Blue Sapphire (ship)
Blue Sapphire at Quay in Port of Rhodes 30 (August 2024) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | |
| Cost | US$120 million |
| Yard number | 1001 |
| Laid down | April 1980 |
| Launched | 22 December 1980 |
| Completed | 1981 |
| Acquired | 5 December 1981 |
| Maiden voyage | 8 January 1982 |
| In service | 8 January 1982-present |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 37,049 GT; 5,168 DWT |
| Length | 199.63 m (654.95 ft) |
| Beam | 28.55 m (93.67 ft) |
| Draught | 8.30 m (27.23 ft) |
| Decks | 12 |
| Installed power |
|
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h) |
| Capacity | 600 passengers |
| General characteristics (as Bleu de France) | |
| Type | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 37,301 GRT |
| Decks | 12 (10 passenger accessible) |
| Speed | 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 406 |
Blue Sapphire is a cruise ship owned and operated by ANEX Tour. She was originally built in 1981 by Bremer Vulkan of Germany for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as Europa. In 1999, Europa was sold to Star Cruises and she was renamed SuperStar Europe and a year later, Superstar Aries. In 2004, she was sold to Pullmantur Cruises and renamed Holiday Dream. In May 2008, she was transferred to the fleet of CDF Croisières de France and renamed Bleu de France. In November 2010, she was sold to Saga Cruises, but retained on charter by CDF for a further 12 months. Following an extensive refit in Italy from November 2011 to March 2012, the vessel was renamed Saga Sapphire. Most recently, she was sold to ANEX Tour in June 2020 and renamed Blue Sapphire, scheduled for an official debut in 2021.