Cruise ship Albatros ex.Royal Viking Sea
MS Albatros is a cruise ship, operated by the Germany-based travel agency Phoenix Reisen. She was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki New Shipyard, Finland for Royal Viking Line as Royal Viking Sea, and has also sailed under the names Royal Odyssey, Norwegian Star, Crown and finally Albatros. The Royal Viking Line was an upmarket cruise line that operated from 1972 until 1998.These vessels were intended for longer voyages to exotic destinations, and a significant percentage of the line’s passengers were wealthy retirees. As such, they featured numerous single staterooms and suites, and thus their capacity was only about 550 compared to 750-850 on similarly-sized ships of other lines. Royal Viking Line prided itself on single-seating dining, and the restaurant was situated unusually high in the ship, with large windows. Another popular feature was a glass-enclosed lounge high atop the bridge, which afforded excellent views. The former Royal Viking Sea sails for the German company Phoenix Reisen as the Albatros. Layout-wise, she has probably changed the least, with the majority of public rooms remaining in their original configuration.In 2002 the whole ship was totally refited and got new engines. The Royal Viking Queen operated briefly as the Queen Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line, then joined her sister ships at Seabourn Cruise Line as the Seabourn Legend, after Kloster liquidated Royal Cruise as well. Cunard Line operated the Royal Viking Sun with her original name until …
