Posted by As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marella Dream is being retired by Marella Cruises and now faces an unknown future.
The 54,760-ton vessel launched in 1986 under he Home Lines banner and also spent time in the Holland America Line and Costa Cruises fleets before sailing for Thomson Cruises in 2010.
Early 1980s: Home Lines orders a new ship at Meyer Werft . Named the Homeric, the vessel is planned as a replacement for the 1963-built Oceanic.
1985: As the very first cruise ship built by Meyer Werft, the Homeric is constructed in the open and launched in a traditional way, slipping sideways into the water. Meyer’s covered docks were built a year later.
1986: The Homeric is delivered to Home Lines in May. A few weeks later, the vessel arrives in New York City to start a program of summer cruises to Bermuda. Longer itineraries to the Caribbean are planned for the winter.
1987: After buying Home Line’s Oceanic for its Premier Cruise Lines brand, Greyhound Corporation negotiates to buy Homes Lines and its remaining fleet. The deal was expected to be concluded by the end of the year but it ended up falling through.
1988: Only two years after its debut, the Homeric is sold to Holland America Line, along with the Atlantic.
1988: While Home Lines ceases operations, the Homeric is delivered to Holland America in November. Renamed the Westerdam, the vessel begins sailing for its new owners with alternating seven-night Eastern Caribbean and seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale.
Read rest of her story……. here.
Marella cruises page….. here.
PS. This was the ship was due to join, until……
Rgds, Sailor
Travelling storyteller. 
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