Alexander von Humboldt (II)
The latest Phoenix Reisen ship, Alexander von Humboldt, made her Southampton debut on the 29th October 2008.  It would be the first of two calls, the other on the 2nd November.  It was also the third Phoenix ship to visit this year.  We only needed Albatros for the set!  This 15,271grt ship entered service as Crown Monarch on the 1st December 1990, doing cruises from Palm Beach for Crown Cruises.  She and her sisters Crown Jewel (SuperStar Gemini for Star Cruises until her final cruise for them in December 2008)  and Crown Dynasty (currently Braemar (III) for Fred Olsen) as Cunard Crown Cruises.  In 1993 she was transferred to Australia to cruise out of Sydney.  After the charter ended in October 1994, she was renamed Nautican for a gambling cruises charter.  In 1997 she was relocated to Hong Kong to continue her role under the new name of Walrus.  By April 2005 she was laid up with various charter rumours coming to nothing.  She was sold in 2006 and renamed Jules Verne in 2007, when she was chartered to Cruceos Vision.  They cancelled the charter as of the 27th October when the owners chartered her to Phoenix Reisen to replace the original Alexander von Humboldt which was returning to Swan Hellenic as Minerva from 2008.  I was supposed to see Jules Verne in Madeira and Tenerife but got Athena instead so it was wonderful to see her at last!  The itnerary listed her arrival as the usual 9am.  VTS said 8.30am which was changed to 10am.  It was freezing cold so the delay was welcome as it was slightly warmer when she arrived, but not much.
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 29th & 31st October 2008 Not to be reproduced without permission