Image 1 of 2
Image 2 of 2
Black Prince was a cruise ship, owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was a UK-based, Norwegian-owned cruise shipping line.
She was built in 1966 by the Lübecker Flender-Werke in Lübeck, West Germany for Fred. Olsen Lines for combined ferry/cruise ship operations.
From 1970 until 1983 she sailed the Northern Hemisphere summer seasons on ferry service for Bergen Steamship Company (Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, BDS) as Venus, while returning to cruise service with Fred. Olsen for the winter seasons.
In 1983 the summer ferry service was taken over by Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (DFDS), and in 1985 it passed to Norway Line.
In 1986 Fred. Olsen bought the ship outright and she was converted to a full-time cruise ship, retaining the name Black Prince.
Black Prince was retired from the Fred. Olsen fleet on 16 October 2009.
She was sold to Servicios Acuaticos Venezuela (SAVECA) for further cruise service in Venezuelan waters under the name Ola Esmeralda.
She was scrapped at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in October 2013.
