime Co. Ltd based in Piraeus.

Ship company owner Voyages to Antiquity announced that it ended its services at the end of October 2019, and the Oxford office was to close, due to motor failures and trips cancelled. From April 2020 to April 2023 the ship was to be chartered to US not-for-profit organizationRoad Scholar, undertaking educational voyages.^[5]

References

^ Lloyd's Register^[specify]
^ "100A1 (April 1986)". 100A1: the Magazine of Lloyd's Register of Shipping. No. April 1986. London, England: Lloyd's of London Press. April 1986. p. 7. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024. 100A1 pays a visit [to the Perama shipyard] with LR senior surveyor Panos Hadjiconstantinou; he's there to check progress on the 8224-gt roll-on/roll-off cargo ship Aegean Dolphin, being converted for Dolphin Hellas Shipping SA into a 600-berth cruise ship. All the conversion plans for the 128 m-long vessel were approved by LR's London headquarters and the actual conversion work is being surveyed from the LR Piraeus office. [...] Although it is still February the weather is magnificent, with a soft warm breeze gently moving the eucalyptus and olive trees. [...] The Aegean Dolphin is berthed at the last quay before the naval base and the magnitude of the conversion is immediately apparent by the sight of the new stern which has replaced the former roll-on/roll-off stern loading door. She has been completely remodelled, and as we climb up the interior to the upper deck we can see the extensive internal alterations. There is a new disco dance floor and restaurants, a casino, a theatre and several bars. Much of the original steelwork can be seen. On deck workmen are plastering concrete over new steelwork surrounding the newly-built swimming pool. "We'll go on top and take a look at the new superstructure," says Hadjiconstantinou. "What they've done is to raise the bridge by two metres and add some cosmetic steel around the original funnel to give it a more 'with it' appearance." We are joined by LR senior surveyor B. Dardanos, who points out that the Aegean Dolphin has been given an extended new bow to fit in with her new cruising image. He tells 100A1: "The conversion plans and the classification aspects of fire safety have all been approved by LR's London Headquarters. We are expecting the job to be completed soon."
^ "Founder of Orient Lines Announces New Voyages to Antiquity Line". 2009-11-18.
^ "A New Cruise Line, a new Philosophy". Hospitality Industry news. 2009-11-16.
^ "Road Scholar". same. 2019-09-12.