ホヴァルツヴェルケ＝ドイツ造船
The ship was originally built in 1987 under the name "Astor" by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), Kiel in West Germany for the Mauritius-based Marlan Corporation, although originally ordered by the South African Safmarine as a combined ocean liner/cruise ship for the Southampton-Cape Town service.