Island Escape

Island Escape was the best-known operating name of a passenger vessel whose career spanned more than three decades and several distinct maritime businesses. The ship was constructed in France by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A. in Nantes for Scandinavian World Cruises, a DFDS subsidiary, and entered service in 1982 as the cruiseferry MS Scandinavia. At the time of her completion, she was described as the largest cruiseferry in the world. Her original role combined passenger accommodation with vehicle transport on Scandinavian routes. After leaving Scandinavian World Cruises, the vessel had a short period associated with DFDS Seaways. In 1985 she was renamed MS Stardancer and operated for Sundance Cruises and later Admiral Cruises. In 1990 she was acquired by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and renamed MS Viking Serenade. The following year, between January and June 1991, the ship underwent a major conversion at the former Southwest Marine shipyard in San Diego. The conversion changed her from a cruiseferry into a full-time cruise ship, including the transformation of the vehicle deck into passenger space. The name Island Escape was adopted in 2002 when the ship was transferred to Island Cruises, a new Royal Caribbean subsidiary. Under that identity she became associated with a more casual, mainstream cruise proposition rather than her earlier ferry and traditional cruise roles. In April 2009 she joined the Thomson Cruises fleet while retaining the Island Escape name. Thomson operated her in the Canary Islands and the Western Mediterranean, and the ship was later used within Thomson's all-inclusive Island Cruises operation. A further refurbishment costing a reported £4 million was planned in 2010, although the source material does not establish the full scope or completion status of that work. The vessel's Island Escape career ended as fleet renewal progressed. Thomson replaced her with Splendour of the Seas in 2016. She had reportedly been sold in late 2015 and was renamed MS Ocean Gala after heading to Brest for dry-docking. Under the Ocean Gala name, the ship was marketed for floating accommodation rather than conventional cruising. A proposed arrangement with the Swedish Migration Agency would have used her as accommodation for asylum seekers at Härnösand, but the plan did not proceed. Local authorities raised concerns about the facility's compliance with port-security requirements, and the ship was subsequently offered for sale or charter. The ship later moved through Denmark and the Middle East. She completed a five-year survey with DNV GL in Denmark, served for a period as floating accommodation connected with work near the Suez Canal, and subsequently reached Khalifa in Abu Dhabi. After spending several months laid up there, she sailed to Alang, India, where she was beached for demolition on 4 April 2018. Her history also attracted attention because of two separate murders involving passengers: the 1988 killing of Karen Waltz aboard the vessel, then operating under another name, and the 2006 murder of Micki Kanesaki while the ship was operating as Island Escape. The ship was also the subject of a ten-episode British television documentary about the working lives of cruise-ship crew members.

MS Island Escape began life as MS Scandinavia, a large cruiseferry built by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A. in Nantes, France, for Scandinavian World Cruises, a subsidiary of DFDS. The ship was completed in 1982 and was initially designed for a ferry business combining passenger travel and vehicle carriage. Its size made it notable at launch, as it was described as the largest cruiseferry in the world at that time. After withdrawal from Scandinavian World Cruises, the vessel briefly operated for DFDS Seaways. In 1985 it became MS Stardancer under Sundance Cruises and subsequently Admiral Cruises. In 1990 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines acquired the ship and renamed her MS Viking Serenade. A substantial conversion took place from January to June 1991 at the former Southwest Marine shipyard in San Diego. The work altered the vessel's commercial purpose: the car deck was converted into passenger accommodation and the ship became a full-time cruise ship rather than a conventional cruiseferry. In 2002 Royal Caribbean transferred the ship to Island Cruises, its new cruise subsidiary, and renamed her MS Island Escape. The vessel became a recognizable platform for the subsidiary's casual and accessible cruise product. In April 2009 she entered Thomson Cruises' fleet but kept the Island Escape name. Thomson used her for itineraries in the Canary Islands and Western Mediterranean and later operated her through its all-inclusive Island Cruises program. A refurbishment was planned for 2010, with contemporary reporting describing an intended expenditure of £4 million. The ship was eventually displaced by newer or otherwise more suitable tonnage. Thomson replaced Island Escape with Splendour of the Seas in 2016. Reports in December 2015 said that the vessel had been sold and was traveling to Brest for dry-docking. She emerged under the name Ocean Gala and was subsequently promoted as a floating accommodation facility. One proposed use was as an asylum hotel in Härnösand, Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency was reported to have signed an agreement for accommodation for up to 1,790 asylum seekers, but the plan was not implemented. The arrangement became entangled in port and regulatory issues, including a police report concerning the alleged absence of the required ISPS classification at the relevant harbor. The vessel was returned to the market for sale or charter in August 2016. She left the port in November because she did not meet applicable Finnish-Swedish ice-class rules and because winter heating costs would have increased. After leaving Sweden, Ocean Gala spent time in Denmark, where she completed a five-year survey with DNV GL. She later served as floating accommodation connected with work near the Suez Canal and called at Limassol. In May 2017 she transited the Suez Canal, initially prompting speculation that she was heading directly for the Indian ship-breaking market. Instead, she proceeded to Khalifa in Abu Dhabi, where she remained in service or lay-up for a period. In March 2018 she departed for Alang, India, and was beached at Kaya plot 103 on 4 April 2018 for scrapping. The ship's public profile was also shaped by two criminal cases. In 1988, while sailing under an earlier name, Karen Waltz was murdered by her husband, Scott Rolston. In 2006, during the Island Escape period, Micki Kanesaki was murdered by her former husband, Lonnie Kocontes. In addition, the ship was featured in a ten-part British television documentary first broadcast in 2002. The program followed crew members and portrayed the practical and social routines of working aboard a cruise ship.

