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{{short description|Former cruise ship company}}'''Renaissance Cruises''' was a cruise ship operating company that was founded in 1989 and  owned by Fearnley & Eger Rederi in [[Oslo]], Norway. It was purchased by Edward Rudner (founder of [[Alamo Rent a Car|Alamo Car Rental]]) as the company faltered during the [[Gulf War]]. It operated year-round cruise itineraries to the [[Mediterranean Sea]], the [[List of islands of Greece|Greek Isles]], [[Tahiti]] and the [[Oceania|South Pacific]], [[northern Europe]] and [[Scandinavia]]. The company ceased operations on 25 September 2001,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-26-fi-49909-story.html |title=Renaissance Cruise Line Halts Ships, Operations |last=Reynolds|first=Christopher|date=2001-09-26|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref> having accommodated up to 220,000 guests in 2000. While the company had been in poor financial health for quite some time, the economic decline resulting from the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001 is credited with the demise of this cruise line.<ref name=":1" /> It was headquartered in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=http://www.renaissancecruises.com/aboutus/index.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000307032754/http://www.renaissancecruises.com/aboutus/index.asp |archive-date=7 March 2000 |title=About Us |publisher=Renaissance Cruises |date=7 March 2000 |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>

== Fleet==

===Renaissance class===
The company also owned and operated eight Renaissance-class [[yacht]]-like ships between 1989 and 1992. The first four of them were built in [[Cantieri Navale Ferrari-Signani]] shipyards in [[La Spezia]], Italy, from 1989 to 1991. They were {{convert|88.3|m|ftin}} long, and {{GT|4077|disp=long}} in size, and they carried 100 passengers in 50 cabins, with 72 crew. The other four were built in {{interlanguage link|Nuovi Cantieri Apuania|it}}  shipyards in [[Carrara]], Italy, in the same period. They were {{convert|90.6|m|ftin}} long and {{GT|4200}} in size, and they carried 114 passengers in 57 cabins with 72 crew. The small, intimately sized vessels used [[Roman numeral]] designations as part of their names: ''Renaissance I'' through ''Renaissance VIII''.

These are the current names, former names and registries of the Renaissance-class ships;
''Renaissance I'', ''Renaissance III'', ''Renaissance IV'', and ''Renaissance VIII'' were all chartered and sold in 1998 so the line could concentrate on the larger, newer R class. Before the line folded for the R class, ''Renaissance V'', ''Renaissance VI'', and ''Renaissance VII'' were sold to other interests. ''Renaissance II'' was renamed ''Neptune II'' In 1998 for operations in Singapore before EasyCruise was formed. Current operators of these vessels include Noble-Caledonia, Silversea, and Antarctica XXI.

==== Renaissance class I ====
Built at Cantieri Navale Ferrari-Signani shipyard (1989–1991):
{| class="wikitable" 
! Ship || Image|| Built || In service<br>for Renaissance Cruises || [[Gross tonnage]] || History and status 
|-
| ''Renaissance I''  
|[[File:Dubawi (cropped).jpg|frameless]]
| align="Center" | 1989 
| align="Center" | 1989–1991 
| align="Center" rowspan="4" | 4,077 
| align="Left" | (a) ''Renaissance I'' (b) ''The Mercury'' (c) ''Leisure World'' (d) ''Dubawi''. Now sailing as a [[yacht]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Renaissance Cruises |url=https://www.shippingtandy.com/features/renaissance cruises/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Shipping Today & Yesterday}}</ref>
|-
| [[EasyCruiseOne|''Renaissance II'']]
|[[File:EasyCruise laid up in Dubai Sep 2015.jpg|frameless]]
| align="Center" rowspan="3" | 1990 
| align="Center" | 1990–1998 
| align="Left" | (a) ''Renaissance II'' (b) ''Neptune II'' (c) ''EasycruiseOne'' (d) ''Cruise One''. Laid up from 2008–2022. Sold for scrap in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boonzaier |first1=Jonathan |title=Ship that launched Sir Stelios’ EasyCruise dream gets cut up for scrap in Dubai |url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/ship-that-launched-sir-stelios-easycruise-dream-gets-cut-up-for-scrap-in-dubai/2-1-1269154?fbclid=IwAR1feoi0b2sJVNvu7sIuOMx5ryUp9eIul05XXLz6LPS23V3ulwP4Ck1wtmI |website=TradeWinds |access-date=24 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
| ''Renaissance III''
|[[File:M V Galapagos Explorer II (88877419) (cropped).jpg|frameless]]
| align="Center" | 1990–1997
|(a) ''Renaissance III'' (b) ''Galapagos Explorer II''  (c) ''Silver Galapagos'' (d) ''Mantra''.<ref name=":5" />
|-
| {{nowrap|''Renaissance IV''}}
|[[File:Corinthian turning to Port Side in Tallinn 24 August 2015.JPG|frameless]]
| align="Center" | 1990–1996
|(a) ''Renaissance IV'' (b) ''Clelia II'' (1998), Troodos (c) ''Orion II'' (d) {{ship|MV|Corinthian||2}} from 2013, Travel Dynamics Int.<ref name=":5" />
|}

