Century Harmony
Century Harmony (formerly Fascination, then Carnival Fascination) is a Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Century Harmony Cruise Ltd. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on July 1, 1994, and christened Fascination by Jeanne Farcus.[2]
Century Harmony as Carnival Fascination | |
History | |
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Name: |
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Owner: |
Carnival Corporation & plc (1994–2020) *Century Harmony Cruise Ltd (2020–onwards) |
Operator: |
Carnival Cruise Lines (1994–2020) Century Harmony Cruise Ltd (2020–onwards) |
Port of registry: |
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Builder: | |
Yard number: | 487 |
Launched: | 1 July 1994 |
Sponsored by: | Jeanne Farcus |
Completed: | 1994 |
In service: | 1994 |
Refit: | 2006 |
Identification: |
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General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Fantasy-class cruise ship |
Tonnage: | |
Length: | 855 ft (261 m) |
Beam: | 103 ft (31 m) |
Draft: | 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in) |
Decks: | 10 |
Installed power: | |
Propulsion: | Two propellers, 3 bow thrusters, 3 aft thrusters, |
Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
Capacity: |
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Crew: | 920 |
During 2007, in common with all of her Fantasy-class sisters, she had the prefix Carnival added to her name.[3] She was home-ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico and sailed in the Caribbean year-round. After the destruction caused from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, she was docked in St Croix, US Virgin Islands under charter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house hurricane relief workers from October 15, 2017 until February 3, 2018.[4]
In July 2020, as a result of Carnival Cruise Line reducing fleet capacity, Carnival Fascination entered a long term lay-up, with no planned date for the ship to return to service.[5] In November 2020, the cruise line announced that the ship had been sold to Century Harmony Cruise Ltd.[6][7]
Refits
Fascination was given a multimillion-dollar refurbishment while in dry dock during September 2006.[8]
In January 2010 Carnival Fascination was again dry docked to be refurbished.[9]
In January 2013, Carnival Fascination underwent another dry dock.
Areas of operation
Fascination sailed from New York between July 24 and September 4, 1994 before moving to San Juan, Puerto Rico.[10]
Until 2016 Carnival Fascination sailed from Jacksonville, Florida to the Bahamas.[11]
In 2013 and 2014, Coco Cay replaced Key West on some of Carnival Fascination's itineraries. Coco Cay is a private island in the Bahamas owned by rival cruise line Royal Caribbean International.[12]
In April, 2016, Carnival Fascination re-positioned to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she undertook Southern Caribbean cruises.[13]
In October 2017, Carnival Fascination was chartered to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for four months and was docked in St. Croix as part of hurricane relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.[14] This charter cost FEMA $74.7 million.[15]
From February 2018 until March 2020, the ship resumed operating Southern Caribbean cruises departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico.[16]
Incidents
Power loss
In June 2010, Carnival Fascination lost engine power due to a technical malfunction while returning to Jacksonville, Florida. Power was restored after several hours, and the ship was able to return to Jacksonville, Florida under its own power.[17]
Health inspection failure
In April 2013, it was reported that on February 21, 2013 Carnival Fascination failed a U.S. CDC health inspection after inspectors found insects in food preparation areas, dried food waste, insufficient chlorination in the pools, and insufficient sneeze guards at the salad bars. A satisfactory rating from the CDC is a score of 85 or higher. Carnival Fascination scored an 84.[18]
SARS-CoV-2
In February 2020, the ship canceled a call to Saint Lucia over a scare of COVID-19 pandemic. This is after a crew member reported illnesses, and flu like symptoms. The ship docked in Barbados but was not allowed to disembark until the individual was declared negative for SARS-CoV-2.[19]
References
Notes
- "FASCINATION - IMO 9041253".
- Smith 2010, p. 37.
- Dake, Shawn J. (January 2008). "Cruise Ships 2007 the year in review" (PDF). Ocean Times. Steamship Historical Society of America: Southern California Chapter. 12.1: 2–8.
- "Carnival Cruise Line News - Statement Regarding Carnival Fascination". carnival-news.com. October 12, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- "Carnival Cruise Line Announces Update to Fleet Plan - Carnival Cruise Line News". carnival-news.com. July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- Line, Carnival Cruise. "Carnival Cruise Line Announces Modifications To Fleet And Sailing Plans For Certain Ships". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- Leggate, James (September 16, 2020). "Carnival Cruise Line cancels more voyages, sells 2 ships". FOXBusiness. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- Carnival Cruise Lines - News Release
- "Carnival Fascination Returns to Service from Jacksonville Following Extensive "Evolutions of Fun"™ Upgrades". February 2, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- "Fun Ship From Fun City". Cruise Travel: 31. March–April 1994.
- Sloan, Gene (August 1, 2011). "Carnival adds more four- and five-day cruises out of Jacksonville, Fla". USA Today.
- Sloan, Gene (February 27, 2013). "New port for Carnival ships is owned by Royal Caribbean". USA Today. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- "Carnival Cruise Lines News". Carnival Cruise Lines News.
- "Carnival Fascination chartered to FEMA, San Juan departures canceled: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- Staff, CIN (January 8, 2018). "FEMA Carnival Charter Cost $74.7 Million". Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- "Carnival Cruise Line News". carnival-news.com. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Carter, Adam. "5 troubles on Carnival cruises". CBC News. CBC. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- Golden, Fran (April 11, 2013). "Carnival ship fails health inspection". USA Today. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- "Carnival Cruise line employee on 'Fascination' tests negative for coronavirus". al. February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
Bibliography
- Smith, Peter C. (2010). Cruise Ships: The World's Most Luxurious Vessels. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 9781848842182.