Ocean Dream - Peace Boat

On this blog I feature a wide variety of cruise ships - from mass-market behemoths to luxurious yacht-like vessels; from modern cruise-ferries to historical tall ships...but Ocean Dream is something all together different.

Ocean Dream is the current vessel used by Peace Boat. This is a Japanese non-profit organisastion, created to promote peace, human rights and sustainable development. Their admirable aim is to "effect positive social and political change in the world".

Peace Boat use Ocean Dream to operate long and varied world-voyages, visiting countries across the globe, and spreading their message in every port of call. It is possible to book passage on these voyages; accommodation ranges from shared, interior 4-bed cabins to comfortable balcony suites. A programme of lectures and enrichment activities provides additional value to the passengers and volunteers on board.

Ocean Dream herself was launched in 1981 as Tropicale for the then fast-growing (and now dominant) Carnival Cruise Lines. She stayed in this role for 19 years, before tranferring to Costa Cruises in 2000 as Costa Tropicale. In 2005 she was moved again to P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Star, and then in 2008 became Ocean Dream for Pullmantur. Finally, in 2012, Peace Boat acquired her, and she has remained with them since.

The following photos show Ocean Dream alongside at her berth yesterday afternoon, then during her (rainy but atmospheric) sailaway at 23:00 last night as she headed on to Reykjavik.