1. 2018Beached for scrapping at Alang

   The former Island Escape reached Alang and was dismantled after being beached on 4 April.

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2. 2016Swedish asylum accommodation proposal fails

   A proposed use as an asylum hotel in Härnösand was abandoned amid port-security and operating concerns.

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3. 2015Renamed MS Ocean Gala

   Following a reported sale, the ship was sent to Brest for dry-docking and adopted the Ocean Gala name.

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4. 2009Joins Thomson Cruises

   Island Escape joined Thomson Cruises while retaining her name and serving Canary Islands and Western Mediterranean itineraries.

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5. 2002Adopts the Island Escape name

   The ship entered the Island Cruises fleet and was renamed MS Island Escape.

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6. 1991Converted into a full-time cruise ship

   A major conversion in San Diego replaced the vehicle-deck function with passenger accommodation.

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7. 1990Acquired by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

   Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines acquired the vessel and renamed her MS Viking Serenade.

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8. 1985Renamed MS Stardancer

   The ship began a new phase of its career with Sundance Cruises and Admiral Cruises under the name MS Stardancer.

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9. 1982MS Scandinavia enters service

   The vessel was completed by Dubigeon-Normandie in Nantes for Scandinavian World Cruises, a DFDS subsidiary, and entered service as MS Scandinavia.

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A mainstream, casual and all-inclusive cruise offering built around a mature converted cruiseferry.

• MS ScandinaviaCruiseferry1982

  The ship's original identity, operated for Scandinavian World Cruises as a large passenger-and-vehicle ferry. Its initial configuration supported Scandinavian ferry traffic before later ownership and commercial changes.

• MS Viking SerenadeCruise ship1990

  The name used after Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines acquired the vessel in 1990. During this period the ship was converted from a cruiseferry into a dedicated cruise ship, including the repurposing of the car deck for passenger use.

• Island EscapeMainstream cruise operation2002

  The vessel's principal cruise-era identity from 2002 to 2015. It was associated with Island Cruises and later Thomson Cruises, offering casual and all-inclusive cruises focused on the Canary Islands and Western Mediterranean.

• Ocean GalaFloating accommodation2015

  The post-cruise identity used after the vessel was sold and renamed in the mid-2010s. It was marketed for accommodation use, including a proposed asylum-hotel project in Sweden and later floating accommodation associated with work near the Suez Canal.

• 2002Island Escape crew documentary

  United Kingdom

  A ten-episode British television documentary followed the daily working lives of crew members aboard the ship and presented its onboard routines and employment conditions to a general audience.

  Outcome. The program was broadcast in the United Kingdom and later repeated on Bravo.

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• 2016Attempted conversion to floating accommodationStrategy

  After leaving the cruise fleet, the renamed Ocean Gala was marketed for non-cruise accommodation use.

  What changed. A proposed Swedish project would have used the ship as an asylum hotel for up to 1,790 people.

  Aftermath. The plan did not proceed. Port-security concerns and later ice-class and heating-cost issues contributed to the ship leaving Sweden.

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• 2010Planned refurbishmentOther

  Thomson Cruises continued operating the aging ship and was reported to be considering further investment in her onboard facilities.

  What changed. A refurbishment budget of £4 million was reported for Island Escape.

  Aftermath. The available source material does not establish the complete scope or final delivery of the refurbishment.

  Planned refurbishment budget. 4000000 GBP (2010 planned expenditure)

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• 2002Transfer to Island CruisesStrategy

  Royal Caribbean established Island Cruises as a separate cruise operation.

  What changed. The vessel was transferred to the new subsidiary and renamed Island Escape.

  Aftermath. The ship became associated with a casual, mainstream cruise proposition and retained the name through its later Thomson Cruises service.

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• 1991Conversion from cruiseferry to cruise shipGeneration change

  The vessel's original ferry configuration no longer represented its intended cruise-market role after acquisition by Royal Caribbean.

  What changed. The ship underwent an extensive conversion in San Diego, including turning the car deck into passenger accommodation.

  Aftermath. The conversion enabled the vessel to operate as a dedicated cruise ship for the remainder of its passenger-service career.

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• 2006Murder of Micki KanesakiControversy

  Micki Kanesaki was murdered aboard Island Escape by her former husband, Lonnie Kocontes. The case received attention because of similarities to the earlier onboard killing.

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• 1988Murder of Karen WaltzControversy

  Karen Waltz was murdered aboard the vessel while it operated under an earlier name. Her husband, chiropractor Scott Rolston, was convicted after attempting to present the killing as an accidental drowning.

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• 2018Island Escape scrapped at Alang

  After a period laid up in Abu Dhabi, the ship sailed to Alang and was beached for demolition in April 2018.

  Other
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• 2016Island Escape replaced by Splendour of the Seas

  Thomson Cruises replaced Island Escape with Splendour of the Seas as part of its fleet changes.

  Product generationOther
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• 2016Ocean Gala asylum accommodation plan abandoned

  A proposal to use the renamed vessel as accommodation for asylum seekers in Härnösand did not proceed after port and regulatory concerns were raised.

  RegulationOther
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• 2016Ocean Gala leaves Sweden

  The vessel departed the Swedish port in November after concerns related to ice-class compliance and the cost of heating operations.

  RegulationOther
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• 2010Refurbishment planned for Island Escape

  Thomson Cruises was reported to have scheduled a further refurbishment of Island Escape.

  Other
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• 2009Island Escape transferred into Thomson Cruises operations

  The vessel joined the Thomson Cruises fleet in April 2009 and continued operating under the Island Escape name in the Canary Islands and Western Mediterranean.

  Other
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1. MS Island Escape