Mistral-class cruise ship

The Mistral class is a class of cruise ships, now owned and operated by MSC Cruises and Ambassador Cruise Line. There are currently five active Mistral-class cruise ships, the lead vessel, AIDAmira (1999 as Mistral, intended as Ambition 2023), MSC Armonia (2001 as European Vision), MSC Sinfonia (2002 as European Stars), MSC Lirica (2002) and MSC Opera (2003).

Mistral
MS Mistral in Kiel, Germany (2003)
Class overview
BuildersChantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Operators
Preceded byRenaissance Cruises: R class
Succeeded byMSC Cruises: Musica class
SubclassesLirica class
Built1999–2004
In service2000–present
Completed5
Active4
Laid up1 pending refit
General characteristics
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage
  • 48,200 GT (AIDAmira),
  • 58,625 GT (MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia), 59,058 GT (MSC Lirica, MSC Opera)
  • 6,980 DWT
Length216 m (708 ft 8 in)275.25 m (903 ft 1 in)
Beam28.80 m (94 ft 6 in)
Draught6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Depth6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
Decks9 (passenger accessible)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × Azimuth thrusters (20,000 kW)
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity1,500 to 2,000 passengers
Crew700, 740 (MSC Opera)

History

The lead vessel Mistral was originally ordered by Renaissance Cruises in the summer of 1996, but the order was later withdrawn.[1] The yard and bankers together held ownership of the ship through a company called Auxiliaire Maritime.[1] During construction at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the order was taken over by Festival Cruises, which would be receiving its first new-build vessel. Two additional newbuilt ships based on an enlarged version of the Mistral design were delivered in 2001 and 2002 as MS European Vision and MS European Stars, respectively.[2] 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 and MSC Opera.[3]

When Festival Cruises went bankrupt in early 2004, all the company's ships were laid up and subsequently auctioned to other operators; European Stars and European Vision were sold to MSC Cruises and renamed MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia respectively,[2] while Mistral was sold to Ibero Cruises and renamed Grand Mistral.[2][4] In 2013, Grand Mistral exited the Ibero Cruises fleet and was transferred to sister brand Costa Cruises as the Costa neoRiviera.[5] Costa reportedly invested €10 million into transforming the ship to integrate it into its fleet.[6] In 2014, MSC Cruises announced that the four Lirica-class ships would undergo renovation under the "Renaissance Programme".[7] Each of the vessels was lengthened by 24 metres (79 ft) in 2015, adding 193 extra cabins.[8]

Costa neoRiviera exited Costa's fleet in 2019 and was transferred to sister brand AIDA Cruises as AIDAmira.[9][10][11] She was sold in 2022 to Ambassador Cruise Line, which intends operating her as Ambition from 2023.[12]

Incidents

On 2 June 2019, MSC Opera allided with the quay and struck a river cruise ship moored at the San Basilio Pier in the Giudecca Canal at Venice, Italy. The cause was later found to be technical difficulties with the engines while under tow. She sustained superficial scratches, while the smaller river vessel was more heavily damaged and five people were slightly injured.[13]

On 12 March 2021, MSC Lirica was damaged by a fire amidships, which is believed to have started in a lifeboat; there were no casualties.[14] The area affected (part of the vessel that was added in the 2015 lengthening) was later repaired.[15]

Ships
  • AIDAmira (1999–2005 as Mistral, 2005–2013 as Grand Mistral, 2013–2019 as Costa neoRiviera, 2019–2022 operated by AIDA), since January 2022 owned by Ambassador Cruise Line, to enter service in 2023 as Ambition
  • MSC Armonia (2001–2003 as European Vision, 2004–present operated by MSC)
  • MSC Sinfonia (2002–2003 European Stars, 2005–present operated by MSC)
  • MSC Lirica (2003–present), had fire accident in 2021
  • MSC Opera (2004–present), served as the flagship of the company until MSC Musica entered service in 2006

References
  1. Mazorra, Arturo Paniagua (14 December 1999). "Festival Cruises' Mistral". Tutto Crociere: The Cyberspace Cruise Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021.
  2. Boyle, Ian. "Festival Cruise Line". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  3. Boyle, Ian. "MSC Crociere Italiane > MSC Lirica (2003– )". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  4. Ward (2006). pp. 380–381
  5. "Grand Mistral South America Season Cancelled, Ship Transferred to Costa". Cruise Industry News. 2013-08-29.
  6. Capella, Daniel (9 November 2013). "Costa investe mais de 10 milhões de euros na renovação e manutenção de sua frota".
  7. "MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia's New Section". cruiseindustrynews.com. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  8. "New MSC Sinfonia features for 2015 cruises". cruiseshipnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  9. Staff, C. I. N. (25 May 2018). "Costa neoRiviera to Become AIDAmira in 2019". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  10. Kalosh, Anne (2018-05-25). "Costa neoRiviera is transferring to become AIDAmira". Seatrade Cruise News.
  11. Mathisen, Monty (2019-09-25). "Costa neoRiviera to Become AIDAmira After $55 Million Drydock". Cruise Industry News. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021.
  12. Payne, Holly (27 January 2022). "Ambassador purchases AIDAmira, will enter service next year as Ambition". Seatrade Cruise News. Colchester. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  13. "Out-of-control cruise ship crashes into tourist boat on busy Venice canal". ABC News. 2 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021.
  14. "No injuries reported in fire on MSC Lirica in Corfu (Updated)". Seatrade Cruise News. 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021.
  15. "Where is the MSC Fleet of Cruise Ships?". Cruise Industry News. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021.

Sources
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