In June 1982, the ship was sold by Rederi Ab Sally to Suomen Yritysrahoitus, who chartered her back to Sally. The Viking Saga and Viking Song, alongside Silja Line's contemporary MS Finlandia and MS Silvia Regina, were instrumental in turning the Helsinki - Stockholm route into a popular cruise route. The interior and exterior design of her and her sister was heavily influenced by those of GTS Finnjet of 1977. The Viking Saga was the first genuine cruiseferry in Finland - Sweden traffic. Two of the Sally ships have been involved in a total of three serious accidents. MS Viking Sally (later MS Estonia) was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The Viking Saga and her sister ship MS Viking Song were built by WГ¤rtsilГ¤ (now Aker Finnyards) in Turku, Finland. Viking Line received a total of four new ships in 1980 alone, three of which were built for Rederi AB Sally. In 1979-1981 the Baltic ferry operators Silja Line and Viking Line brought several new cruiseferries to the routes connecting Stockholm to Helsinki and Turku. The modules were assembled together and the ship was launched in Perno and the hull was tugged after to Turku Shipyard for outfitting. The bow and stern modules were built at WГ¤rtsilГ¤ Turku Shipyard and the middle part was made at WГ¤rtsilГ¤ Perno Shipyard. The ship was originally built in 1980 for Rederi Ab Sally, one of Viking Line partners as the cruiseferry MS Viking Saga. MS Viking Saga in original appearance and livery. ДЄlthough the 1980 ship and the 1992 ship appear superficially unalike both externally and internally, they share the same IMO number because they are technically the same ship. Subsequently she sailed as MS SuperStar Taurus for Star Cruises, MS Silja Opera for Silja Line and spent a year laid up as MS Opera prior to entering service with her current owner in 2007. After partially sinking 1994 she was rebuilt at Industrie Navali Meccaniche Affini, La Spezia, Italy, re-entering service as MS Leeward for Norwegian Cruise Line. She was re-delivered in 1992, still named Sally Albatross. The ship was destroyed by a fire in 1990, and completely rebuilt at Finnyards, Rauma, Finland. In 1986 she was renamed MS Sally Albatross, and rebuilt into a cruise ship the following year. The ship was originally built as the cruiseferry MS Viking Saga in 1980 at WГ¤rtsilГ¤ Perno Shipyard and Turku Shipyard, Turku, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally. General characteristics (as rebuilt, 1992) Д© (passenger accessible), with 476 cabins Д¬elestyal Crystal, previously Louis Cristal, is a cruise ship operated by the Cyprus-based Celestyal Cruises and previously Louis Cruise Lines, both in the Louis Group. 2012 onwards: Cristal Trading Opco LLC.General characteristics (as rebuilt, 1988) General characteristics (as built, 1980) Remains in service as of 2015, see below. Completely rebuilt, 1990-1992 (technically considered the same ship). WГ¤rtsilГ¤ Perno Shipyard and Turku Shipyard, Turku, Finland Дestroyed by fire while in drydock in Nacka, Sweden. 1980вЂ“1986: Rederi Ab Sally (in Viking Line traffic).1989вЂ“1990: Partrederiet Sally Albatross.

Viking saga 4