MV Glory Sea

MV Glory Sea cruise ship (formerly Celestyal Odyssey) is a Bahamas-registered passenger vessel built in 2001 in Germany. The ship was launched as "Olympia Explorer" (2001-2004). In 2004 it was renamed to "MV Explorer" and started operations for the Semester at Sea (study abroad program) until 2015.

In May 2015, the cruise ship was chartered for 3 years by the Celestyal Cruises line and renamed "MV Celestyal Odyssey" (Malta-flagged). In September 2015, Celestyal terminated the charter and the vessel left their fleet in October 2015.

Cabins

MV Glory Sea has a total of 400 cabins (of which 30 Suites, 24 with private balcony) in 13 grades. The ship has no wheelchair accessible, connecting or single cabins. The Glory Sea ship’s interior design boasts wider corridors and solid cabin doors. This ship lacks Standard Balcony rooms and has no launderettes (self-serve, passenger-use laundry facilities).

Shipboard facilities

MV Glory Sea dining options include Aura Grill, Aegean Restaurant, Leda (casual dining). Other facilities include Mast Bar, Horizons Bar, Eclipse Bar, Argo Bar, Helios Pool Bar, Muses Lounge, Selene Lounge, Internet Cafe, Wellness Center, Sana Beauty Center, sauna, Olympian Gym, swimming pool, medical center, video arcade, Kids’ Club, library, casino, duty free and travel value shop (Agora), shops, Photo Gallery.

On Promenade deck is the ship’s Atrium Lobby with two boarding areas/entryways for embarkation and disembarkation, and seating area. With a central location, there is the Reception Desk which provides 24-hour guest services. The Shore Excursions Desk, also located there, serves Diamond Cruises tours booking program.

Itineraries

Glory Sea cruise itinerary program for 2017-2018 had scheduled roundtrip departures from homeport Sokcho (South Korea). The 10-month deployment period started in November 2017. The itineraries from South Korea visited port destinations in Japan (Shimonoseki, Maizuru) and Russia (Vladivostok). Also operated were 1-night / 2-day mini cruises along the Korean coast. The ship charter was the Golden Bridge Cruise Company. Roundtrip cruise deals were also offered from Russia and Japan.

Prior to the 2017-2018 Korean charter, the ship operated on short cruise itineraries leaving roundtrip from China (Shanghai port) to Japan and South Korea. As Celestyal Odyssey, the ship was operated in the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean / Europe) on short-break itineraries (3, 4- and 5-days) to the Greek Islands in the Cyclades - Santorini, Mykonos, Patmos, Milos, Syros, Lavrion.

On December 25, 2017, was launched the roundtrip China-Vietnam cruise route from Haikou to Halong Bay. The new service from Port Haikou was launched on December 25, 2017. Following the China-Vietnam cruise line inauguration in 2017, the Glory Sea ship in 2018 started Haikou roundtrips to the Philippines. The inaugural voyage departed on January 21, 2018.

Celestyal Odyssey cruise ship joined the former Louis Cruises (now Celestyal Cruises) fleet under a 3-year time charter, starting June 2015. Previously, the ship was sailing as "mv Explorer" for Semester At Sea (a program of the Institute for Shipboard Education). The vessel, however, was originally built for the Royal Olympic line as "Olympic Explorer" (later renamed "Olympia Explorer").

The Celestyal Odyssey ship was specifically re-designed for “three-continent” cruise itineraries in the Mediterranean Se. It was a perfect choice for the new Louis-Celestyal brand, offering an authentic Greek Isles cruising experience and signature entertainment.

The Odyssey ship used to cruise on shorter (2-, 3- and 4-night) itineraries departing from Turkey and visiting exclusively Greek Islands ports of call.

Glory Sea ship's owner - Diamond Cruise International company - was established in The Bahamas (in 2015), headquartered in China (Shanghai). "Tai Hu Cruise Management Company" (OTC stock exchange listed) is its Chinese subsidiary, owned by "Suzhou Tai Hu Travel" (travel agency). Suzhou Tai Hu Travel manages the cruise ship's itineraries planning, port operations and tickets sales.

The Diamond Cruise company has plans to have a fully-owned fleet of up to 6 second-hand cruise ships operating on the Chinese market exclusively.

Before entering service for Diamond (in April 2016), the vessel underwent an extensive refit and refurbishment at Huarun Dadong Shipyard (Shanghai).