MS Prince Albert II

MS "Prince Albert II" is an expedition ship currently operated by Silversea Cruises.

She was built by the yards of Rauma-Repola, of Rauma, Finland, and launched on 3 February 1989. She operated under several names before being acquired by Society Expeditions, who operated her under the names "World Adventurer" and "World Discoverer". She was purchased by Silversea in autumn 2007. She underwent a multi-million pound refit at Fincantieri, Trieste, before being re-christened "Prince Albert II" in June 2008, in a ceremony in Monte Carlo attended by Prince Albert II of Monaco. [ [http://www.travel-lists.co.uk/headline.html#sses Silversea's first expedition ship departs London on her maiden voyage] ] She then sailed to London to embark passengers for an inaugural cruise. [ [http://www.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/travel/news/article_1415831.php/New_expedition_ship_Prince_Albert_II_begins_first_voyage New expedition ship Prince Albert II begins first voyage] ]

"Prince Albert II" is planned to operate polar adventure cruises lasting between 10 and 21 days, with summer cruises in the Arctic Circle with calls at the Svalbard archipelago, Iceland and Greenland, and autumn and winter cruises off South America and Antarctica. [ [http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=80705&nav=5&suc=&cid=&email=&news= "More than half of Silversea Cruises guests are newcomers"] ] She is due to transit the Panama Canal by November 2008 to embark passengers at Los Angeles for cruises off Antarctica. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS154554+07-Mar-2008+PRN20080307 Reuters' press release] ] [ [http://www.scottsdaleluxurycruises.com/Cruise%20Lines.htm News from Scottsdale Luxury Cruises] ] There are plans for her to carry out trips to French Polynesia and the South Seas in 2009. [ [http://www.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/travel/news/article_1415831.php/New_expedition_ship_Prince_Albert_II_begins_first_voyage New expedition ship Prince Albert II begins first voyage] ]

Design

"Prince Albert II" carries 132 passengers in 66 cabins, and is equipped with a library, lecture theatre and internet centre.

References

* [http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz/ship/show/19484 Ship details at the Miramar ship index]

External links

* [http://www.silversea.com/silversea.aspx?id=999&page_id=princealbertII MS "Prince Albert II" at Silversea Cruises]