Amera

The 1988-built (as "MS Prinsendam") MS Amera cruise ship was previously operated by Holland America Line - for 17 years (between 2002-2019). The small-sized vessel was initially built for Royal Viking Line (1972-1998 / defunct) under the name "Royal Viking Sun". It was purchased by Cunard Line and operated until 1998 (as Royal Viking Sun), then was transferred to Seabourn and in the period 1999-2002 was named Seabourn Sun.

The vessel (IMO number 8700280) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000840) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

The German cruise tour company Phoenix Reisen (shipowner) started cruise operations under its own brand in 1988, with the chartered for 20 years liner TS Maxim Gorkiy (1969-2009 scrapped, owned by USSR's Black Sea Shipping Company / later privatized and renamed Sovcomflot). In 1993, Phoenix Reisen added a second cruise liner - SS Albatros (1957-built as RMS Sylvania, 2004-scrapped as SS Genoa). The vessel was chartered from V-Ships for 10 years (1993-2003). Today, Phoenix Reisen (travel agency and cruise brand) has a large fleet of chartered and owned ocean ships and riverboats.

Amera cruise itinerary program

Phoenix Reisen's Amera cruise itinerary program is based on European voyages (Baltic, Mediterranean, Black Sea) and a once-per-year World Cruise. In Northern Europe, the ship is homeported in Bremerhaven Germany. In the Mediterranean, the ship leaves out of various ports, mainly in Italy and France.

Decks and Cabins

MS Prinsendam/Amera staterooms (419 total) include 67 Suites, 99 Balcony, 31 Inside, 6 Single cabins, in all 23 grades. Most MS Prinsendam staterooms were 150-270 ft2 / 14-25 m2 Oceanviews (222). MS Amsterdam's largest was the Pinnacle Suite (860 ft2 / 80 m2 plus 335 ft2 / 31 m2 terrace). MS Amera's largest is the Royal Suite (860 ft2 / 80 m2 with the balcony).

The MS Amera ship is conditionally suitable for guests using wheelchairs. There are cabins (#801, 807, 820, 828, 1016, 1019) on the Salon and Jupiter decks that are wheelchair-accessible (disability-friendly) with wide door entrances, a shower with grab bars, no threshold to the bathroom.

The boat has 13 decks, of which 9 passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

MS Amera guests can benefit from culinary highlights at various events in the ship's restaurants, with long table times and a free choice of seats. MS Amera has two equivalent restaurants named "Amera" (buffet-style breakfast, waiter-served lunch, and dinner) and "Ocean" (buffet-style/waiter-served breakfast; waiter-served lunch and dinner). Another dining venue is the Lido Buffet Restaurant. In addition, passengers have the opportunity to book a table for a special evening in Pichler's Restaurant (reservations are only possible onboard, no extra charge is applied). Many cafes, bars, and lounges (both inside and out) are also available on various decks.

During the day, passengers can expect a variety of program offers and in the evening live music and show entertainment. The onboard boutiques sell perfumes, jewellery, toiletries, cosmetics, souvenirs, sweets, and a selection of women's and men's clothing. Many onboard events and shore excursions are accompanied by a professional photographer and cameraman. Guests can buy the resulting photos at the photoshop. Weddings or renewal of the vows is possible onboard for voyages of 10 days or more. The ceremony is performed by the on-board chaplain or the captain.

MS Amera has a whirlpool, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and a large SPA with spa area, saunas, steam room, relaxation room, massage department (for a fee), and beauty salon. Reservations for the ship's SPA & Wellness area are possible online from approximately two weeks prior to the departure.

MS Amera provides a modernly furnished infirmary (ship hospital) run by a German-speaking doctor whose services are not part of the travel contract. In all cases, the doctor charges a fee for his services and the costs of medicines. Oxygen devices working with ambient air are allowed onboard.

Holland America Prinsendam was the company's smallest and oldest ship. The vessel is of the unique Explorer-class, and its history includes the following former names, shipowners and operators - "MS Royal Viking Sun" (1988-1998, by Royal Viking Lines and Cunard Line / 1994-1998), "MS Seabourn Sun" (for Seabourn, 1998-2002) and "MS Prinsendam" (2002-2019, by Holland America Line / Seattle-based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation).

Ship's Maiden Voyage was on November 29, 1988 (after the drydock in Turku Finland). Prinsendam's first World Cruise was in 1989 (100-day itinerary leaving from San Francisco CA). Because of its design, smaller size/capacity and the "Around The World" voyage every year (since 1988), Prinsendam in HAL's fleet was nicknamed "Elegant Explorer". MS Prinsendam was Holland-flagged (MMSI number 244126000). MS Amera was reflagged to Bahamas (MMSI 311000840).

In July 2018, the vessel was sold to Phoenix Reisen, starting operations for the German travel company on July 1, 2019. Under its new name (MS Amera) it was officially christened in Port Bremerhaven on August 16. The vessel is owned by Phoenix Reisen and managed by BSM (Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, a 2000-founded subsidiary of Bernhard Schulte GmbH und Co KG). The cruise liner received several major technical upgrades during the drydocking in 2019 at Blohm+Voss Shipyard (Hamburg).

Prinsendam's cruise schedule was assimilated by the fleetmates MS Rotterdam, MS Volendam and MS Veendam (now Aegean Majesty). Prinsendam's last cruise for Holland America was scheduled for June 3, 2019. The 14-day "British Isles Explorer" itinerary was priced from USD 5400 pp (double occupancy).

Prinsendam/Amera ship refurbishments review

The Prinsendam-Amera ship drydock refurbishment (6-week project) was conducted by Blohm+Voss Shipyard (Hamburg Germany).

Along with the general maintenance works, all cabins were renovated, while most public venues were redesigned (partially or completely), mainly on decks 7 (Boardwalk) and 8 (Salon). The open deck area (Panorama Deck 12) was redesigned for mini-golfing.

MS Amera was upgraded with mobile business solutions provided by Resco (Bratislava Slovakia-based software company). The package included PMS (Property Management Software) with eMuster, aPOS (Point of Sale / cloud-based), eCheck-in, AVO (real-time tracking of cabin staff operations), eConcierge (with mobile apps).

MS Amera's last drydock refurbishment was in 2023 (September 27-December 14/planned, delayed to January 14, 2024) conducted at Remontowa shipyard (Gdansk Poland). The project (managed by BSM Cruise Services) included a powerplant upgrade (replacement of the diesel engines, gearboxes, alternators, main switchboard), propulsion upgrades (new propellers), technical overhaul (machinery repairs and modifications), renovations of venues and accommodations (Ocean Restaurant, 232 stateroom bathrooms, Royal Suite redesign, recarpeting of all public areas).

Phoenix Reisen Amera inaugural Itineraries 2019

Starting service for Phoenix Reisen in July 2019, MS Amera was homeported in Bremerhaven Germany for regularly scheduled roundtrip itineraries.

Next table shows the boat's inaugural cruise for Phoenix Reisen

(Maiden Voyage) 5-day "Premierenreise mit Taufevent"

7-day inaugural Norwegian Fjords ("Fjordnorwegen vom Feinsten")

Godspeed!