Delphin Voyager (November 3, 2009)
The Delphin Voyager makes an early morning arrival to Singapore during 2009 in the photograph below.
History
Originally built as the Orient Venus for Japan Cruise Line, she spent the first 15 years of her career as a middle tier cruise ship dedicated to the Japanese market. In 2005, the Orient Venus was sold to First Cruise Line and renamed Cruise One. Shortly thereafter, she arrived in Greece for a substantial makeover. In 2007, she began working for Delphin Kruezfarthen (Dolphin Cruises) and her named changed to Delphin Voyager.
Design The Delphin Voyager was built at Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) in Japan with a focus on the retiring middle class of Japan. Originally, the front superstructure of the ship had a slender wrap around observation area two decks below the bridge on Deck 5. After her Greek renovation, the wrap around area was enclosed to add 2 additional cabins.
The after end of the ship underwent significant modification. The superstructure behind the funnel was removed down to Deck 4. When completed, the ship emerged with 67 balcony cabins in 3 tiers wrapping around the stern of the ship.
Additionally on Deck 8, the ship also gained a disco tacked on to the rear end of the funnel as perpendicular compliment to the Panorama Lounge.
Although built 8 years apart, the Pacific Venus below is strikingly similar in design to her predecessor. There is a clear linkage between the two vessels and their design. The most obvious feature is the funnel to be discussed further below.
Vital Statistics
| Name(s): | Delphin Voyager (ex-Cruise One, ex-Orient Venus) |
| IMO: | 8902333 | | | | |
| Call Sign: | C6UU6 | | | | |
| Builder: | Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. Tokyo (Japan) |
| Yard Number: | 2987 | | | | |
| Delivery: | 6-Jul-1990 | | | | |
| Gross Tonnage: | 23,287 | | | | |
| Length: | 174.0 | m | 570.9 | ft | | |
| Beam: | 24.0 | m | 78.7 | ft | | |
| Draft: | 6.5 | m | 21.4 | ft | | |
| Passengers: | 606 | lower | 325 | cabins | 650 | max |
| Engines: | Pielstick 2 x 12 cylinder 12PC2-6V diesels producing a total of 13,316 kW (17,848 hp) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x variable pitch propeller | | |
| Thrusters: | 1 x bow thruster 920 kW (1,234 hp) | | |
| Speed: | Cruising | 18.5 kts | Max | 22 kts | | |
| Owner: | First Cruise One Corp (Marshall Islands) |
The picture below focuses on the funnel and Panorama Lounge just parked at the foot of the funnel on the Delphin Voyager. The Lounge design forward of the funnel is an unmistakable trademark of Japan Cruise Line. Looking closely below, the embossed outlined of her original owner's logo, Japan Cruise Line, can be seen at the base of the dolphins tale.
The funnel on the Pacific Venus below, shares an almost identical design her cousin. The one time running mate to the Delphin Voyager shows off the blue and purple Japan Cruise Line logo. The notches on the forward part of the funnel and the wire rib around the straight vertical exhaust pipes clinches the comparison between the two ships and verifies their common parentage.
Current & Future
The German cruise market is on fire. Carnival is pumping huge capital into building unique ships for their AIDA Cruises brand. As part of their ongoing investment in TUI, Royal Caribbean is experimenting with their own Mein Schiff, Phoenix Reisen, and of course, main stay luxury brands Peter Deilmann and Hapag Lloyd are in the mix as well. With the current economic times, the competition is getting very tough.
In the photograph below, the rising sun in Singapore casts a remarkable warm cloak over the Delphin Voyager as she prepares to berth at Singapore Cruise Centre. When the ensuing battle over the German cruise passenger is finished, hopefully the Delphin Voyager will remain a strong competitor.
To see more images of Delphin Voyager in Singapore, visit our gallery here.
Clayton Shipping would like to extend a special thanks to Dave Iwamoto at IHI for helping to verify facts for this article.