Kristina Cruises, the Finnish boutique cruise operator, has sold the 1960 built Kristina Regina to Oy S/S Borea Ab, a newly established company, which intends to convert the 4,295 gross ton vessel into a hotel, restaurant and museum located in Turku on the west coast of Finland.

The ship was built as Bore  king of the north winds the Scandinavian mythology – for Hoyrylaivaosakeyhtio Bore that is based in Turku and operated on a service from there to Stockholm until 1976 under the banner of Silja Line. Following a number of other employments, the ship returned to its original route in 1984 as Borea of Aura Line, but the venture failed after only a few months.

The ship was laid up in the Aura River in Turku for several years, until acquired by Kristina Cruises 21 years ago. The new owners replaced the original reciprocating steam engines with diesels and have carried out significant work since acquiring the ship to maintain it.

Mikko Partanen, Managing Director of Kristina Cruises, says he is happy that the ship will be preserved and that ir will return to its roots. The company's deep sea cruise programme will be continued by Kristina Katarina, a 1980-built vessel of 12,200 gross tons, which has undergone major upgrading that has been recently completed prior to entry into service with the company.