MS Deutschland
now World Odyssey
Deutschland was built by HDW at Kiel for Peter Deilmann Cruises. Following Peter Deilmann Reederei's insolvency in 2015, Deutschland was sold to Absolute Nevada LLC and is presently operated by Semester at Sea as World Odyssey. From 2016 to 2026 Phoenix chartered the ship during the summer months and operated her under her original name.
Deutschland's interior design - see also Partner Ship Design - has always divided opinions: Some appreciated its nostalgic re-enactment of early-20th-century liners, while others criticised it as a tacky imitation. However, the liner re-enactment concept did not apply to her exterior which is notably more modern.
While the ship always had a core group of loyal fans, her small cabins and lack of balconies were seen as a poor fit for the luxury segment she was meant to serve. However, it seems that during her first years of service Deutschland benefited from the audience that used to travel aboard Vistafjord and Hapag-Lloyd's earlier ('5th') Europa which were both phased out soon after Deutschland's launch in 1998. Also, her role in the TV series 'Das Traumschiff' certainly boosted her popularity: MS Deutschland followed Vistafjord, Astor (Saga Pearl II), Berlin and was finally succeeded by Amadea as the main 'character' in this long running series.
In 2007 Deutschland towed a waterskier for the TV program Kopfball. An old review of Deutschland under Deilmann management is available at www.cruisepage.com. Noteworthy incidents were problems with her gearboxes shortly after entering service, an engine room fire in 2010 while anchoring in Eidfjord and a grounding in the Beagle Channel in 2012.
