The history behind the ship
Built as the Southern Cross  by Harland & Wolff at Belfast Yard (N Ireland)

She was launched in the rain by Queen Elizabeth II, who traveled specially for the occasion from Scotland, on August 17, 1954. The Royal Yacht Britannia having been built at the same yard. (A visit to the Royal Yacht in Edinburgh, Scotland reveals many similarities between the two vessels) She was delivered on Feb 23 1955, and her maiden voyage in round the world service Southampton commenced on March 29.

In 1971, as round the world liner service became less popular, she began cruising from Liverpool to the Mediterranean. 

In November of 1971, she was laid up at Southampton  then moved to an anchorage in Cornwall's River Fal in April 1972.  SOUTHERN CROSS was sold in January 1973 to Cia de Vap Cerulea SA, Ithaka, on behalf of Ulysses line Ltd. and renamed CALYPSO. 

In March 1973, she arrived at Piraeus, Greece for a complete refitting as a cruise ship.

It took over two years to strip her wood paneling, install private facilities and rebuild the vast majority of her cabins. The new decor was bright, with plastic and metallic finishes. She made her first Mediterranean cruise from Piraeus.

In 1980 she was renamed CALYPSO I. and  was subsequently sold to Eastern Steamship Lines Inc, of Panama and renamed AZURE SEAS.  The AZURE SEAS sailed as 'Supercruise' on three and four night cruises to San Diego and Ensenada, later adding Catalina Island to the itinerary.

In 1986, rival company Sundance Cruises amalgamated with Eastern and Western Cruise Lines, forming Admiral Cruises. AZURE SEAS was kept on her short Mexico circuits but acquired a new livery, a black topped, white banded blue funnel with the new company's "five star logo". She spent her final year in Bahamas cruise service out of Ft. Lauderdale in 1991 - a service her sister ship, the Emerald Seas had done previously..

Sold to Dolphin Cruise Line and renamed OCEANBREEZE, she was deployed on a new seven night itinerary out of Aruba in 1992. The ship was later moved to Florida and New York-based cruising in 1996.

In 1999, Premier Cruises chartered the OceanBreeze to  IMC “Imperial Majesty Cruises,” who operated her on festive two night cruises to  Nassau .

June 27, 2003 laid up - August 25, 2003: OCEANBREEZE left Grand Bahamas Shipyard under her own power for Gibraltar.

October 13, 2003: Reports from Chittagong, Bangladesh, indicate that SS OCEANBREEZE (ex SOUTHERN CROSS, CALYPSO, AZURE SEAS) encountered a severe storm, taking on a list and much water as she neared the breakers beach in Bangladesh.

5 Nov 03  OceanBreeze was beached at the Ahmed Muztaba Steel Industries yard.

April 2004 - Ocean Breeze was scrapped.