MV Oriental Dragon

MV Oriental Dragon, originally named Sun Viking, was one of the three original cruise ships ordered by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as part of their early fleet. The ship was first put into service in the year 1972.

Oriental Dragon as MS Sun Viking
"Sun Viking" redirects here. Not to be confused with Viking Sun or Royal Viking Sun.
This article is about the ship ordered by the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. For other uses, see Oriental Dragon.
Oriental Dragon leaving Hong Kong.
History
Name
  • Oriental Dragon (2011–2021)
  • Long Jie (2007–2011)
  • Omar III (2003–2007)
  • Pongnae (2001–2003)
  • Hyundai Pongnae (1998-2001)
  • Superstar Sagittarius (1998)
  • Sun Viking (1972–1998)
OwnerCapital Dragon Global Holding[1]
OperatorIsland Ship Management, Ltd.[1]
Port of registry
BuilderOy Wärtsilä Ab Helsinki Shipyard, Finland
Yard number394
Laid down18 May 1971[2]
Launched27 November 1971
Completed10 November 1972[2]
Identification
FateSold for Scrap[3]
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length171.69 m (563.29 ft)[4]
Beam24 m (78.74 ft)[4]
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)[4]
Capacity882 (lower berths)[5]
Crew350[6]


Oriental Dragon as MS Sun Viking in Nordkapp, Norway 1993
Oriental Dragon as MS Sun Viking

Along with her sister ships, the Song of Norway and Nordic Prince, the class comprised the first purpose built ships intended for Caribbean based cruise travel. Sun Viking cruised the Mexican Riviera on a 7 day itinerary out of L.A. and the Caribbean out of San Juan Puerto Rico in the early 1990s. The Sun Viking was retired in the late 1990s by Royal Caribbean, but remains in service with other cruise lines.[7]

Oriental Dragon as Omar III

In 1998 the Sun Viking was sold to Star Cruises and renamed SuperStar Sagittarius. She was later renamed Hyundai Pongnae in 2003, sailing for the Hyundai Merchant Marine Company, before being renamed Omar III for Asia Cruises.[4]

Oriental Dragon as Long Jie

The ship was renamed Long Jie in 2007.[6] The Long Jie was put up for sale on 10 June 2010. After being dry docked in Singapore, the Long Jie was transformed into the Oriental Dragon, leaving Singapore on 24 March 2011 bound for Guangzhou, China.

After several years of service as a gambling ship in Hong Kong, she moved to Penang, Malaysia to continue her career in late 2019 until 2021, when was finally sold for scrap. She was scrapped at Gadani, Pakistan in February 2022.

Media

In the 2018, Oriental Dragon featured in movie L Storm.

References
  1. "Oriental Dragon (7125861)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  2. "Oriental Dragon". Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. "Cruising pioneer heads for the scrapheap after 50 years of service | TradeWinds". 28 December 2021.
  4. "LONG JIE". Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  5. Asklander, Micke. "M/V VIKING SUN". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  6. "Long Jie". Archived from the original on 2008-12-01.
  7. Beneath Crown and Anchor, a History of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines First 25 Years. [Maxtone Ghram]


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