MS Sally Albatross

MS Cristal in Istanbul, 2010
History
1980-1990
Name:	1980–1986: Viking Saga 1986–1990: Sally Albatross
Owner:	1980–1982: Rederi Ab Sally 1982–1989: Suomen Yritysrahoitus 1989–1990: Partrederiet Sally Albatross
Operator:	1980–1986: Rederi Ab Sally (in Viking Line traffic) 1986–1990: Sally Cruise
Port of registry:	1980: Turku,  Finland 1980–1982: Mariehamn,  Finland 1982: Helsinki,  Finland 1982–1990: Mariehamn,  Finland
Ordered:	22 December 1978
Builder:	Wärtsilä Turku New Shipyard, Turku, Finland
Yard number:	1247
Launched:	4 January 1980
Christened:	20 March 1980
Acquired:	26 June 1980
In service:	27 June 1980
Out of service:	9 January 1990
Identification:	IMO number: 7827213
Fate:	Destroyed by fire while in drydock in Nacka, Sweden. Completely rebuilt, 1990-1992 (technically considered the same ship).
Status:	Remains in service as of 2015, see below.
General characteristics (as built, 1980)
Class and type:	Viking Saga class cruiseferry
Tonnage:	14,330 GT 2,874 DWT
Length:	145.18 m (476 ft 4 in)
Beam:	25.49 m (83 ft 8 in)
Draught:	5.51 m (18 ft 1 in)
Ice class:	1 A Super
Installed power:	4 × Wärtsilä-Pielstick 12PC2-5V-400 diesels 19,124 kW (combined)
Speed:	21.3 knots (39.4 km/h; 24.5 mph)
Capacity:	2,000 passengers 1,300 berths 426 cars
General characteristics (as rebuilt, 1988)
Type:	cruise ship
Tonnage:	15,179 GT 2,774 DWT
Length:	149.96 m (492 ft 0 in)
Capacity:	1,016 passengers 1,016 berths
Notes:	Otherwise the same as built
1992 onwards
Name:	1992–1995: Sally Albatross 1995–2000: Leeward 2000–2002: SuperStar Taurus 2002–2006: Silja Opera 2006–2007: Opera 2007–2011: Cristal 2011-2015: Louis Cristal 2015 onwards: Celestyal Crystal
Owner:	1992: Sally Oy Ab 1992–1995: Silja Line 1995–2002: Crown Jewel, Inc 2002–2006: Silja Cruise 2006–2007: Sea Containers Ltd 2007–2007: Citron Navigation Corp. 2007–2007: Opera Acquisition, LLC 2007–2012: Citron Navigation Corp. 2012 onwards: Cristal Trading Opco LLC
Operator:	1992: Sally Cruise 1992–1994: Silja Line 1995–2000: Norwegian Cruise Line 2000–2002: Star Cruises 2002–2006: Silja Line 2007 onwards: Louis Cruise Lines
Port of registry:	1992–1995: Mariehamn,  Finland 1995–2002: Panama City,  Panama 2002–2006: ,  Sweden 2006–2007: Nassau,  Bahamas 2007–2012: Piraeus,  Greece 2012 onwards: Valletta,  Malta
Ordered:	22 December 1978
Builder:	Finnyards, Rauma, Finland
Yard number:	309
Laid down:	1990
Launched:	25 July 1991
Christened:	25 July 1991
Acquired:	23 March 1992
Maiden voyage:	23 March 1992
In service:	March 1992
Identification:	Call sign: 9HA2978 IMO number: 7827213 MMSI number: 229001000
Status:	In service
General characteristics (as rebuilt, 1992)
Type:	cruise ship
Tonnage:	25,076 GT 25,611 GT (after 1995) 1,703 DWT
Length:	158.90 m (521 ft 4 in)
Beam:	25.20 m (82 ft 8 in)
Draught:	5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
Decks:	9 (passenger accessible), with 476 cabins
Propulsion:	2 propellers 2 bow thrusters 1 stern thruster
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity:	1,452 passengers 1200 passenger (after 1995) 950 passengers (after 2000) 1,409 passengers (after 2002)
Notes:	Otherwise the same as built

Celestyal Crystal, previously Louis Cristal, is a cruise ship operated by the Cyprus-based Celestyal Cruises and previously Louis Cruise Lines, both in the Louis Group. The ship was originally built as the cruiseferry MS Viking Saga in 1980 at Wärtsilä Turku New Shipyard, Turku, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally. In 1986 she was renamed MS Sally Albatross, and rebuilt into a cruise ship the following year. The ship was destroyed by a fire in 1990, and completely rebuilt at Finnyards, Rauma, Finland. She was re-delivered in 1992, still named Sally Albatross. After partially sinking 1994 she was rebuilt at Industrie Navali Maccaniche Affini, La Spezia, Italy, re-entering service as MS Leeward for Norwegian Cruise Line. Subsequently she sailed as MS SuperStar Taurus for Star Cruises, MS Silja Opera for Silja Line and spent a year laid up as MS Opera prior to entering service with her current owner in 2007.

Although the 1980 ship and the 1992 ship appear superficially unalike both externally and internally, they share the same IMO number because they are technically the same ship.

The ship was originally built in 1980 for Rederi Ab Sally, one of Viking Line partners as the cruiseferry MS Viking Saga. The ship's hull was built in Wärtsilä's Turku shipyard, and towed from there to the nearby Perno shipyard to be fitted out.