The Calypso

MS The Calypso was a cruise liner associated with Louis Cruises and, during part of its operating life, chartered to Thomson Cruises, the cruise business connected with TUI Travel. The vessel appeared under several names during its career, including Canguro Verde, Durr, Ionian Harmony, Sun Fiesta, Regent Jewel, and Calypso, before operating as The Calypso. As a passenger ship, The Calypso was configured for conventional leisure cruising rather than as a specialist expedition or luxury vessel. Its accommodation comprised 243 cabins. Passenger capacity was reported as 486 people on lower berths, with total capacity reaching approximately 740 when upper berths were included. Onboard facilities included four bars, two restaurants, a bistro, a disco, casino, library with internet access, swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna, massage room, and fashion shops. Cabin electricity was supplied at 110 volts. The ship served routes associated with European cruising. One documented voyage was a sailing from Tilbury to Saint Peter Port on Guernsey in May 2006, when the vessel was carrying 708 people. At approximately 4 a.m. on 6 May, its starboard engine caught fire about 16 miles, or 26 kilometres, from Eastbourne. The crew extinguished the fire, while passengers were directed to designated emergency stations. The situation did not require the launch of lifeboats or other evacuation craft, but the fire caused extensive damage and removed the ship from service for part of the northern-hemisphere summer cruising season. The Calypso ultimately left commercial service. In April 2013, it was beached at Alang, India, a major ship-recycling centre, for scrapping. Its history therefore spans multiple names, operators or charter arrangements, a broad leisure-cruise amenity offering, a significant onboard fire, and final dismantling. It is no longer an active cruise ship or passenger brand.

The vessel known as MS The Calypso was a passenger cruise liner whose identity changed several times over the course of its operating career. The documented former names are Canguro Verde, Durr, Ionian Harmony, Sun Fiesta, Regent Jewel, and Calypso. These successive names reflect changes in commercial operation, chartering, or vessel management, although the available reference material does not provide a complete chronology for each renaming. In its later career, the ship was owned by Louis Cruises. It was also under charter to Thomson Cruises at one point; Thomson Cruises was associated with TUI Travel. The ship therefore operated within the European holiday-cruise market, carrying passengers on leisure voyages rather than functioning as a cargo, military, or specialist research vessel. The Calypso offered a relatively broad range of amenities for a mid-sized cruise liner. The vessel contained 243 cabins, with capacity reported at 486 passengers on lower berths and up to 740 passengers when upper berths were counted. Public areas included four bars, two restaurants, a bistro, a disco, casino, library with internet access, swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna, massage room, and fashion shops. These facilities positioned the ship as a self-contained holiday environment, combining transportation with accommodation, dining, entertainment, shopping, and wellness services. Cabin electrical supply was listed as 110 volts. A major operational incident occurred on 6 May 2006. At about 4 a.m., the ship's starboard engine caught fire approximately 16 miles, or 26 kilometres, off Eastbourne. It was then carrying 708 people on a voyage from Tilbury to Saint Peter Port on Guernsey. The crew succeeded in putting out the fire. Passengers were assembled at the designated emergency stations as a precaution, but the emergency did not progress to a lifeboat launch or full evacuation. The fire nevertheless caused extensive damage, and the ship was unavailable for service through the early part of the northern-hemisphere summer cruising season. The liner continued in service after the incident, but it eventually reached the end of its commercial life. In April 2013, The Calypso was beached at Alang, India, for scrapping. Alang is widely associated with ship recycling, and the beaching marked the vessel's transition from an operating cruise liner to a dismantling project. The ship is consequently a defunct maritime product rather than an active brand. Its principal historical significance lies in its succession of names, association with Louis Cruises and Thomson Cruises, passenger-oriented amenities, documented 2006 engine fire, and final scrapping in 2013.

1. 2013Scrapping at Alang

   The Calypso was beached at Alang, India, in April 2013 for scrapping.

   Source
2. 2006Starboard engine fire near Eastbourne

   The ship suffered a starboard engine fire on 6 May while carrying 708 people from Tilbury to Saint Peter Port. The crew extinguished the fire, but extensive damage caused a temporary withdrawal from service.

   Source

A conventional European leisure cruise liner offering accommodation, dining, entertainment, casino, retail, and recreational facilities to several hundred passengers.

• MS The CalypsoCruise liner

  A passenger cruise liner associated with Louis Cruises and previously chartered at one time to Thomson Cruises. The ship contained 243 cabins and could accommodate 486 passengers on lower berths, or approximately 740 passengers including upper berths. Its onboard amenities included bars, restaurants, a bistro, disco, casino, library with internet access, swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna, massage room, and fashion shops. The vessel operated under several earlier names before being known as The Calypso and was ultimately scrapped at Alang in 2013.

• 2013The Calypso beached at Alang for scrapping

  The former cruise liner was beached at Alang, India, in April for dismantling, ending its operating life.

  Other
  Source
• 2006Starboard engine fire takes The Calypso out of service

  On 6 May, the starboard engine caught fire approximately 16 miles from Eastbourne while the ship was sailing from Tilbury to Saint Peter Port with 708 people aboard. The crew extinguished the fire and passengers assembled at emergency stations. No evacuation was required, but the vessel sustained extensive damage and was out of service for part of the summer cruising season.

  Other
  Source

1. MS The Calypso