The mv Crown of Scandinavia was built for Euroway in 1994 by a Yugoslavian yard who up until that time had not built a passenger ship of any description for over twenty years. The yard undercut all the European yards whilst still conforming to the tight delivery dates imposed. Originally she was to be named mv Thomas Mann and put into service on the Lubeck to Malmo service, however political problems caused the service to cease before it began and the ship was sold to DFDS, renamed the mv Crown of Scandinavia she entered service alongside the mv Queen of Scandinavia.

The mv Crown of Scandinavia replaced the mv King of Scandinavia which was sold to Color Line for service between Newcastle and Bergen as the mv Color Viking.