Kyma Ship Management, Inc. (“Kyma”) was formed in 1997 in order to provide a corporate identity to the team of cruise industry veterans that, previously, managed Dolphin Cruise Lines, Majesty Cruise Lines, and the restructuring of Cunard Cruise Lines before it was acquired by Carnival Corp.  The personnel at Kyma and its affiliate, Technical Marine Planning (Overseas) Ltd. Inc. (“TMP”)  have managed and operated Cruise and Cargo vessels since the 1970’s. In their 30+ years of experience these two teams have overseen the creation, management, and expansion of over six cruise lines and two bulk shipping lines.  Both Kyma & TMP continually perform feasibility studies for new business in the Americas, Europe, and Asian markets for clients all around the world.

1970’s – 1980’s 

Our team began with a one-ship operation consisting of the "Dolphin IV". This vessel was without a doubt one of the most successful cruise ships - on a "pound for pound" basis - to have ever operated in the three- and four-night cruise market out of Miami. Between 1982 and 1989 our team also provided deck, engine and hotel management to Premier Cruise Line. The outsourcing of these functions to our team enabled the start-up Premier at that time to attain the highest in marine, technical and hotel operation standards while being allowed the time to "get on its feet".

In 1989, the Dolphin operation grew to two ships with the addition of the 842-passenger vessel, "SeaBreeze I." This vessel was purchased from Premier Cruise Line, and was therefore well known to our team. Dolphin Cruise Line grew to a three-ship fleet in 1992 with the addition of the "OceanBreeze," a 776-passenger cruise ship that was purchased from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. This increased the total amount of lower berths in the operation to 2,198. 

1990’s 

In 1992, our team took delivery of its first new building, the "Royal Majesty;" a magnificent 1,050 berth capacity vessel that was to become the flagship of a new premium market cruise line, Majesty Cruise Line. Our team conceived of the idea and market positioning of the new cruise line, and designed and oversaw every step of the building of the vessel at Kvaerner Masa Yard in Finland. The vessel was extremely popular as a three- and four-night ship from Miami - becoming the first four-night ship to include Mexico as a port of call and thereby opening the eyes of the major cruise operators to this exciting opportunity. It later developed and built a highly successful seven-night business from Boston to Bermuda during the Bermuda summer season.

In 1994, the Kyma team spearheaded the start of a strategic alliance with Epirotiki Cruise Line and Carnival Corporation. Ultimately, the parties intended to set up a new company that would initially consist of the entire Dolphin and Epirotiki operations plus two of Carnival's ships. The focus would be to establish a new worldwide (non-North America) cruising company. Even though the parties could not eventually come to terms as to a new company as envisioned, the Kyma team was successful in negotiating a contract with Epirotiki to represent the latter as to selling and marketing its products in North America in 1994, and also to provide deck and engine management for one of Epirotiki's ships, the "Star of Texas," during part of 1994 and all of 1995.

1996 witnessed the addition of the "IslandBreeze" to the Dolphin Cruise Line fleet. The Carnival Cruise Line-owned vessel (ex. "Festivale") began operating in April of that year for Dolphin under the full management agreement with Carnival. In 1997, this 1,140-passenger vessel underwent a major facelift under the watchful eye of the Kyma team before embarking on a full charter to Thomson Holidays in the Mediterranean in May of that year. This profitable, long-term charter with Thomson was negotiated by the Kyma team.

In 1997, Majesty Cruise Line grew to a two-ship fleet with the introduction of the "Crown Majesty" via a management arrangement with Cunard Line, the bareboat charterer of the vessel. The vessel was places into the Alaska trade in order to complement and round out the Majesty Cruise Line product offering. At this point the Kyma team was managing five cruise vessels under two diverse product headings with a total of 4,608 lower berths.

In 1997 the Dolphin Cruise Line ships and operation were sold to Cruise Holdings and are now operated by Premier Cruises. The "Royal Majesty" was sold for a nice profit to NCL and the "Crown Majesty" was also given to this company to manage.

After the sale of the Dolphin & Majesty brands, the personnel at Kyma began its employment and engaged in the process of restructuring and “turning around” Cunard Cruise Line.  Upon commencing its tenure with Cunard, the Kyma team immediately recognized numerous areas within that company where money was being wasted and took steps to institute changes.  Although major expense-reduction programs were successfully implemented, Kyma remained quite cognizant of the fact that it was at the same time essential to maintain and improve the integrity of the Cunard product.  The end result of Kyma’s efforts was to successfully relocate the company’s headquarters from New York to Miami in late 1997 and position the company for a sale to a Carnival Corporate-led group at a price tag in excess of $500 million.  Testimony to the success of the Kyma team at Cunard was the fact that less than one year prior to the ultimate sale of the company there were no takers for $400 million.  Kyma’s relationship with Cunard effectively ended in July, 1998 upon its sale. 

