CMV Magellan

MS Magellan is a Holiday-class cruise liner operated as "MS Holiday" by Carnival Cruise Line and as "MS Grand Holiday" by Ibero Cruises. As a former Carnival ship, Magellan has the distinctive "Fun Ship" funnel shape.

In 2003, Carnival's Grand Holiday cruise ship entered drydock for an extensive refit and refurbishment. In 2005, during Hurricane Katrina, the cruise shipping service was temporarily interrupted in order for the vessel to serve as a shelter for those suffering from the storm. After the disaster, MS Grand Holiday left Mississippi River for drydock renovations. Engineers and designers worked for several weeks to change the propellers and add new carpeting and plumbing. Then Grand Holiday was transferred to Iberocruceros' fleet.

A curious fact is that as "MS Grand Holiday", the vessel was chartered as a hotel ship in Port Sochi Russia during Winter Olympics 2014 (February 5-24, 2014). As "CMV Magellan", the vessel was again chartered as a hotel ship in Newport Wales (South Dock) during 2017 UEFA Champions League Final in Cardiff (June 2017).

The 1985-built vessel was last refitted by Carnival in 2010. CMV confirmed the purchase in November 2014. On November 3, 2014, CMV announced "MS Grand Holiday" joins its fleet in March 2015 under the name "MS Magellan". For CMV, the ship offered voyages departing from UK ports (in Scotland and England) - Newcastle, Dundee, Tilbury-London.

Vessel's christening ceremony for CMV was on March 12, 2015, in Tilbury (London Cruise Terminal). Ship's new godmother was Mrs. Gloria Hunniford - a presenter for Northern Ireland's ITV and BBC programs, with her own "BBC Radio 2" daily show. This CMV ship is named after Ferdinand Magellan (Fernao de Magalhaes, 1480 - 1521) who was a Portuguese explorer who organized the Spanish sea expedition (between 1519 - 1522, westward route) to the East Indies.

On March 15, 2015, was the Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage for CMV) to Iceland and Faroe Islands. Fun fact is that this CMV ship has a namesake - the 2010-launched "CMA CGM Magellan". The vessel is among the world's largest container ships (capacity 13,830 containers) and operated by CMA-CGM Line.

In June 2017, the cruise ship was chartered to serve as "floating hotel" for Champions League Final's visitors in Newport Wales. CMV Magellan entered Newport on June 2. The docking area (South Dock's quayside) was transformed into events and activity space managed by Hopscotch Groupe (a French company) on behalf of Nissan. The quayside events operation was co-organized also by CMV and ABP South Wales. The sporting event (2017 UEFA Champions League Final) was held at National Stadium of Wales (Cardiff).

In 2019, the ship started Mexican Riviera cruises under a new CMV brand name - "Cruceros Maritimos Vacacionales". The 7-day itinerary program (February through March 2019) offered roundtrips from both Acapulco and Manzanillo, with ports of call Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas (Baja California), plus 2 sea days. Maiden season's total passenger capacity was estimated at 12,000.

CMV Magellan refurbishment 2017 review

The ship's 2017 drydock refurbishment (January-February) was done at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV) in Vlissingen Holland. The list of works included routine equipment maintenance, propulsion system (starboard propeller blades polishing, bow, and stern thruster blades repairs), renewal and upgrades in public areas and cabins, repairs of steel damages, overhauling of several systems (main engine blower, tender embarkation cylinders, heaters, evaporator, purifier). Stabilizer fins were also serviced.

A new sewage system was installed (sewage tanks and treatment units replaced). Rudders and the hull underwent inspection and thorough cleaning. Scupper pipes were renewed. The ship's 16 lifeboats were removed and fully-serviced. All air conditioning units were overhauled. The wastewater vacuum system (serving 700 onboard WC-toilets) was chemically cleaned. The ship's incinerator was refurbished.

Magellan ship's 1-month drydock in 2019-2020 (December January) was at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam. The scheduled drydocking project included general maintenance works (bow and stern thrusters, liferafts), repairs (main-auxiliary engines, steel tanks), cleaning, class inspections. Following the drydock, the liner now has a new livery (on the superstructure) and also repainted hull - in blue (trademarked by CMV colour) with two white lines in the upper section.

CMV Magellan cruise itineraries 2020-2021 (CANCELLED)

For 2020-2021, CMV scheduled a total of 64 voyages for the ship Magellan. Following the Coronavirus-related suspension of voyages (since March 2020), the ship's schedule (October 5, 2020, through October 16, 2021) was based on homeporting in Liverpool (England), Bristol (England), Dundee (Scotland), Cobh-Cork (Ireland) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).

16 days "Grand Canary Islands Madeira, Iberian Treasures Morocco"

12 days "Iceland Land of the Northern Lights"

25 days "Grand Canary Islands, Madeira, Cape Verde Morocco"

5 days "German Markets Festive Shopping"

4 days "French Festive Getaway River Seine Experience"

21 days "Christmas New Year Cape Verde, Madeira Canaries" 2020

84-days CMV World Cruise 2021 (Grand Round South America Amazon Discovery"

segments aaa

8 days "River Seine Experience"

7 days "Scottish Islands, Highlands Faroes"

7 days "Majestic Fjordland"

14 days "Baltic Cities St Petersburg"

7 days "Faroes Northern Isles"

11 days "Round Britain"

10 days "Icelandrsquos Land of Ice Fire"

6 days "Fjordland"

11 days "Norwayrsquos Land of the Midnight Sun"

5 days "Scottish Highlights Emerald Isle"

11 days "Iceland Faroes"

11 days "Spain, Portugal Morocco"

8 days "Summertime Fjordland"

8 days "River Seine Experience Rotterdam Fleet Regatta"

15 days "Canary Islands Madeira"

15 days "Azores, Madeira Portuguese Highlights"

13 days "Spain, Portugal Morocco"

The last planned by CMV cruise for Magellan was the 12-day "Iceland Land of the Northern Lights" itinerary roundtrip from Bristol.