Ships made in Japan

On 15 February we had a visit from MS Asuka II ( 飛鳥II ), operated by the Japanese line Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (日本郵船株式会社). She was on a Pacific cruise from Yokohama and Kobe and return.





The ship has an interesting history: she was built at the Mitsubishi yard in Nagasaki in 1989.



She commenced service in 1990 as MS Crystal Harmony for Crystal Cruises. Crystal Cruises is owned by Nippon Yusen.



In 2006, the ship was renamed Asuka II under current ownership. Asuka II has a gross tonnage of 50,142; and is 241 metres long.



The name Auska II suggests a first Askuka, and she is still afloat under the name Amadea. The first Asuka ( of current times: there were earlier ships of this name) was also built at Mitsubishi in Nagasaki, and commenced service in 1991. In 2006 she was sold to Amadea Shipping Company and is operated under charter by the Germany-based Phoenix Reisen. She also visited Sydney this year and was at the Overseas Passenger Terminal on 26 February.



Amadea has a gross tonnage of 28,856, and is 193 metres in length.


Her itinerary would suit those who like to spend some time at sea: she departed Nice on 22 December 2010 and travelling around the world from west to east will arrive in Hamburg on 7 May 2011. The itinerary gives an indication of the many and varied ports accessible to smaller cruise ships.



( Facts in this post come from wikipedia and are hence as accurate as the wiki. )