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MV Blue Sapphire (Ex Saga Sapphire) – Past and Present

IMO Number: 7822457

MV Blue Sapphire

ex Saga Sapphire, Bleu De France, Holiday Dream, Superstar Aries, Superstar Europe, Europa

© Ken Smith

© Ken Smith

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1981 by Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack, Bremen, Germany (Yard No 1001) as a Passenger (Cruise) ship for Hapag-Lloyd AG, Bremen, Germany

Technical Data

  • Original Cost: $120 million
  • Length: 199.62m (654.9 ft)(overall), 175.18m (registered)
  • Breadth of hull: 28.60m (93.8 ft)
  • Depth: 12.98m
  • Draught: 8.42m (27.6 ft)
  • Tonnage: 33,819 gross, 37,012, 37,049/22,545 net, 15,521/6,506 deadweight, 5168t
  • Engines: Two 7-cylinder MAN-Bremer K7 SZ 70/125B diesels
  • Propulsion/Propellers: 21,280 kW/2
  • Speed: 21 knots
  • Capacity: 600 passengers (1981), 778 (1999), 1,048 (2010)
  • Crew: 560/406
  • Navigation Officers: European (2004)
  • Passenger Decks: 10
  • Call Sign: DLAL, C6PU4, 9HOF8, C6ER4, V4XZ4
  • MMSI Number: 341776000
  • IMO Number: 7822457
  • Official number: 7001317
  • DNV id: G16201 (Suspended)
  • Registry: Bremen/Germany 🇩🇪, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Valletta/Malta 🇲🇹, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Saint Kitts and Nevis 🇰🇳

Current AIS Location


Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.


History

April 1st 1980: Keel laid.

December 22nd 1980: Launched.

© Joerg Seyler  

© Joerg Seyler

September 25th 1981: First sea trials.

December 6th 1981: Delivered to Hapag-Lloyd AG, Bremen, Germany.

December 28th 1981: Positioning voyage without passengers, Bremerhaven – Genoa.

January 8th 1982: Maiden voyage from Genoa to Africa, then cruising around the world.

© Brian Fisher   © Brian Fisher

© Brian Fisher (both)

April 30th 1992: East of Hong Kong collided with the Greek container ship INCHON GLORY. Towed to Kaohsiung, Taiwan where passengers disembarked.

July 7th 1992: After repair in Singapore, returned to cruising.

April 5th 1998: Sold to Star Cruises, Nassau, Bahamas. Chartered out to Hapag-Lloyd until 1999.

June 30th 1999: Arrived in Hamburg after final cruise for Hapag-Lloyd.

July 1st 1999: Renamed SUPERSTAR EUROPE.

July 31st 1999: Arrived at Sembawang yard in Singapore for more than $15 million rebuild.

October 24th 1999: Relocation cruise from Singapore to Laem Chabang.

October 1st 1999: Inaugural cruise from Laem Chabang.

February 2000: Renamed SUPERSTAR ARIES.

March 2004: Sold to Club Vacaciones, Nassau, Bahamas and renamed HOLIDAY DREAM.

© Carlos Poveda

© Carlos Poveda

2004: Began cruising for Pullmantur Ship Investment, Madrid.

© Cees Bustraan  © Cees Bustraan

© Cees Bustraan

June 2006: Registered to Pullmantur Cruises Holiday Dream Ltd., Valletta, Malta.

© Yvon Perchoc  © Yvon Perchoc

© Yvon Perchoc (both)

May 2008: Registered to CdF Bleu De France Ltd, Valletta, Malta. Renamed BLEU DE FRANCE.

© Gerolf Drebes  © Gerolf Drebes

© Gerolf Drebes

© Gerolf Drebes (all)

November 2009: Sold to unknown shipping company.

© Daniel Ferro

© Daniel Ferro

October 23rd 2011: At Marseilles, completed her final CdF cruise.

October 28th 2011: Expected at Palermo

November 2011: Arrived at lay-by berth Palermo for rebuild/refurbishment Fincantieri Palermo yard. Work to include the refurbishing of all public areas and spaces, the addition of a significant number of new passenger cabins, the complete refurbishment of the existing cabins and a new balcony deck.

December 20th 2011: Entered dry-dock during which time items involving the external hull and all underwater work, such as painting and tailshaft, rudder and propeller maintenance to be undertaken.

January 28th 2012: Returned to lay-by berth.

January 29th 2012: Returned to dry-dock.

February 2012:On completion of the work, the ship will be renamed the ‘Saga Sapphire’ and then shall set sail for the inaugural cruise from Southampton to the Mediterranean, which is due to start on March 26th 2012.

February 7th 2012: Officially renamed SAGA SAPPHIRE.

February 19th 2012: Returned to lay-by berth.

March 19th 201 2: Left Palermo.


Interior

© Saga Shipping  © Saga Shipping

© Saga Shipping  © Saga Shipping

© Saga Shipping  © Saga Shipping

© Saga Shipping  © Saga Shipping

© Saga Shipping  © Saga Shipping

© Saga Shipping (all)

March 26th 2012: Arrived in Southampton.

© Maritime Photographic

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

April 3rd 2012: After numerous delays, departed Southampton

April 13th 2012: The cruise had to be curtailed unexpectedly at Valencia, when a fault developed in the cooling system of one of the engines. Remained in Valencia for repairs.

April 27th 2012: Left Valencia.

April 29th 2012: Arrived at Gibraltar for bunkers.

April 29th 2012: Departed Gibraltar.