==== Renaissance class II ====
Built at Nuovi Cantieri Apuania shipyard (1991–1992):
{| class="wikitable" 
!Ship
!Image
!Built
!In service<br>for Renaissance Cruises
![[Gross tonnage]]
!History and status
|-
|''Renaissance V'' 
|[[File:Kobe spirit of oceanus03s3200.jpg|frameless]]
| align="Center" rowspan="3" | 1991
| align="Center" | 1991–1998
| align="Center" rowspan="4" | 4,200
|(a) ''Renaissance V'' (briefly ''Hanseatic Renaissance'') (b) ''Sun Viva'' (1997), Sun Cruise (c) ''MegaStar Sagittarius'' (2000), Star Cruises (d) ''Spirit of Oceanus'' (2000), Cruise West (e) ''Sea Spirit'' (2010),  Noble-Caledonia Cruises.<ref name=":2" />
|-
|''[[Caledonian Sky|Renaissance VI]]'' 
|[[File:Dubai Drydocking.jpg|frameless]]
| align="Center" |1991–1998
|a) ''Renaissance VI'' (b) ''Sun Viva 2'' (1997), Sun cruise (c) ''MegaStar Capricorn'' (2000), Star Cruises (d) ''Hebridean Spirit'' (2000) (e) ''Caledonian Sky'' (2012), Noble-Caledonia Cruises.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last=Asklander |first=Micke |title=M/S R Two (1998) |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_two_1998.htm |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120802073948/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_two_1998.htm |archivedate=2 August 2012 |accessdate=2008-03-22 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Hebridean Sky|Renaissance VII]]'' 
|[[File:Corinthian II.jpg|frameless]]
| align="Center" | 1991–2001
|(a) ''Renaissance VII'' (b) ''Renai I'' (c) ''Island Sun'' (d) ''Corinthian II'' (1991) (e) ''Sea Explorer'' (f) ''Hebridean Sky'' (2016), Noble-Caledonia Cruises<ref name=":5" />
|-
|{{nowrap|''Renaissance VIII''}}
|[[File:Island Sky IMO 8802894 Tallinn 15 July 2012.JPG|frameless]]
| align="Center" | 1992
| align="Center" | 1992–2001
|(a) ''Renaissance VIII'' (b) ''Renai II'' (c) ''Island Sky'' (1992),  Noble-Caledonia Cruises<ref name=":5" />
|}

=== R class ===
The pride of the fleet were the line's eight brand new 684-passenger R-class ships named {{MS|R One||2}}, {{MS|R Two||2}}, {{MS|R Three||2}}, {{MS|R Four||2}}, {{MS|R Five||2}}, {{MS|R Six||2}}, {{MS|R Seven||2}} and {{MS|R Eight||2}}. The ships in this class were all built between 1998 and 2001. They were all built at the shipyard of [[Chantiers de l'Atlantique]] in [[Saint-Nazaire]] France and were designed, internally and externally, by British designer John McNeece. Following the bankruptcy of Renaissance Cruises, all of the vessels were chartered or sold to other cruise lines and continue to operate to this day.

