Pullmantur Cruises

File:Monarch et Sovereign en Turquie pour être démantelés.jpg, Turkey in July 2020.]]

Pullmantur began cruise operations in the 1990s by initially selling cruises on board {{SS|SeaWind Crown}}, founded by Anastasios Kyriakides (subsequently merged with Premier Cruises), in the Southern Caribbean from Premier Cruises and later also on board Premier Cruises flagship the SS Rembrandt in the Mediterranean. Premier changed its business plan in 1997 and canceled its contracts with operators, such as Pullmantur, and later collapsed in 2000. Pullmantur then acquired SS Big Red Boat 1 and started its own cruise line, Pullmantur Cruises. Big Red Boat 1 reverted to her original name {{SS|Oceanic|1965|6}}, and began cruising around the Mediterranean from Barcelona in May 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/oceanic_1965.htm |title=S/S Oceanic (1965) |accessdate=2008-04-16 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=sv |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802030911/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/oceanic_1965.htm |archive-date=August 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }} The Oceanic became very successful, and in 2002, Pullmantur acquired a second ship, MS Pacific, from Princess Cruises, and chartered the former Renaissance Cruises ship {{MS|R Five}} from Cruiseinvest. R Five was marketed under the name Blue Dream.{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_five_2000.htm |title=M/S R Five (2000) |accessdate=2008-04-16 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=sv |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804153010/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_five_2000.htm|archive-date=August 4, 2012}} Two more ships followed in 2003 when Pullmantur acquired MS Superstar Aries from Star Cruises and renamed her {{MS|Holiday Dream}}, while R Five{{'}}s sister ship {{MS|R Six}} was chartered as Blue Star.{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_six_2000.htm |title=M/S R Six (2000) |accessdate=2008-04-16 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=sv |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801150928/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_six_2000.htm |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In 2004, R Five was chartered to Oceania Cruises. In 2005, Pullmantur purchased R Six, and renamed her {{MS|Blue Dream}} after R Five exited the fleet. A third R-class ship followed in 2006 when Pullmantur bought Delphin Renaissance and renamed her {{MS|Blue Moon}}. Later that year, Pullmantur's fleet grew to six ships when it purchased Pacific Sky from P&O Cruises Australia and renamed her {{SS|Sky Wonder}}. In August 2006, Royal Caribbean Group announced it would purchase Pullmantur, making it Royal Caribbean's first wholly owned European brand.{{Cite news|date=31 August 2006|title=Royal Caribbean Acquires Spanish Cruise Line Pullmantur|work=Cruise Critic|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1772}} The acquisition was expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of the year.

Following the acquisition by Royal Caribbean, several transfers were carried out between the Pullmantur fleet and those of other Royal Caribbean brands. In 2007, Blue Dream and Blue Moon were transferred to Azamara Club Cruises, while {{MS|Oceanic II}} and Celebrity Cruises' {{MS|Zenith}} joined the Pullmantur fleet in their place. Oceanic II had only spent the 2007 summer season operating for Pullmantur.{{cite web |url=http://dougnewmanatsea.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/pullmantur-cruises-2008-itineraries-fleet/ |title=Pullmantur Cruises 2008 Itineraries & Fleet |accessdate=2008-01-28 |date=2007-09-27 |last=Newman |first=Doug |work=At Sea with Doug Newman }}

