COLOR FANTASY
July 19, 2022 | Oslo, Norway
Color Fantasy made an impressive sight in Oslo, Norway, on July 19, 2022. Operating for Color Line between Oslo and Kiel, Germany, this large cruise ferry paired extensive dining and entertainment facilities with the practical ability to carry passengers and vehicles.
Entering service in 2004, Color Fantasy brought the scale and facilities of a large cruise ship to Color Line’s overnight route between Oslo and Kiel. Built in Finland, she combines extensive passenger accommodations and entertainment spaces with vehicle and freight decks. Together with her later sister ship, Color Magic, she became central to Color Line’s passenger connection between Norway and Germany.
Information List
Name: Color Fantasy
Operator: Color Line
Year Entered Service: 2004
Christened: December 10, 2004, in Oslo
Shipyard: Kværner Masa-Yards, Turku, Finland, later known as Aker Yards
Ship Type: Passenger and vehicle cruise ferry
Sister Ship: Color Magic
Length: Approximately 224 meters
Beam: 35 meters
Draft: Approximately 6.8 meters
Tonnage: Approximately 75,000 GT
Published Passenger Capacity: Approximately 2,400
Passenger Cabins: Approximately 966
Vehicle Capacity: Approximately 750 cars
Decks: 15
Service Speed: Approximately 22 knots
Country of Registry: Norway
Port of Registry: Oslo
IMO Number: 9278234
Route: Oslo, Norway–Kiel, Germany
History and Features
Construction and Entry Into Service:
Construction took place at the Turku shipyard in Finland, with the keel laid on November 25, 2003.
The ship was christened in Oslo on December 10, 2004, before beginning her inaugural crossing to Kiel.
Her arrival in Kiel the following day drew crowds ashore and a welcoming fleet of small boats.
Her sister ship, Color Magic, entered service in 2007, establishing a pair of large cruise ferries for the route.
Design and Features:
A central indoor promenade brings together shops, cafés, bars, and gathering spaces.
Passenger facilities include multiple restaurants, a show lounge, casino, water park, spa, and fitness center.
Vehicle decks accommodate cars and freight, allowing the ship to serve both leisure travelers and transport customers.
Her scale places her among the world’s largest cruise ferries, with passenger facilities intended to make an overnight crossing a short cruise experience.
Service and Improvements:
Color Fantasy has spent her career connecting Oslo and Kiel.
The route combines international passenger travel with vehicle and freight transportation between Norway and Germany.
Color Line introduced shore-power facilities in Oslo in 2011, allowing the ship to connect to electricity while alongside.
Dining and leisure spaces have continued to evolve, including the introduction of a sushi restaurant in 2018 and Bar Bella in 2019.
As of October 2026, she remains in the Color Line fleet on the Oslo–Kiel route.
Oslo – July 19, 2022:
The photographs show Color Fantasy docked in Oslo during her regular Norway–Germany service.
Her presence reflected Oslo’s role as both a destination and a departure point for overnight international sea travel.
The Oslofjord forms the scenic approach to the capital, while the longer crossing connects the city with Kiel in northern Germany.
Legacy:
Color Fantasy helped establish Color Line’s large cruise-ferry approach to the Oslo–Kiel service.
Her combination of substantial vehicle capacity and extensive passenger facilities illustrates the close relationship between European ferry travel and cruising.
At her twentieth anniversary in 2024, Color Line reported that she had carried approximately 9.7 million guests, demonstrating her importance to the route.
