GRAND CELEBRATION cruise vessel

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a cruise vessel under yard No 597 by Kockums A/B Varv., Malmo, Sweden for Grand Celebration (Carnival Group), Monrovia.
08 August 1985 laid down.
09 August 1986 launched as the CELEBRATION. She was one of the Holiday class.
Tonnage 47,262 grt, 6,405 dwt., dim. 223.37 x 28.20 x 7.75m. (draught), length bpp. 190.8m.
Powered by two 7-cyl. Sulzer diesel engines, 23,510 kW, twin shafts, speed 21.7 knots.
Accommodation for 1.896 passengers.
February 1987 completed, building cost $130 million.

At that time she and her sisters were the largest purpose-built cruise vessels in the world.
After delivery sailed to Miami for her maiden voyage from that port to the Caribbean.
On the morning of 10 February 1989, the CELEBRATION collided with the Cuban freighter CAPTAIN SAN LUIS, in a position 20 miles north of Punta Guérico, Venezuela, breaking the freighter in half and causing it to sink in 13 minutes. Three crew members of the CAPTAIN SAN LUIS, including its captain, were missing and presumed dead. The freighter was hauling cement at the time of the collision, and had been experiencing electrical problems which left it without lights, navigational equipment, or steering. The CELEBRATION remained on-site, rescuing the 42 survivors from the water and transferring them to a Cuban navy ship and tugboat before continuing on to Miami, where her slight damage was repaired.
2000 Under Panama registry with homeport Panama City.
2008 Renamed by owners in GRAND CELEBRATION after an extensive refit and thereafter managed by Iberocruceros, Under Portuguese flag and registry with homeport Madeira.

2019 In-service the same name and owners. IMO NO 8314134.

Uruguay 2012 $37 sg?, scott?

Source: Various web-sites and Wikipedia.