In 2008, Pullmantur received Empress of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International and renamed her {{MS|Empress}}. Pacific and Holiday Dream left the Pullmantur fleet in April and May for Quail Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://dougnewmanatsea.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/quail-cruises-unveils-2008-program/ |title=Quail Cruises Unveils 2008 Program |accessdate=2008-01-28 |last=Newman |first=Doug |date=2008-01-24 |publisher=At Sea With Doug Newman}} Also in May, Pullmantur purchased Pacific Star from P&O Cruises Australia and renamed her MS Ocean Dream. {{MS|Sovereign of the Seas}} was also transferred to Pullmantur and renamed MS Sovereign.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruisebusiness.com/news.php?u=20071012225117 |title=Say goodbye to Sovereign! The first ever modern megaship to join Pullmantur fleet |accessdate=2007-10-13 |date=2007-10-12 |work=Cruise Business Review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029035150/http://www.cruisebusiness.com/news.php?u=20071012225117 |archive-date=October 29, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Pullmantur.html |title=Pullmantur |accessdate=2008-04-16 |last=Boyle |first=Ian |work=Simplon Postcards }} In April 2008. Lloyd's List reported that Pullmantur was in the process of purchasing Pride of Aloha from Norwegian Cruise Line's subsidiary NCL America.{{cite web |url=http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/ncl-close-to-offloading-cruiseship-trio/20017522772.htm |title=NCL close to offloading cruiseship trio |accessdate=2008-04-14 |date=2008-04-14 |last=Joshi |first=Rajesh |author2=Lowry, Nigel |publisher=Lloyd's List }}{{dead link|date=April 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} However, the deal fell through and Pride of Aloha joined Norwegian's fleet.{{cite web |url=http://dougnewmanatsea.com/2008/05/07/from-norwegian-sky-to-pride-of-aloha-and-back-again/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719180819/http://dougnewmanatsea.com/2008/05/07/from-norwegian-sky-to-pride-of-aloha-and-back-again/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-07-19 |title=From Norwegian Sky to Pride of Aloha and back again |accessdate=2008-07-12 |date=2008-05-07 |last=Newman |first=Doug |work=At Sea with Doug Newman }} In January 2009, Sky Wonder was renamed Atlantic Star,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2236-12909-pullmanturs-sky-wonder-renamed-marketed-to-portuguese.html|title=Pullmantur's Sky Wonder Renamed, Marketed to Portuguese|date=28 January 2009|website=Cruise Industry News}} and in March, Oceanic was sold to Peace Boat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2441-31309-oceanic-sold.html|title=Oceanic Sold|last=Staff|first=C. I. N.|date=2009-03-13|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-10-31}} In mid-April 2009, Island Star was transferred from Island Cruises to Pullmantur Cruises.

In April 2013, Royal Caribbean transferred Monarch of the Seas to Pullmantur.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/6986-royal-caribbean-moving-monarch-of-the-seas-to-pullmantur.html|title=Royal Caribbean Moving Monarch of the Seas to Pullmantur|work=cruiseindustrynews.com|date=20 March 2012|accessdate=16 May 2016}} Ocean Dream was chartered to Peace Boat to replace Oceanic and Pacific Dream, which had been renamed Horizon, was transferred to CDF. In 2014, Zenith joined sister ship L'Horizon in the CDF fleet.

In 2014 it was announces that the Majesty of the Seas would join the Pullmantur-fleet in 2016,{{cite news| url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Majesty-of-the-Seas-to-join-Pullmantur-fleet| title=Majesty of the Seas to join Pullmantur fleet| author=Jerry Limone| date=21 November 2014| publisher=Travel Weekly| accessdate=14 July 2020}} but these plans were cancelled in 2015,{{cite web| url=http://www.pullmanturcruises.co.uk/blog/royal-caribbeans-majesty-of-the-seas-to-join-pullmantur| title=Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas to join Pullmantur| publisher=Pullmantur Cruises| accessdate=14 July 2020}} and Empress was transferred back to Royal Caribbean in early 2016.{{Cite web|title = Pullmantur: Another Change of Strategy; Empress Back to Royal - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News|url = http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13195-pullmantur-another-change-of-strategy-empress-back-to-royal-.html|website = www.cruiseindustrynews.com|date = 22 October 2015|accessdate = 2015-10-22}}

CDF ceased operations in early 2017, and both ships in the CDF fleet were transferred back to Pullmantur.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/16087-cdf-will-cease-to-sailing-its-own-ships.html|title=CDF Will Cease Sailing Its Own Ships|last=Staff|first=C. I. N.|date=2016-12-07|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-10-31}}

In July 2019, it was announced Zenith would leave the fleet in early 2020, having been chartered to Peace Boat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21221-zenith-will-sail-for-peace-boat.html|title=Zenith Will Sail for Peace Boat|last=Mathisen|first=Monty|date=2019-07-10|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-10-31}} Later in 2019, Pullmantur announced Grandeur of the Seas would be transferred from Royal Caribbean to Pullmantur, joining the fleet in April 2021.{{Cite news|last=Bond|first=Mary|date=16 October 2019|title=Grandeur of the Seas will transfer to Pullmantur in 2021|work=Seatrade Cruise News|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news-headlines/grandeur-seas-will-transfer-pullmantur-2021|access-date=22 June 2020}} There plans were cancelled in 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/08/26/royal-caribbean-will-keep-grandeur-of-the-seas-the-fleet|title=Royal Caribbean will keep Grandeur of the Seas in the fleet|website=Royal Caribbean Blog|date=26 August 2020}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of the crew members onboard Horizon were reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus following the company's suspension of operations.{{cite web|date=2020-04-04|title=Pullmantur Horizon Crew Reports COVID-19 Positive Cases Onboard|url=http://crew-center.com/pullmantur-horizon-crew-reports-covid-19-positive-cases-onboard|accessdate=2020-04-12|publisher=Crew Center}} In early-June 2020, Pullmantur's fleet had been moved into "cold lay-up" due to the company's extended suspension of operations given the pandemic.{{cite news|date=11 June 2020|title=Pullmantur Ships Move to Cold Lay-up|work=Cruise Industry News|location=New York, NY|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23074-pullmantur-ships-move-to-cold-lay-up.html|accessdate=28 June 2020}}

