CMV Columbus

CMV Columbus cruise ship was launched in 1988 as "FairMajesty". As "Pacific Pearl", she was the smallest and oldest vessel in the P&O Australia fleet. The ship was previously operated as part of the Princess Cruises fleet under the name Star Princess (1989–1997). Pacific Pearl was last drydock refurbished in 2015 and transferred to CMV-Cruise & Maritime Voyages in May 2017 as "MV Columbus".

In March 2016, it was announced that CMV UK would increase its fleet capacity by 25% (to 95,000 passengers in 2017) with the addition of Pacific Pearl (renamed Columbus). The former "Ocean Village 1", launched in 1989, had previously sailed for Princess Cruises. Under the new name "MV Columbus", the passenger liner began CMV service with year-round itineraries from her homeport in Tilbury-London, UK, starting with her maiden voyage on June 9, 2017. The redesigned 1400-passenger Columbus featured 150 single cabins and became the fleet’s flagship, joining fleetmates Astoria (550-passenger), Astor (600-passenger), Marco Polo (800-passenger), and Magellan (1300-passenger). Although adult-only, Columbus operated two promotional cruises for all age groups in August 2017.

For CMV, the vessel (IMO number 8611398) was UK-flagged (MMSI 234890000) and registered in London. Under SEAJETS, she was reflagged to the Bahamas (MMSI 311000535). In April 2021, the 32-year-old ship was beached at Alang, India for scrapping.

History - construction and ownership

SEAJETS Greece (Eaglepower Shipping Ltd/shipowner, founded in 1989) is a Cyprus-based company specializing in passenger and cargo ferry services in the Eastern Mediterranean (Aegean Sea). SEAJETS operates mainly fast ferries (14 high-speed catamarans, max capacity 2100 passengers + 600 cars) and 3 conventional Ro-Pax vessels (max capacity 1300 passengers + 400 cars). Services operate from Piraeus-Athens, Lavrion, and Crete (Heraklion and Rethymno), connecting 26 Cycladic islands (including Crete) with 260 routes.

The 1817-passenger Pacific Pearl debuted in December 2010. She was redesigned for the Australian budget cruising market and introduced several innovations also seen on sisterships Pacific Dawn (Ambassador Ambience since 2021) and Pacific Jewel (scrapped as MS Karnika in 2021), including a swim-up bar. All cabins featured new HDTVs with satellite programming, upgraded bedding, handheld hairdryers, mini-fridges, and electronic safes.

After her launch and christening in 1989, MS FairMajesty’s owner Sitmar was acquired by P&O, and the ship was renamed "Star Princess". In 2003, Carnival Corporation launched the brand "Ocean Village Holidays", and the ship was renamed "Ocean Village".

During a 2003 drydock refit (by Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany) prior to her transfer from P&O UK, she was upgraded with a larger Casino Lounge, buffet restaurant, and a steel arch over Lido Deck 12 for acrobatic shows. Some crew cabins were converted into passenger staterooms.

Ocean Village 1 operated Caribbean cruises from Barbados and Mediterranean cruises from Palma de Mallorca, with Transatlantic repositioning voyages. The fleet's second vessel was Ocean Village 2 (later Pacific Jewel / MS Karnika).

In March 2016, it was announced that Pacific Pearl would be sold and leave CMV in 2017 as part of CMV’s ongoing fleet expansion and renewal strategy.

MS Pacific Pearl departed P&O Australia in April 2017, after completing 294 cruises. She made way for newer ships in the fleet: Pacific Aria, Pacific Eden, and Pacific Explorer (formerly Dawn Princess). Following her December 2010 launch, Pacific Pearl became New Zealand’s first super-liner, debuting with an 8-night South Pacific cruise from Auckland, NZ.

On July 20, 2020, CMV’s parent company SQTL (South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd) filed for bankruptcy. The UK-based company, trading as "Cruise and Maritime Voyages", had entered emergency talks with potential investors and lenders in June, but efforts to secure funding during the COVID-19 crisis were unsuccessful.

