The Bonn-based company Phoenix Reisen decided to retire the 47-year-old cruise ship MS Albatros.
A press release said that as a medium-sized company, Phoenix Reisen was very solidly positioned. At the Bonn headquarters as well as onboard the ships currently stationed in German ports, the company was "working on a new start as soon as possible, but sensible." However, economic efficiency had to be maintained. Therefore, the organizer had decided to part with the oldest member of its ocean-going fleet.
The step was not easy for Phoenix Reisen, emphasized Managing Director Benjamin Krumpen, but the running costs with the associated drop in sales had ultimately left the company with no other choice:
“We are aware that many fans and lovers of the Albatros will be surprised by this farewell. We are also sad that we have to part with her in this way due to the COVID situation ”.
Precisely for that reason, Krumpen was happy that they had found a new future for MS Albatros together with the shipping company BSM: Kamel Abou-Aly (a long-term partner of Phoenix Reisen) which bought MS Albatros for the Egyptian Pick Albatros Group, including 15+ hotels in Egypt alone and will use the vessel in the future as a hotel and event ship in the Red Sea.
This means that MS Albatros will continue to be bookable via Phoenix Reisen, but only as a hotel ship and under a different name. The last voyage on the classic route from Bremerhaven to Egypt is expected to begin on October 19, 2020.
All customers who have already booked cruises on MS Albatros will receive further information and offers for alternative voyages. For example, some of the ship's routes will be taken over by MS Amadea in the 2021 summer season.