2000’s 

Until June 7^th 2008, the Company was actively involved, along with its Greek affiliate Technical Marine Planning (Overseas) Ltd. Inc., in operating “The Topaz” for Topaz International Shipping as well as the M/V Mona Lisa for Leonardo Shipping Inc. and oversaw the “Zoe” f/k/a “Regent Sky” for Dream Cruises. On June 7^th, “The Topaz” was sold. Therefore, the Company now operates the “Mona Lisa” as well as overseeing the development of the “Zoe” project.  

The Topaz

The TSS “The Topaz” was a 1,050 passenger (lower berths) ship, which was fully chartered to Thomson Holidays Limited for five years.  This very successful charter ended, as planned, in May 2003. During the course of the Thomson charter, Thomson Holidays was bought by TUI, and became TUI UK Limited. The new senior management team of the latter made the strategic business decision to charter much newer tonnage.  Therefore, even though “The Topaz” had developed an extremely loyal following in the U.K. among the Thomson clientele - and many of them protested that Thomson was not offering the ship beyond May 2003 - Thomson decided not to renew the charter. Knowing that this was to be the case, the Kyma team negotiated a new 3-year time charter with a Japanese tour operator, Japan Grace Ltd. The latter has been active in this business for over 20 years, since 1983. It marketed the ship as the “Peace Boat,” and sold 90+ - day, around-the-world cruises to its predominantly Japanese passengers (www.peaceboat.org/english/index.html). In addition to the Deck and Engine management plus supervision and crewing of casino and other onboard revenue centers that Kyma provided under the Thomson charter, Kyma provided management and crewing for the Hotel, Galley and Food Service operations for the Japan Grace charter. Also, Kyma provided complete accounting and cash management services for the owners of “The Topaz.” The charter with Japan Grace ended on May 31^st 2008. Japan Grace could no longer afford the high cost of fuel and was forced to look for a smaller ship to charter. The Owners decided to sell “The Topaz” shortly after this.

Mona Lisa

In 2002, Kyma began assisting another ownership group in the negotiation and conclusion of the purchase, financing and chartering of another cruise ship. The culmination of these efforts was the purchase of the 378-passenger cabin M/V Mona Lisa by Leonardo Shipping Inc. of the Bahamas, and the concurrent time-chartering of her to Holiday Kreuzfahrten GmbH of Germany until October 2010. Kyma supervised the delivery of the vessel to the new owners in November 2002, including a dry-docking and various inspections, and, along with a Greek affiliate, Technical Marine Planning (Overseas) Ltd. Inc., began managing her in December 2002 for Leonardo Shipping. Management duties for this ship include complete Deck and Engine management and crewing as well as the supervision and crewing for the medical center and telecommunications. As with “The Topaz,” Kyma also provides complete accounting and cash management services for the vessel’s owners. This proved to be a very successful cooperation between the charterers, owners and operators. Unfortunately, on September 20, 2006, Holiday Kreuzfahrten declared bankruptcy. Kyma and the owners of the M/V Mona Lisa have been successful in re-chartering the ship to various tour operators as well as for the recent Asian Olympic Games in Doha, Qatar in the Winter of 2006. In the spring of 2007 she was chartered to Louis Cruises. This charter was followed by a summer charter to Pullmantur Cruises. The vessel began a charter in August 2007 to The Scholar Ship. This charter continued until the end of April 2008, and was to commence again in September 2008 for 2 more winter/spring seasons. However, the main financial supporter of The Scholar Ship, Royal Caribbean Cruises, decided to shut down the latter’s operation prior to the September 2008 season. The vessel completed its first summer charter (May through August) to Mona Lisa Kreuzfahrten GmbH in August 2008. Ticket sales within the German market were handled by this company’s affiliate Lord Nelson Seereisen GmbH (http://www.lord-nelson-seereisen.de/). Kyma operated all aspects of the ship for this charter, including shore excursions and all other onboard activities, in addition to deck, engine, hotel, food and beverage. The first season was very successful. This charter is to be repeated for the same months of 2009 and 2010. In November 2008 the M/V Mona Lisa embarked on a charter to Japan Grace Ltd., the former charterers of the “The Topaz.” Japan Grace Ltd. had encountered numerous problems and delays with the vessel that they had chartered after “The Topaz,” and turned to Kyma for help. Kyma was able to arrange a charter of the M/V Mona Lisa until April 20, 2009. Longer was not possible, as the vessel had to be re-positioned to Bremerhaven, Germany by May 20, 2009 in order to commence the already-contracted 2009 summer charter with Mona Lisa Kreuzfahrten. 

Zoe

The “Zoe” ex. “Regent Sky” was purchased by Dream Cruises on January 30, 2008. This vessel consists of the hull structure with decks plus engines and other equipment. Kyma will oversee the development of a project for this vessel that will include maintaining her until a suitable shipyard is chosen to build her out as a newbuilding for delivery in 2010-2011. She is to be built as an ultra-modern cruise ship with roughly 856 cabins, the majority of which will have cabins with balconies. Kyma is also active in finding a charter for this new cruise vessel and has put together an equity and financing arrangement with DVB Bank AG for the Owners.

Kyma continues to negotiate with several other parties concerning the management of start-up and existing passenger ship ventures.