  

© José Ricardo Rodriguez Montero (all)

May 2nd 2012: Arrived in Lisbon. Joined fleet sister ship SAGA PEARL II  for the “Gala Welcome”.

May 3rd 2012: Left Lisbon.

May 21st 2012: Inaugural arrival in Dover.

© Willem Oldenburg  © Willem Oldenburg

© Willem Oldenburg

November 15th 2017: Arrived at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven for refit.

© Christian Eckardt  © Christian Eckardt

© Christian Eckardt

© Christian Eckardt  © Christian Eckardt

© Christian Eckardt  © Christian Eckardt

© Christian Eckardt

December 2nd/3rd 2017: Arrived in Southampton before sailing to Ijmuiden.

© Willem Oldenburg  © Willem Oldenburg

© Willem Oldenburg

June 21st 2018: It was announced that the SAGA SAPPHIRE would be leaving the Saga Cruises fleet in the Spring of 2020.

“Saga Sapphire, which has been carrying Saga guests since 2012, is to bow out with an epic 33-night Grand Finale sailing from May 6 to June 8, 2020, immediately after a circumnavigation of the British Isles.

The ship’s farewell tour also features the Baltic, a gastronomically-themed cruise to Europe’s Atlantic coast and Morocco, and a Norwegian fjords exploration.

Before her last return to Southampton, Saga Sapphires final port of call will be Gibraltar, marking the start of a farewell party for up to 720 guests and 415 crew.

It will complete a cruise taking in Valletta, Messina, Alexandria, Israel, the Greek islands, Athens and Istanbul, with chances to visit Bethlehem, dine in the shadow of the pyramids and attend a special event in an underground 4th-century cistern in Istanbul

The 15-night British Coast to Coast cruise from Dover visits Newcastle, Belfast and Liverpool, the Orkney and Channel Islands, as well as the Jurassic Coast, with entertainment including a highland feast, talks on the Royal Family, Shakespeare-inspired performances and a Beatles party.

Among the optional tours are a heritage train ride over the monumental Glenfinnan Viaduct and visits to Trinity College, Dublin, and Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.

The Scandinavian Vistas cruise of beautiful Baltic scenery features visits to fishing communities, plus film screenings and talks on the Nordic Noir dramatic style, before the ship’s final traverse of the Kiel Canal to Dover.

Guests can enjoy flamenco and Andalusian cuisine on the 19-night Tastes of Spain and Portugal sailing from Dover, as well as a cookery class in Casablanca, while the 10-night Musical Norway cruise, also from Dover, features the nine-mile long Geirangerfjord, with musical excursions and on-board jazz, and experience driving aPorsche 911 on a frozen lake!”

Source: Saga Group Communications

August 7th 2019: “Saga has sold Saga Sapphire to Turkish travel firm Anex Tour for an undisclosed sum. The travel group will offer sailings in the eastern Mediterranean from mid 2020 and, under Anex, the ship will sail its maiden voyage from Antalya, Turkey. Saga will retire the ship next year and introduce its second new vessel, Spirit of Adventure, in summer 2020.”

© Nigel Scutt  © Nigel Scutt

© Nigel Scutt  © Nigel Scutt

© Nigel Scutt (Dover Strait Shipping)(Dover 27/09/2019)

March 15th 2020: Called at Dover. Expected that she will sail to Tilbury for an indefinite period of lay-up owing to concerns over the Coronavirus.

 

© Nigel Scutt (Dover Strait Shipping)

June 18th 2020: 

” Saga Cruises has completed the sale of Saga Sapphire to Anex Tour, a family-run Turkish tour operator. Next year she will re-enter service as BLUE SAPPHIRE operating for Anex Tours new cruise line.

Instead of the planned send-off, which was prevented by the coronavirus outbreak, Saga customers and colleagues are being asked to take part in a 2.6 challenge to complete the 8,050 nautical miles that Sapphire was due to sail for her farewell cruise. The 2.6 challenge is a fund-raising initiative which sees people complete a challenge linked to the numbers 2.6 or 26. That could be anything from running 2.6 miles to cycling 26 miles to doing 26 press-ups. Details of the challenge will be shared on Saga’s Facebook page in the coming weeks.”

Source: Shipmonk

June 26th 2020: Registered Owner: Lagoon Sea Cruises Ltd.

July 23rd 2020: Departed Tilbury (eta Gibraltar 29/07/2020)

© Robert J Smith  © Robert J Smith

© Robert J Smith

© Robert J Smith (Tilbury, 23/07/2020)

July 29th 2020: Arrived at Gibraltar Anchorage for bunkers.

July 29th 2020: Left Gibraltar showing Marmaris (Turkey) as destination.

August 6th 2020: Arrived Marmaris.

December 4th 2020: Left Marmaris under tow.

December 6th 2020: Arrived Yalova (Turkey).

July 27th 2021: Arrived Icdas (Turkey)

September 3rd 2021: Arrived Marmaris (Turkey).

September 4th 2021: Arrived Antalya (Turkey).

© Google Earth (Image dated 11/11/2021)

© Selectum Blu Cruises

© Tony Davis

© Tony Davis (Antalya, 06/05/2022)

June 2nd 2022: Commenced cruising for Selectum Blu Cruises


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Cees Bustraan, Tony Davis, Gerolf Drebes, Christian Eckardt Daniel Ferro, Brian Fisher, Yvon Perchoc, Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic), José Ricardo Rodriguez Montero, Willem Oldenburg, Carlos Poveda, Nigel Scutt (Dover Strait Shipping), Joerg Seyler, Ken Smith and Robert J Smith for their assistance in producing this feature.

Special thanks go to Saga Shipping.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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