Experiences from SF Line's previous new buildings — particularly MS Aurella of 1973 — heavily influenced the design of the new vessel, which was drawn with large car-decks.

In the end the cost of the ship from Wärtsilä was approximately 15% more expensive than it would have been if built by Mitsubishi,[2] despite a subvention of 17 million markka from the Bank of Finland.

[2][5] SF Line's new ship was also given large conference facilities by the day's standards, capable of hosting 80 people.

[2] The basic design of the new building was apparently successful, as even before she was completed SF Line's fellow Viking Line members Rederi AB Slite and Rederi Ab Sally asked access to the ship's plans so that they could order additional ships of the same design.

On 18 January 1979, SF Line ordered a sister ship for the Turella from Wärtsilä, which eventually entered service in 1980 as MS Rosella.

[2] The construction of the Turella was completed on 4 June 1980 and she was delivered to SF Line on the same date,[6] 11 days earlier than agreed.

In the end the Turella was sold instead of Rosella, as it was generally in a better condition and easier to convert for the traffic Stena planned for her.

[11] Following the collapse of the St. Petersburg traffic, the Fantaasia was swiftly chartered to Algérie Ferries for a duration of nine months, during which she sailed between France and Algeria.

[15] On 15 November, the Swedish Maritime Authority Sjöfartsinspektionen deemed the ship unsafe and prohibited it from leaving Cityvarvet until 18 faults found during the inspection were fixed.

[17][18] According to Tallink, the inspection was made while refitting of the ship was still in process, which they cited as the reason why several onboard systems were turned off-line and normal safety procedures were not observed.

[1] On 23 December 2009 the Croatian ferry operator Blue Line International was reported to have purchased the Kongshavn, with the intention of using her on their service between Ancona and Split.

[4] Blue Line took delivery of the ship on 17 March 2010, renamed her Regina della Pace and initially re-registered her under the Maltese flag.

Prior to entering service with Blue Line on 19 April 2010, the Regina della Pace was re-registered to Panama.