Carnival Jubilee

Launched in 1986, MS Henna cruise ship was last-owned by the Chinese company HNA Tourism Cruises. The vessel (initially named Carnival Jubilee) was built for Carnival Cruise Line. In November 2015, HNA shut down its cruise shipping services, after 3 years of losing money because of new ships deployed in East Asia. Since ship's last voyage with HNA Cruises, it was laid up and open for sale for USD 35 million. Sadly, in August 2017, the ship was scrapped in Alang India.

The ship's identification numbers were 8314122 (IMO) and 248708000 (last MMSI, Malta-flagged).

History - construction and ownership

The 47,678-ton, 1,965-passenger cruise ship Henna is considered as the first and the largest luxury cruise liner in mainland China. In 2004, the cruise liner was acquired by P&O Cruises Australia and changed its name to Pacific Sun. After ms Henna was sold, the cruise ship started year-round cruises from Sydney to the South Pacific and Tropical North Queensland. A multi-million investment transformed the vessel all in white colours.

At the end of 2008, an incident on board the Pacific Sun resulted in 42 injured guests during a storm. 3 years later, P&O Cruises decided to sell the vessel. In 2012, the cruise ship was renamed to Henna after changing the owners to HNA Tourism Cruises.

MS Henna was detained on September 2013 at a port on the South Korean island of Jeju. Chinese shipping service company Jiangsu Shagang International applied for a seizure. Passengers aboard the cruise ships spent 7 days on the ship and later were sent home with an uncomplete cruise. At the end of November, the HNA Cruises line shut down its China-based business. The decision was made by the company's shareholders. It was based on the money-losing Henna cruise ship facing serious price competition with the 2015 arrival of more (newer and bigger) ships entering China cruising market. HNA Cruises continued as a booking agency.

Cruise itinerary program

The Holiday-class vessel Henna was sailing around the Korean peninsula. Henna itinerary program was based on East Asia cruises to Vietnam, with departures from Sanya, China to Ha Long Bay (from January to April). During summer months (from May to September), the home port of the ship shifted to Tianjin. A new short cruise itinerary was also launched from Tianjin to Incheon (Jeju Island, South Korea).

Cabins

739 cabins are available to guests aboard mv Henna, including 9 balconied suites, 432 ocean-view staterooms and 298 interior cabins.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Henna’s dress code is very liberating. Some of the older guests may seem never to get out of their pyjamas. They parade on deck in them, indulging in charming mainland practice of advertising how relaxed they are by appearing in all public places in bedroom wear. The PJ-clad grannies are only one of the things that make Henna feel like a small corner of China. There is usually no one at the bar as “Chinese people don’t have a ‘bar culture’.” However, they like to shop and gamble.