Golden Iris, formerly Cunard Princess, has been sold for breaking. She has not operated since 2018.
WILLIAM MAYES
The 1977-built Golden Irishas come to the end of her days, being beached at Aliaga on 11 July under the name Gold Club. Originally ordered by Cunard Line, she was one of the two ships which were effectively replacements for the unsuccessful Cunard Ambassador and Cunard Adventurer when they were delivered in 1976-77.
Burmeister and Wain in Copenhagen built the hulls, which were then towed on INMA at La Spezia for fitting out as Cunard Countess and Cunard Conquest. The latter ship was renamed Cunard Princess before delivery and she initially operated mainly in the Caribbean and also to Alaska.
Cunard Princess later operated for Cunard Crown Cruises and in 1995 was chartered to Star Lauro to replace the recently lost Achille Lauro. Star Lauro was rebranded as MSC Cruises and the ship was purchased and renamed Rhapsody. She passed to Mano Maritime in 2009 and was renamed Golden Iris, under which name she sailed until 2018, when laid up in Greece.