{| class="wikitable" 
! Ship || Image|| Built || In service<br>for Renaissance Cruises || [[Gross tonnage]] || Initial Flag || History and status 
|-
| {{MS|R One||2}} ||[[File:INSIGNIA (34277411284).jpg|200px]]|| align="Center" | 1998 || align="Center" | 1998–2001 || align="Center" | 30,277 || align="Center" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 1998. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was sold to [[Cruiseinvest]], but was laid up until 2003, when she was [[Chartering (shipping)|chartered]] to [[Oceania Cruises]] and renamed ''Insignia''.<ref name="SimplonRenaissance">{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Ian |title=Renaissance |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Renaissance.html |accessdate=2008-03-22 |work=Simplon Postcards}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |last=Asklander |first=Micke |title=M/S R One (1998) |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_one_1998.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730114930/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_one_1998.htm |archive-date=30 July 2012 |access-date=2008-03-22 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref> In 2006, Oceania Cruises purchased the vessel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Jainchill |first=Johanna |date=2007-03-04 |title=Private equity firm to acquire Oceania Cruises for $850M: Travel Weekly |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Private-equity-firm-to-acquire-Oceania-Cruises-for-$850M |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=Travel Weekly}}</ref> In April 2012, she was renamed to {{MS|Columbus 2||2}} and sailing for [[Hapag-Lloyd]]. In 2014, she reverted to Oceania Cruises after the launch of Hapag-Lloyd's ''Europa 2'', and currently sails as {{MS|Insignia||2}}. 
|-
| {{MS|R Two||2}} ||[[File:Regatta Stockholm.jpg|200px]]|| align="Center" | 1998 || align="Center" | 1998–2001 || align="Center" | 30,277 || align="Center" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 1998. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was sold to Cruiseinvest, but was laid up until 2002, when she was chartered to the newly established Oceania Cruises and renamed ''Insignia.'' She was renamed {{MS|Regatta||2}} the following year.<ref name="SimplonRenaissance" /><ref name=":4" /> In 2006, Oceania Cruises purchased the vessel.<ref name=":0" />
|-
| {{MS|R Three||2}} ||[[File:Kreuzfahrtschiff-AzamaraOnward-Portovenere-Ligurien-Italien.jpg|frameless|200x200px]]|| style="text-align:Center;" | 1999 || style="text-align:Center;" | 1999–2001 || style="text-align:Center;" | 30,277 || style="text-align:Center;" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 1999. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was laid up until late 2002, when she was sold to [[Princess Cruises]] and renamed ''Pacific Princess''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Asklander |first=Micke |title=M/S R Three (1999) |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_three_1999.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801115942/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_three_1999.htm |archive-date=1 August 2012 |access-date=2008-03-22 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref> In 2021, Azamara Club Cruises purchased the vessel joining the Journey, Quest and Pursuit. The vessel was renamed {{ship||Azamara Onward}} and began offering cruises in 2022.
|-
| {{MS|R Four||2}} ||[[File:Sirena anchored in Sorrento.jpg|200px]]|| style="text-align:Center;" | 1999 || style="text-align:Center;" | 1999–2001 || style="text-align:Center;" | 30,277 || style="text-align:Center;" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 1999. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was laid up until late 2002, when she was sold to Princess Cruises and renamed ''Tahitian Princess.''<ref name="Asklander">{{cite web |last=Asklander |first=Micke |title=M/S R Four (1999) |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_four_1999.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730191951/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_four_1999.htm |archive-date=30 July 2012 |access-date=2008-03-22 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref> The ship was renamed again to ''Ocean Princess'' in November 2009.<ref name="Asklander" /> It was announced on November 25, 2014, that the ship was to be sold to Oceania Cruises under a definitive agreement. She departed the Princess fleet in March 2016 and underwent a 35-day, $40 million refurbishment in Marseille, France to become {{MS|Sirena||2}} for Oceania Cruises.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 2014 |title=Ocean Princess Sold to Oceania |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/11912-ocean-princess-sold-to-oceania.html |work=Cruise Industry News |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{MS|R Five||2}} ||[[File:MS Nautica 01.JPG|200px]]|| align="Center" | 2000 || align="Center" | 2000–2001 || align="Center" | 30,277 || align="Center" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 2000. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was sold to Cruiseinvest, but was laid up until 2002, when she was chartered to [[Pullmantur Cruises]] under the marketing name ''Blue Dream''. In 2005, the vessel was renamed {{MS|Nautica||2}}, and Oceania's purchase was finalized in 2006.<ref name="SimplonRenaissance" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Asklander |first=Micke |title=M/S R Five (2000) |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_five_2000.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804153010/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_five_2000.htm |archive-date=4 August 2012 |access-date=2008-03-22 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref>
