Artania

Launched in 1984 as ms Royal Princess, Artania is one of the Phoenix Reisen ships, together with Albatros and Amadea.

History - construction and ownership

Phoenix Reisen cruise company began operating cruises under its own brand in 1988. It was then when the firm chartered the West German-built cruise vessel SS Maxim Gorkiy from the Soviet Union-based Black Sea Shipping Company on a twenty-year charter contract. In 1993 a second vessel joined the Phoenix Reisen fleet - SS Albatros was chartered from V-Ships. Unlike the Maxim Gorkiy, that retained the colours of her owners in Phoenix service, the Albatros cruise ship was painted in Phoenix Reisen's own colours with a turquoise funnel displaying the company logo.

The 44,656-ton, 1,200-passenger cruise ship Artania was built in 1984 (in Helsinki) as the MS Royal Princess for Princess Cruises and christened by Lady Diana. She was transferred to P&O Cruises fleet in 2005 and renamed Artemis. The ship sailed with P&O Cruises until Apr 2011, when she was moved to the fleet of Phoenix Reisen as Artania.

At the time she was launched, Artania was the most innovative vessel in the world introducing public space on the lower decks with blocks of staterooms over them. This made her the first cruise vessel with all outside rooms and the first one to secure standard cabins with balconies. The vessel is kid-free.

Cruise itinerary program

Artania itinerary program is based on Norwegian Fjords, Icealnd-Greenland and Baltic Sea cruises leaving from Kiel and Bremerhaven, Germany. The ship cruises to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands, and also in the Caribbean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Cabins

Artania has 8 passenger decks and a total of 600 cabins (all Outside, 152 Balcony, 4 cabins for disabled) in 27 grades. All staterooms on board ms Artania are exterior cabins and half of them are Suites or Junior Suites with private balconies. The smallest cabins are 16m², and the Royal Suite is 50m². All rooms are equipped with individually controllable air-conditioning, sat-TV, radio, telephone, safe, fridge/mini-bar, shower/bath tub and hairdryer.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MS Artania has two Dining Rooms: Four Seasons and Artania. There are two different breakfast seatings offered, lunch is served buffet-style and dinner is a-la-carte. After-dinner snacks are also served, as well as coffee during evening hours. The dining venues' menu is international, and might or might not include some local kitchen. Other options include Lido Buffet with outdoor seating. 

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MS Artania has went through a variety of modernizations since she sails for Phoenix Reisen. Though built in 1984, she’s still modern and beautiful. Her classic stern with calm shielded places to sit and the promenade deck are very popular features of the unique Artania ship.

The only language used officially on ms Artania is German, and therefore most of the passengers are from German-speaking countries. There is usually personnel who speaks English, but no services in English (tours, menus, etc.) are provided. It’s strongly recommended to know a bit of German if you decide to travel on MS Artania.

MS Artania entertainment options include: Panorama Lounge (Pazifik), Phoenix Lounge & Bar, Sun Deck Lounge, Casablanca Lounge, Kopernikus Bar, Lido Bar, Bodega Bar, Harry's, Atlantik Show Lounge, Wellness Area, Fitness Center, Beauty Salon, Artania Spa, sauna, steam bath, table tennis, shuffleboard, Sport Deck, whirlpool, Artania pool, Kopernikus pool, all-around promenade, Library/Jamaika Club (Internet), lobby, Fitness Center, Boutique, cinema, Theater, Disco, Photo Gallery.

MV Artania cruise ship was built built in Helsinki Finland for Princess Cruises as Royal Princess and chirstened on November 15, 1984 by HRH Diana Princess of Wales, in Southampton England.

In April 2005, the vessel was transferred to the fleet of P&O Cruises UK and renamed "ms Artemis". On September 22, 2009, it was announced that the ship had been sold to the Artania Shipping Company, but continued sailing for P&O UK. This is a privately owned vessel (asset of Artania Shipping Company), currently operated under time charter by Phoenix Reisen GmbH (major German travel agency and tour operator company).

On April 22, 2011, the ship was renamed "Artania" and chartered to Phoenix Reisen. In 2014, Artania was fitted with Wartsila marine diesel engines and an auxiliary generator during the refurbishment at Lloyd Werft (Bremerhaven Germany). The ship's 3-week drydock refurbishment in 2017 (December 1-21, at Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven) cost Phoenix Reisen EUR 16 million. Drydock works included spa renovations, outdoor deck areas (new coverings), stateroom upgrades (bathrooms were updated with new bathtubs and showers), public rooms renovations (Harry’s Bar, Atlantik Show Lounge). Technical updates included new sewage plant, new ballast water treatment plant, new tenders.

At the time of her launch in 1984, the ship was the world's most innovative, with public areas on lower decks and blocks of cabins above. It was the first cruise vessel with all outside cabins (oceanview categories), as well as the first to provide standard/cheap staterooms with private balconies.

In 2010, the British captain of mv Artemis, Sarah Breton, became the second female captain in the world, following the Swedish Karin Stahre Janson (ms Monarch, 2007).

German is the only language that is officially used on board. This is why most Phoenix Reisen cruise passengers are from German speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland). There is personnel speaking English, but no services in English are provided.