One of the Classic Ladies built in Norway back to the 1960 around is the SERENISSIMA.
SERENISSIMA was built in Norway at Aker Trondelag AS in Trondheim for Hurtigruten as HARALD JARL sailing on itineraries along the Norwegian fjords and coastline. Extensively refurbished in 2003, the 100 passenger vessel was renamed ANDREA and chartered exclusively by Noble Caledonia for several years.
Above images at Grand Harbour, Malta as ANDREA back to October 2004.
During April 2012, she was sold and renamed SERENISSIMA by her new owners – Volga Dream (Russian cruise travel company). Her current cruise itinerary program is very diverse and includes destinations, such as the Panama Canal, the Azores Islands, Caribbean, Northern Europe (UK-Scotland, Baltic Sea) and also the Mediterranean Sea of which she visited Malta too.
In the evening of Monday 20th May, 2013 she ran aground in Oban Bay in Scotland after she went the wrong way round a navigation buoy, as she encountered the ropax ISLE OF MULL, when she entered Oban Bay in Argyll from the north with 112 souls aboard. There were no injuries reported. Due to strong winds pushing her towards the shore, the initial attempt to refloat her using her own power failed. The second (successful) attempt was during high tide when at 2230 hrs she was towed off.
2018 Independence Day at Malta she anchored off Mgarr Harbour, Gozo for few hours as per below images –
On Sunday 23rd June, 2019, Norway’s 5th largest newspaper Bergens Tidende reported that the Noble Caledonia-owned cruise vessel was seized in Port Bergen, Norway. On Monday 24th evening , the ship was released and allowed to continue the voyage.
Below images are of SERENISSIMA berthed at Pinto 3 Wharf, Valletta Cruise Port on Tuesday 24th September, 2019.
SERENISSIMA is represented in Malta by Malta Cruise Services, a division of Mifsud Brothers Ltd – www.mbl.com.mt
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli otherwise stated. NO PHOTOS can be used or manipulated without our permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Wednesday 30th December 2020