|-
| {{MS|R Six||2}} || [[File:Azamara Journey, Geiranger (14863575491).jpg|200px]]|| align="Center" | 2000 || align="Center" | 2000–2001 || align="Center" | 30,277 || align="Center" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 2000. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was sold to Cruiseinvest, but was laid up until 2003, when she was chartered to Pullmantur Cruises under the marketing name ''Blue Star''. In 2005 she was renamed ''Blue Dream,'' and was sold to Pullmantur the following year. In 2007, she was transferred to [[Azamara Cruises|Azamara Club Cruises]] and was renamed {{ship||Azamara Journey}}.<ref>{{cite web |last=Asklander |first=Micke |title=M/S R Six (2000) |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_six_2000.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801150928/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_six_2000.htm |archive-date=1 August 2012 |access-date=2008-03-22 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref>
|-
| {{nowrap|{{MS|R Seven||2}}}} ||[[File:Azamara Quest (ship, 2000) IMO 9210218; Split, 2013-09-29 (1).jpg|200px]]|| align="Center" | 2000 || align="Center" | 2000–2001 || align="Center" | 30,277 || align="Center" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 2001. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was sold to Cruiseinvest, but was laid up until 2003, when she was chartered to [[Delphin Seereisen]] under the name ''Delphin Renaissance''. In 2006, she was sold to Pullmantur Cruises and was renamed ''Blue Moon.'' In 2007, she was transferred to Azamara Club Cruises and was renamed {{ship||Azamara Quest}}.<ref>{{cite web |last=Asklander |first=Micke |title=M/S R Seven (2000) |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/r_seven_2000.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731122604/http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/r_seven_2000.htm |archive-date=31 July 2012 |access-date=2008-03-22 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref>
|-
| {{nowrap|{{MS|R Eight||2}}}} ||[[File:Corfu Greece-11 (45487360212) (cropped).jpg|200px]]|| align="Center" | 2001 || align="Center" | 2001–2001 || align="Center" |  30,277 || align="Center" | {{flag|Liberia}} || align="Left" | Entered service for Renaissance Cruises in 2001. After the bankruptcy of the company, she was sold to Cruiseinvest but was laid up until 2003, when she was chartered to [[Swan Hellenic Cruises]] and renamed ''Minerva II''. In March 2006, Princess Cruises announced that they were acquiring ''Minerva II'' and the ship debuted in the Princess fleet in April 2007, upon which she was renamed ''Royal Princess''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-09 |title=Princess Acquires Swan Hellenic's Minerva II |url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1544 |access-date= |website=www.cruisecritic.com}}{{dead link|date=December 2022}}</ref> At the end of April 2011,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jainchill |first=Johanna |date=2011-02-24 |title=Shirley Bassey tapped as godmother to Adonia |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Shirley-Bassey-tapped-as-godmother-to-Adonia |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=Travel Weekly}}</ref> ''Royal Princess'' was transferred to [[P&O Cruises]] and was renamed ''Adonia''. In 2015, [[Carnival Corporation & plc]] announced the founding of a new brand oriented at social impact, called [[Fathom (cruise line)|Fathom]], with ''Adonia'' being the lead vessel for the brand.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sampson |first1=Hannah |date=June 4, 2015 |title=Carnival launches fathom, a new "social impact travel" brand |work=Miami Herald |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article23081625.html |access-date=May 4, 2016}}</ref> When Fathom ended operations in 2017, she was returned to P&O Cruises, but was retired a year later, in 2018, having been sold to Azamara Club Cruises.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-14 |title=Azamara Signs for Ownership of Pursuit |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/18713-azamara-signs-for-ownership-of-pursuit.html |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=Cruise Industry News }}</ref> After an extensive refit, she officially began sailing for Azamara as {{MV|Azamara Pursuit||2}} in August 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Mary |date=2018-01-08 |title=Azamara announces UK refit and maiden voyage for third ship, Pursuit |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/azamara-announces-uk-refit-and-maiden-voyage-for-third-ship-pursuit/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=Seatrade Cruise News}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/*/www.renaissancecruises.com Renaissance Cruises] (Archive)

[[Category:Defunct cruise lines]]
[[Category:Defunct shipping companies]]
[[Category:Hospitality companies established in 1989]]
[[Category:Hospitality companies disestablished in 2001]]