30 April, 2016 by Juan Carlos Díaz Lorenzo

Navantia Prepares the Stylish 'Deutschland' for Its Dual Function

Since mid-April, the ship 'Deutschland' has been in the Navantia dock in Cádiz, undergoing significant works, including the replacement of windows with balconies in the 52 exterior cabins located between decks 7 and 8. A general repainting is also planned, so when it is launched again on May 14, its appearance will be different. On the same day, it will set sail for the port of Bremen, where it will enter service on the 16th.

It has a four-month campaign chartered by the German tour operator Phoenix Reisen, which will take it through Northern Europe, the fjords of Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and the Baltic capitals. Notably, among its crew is a Spaniard, Rafael Abreu Perdigón, from Tenerife, who serves as a third officer on deck.

The ship is owned by Absolute Nevada LCC and has a peculiar charter, as it serves the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) for eight months and adopts the name 'World Odyssey'. The campaign is divided into two semesters during which it sails around the world as a floating university for American students. The University of Virginia is responsible for the university education under the slogan 'The World is our Campus', while crew management is handled by the shipping agency V-Ship.

The ship 'Deutschland', in the Navantia dry dock in Cádiz

The windows of the exterior cabins are being replaced by balconies

In January 2015, Peter Deilmann Reederei sold the ship 'Deutschland' to Crystal Cruises for 50 million euros. We recall the notable reaction of the ship's crew, including the captain, who wrote a letter to their owner, appealing to the honor represented by the national flag, which forced a postponement of plans to register the ship under a flag of convenience due to operational costs, salaries, and crews. However, at the beginning of last year, a change of cycle occurred, and it is currently registered in the Bahamas.

Built at the Kiel shipyard, it entered service in May 1998. It is a stylish ship, with interior decor in Victorian style, in an intimate and luxurious atmosphere, evoking the era of the great German transatlantic liners of the first half of the 20th century. It registers 22,496 gross tons and 3,460 deadweight tons, with main dimensions of 175.49 m in overall length, 23 m in beam, and 5.79 m in draft. It is powered by four Krupp DMR engines, with a power of 16,520 horsepower coupled to reducers that drive two shafts, achieving a speed of 20 knots. It has a capacity for 520 passengers. IMO Code 9141807.