Festival Cruises (known as First European Cruises in
North America) was a Greece-based
cruise line
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships that operate on ocean or rivers and which markets cruises to the public. Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of passengers. Though ...
that operated between 1994 and 2004. It was founded in 1992 by the Greek entrepreneur
George Poulides using second-hand ships. The company acquired three new-built ships between 1999 and 2002, but was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2004.
History
George Poulides founded Festival Cruises in 1992. The company begun operations in 1994 after purchasing from
Chandris Cruises.
The following year the company acquired MS ''Starward'' from
Norwegian Cruise Line, renaming her .
A third second-hand ship followed in 1997, when MS ''Southern Cross'' was acquired from
CTC Lines and renamed for service with Festival.
Festival Cruises acquired their first newbuilt ship in 1999, when was delivered from
Chantiers de l'Atlantique in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
. In 2000 Festival Cruises announced that the company would be merged into
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
P&O (in full, The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company) is a British shipping and logistics company dating from the early 19th century. Formerly a public company, it was sold to DP World in March 2006 for £3.9 billion. DP World c ...
(P&O), with the Festival Cruises brand being maintained under P&O ownership. The merger plan was abandoned later that year due to low value of cruise line shares at the time. Two additional newbuilt ships based on an enlarged version of the ''Mistral'' design were delivered in 2001 and 2002 as and , respectively.
Following delivery of the new ships the ''Bolero'' and ''Flamenco'' were chartered to other operators.
Festival Cruises had an option for two more ships of the enlarged ''Mistral'' design, but the company decided not to use the option. Two more ''Mistral'' class ships were however built for
MSC Cruises as ''
MSC Lirica
''MSC Lirica'' is the lead ship in her class of cruise ship, owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She was the first newbuild cruise ship to enter service for MSC Cruises. She can accommodate 1,560 passengers in 780 cabins. Her crew complement is a ...
'' and ''
MSC Opera
''MSC Opera'' is a cruise ship built in 2004, carrying 2,679 passengers in 1,071 cabins, and with a crew complement of approximately 728, currently operated by Swiss company MSC Cruises. She served as the flagship of the company until entered serv ...
''.
Festival Cruises went bankrupt in early 2004, with all the company's ships were laid up and subsequently auctioned to other operators; ''European Stars'' and ''European Vision'' were sold to
MSC Cruises,
''Mistral'' to a
French investor group who chartered her to
Iberojet,
''The Azur'' to
Mano Maritime
Mano Maritime (Hebrew: מנו ספנות, ''Mano Sapanut'') is a shipping company founded by Moshe Mano and is a subsidiary of the Mano Holdings Group. It operates cargo ships, passenger ships and undertakes other maritime services. The company ...
,
''Bolero'' to Abou Merhi Lines and ''Flamenco'' to
Cruise Elysia.
Ships
References
{{reflist
Defunct cruise lines
Defunct shipping companies
Transport companies established in 1992
Transport companies disestablished in 2004
Shipping companies of Greece
Defunct transport companies of Greece
2004 disestablishments in Greece
Greek companies established in 1992