MS Astor (1981)

Saga Pearl II in Tallinn, Estonia, on September 20th 2014, with blue funnel.
History
Name:	1981–1985: Astor 1985–2002: Arkona 2002–2010: Astoria 2010–2012: Saga Pearl II 2012–2013: Quest for Adventure 2013 onwards: Saga Pearl II
Owner:	Saga Cruises
Operator:	1981–1984: HADAG 1984–1985: Safmarine 1985–2001: Deutsche Seereederei 2001–2009: Transocean Tours 2009 onwards: Saga Cruises
Port of registry:	1981–1985 Hamburg,  Germany 1985–1990 , , German Democratic Republic 1990–1997 ,  Germany 1997–2002 Monrovia,  Liberia 2002–2011 Nassau,  Bahamas 2011 onwards: Valletta,  Malta
Builder:	Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Werk Ross, Hamburg
Yard number:	165
Laid down:	20 May 1980
Launched:	16 December 1980
Completed:	December 1981
In service:	14 December 1981
Identification:	Call sign: 9HA2950 IMO number: 8000214 MMSI number: 256878000 DNV GL ID: G16718
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Class and type:	cruise ship
Tonnage:	18,591 GT → 18,627 GT
Length:	164.35 m (539 ft)
Beam:	22.6 m (74 ft)
Draught:	6.2 m (20 ft)
Propulsion:	MAN diesel engines 15,400 kW
Speed:	21.4 knots (39.6 km/h; 24.6 mph) (maximum) 20.3 knots (37.6 km/h; 23.4 mph) (cruising)
Capacity:	602 passengers (maximum) 512 passengers (normal)
Crew:	220

The cruise ship Saga Pearl II (formerly Astoria and Quest for Adventure) has been operating for more than 28 years, making cruises worldwide. Saga Cruises acquired the ship, at auction, in August 2009. Saga Pearl II effectively replaced the MS Saga Rose which was decommissioned in 2009. Both ships were formerly operated by Transocean Tours.

The ship was given the name Saga Pearl II before embarking on her first cruise for Saga in March 2010.

In May 2012, she was renamed as Quest for Adventure. In November 2013 the name reverted to Saga Pearl II. Saga currently have one other cruise ship, the MS Saga Sapphire.

The ship was built in 1981 in the ship yard of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Werk Ross, Hamburg, Yard no. 165. The builder was one of the highest quality builders of the time. The ship was ordered by the newly formed German company Hadag Cruise Line, but was quickly sold to South African company Safmarine, because the ship was not profitable enough.

In 1985 the ship was renamed Arkona.

As Astoria the vessel operated in the Atlantic Ocean making cruises between South Africa and Europe. This continued for many years, before in 2002 it entered service for Transocean Tours, the company specialized in cruising in Norway and Europe. The vessel then operated closer to the shore, making low-cost cruises for German, Norwegian and Swedish passengers.

In November 2008, a world cruise had to be aborted after serious mechanical problems were identified during a refit in Barcelona. The ship remained laid up in Barcelona until June 2009 when she was towed to Gibraltar. After an auction in August, Saga Cruises acquired the ship after an unsuccessful attempt to do so earlier in the year.

In late 2009, the ship sailed to Swansea, Wales where she underwent a £20million three-month refit in the re-opened Swansea dry dock. She sailed on her first cruise as Saga Pearl II on 15 March 2010 to the Norwegian Fjords.