ssMaritime.com &
ssMaritime.net
With
Reuben Goossens
Maritime
Historian
Part Four
ss OceanBreeze
Southern Cross, Calypso, Azure Seas
Imperial Majesty
Cruise Lines elegant ss OceanBreeze
IMC
In 1991, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines acquired
Admiral Cruises who had no need for the Azure Seas
being old tonnage. She was sold to Dolphin Cruise Line who was looking to add a
third ship to their popular fleet consisting of Dolphin IV, and SeaBreeze I.
The Azure Seas was now renamed ss OceanBreeze, and
was given extensive renovations. Now registered in Aruba, ss OceanBreeze
commenced seven night cruises around the Southern Caribbean and the Panama Canal. In 1996, she was relocated for cruising out
of Florida, and New York.
Dolphin Cruises postcard of the OceanBreeze
Author’s private collection
Late in 1997, Dolphin, Seawind and Premier Cruises amalgamated. ss OceanBreeze continued her cruising
duties under her new banner, but received bright new livery, featuring a dark
blue hull, topped with a gold ribbon, and a dark blue funnel. She looked very
impressive indeed, better than at any time during her past 54 years in service.
OceanBreeze resumed her Panama Canal and Caribbean
cruise service until early 1999, when the Ramada-owned Imperial Majesty Cruise
Lines was created.
Links to our Photo Albums are located at bottom of this page
Author’s
private collection
IMC chartered
the OceanBreeze from Premier Cruises and retained her livery, but replaced the Premier
funnel logo with a white crown. Under Premier, her aft flanks had the name
“Premier Cruises” painted on it. This was replaced with
“Imperial Majesty.” The IMC
product was to operate year-round two night cruises from Ft.
Lauderdale to Nassau
in the Bahamas.
ss OceanBreeze departed on her inaugural cruise from Pt. Everglades on January 11, 1999.
ss OcreanBreeze
From an IMC
postcard
Due to the immense success of her
short and affordable cruises, combined with excellent service, entertainment,
and cuisine, Imperial Majesty decided to purchase the OceanBreeze outright on May 20, 2000. In
September, ss OceanBreeze received a complete refurbishment, which in the words
of the IMC President, Mr. Arthur
Pollack, would see her “restored to her original splendour, making her a
truly classic ship, with a modern and tropical ambiance.” It is said that
the ss OceanBreeze returned to her Ft. Lauderdale-Bahamas service with the well
wishes of HRH Queen Elizabeth II,
and she had sent her regrets for not being able to re-christen the ship. ss
OceanBreeze continued her successful two night cruise duties to the Bahamas,
until June 2003.
ss OceanBreeze is one of the last surviving
ocean liners built by the
legendary Harland & Wolff Shipyard and worth our rescue
campaign!
Photograph is © copyright the Dutch Cruise Site
After four years of faithful
service, IMC made a sudden
announcement on June
3, 2003. OceanBreeze was going to be replaced by another classic
cruise ship, the Regal Empress (ex Caribe I, Olympia). Mr. Arthur M. Pollack, President
Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, LLC told the author on 10 October 2003, that
OceanBreeze was sold for the following three reasons.
1… IMC
needed to spend US$ 5 million to make her ADA
(American with Disabilities Act) compliant.
2… For short cruises,
“The cost of operating a Steam Turbine vessel was prohibitive.”
3… IMC
required a ship with “bow thrusters.” Thus, IMC
decided on the option to purchase another classic ship that was on the market
for what we might call at a bargain basement price at that time being the Regal
Empress. She fitted all of the aforementioned requirements, saving IMC, according to Mr. Pollack, an operating cost of
US$ 1.5 million a year.
It needs to be understood that
OceanBreeze was not sold because of deterioration or mechanical failures, for
she was in excellent condition, and described as
“ready for trade.” OceanBreeze was also in possession of a SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea)
certificate, which is valid to 2010. OceanBreeze departed on her last cruise in
June 2003, returning to Ft.
Lauderdale three days
later. The Regal Empress departed for her final two-night cruise to Nassau on 24 June.
--ss
OceanBreeze Ft. Lauderdale - June 2003--
We sincerely thank Mr. Andreas Vurdubakis
of Imperial Majesty Cruise Lines for
the following two photographs
OceanBreeze still looking the
grand lady she was
This fine photograph as it
clearly shows her aft deck extensions
Two Brand New Photographs of
ss OceanBreeze by Tim Rubacky © 2004
Photo 1 – Photo 2
Return to the Southern Cross / OceanBreeze
Index
Enter - Photo Page 1
The author wishes to thank, Mr. Arthur M. Pollack of President Imperial
Majesty Cruise Line, LLC, and Celebration World Cruises, Inc, Mr Andreas
Vurdubakis of Imperial Majesty Cruise Lines,
Mr. Martin Hill - London, and Michael Barnes - Australia, for their valuable
contribution to this article.
The Southern Cross, as we will
always remember her
**************************************************
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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
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Photographs on
ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s
private collection. In
addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies
and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding
the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images
would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found
on www.ssmaritime.com
only), in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have
seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals
either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well
that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show
these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where
credit is due!
This notice covers all pages,
although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly
credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page
is updated!
ssMaritime
is owned and © Copyright 2010/12 - by Reuben Goossens - All Rights Reserved