GALVESTON, TX (April 3, 2017) - On Monday,
April 3, 2017 the MS Amadea of Phoenix Reisen Cruise Lines will call at the
Port of Galveston. The four star plus rated ship, owned and operated by Phoenix
Reisen Cruise Line arrives with approximately 600 passengers and 200 crew
members on board. This is the first U.S. stop on this year’s worldwide
itinerary.
A port call is a visit from a
ship that doesn’t homeport in a city, but calls on a port as part of its cruise
itinerary.
“We are excited to welcome the MS Amadea and its passengers and
crew to Galveston Island. The Port and its partners continue to work together
on making Galveston a port of call,” stated Chairman Benjamin Holland. “Ship calls provide an opportunity to showcase
the island’s many sites and attractions. I’m confident that these international
travelers will enjoy all that the island has to offer.”
MS Amadea, former MS Asuka,
was built in Yokohama in 1991 and had its maiden voyage in December 1991 for
NYK cruises in Japan. In March 2006, the ship was sold to Phoenix Reisen Cruise
Line based in Germany. The first time the ship travelled to US waters was in 2008. Since then the ship has continued to visit the US on an annual basis.
In Germany the ship is known as “Das
Traumschiff”. "The Dream Ship" is a German television series by ZDF.
The series, about a cruise ship that travels to places around the world,
debuted in 1981 and has become one of the most-watched television shows in
Germany. It has aired for more than 35 years. It was primarily filmed and set
aboard the MS Deutschland cruise ship as it sailed to tourist destinations
around the world. In 2015 the MS Amadea became the featured ship, the 5th vessel to become the “Dream Ship”. Due to her popularity, the cruise liner has up to 80% in repeat passengers and is regularly fully booked year round.
The MS
Amadea offers a wide range of facilities, yet still enjoys a home-away-from-home
atmosphere. It is a
luxurious and charming vessel containing 2 royal suites, 40 suites, and 254 cabins, 106 of which have a private balcony. The slogan for the passengers, “Welcome Home,” is ever present and is the motto of the crew.
The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Galveston the morning
of April 3. The Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau will be on
onsite to welcome passengers and distribute information. Several shore excursions are being
offered to cruise passengers including a visit to Moody Gardens and
tours of Space Center Houston. Passengers are also offered the opportunity to
discover the many shopping and entertainment possibilities of the Historic Downtown
Strand Seaport District.
The Port of Galveston is the region’s gateway
to the Gulf for cruise ships and international trade. Located at the entrance
to Galveston Bay, the Port leases and maintains facilities on both Galveston
Island and Pelican Island. The Galveston Island operations are a diversified
mix of cargo including roll on-roll-off cargo, dry bulk, export grain,
refrigerated fruit, general cargo, and project cargo. In addition, the Port
handles over 1.7 million cruise passengers annually. The Port’s Pelican Island
facilities comprise a combination of undeveloped property, an active ship and
rig repair facility, and liquid bulk operations. The Port is a self-supporting
enterprise utility with operating revenues of approximately $34 million. It
does not rely on tax dollars for operations.
###