All CMV cruise ships were placed on the secondhand market and offered for sale. Auctions were scheduled in October 2020 via CW Kellock & Co Ltd (London-based ship auctioneers, brokers, and valuers). Bidding deadlines included:

• (October 8) CMV Vasco Da Gama (27 years old) sold to Mystic Invest (Portugal) for USD 10.187 million.
• (October 12) CMV Columbus (31 years old) sold to Seajets Ferries (Greece) for USD 5.321 million.
• (October 15) CMV Astor (33 years old) sold for USD 1.71 million to an undisclosed buyer for scrap.
• (October 19) CMV Magellan (35 years old) sold to Seajets Ferries for USD 3.431 million.
• (October 22) CMV Marco Polo (55 years old) sold to private investors for USD 2.77 million; later resold for scrap to Alang, India.

On November 19, 2020, CMV Columbus departed Tilbury-London for Gibraltar, UK. From December 7–13, she was anchored off Valletta, Malta, awaiting orders. Since December 23, she remained anchored in the Saronic Gulf off Port Eleusis (West Attica, Greece).

CMV Columbus last transmitted AIS on April 12, 2021 (11:20 UTC) while at anchorage near Alang. Renamed "COLUS", the vessel was reflagged to Comoros (MMSI 620817000).

Cruise itinerary program

CMV Columbus offered UK roundtrip cruises from Tilbury-London. Destinations included short European cruises, the British Isles, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iberian Peninsula ports (Spain and Portugal), and Gibraltar. Longer cruises included Caribbean and South America itineraries with visits to Havana, Cuba, and seasonal roundtrips from Amsterdam, Holland.

Decks and Cabins

Most of the CMV Columbus staterooms were 190 ft² Oceanviews (533 total). The ship had 775 total cabins (including 36 Suites, 28 Deluxe Balcony rooms, 150 single cabins) across 23 categories. Only 8% of cabins had private balconies. The largest accommodations were the 370 ft² Mini-Suites.

The vessel had 13 decks, of which 11 were passenger-accessible and 7 had cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The main dining venue was the Waterfront Restaurant. At its center was the Chef’s Table, set in a private room surrounded by wine cabinets. The Waterfront offered traditional British and European cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with open-seating for breakfast and lunch, and two dinner seatings.

Additional dining venues included:

• Waterfront Restaurant – the main dining room with open seating for breakfast/lunch and a 4-course dinner. The Wine Room hosted the Chef’s Table experience.
• Plantation Restaurant – the Lido buffet venue with its own bar.
• Luna Room – Asian specialty restaurant (surcharges apply).
• Salt Grill – specialty restaurant by celebrity chef Luke Mangan (surcharges apply).
• Cafe Bar – served the pool area with snacks and drinks.
• Hemmingway’s Bar – portside lobby bar.
• Raffles Bar – known for specialty cocktails.
• Connexions Bar – served the outdoor Promenade deck areas.
• Captain’s Club – English pub-style bar with local/international beers.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Guests could enjoy daytime activities such as Trumps & Aces bridge and card room, Crafter’s Studio, and the library. Evening entertainment centered around the two-tier Palladium Show Lounge. Additional venues included Captain’s Club, the Dome Observatory, and a nightclub.

The Jade Wellness Centre featured a day spa, thermal suite, salon, and gym. Other amenities included two heated pools, a hot tub, outdoor movie screen, three-deck atrium with retail shops, internet cafe, photo/video gallery, and service desks.

Entertainment venues included:

• Palladium Show Lounge – main theater with live performances and bar service.
• The Dome – observation lounge with panoramic views.
• Wellness Centre – spa, thermal suite, massage and treatment rooms, couples suite with whirlpool.
• Fitness Center – two-level gym, Aerobics Room (yoga/pilates at extra cost), personal trainers available.
• Hair & Beauty Salon – full-service salon with cosmetic treatments.
• Internet Center – located inside Hemmingway’s with 7 PCs.
• Photo & Video Gallery; Art Gallery.
• The Taverner’s Pub & Casino – gaming tables, poker machines, and complimentary gaming lessons.
• Shopping Galleria – duty-free shops and Pandora boutique.
• The Oasis – adults-only outdoor retreat with its own bar.
• Trumps & Aces (kids 3–6); Crafters Studio (kids 7–10).
• V8 Simulators Room – high-speed car racing simulators.