The former Greek operator Louis Cruise Line, now Celestyal Cruises, has announced that it will be chartering a new ship for the 2016-2017 season, replacing the 24,318gt/2001 built Celestyal Odyssey, whose charter agreement will be concluded at the end of October.

The 19,093gt/1992 built Celestyal Nephele, the former Gemini (un-stretched sister of the Braemar) will join the fleet from February 2016, after undergoing a refurbishment. The 1,074 passenger ship will sail the Eastern Mediterranean from Turkey having most recently served as an accommodation ship for the London Olympics in 2012.

The ship was laid up at Tilbury since her operators, Happy Cruises, filed for bankruptcy in 2011.