Carwardine Theta

Maiden voyage January 29, 1995, began regular sailings Valentine's Day 1995. It's current port of registry is, it was built by from 1992-1994.

Construction
The ship was built by in  under contract from  between 1992-1994. The ship was completed by the end of 1994, and was sailed from India to America on January 11, 1995. It's first public voyage happened on January 29, 1995, which was a trip from Newport to Bermuda.

1997 Dry-Dock
The first drydock came in 1997, at Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard in Maryland, where it gained several modifications, including sign changes from English to bilingual English/Spanish.

A Hundred Days At Sea
During the transportation from San Juan to US Virgin Islands, the ship went on a 100-day cruise around the world.

2003 Dry-Dock
The 2003 Dry-Dock at Meyer Werft in Germany added a PBS Kids themed children's area and a zipline on the starboard side of the ship.

2005 Somali Pirate Attack
On October 25, 2005, Theta was attacked by pirates in the during a PBS Kids Little Explorers' Cruise. She was sailing en route from to,  when Somali pirates began surrounding the ship. The ship's security team managed to prevent the pirates from boarding by firing high-pressure water cannons and a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) at them, until the Royal Netherlands Navy Karel Doorman-class frigate Van Galen, after answering a distress call from Theta, began sailing in close proximity to Theta, causing most of the pirates to flee. The remaining pirates were captured by the crew of the Van Galen. No one was injured and the ship escaped without damage, and continued on her voyage to Oman.

The ship's master-at-arms, Uriah Ivanir (a former IDF Shayetet 13 operator), was honored for his bravery by the Israeli government, receiving the Chief of Staff Medal of Appreciation. In addition, security officer Alan O'Farrell (a former Texas State Guard member) received an honorary Texas Medal of Valor from the Texas Military Department.

Post-COVID changes
Due to the Theta returning back to the main US, in this case Galveston, for the first time since 1997, some of the Spanish signage was removed.

Ports Sailed

 * Newport, RI - 1995-1997
 * San Juan - 1997-2002
 * Aruba - 2002-2006
 * Barbados - 2006-2014
 * Progreso - 2014-2020
 * Galveston - 2021-present

Details

 * Name: Carwardine Theta
 * Owner: Carwardine Parks of Virginia, Inc.
 * Operator: Dire, Dire Docks Maritime & Shipping
 * Port of Registry: Nassau, Bahamas
 * Ordered: 1992
 * Builder: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai, India
 * Cost: $320 million

Bronze Deck

 * Bronze Rooms (Interior staterooms)

Silver Deck

 * Silver Suites (Interior suites)

Gold Deck

 * Golden Views (Ocean view rooms)

Platinum Deck

 * Barwardine (Lobby piano bar)
 * Carwardine Atrium (Main lobby)
 * Guest Services
 * Homer's King-Size E-lounge (Public computer/internet lounge, first internet lounge at sea (uses satellite internet for access), installed 1997)
 * Shore Excursions

Diamond Deck

 * Carwardine KidGalley (Kids club for kids ages 3 to 12)
 * Carwardine SeaStore
 * Casual Dining Room
 * Diamond Double-Decker Lounge (Floor 1)
 * Fun Dining Room starring The Carwardine Cruise Entertainment Band

Emerald Deck

 * Diamond Double-Decker Lounge (Floor 2)
 * Eagleland Aft Lounge
 * Emerald City Casino
 * Link's Library
 * Zebes Piano Bar

Amethyst Deck

 * Amethyst Alchemy Bar
 * Candy Captain
 * Dance Carwardine
 * Photo Gallery
 * Plank Wok Asian Buffet

Ruby Deck

 * Aluminum Oxide Arcade
 * Carwardine TeenGalley (Kids club for kids ages 13 to 17)
 * Mario and Luigi's Pizza Shack
 * Nintendo Alley
 * Ruby Rooms (Balcony staterooms)

Sapphire Deck

 * Sapphire Suites (Balcony suites)

Opal Deck

 * Bridge
 * Opal Jewelry Store

Plutonium Deck

 * McDonald's
 * Pool-tonium (Mid-deck swimming pool)

Crystal Deck

 * Crystal Slides (Two ProSlide Twisters, repainted from beige to purple and blue respectively in 2014)

Pearl Deck

 * Roller Skater (A Vekoma Roller Skater 335m, repainted from brown track and silver supports to purple track and black supports in 2014)

Topaz Deck

 * Topaz Oasis (Adults-only area)

Trivia

 * This is the first Carwardine cruise ship built in India.
 * Due to it's port of registry being in the US, the ship is allowed to have "cruises to nowhere", even after the U.S. government outlawed it for foreign ships.