HISTORY
NAME:
ASUKA II (CRYSTAL HARMONY)
CLASS:
CRUISE SHIP
ENT/SERVICE: 1990
BUILT:
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES / JAPAN
WEIGHT:
49,400 TONS
LENGTH:
791 TONS
WIDTH:
105 FEET
SPEED:
21 KNOTS - DIESEL ELECTRIC ENGINES
The Japanese company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) began setting
up the Los Angeles based Crystal Cruises in 1988. Founded in
1885, NYK are now regarded as the largest shipping company
in Japan. They began phasing out their passenger services
after the Second World War to concentrate on running cargo
ships. Their return to passenger ships began when they
ordered Crystal Harmony in 1988; the year the new cruise
line was founded.
Harmony has 8 passenger decks, 2 pools, 8 bars, casino,
fitness center, 277-seat theatre, 461 outside cabins of
which 260 have verandas, 19 inside cabins, can carry 940
passengers and a crew of 545.
Harmony was mainly operated on cruises from San Francisco-
Alaska, Los Angeles - Mexico, and cruises between Hong Kong
& Beijing. Harmony was also occasionally operated on cruises
around the world and on Northern European cruises between
Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Ireland & England.
This ship was transferred to NYK in 2006 to be operated
under the name Asuka 11. She will probably be operated on
the same routes as the original Asuka such as cruises out of
Yokohama - various ports throughout Japan, Japanese Islands
& the Philippians, and world cruises. |