Louis Cruise Lines Purchases ORIENT QUEEN

Louis purchases 1968-built vessel for $22 million

Louis Cruise Lines has exercised its right to acquire the cruise ship ORIENT QUEEN from Orient Queen Shipping Inc .

Since August 2006 the ship has been operated by Louis with a bareboat/hire purchase agreement with her previous owners. After deduction of fees paid already, the purchase price was $22 million,

The formal acquisition of the vessel brings Louis fleet up to 13 cruise ships.

The ORIENT QUEEN was built AG Weser of Bremerhaven for Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1968 as the STARWARD. Sold to Festival Cruises in 1994 she was renamed BOLERO. After the collapse of Festival she went to Abou Merhi Cruise Lines and renamed ORIENT QUEEN.

She 525 feet long, and 15,781 grt.

She achieved fame in July of last year, being the ship the US hired to evacuate around 1000 US citizens from Lebanon.

RETURN