The German operator Hapag Lloyd is to return the chartered c.Columbus (1997/15,067gt) to her owners, the Munich-based Conti Group, in May 2012, by mutual agreement. The 420-passenger ship is being replaced in Spring 2012 by the larger 698-passenger Columbus 2 (1998/30,277gt) on a two-year charter from Oceania Cruises, for whom she currently sails as Insignia.
c.Columbus is operating long non-repeating cruises, which take her round the world. Her departure from Hapag Lloyd takes place at the end of a 20-day sailing from Dubai to Nice, where she is scheduled to arrive on 7 May 2012. Her officers and crew will transfer to the new Columbus 2.
