MS Asuka II

Asuka II moored at Kobe, Japan in September 2006.
Career
Name:	1990—2006: Crystal Harmony 2006 onwards: Asuka II (飛鳥II?)
Owner:	1990—2006: Crystal Cruises 2006 onwards: Nippon Yusen Kaisha[1]
Operator:	1990—2006: Crystal Cruises 2006 onwards: Nippon Yusen Kaisha[1]
Port of registry:	1990—2006: Nassau,  Bahamas 2006 onwards: Unknown,  Japan[1]
Builder:	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki, Japan[1]
Yard number:	2100[1]
Launched:	30 September 1989[1]
Acquired:	July 1990[1]
Identification:	IMO number: 8806204[1] Call sign 7JBI[specify]
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Type:	cruise ship
Tonnage:	50,142 GT (gross tonnage)[2] 8,642 metric tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Length:	241 m (790 ft 8 in)[2]
Beam:	29.6 m (97 ft 1 in)[2]
Draught:	7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)[2]
Decks:	8[3]
Installed power:	4 × MAN Diesel Engines, 32,800 kW[4]
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)[2]
Capacity:	960 passengers[4]
Crew:	545[4]

MS Asuka II (飛鳥II^?) is a cruise ship owned and operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. It was originally built by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki, Japan as MS Crystal Harmony for Crystal Cruises. In 2006 Crystal Harmony was transferred from the fleet of Crystal Cruises to that of Crystal's parent company Nippon Yusen Kaisha and entered service under her current name.^[1] As of February 2009^[update] it is the largest cruise ship in Japan.

Service history

1990—2006: Crystal Harmony

During the Crystal Harmony's maiden voyage in the South American/Caribbean waters, the ship caught on fire due to water entering her engine system. The Crystal Harmony drifted afloat for three hours, but was able to continue with reduced speed to Buenos Aires.

2006 onwards: Asuka II

The Crystal Harmony was retired from the Crystal fleet in 2005. It was transferred to the parent company Nippon Yusen Kaisha, underwent some renovations, and re-entered service as Asuka II.

Features

Asuka II features 8 passenger accessible decks. The ship has 2 swimming pools, 8 bars, a casino and fitness centre. There is also a 277 seat theatre. There are 461 outside cabins, 260 of which have private balconies. There are 19 inside cabins.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Asklander, Micke. "M/S Crystal Harmony (1990)" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/crystal_harmony_1990.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Asuka II – Ship Outline" (in Japanese). NYK Cruises Co., Ltd.. http://www.asukacruise.co.jp/asuka_info/outline.html. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
3. ^ "Asuka II". 20th Century Ships. http://www.ayrshirescotland.com/ships/crystalharmony.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Larsen, Robert. "M/S Asuka II" (in Norwegian). Skip-siden. http://www.skip-siden.com/Asuka%20II/Asuka%20II.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 

• M/S Asuka II
• Crystal Harmony/Asuka II