Louis Aura

The 1968-built Louis Aura cruise ship was last operated by the Cyprus-based company Celestyal Cruises. She was constructed in Germany at the Bremerhaven shipyard.

The Malta-flagged vessel (IMO 6821080, MMSI 215467000, registered in Valletta) was sold in July 2018 and scrapped under her last name, "Aegean Queen," in Alang, India on September 16, 2018 (last AIS signal received).

Aegean Queen was one of the world’s longest-serving passenger ships, completing 50 years of service.

History - construction and ownership

Originally built for NCL-Norwegian Cruise Lines, she entered service in 1968 as MS Starward and was operated until 1995. This was NCL’s first purpose-built vessel, along with her sistership MS Skyward (mv Leisure World).

After 1995, she was operated as Bolero by Festival Cruises until the company’s collapse in 2004. The vessel was then purchased by Abou Merhi Lines (for USD 9.5 million) and underwent a USD 10-15 million drydock refit. In November 2005, she was repositioned to the Red Sea, homeported in Dubai, to launch a Persian Gulf cruise program, which later proved unsuccessful.

In July 2006, Louis Aura was deployed to evacuate US citizens from Lebanon to Larnaca, Cyprus, escorted by two US Navy destroyers – USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) and USS Barry (DDG-52). In August 2006, she was acquired by Louis Cruise Lines (now Celestyal Cruises) and renamed Orient Queen.

Decks and Cabins

Louis Aura had 364 passenger cabins (including 56 suites), designed with a modern, understated style and well-suited for couples. Cabins featured coordinated drapery and bedspreads, chrome bed stands (with shelves), daybeds, writing desks with chairs, wardrobes, LCD TVs, direct-dial phones, minibars, and electronic safes. Bathrooms were finished with marble-style floors and counters, and included bathtubs with showers and hairdryers.

The ship had 12 decks, of which 8 were accessible to passengers, and 4 contained cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The main dining room featured two dinner sittings, an outdoor buffet for breakfast and lunch, and Afternoon Tea service. Public rooms were arranged along a single passenger deck, from the forward Showroom to the stern restaurant, which offered panoramic views over the ship’s wake.

Highlights included:

• Deck 10 (Panoramic): Venus Bar (upper level).
• Deck 9 (Compass): Venus Bar (lower level) and mini-golf course.
• Deck 8 (Sun): Outdoor heated pool, fitness center, sauna.
• Deck 7 (Boat): Horizon Buffet, small pool, beauty salon, massage rooms, spa, infirmary, jogging track.
• Deck 6 (Merry): Mermaid Restaurant, Reflections Lounge & Bar, Stars Show Lounge, Library, Video Game Arcade, Conference Centre.
• Deck 5 (Phoenician): Lobby with Reception, Shore Excursions Desk, duty-free shops, photo gallery, heliport (fore Helipad).
• Deck 3 (Fortune): Casino with table games and slot machines.

Itineraries

In 2012 and 2013, Louis Aura operated Greek Isles cruises departing from Limassol, Cyprus and Piraeus, Greece. In summer 2014, she offered 3- to 7-day cruises to the Greek Islands from Limassol.

In 2017, she was renamed Aegean Queen and chartered to Etstur (Turkey’s largest travel agency), operating May–July roundtrips from Izmir and Kusadasi. Her final voyages were in the Eastern Mediterranean. In October 2017, she was retired from service and permanently docked in Port Piraeus.