On 22 June 2020, Pullmantur's owners announced that, due to the significant economic impact caused by the pandemic, they had filed for reorganization of Pullmantur under Spanish insolvency laws. It was also reported Pullmantur had begun dismantling part of the interiors of MS Sovereign and MS Monarch, with claims that "everything of value" was removed.{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Jim |title=Is Pullmantur Cruises Ending Operations? |url=https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2020/06/articles/disease/is-pullmantur-cruises-ending-operations/ |accessdate=28 June 2020 |work=Cruise Law News |publisher=Walker & O'Neill Maritime Lawyers |date=21 June 2020 |location=South Miami FL}} A December 2020 news item stated that four companies had been declared bankrupt: Pullmantur S. A., Pullmantur Cruises SL, Pullmantur Holdings SL y Pullmantur Maltesas.

Pullmantur Cruises announced a plan to return and restart cruise operations. In a series of questions on Facebook addressed to the customers, Pullmantur had been asking for feedback on what would they like to see when they resume cruises. Among the questions the company asked was if guests are willing to pay 10-15 % higher prices than previously offered if it ensured a safer experience for everyone. After the fate of two Pullmantur ships, the Monarch and the Sovereign, was sealed in Aliaga scrapyard in Turkey, the company might try to resume cruises with the Horizon which was in cold lay-up in Greece Elefsinas Bay. The restart would be a tough task for Pullmantur since the company declared bankruptcy in July 2020. They said working together with the bankruptcy administration to introduce a new business plan that involved the return to operation and guaranteed the viability of the company, according the CEO of the company, Richard J. Vogel. Recently, the company has been in the spotlight in the Spanish media saying that Pullmantur left its headquarters in Madrid because of the inability to pay rent. Local media also reported that 127 employees out of 311, working in the headquarters had not received salary for the month of August 2020. Addressing this issue Pullmantur CEO, Richard J. Vogel, sent an email Friday 18.09.2020 to the entire staff, assuring them that the salary would be paid in following days. Regarding the non-payment of rent and the company moving out from the headquarters, Vogel said that they were reviewing different options, but there was no decision made to it.

{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Pullmantur/|title=Pullmantur|website=www.facebook.com}}

The plan certainly required reorganization, as the board of directors had acknowledged in June 2020: "Despite the great progress the company made to achieve a turnaround in 2019 and its huge engagement and best efforts of its dedicated employees, the headwinds caused by the pandemic are too strong for Pullmantur to overcome without a reorganization".{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Pullmantur-files-for-reorganization|title=Pullmantur files for reorganization|work=Travel Weekly}}

The December 2020 news item stated that the Royal Caribbean had agreed to provide some funds to allow Pullmantur to move ahead with a "viability plan, and to carry out the reorganization process necessary to adapt the company to the new reality with a new fleet". In the meantime, negotiations were underway with the over 300 employees who were no longer working. In early 2021, Peace Boat returned Zenith to Royal Caribbean after chartering a larger cruise ship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23509-peace-boat-to-modernize-cruise-fleet-with-newer-ship.html|title = Peace Boat to Modernize Cruise Fleet with Newer Ship|date = 16 September 2020}} In July 2021, however, Pullmantur was completely liquidated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/people-opinions/richard-vogel-former-ceo-pullmantur-cruceros-reflects-past-present-and-future|title = Richard Vogel, former CEO of Pullmantur Cruceros, reflects on the past, present and future|date = 21 June 2021}}

Horizon and Zenith were sent for scrapping in Turkey and India in August and September 2022, respectively.{{cite web | url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022/08/former-horizon-arrives-in-aliaga-for-scrapping/ | title=Former Horizon Arrives in Aliaga for Scrapping - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News }}{{cite web | url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022/09/former-zenith-to-be-scrapped-in-alang/ | title=Former Zenith to be Scrapped in Alang - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News }}

• Wamos Air
• Premier Cruise Lines

{{reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|Pullmantur Cruises}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120802172350/http://www.pullmantur.es/en/portada.html Official website]

{{Subsidiaries of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.}}

Category:Cruise lines

Category:Royal Caribbean Group