Posted on Friday, January 21, 2011 by Shawn Dake
FAIRSKY on her maiden voyage from Los Angeles, May 5, 1984, Photo (c) by Shawn J. Dake
Pullmantur Cruises has sold the ATLANTIC STAR (ex FAIRSKY, SKY PRINCESS, PACIFIC SKY, SKY WONDER) to an undisclosed buyer who intends to rename the vessel MONA LISA II.
Although unconfirmed at this time, the likelihood is the ship would operate on a charter basis for German passengers, replacing the previous MONA LISA built in 1966 (ex KUNGSHOLM, SEA PRINCESS, VICTORIA, MONA LISA, OCEANIC II). Late in 2009 , perennial entrepreneur Paris Katsoufis expressed an interest in acquiring the vessel for his Kyma Ship Management. If this company is the buyer, the last turbine steamship built and entering service in 1984, would be re-engined ending her career under steam. The 46,087 gross ton ship is costly to operate and has been plagued by mechanical problems over the past decade. Much of her recent career has been spent in lay up although the ship was reactivated August 29, 2010 to replace the PACIFIC DREAM (ex HORIZON, ISLAND STAR) which suffered a major engine failure.
When introduced in 1984 as Sitmar Cruises first newly-built ship, the FAIRSKY was among the most attractive vessels of her generation. Owner Boris Vlasov simply liked steamships and was used to having that means of propulsion in his other three passenger vessels, so intended to keep the fleet consistent, even though no passenger steamships had been built since the HAMBURG and QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 in 1969. Sitmar Cruises remained an outstanding company until being taken over by Princess Cruises in 1988, when the ship became the SKY PRINCESS. September 24, 2000, the SKY PRINCESS departed San Francisco, California on what would be her last voyage for Princess, a 28-day trans-Pacific crossing under steam to her new home in Sydney, Australia. Once there, she was quickly converted into the PACIFIC SKY for P&O Australia, replacing her former Sitmar fleet mate FAIR PRINCESS (ex CARINTHIA, FAIRLAND, FAIRSEA, CHINA SEA DISCOVERY). During the next six years the ship carried 275,000 Australian passengers, greatly expanding the popularity of these voyages, so that today more and larger ships are finding success in that market. After a series of mechanical breakdowns, in May, 2006 the ship was sold to Spain’s Pullmantur Cruises and renamed SKY WONDER. In 2009, she was renamed again, finally losing the “Sky” part of her name by becoming the ATLANTIC STAR. The hope was that the ship would create a new market for Portuguese passengers. Instead the aging vessel was mostly redundant to the company’s needs. The sale brings with it the good news that this ship, now into her 27th year, will continue to see further service, while tinged with the knowledge that this will probably result in the elimination of another of the ever-dwindling number of steamships still in service.
Kalle Id
January 21, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Excellent news if it indeed proves true that she will be sold for further trading. And while the loss of another steamer is lamentable, the cold facts are that as a steamship she appears to have reached the end of her lifespan. But the hull’s (apparently) solid so there’s no reason why she couldn’t sail for many years to come (maybe another 27 years even?) if converted to run on diesel. And a ship as stylish as the SKY would be worthy successor to the MONA LISA (again, provided that this proves true).
Patrick Le Bihan
January 21, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Steam engine is now costly to operate but its also vry difficult to find engineers qualified for such engine.Many Marine Marchande schools have withdraw “Steam package” from their courses program.I awas in this vessel for start up and commissioning + 1 year hired by Sitmar from my CGT.Very good souvenirs.
Frédéric Guisset
January 22, 2011 at 1:08 am
Im remenber working 1988 / 1989 cook in The Sky Princess , with the captain Potentzoni ( The first captain of the Fairsky who had supervised building the ship in France ) and the executive chef Giuseppe Arrigo , just after Sitmar Cruises purchassed for the P & O . A verry nice exprience .
Dirk
January 22, 2011 at 1:27 am
Having FAIRSKY in the German market as MONA LISA II would be just great! Sure, I’d feel sorry about her losing the low-vibration and more-or-less loved traditional turbine propulsion, but if that fact ensures many more years of service – so what! I’d be delighted to board her as a passenger of Lord Nelson Cruises. Sadly I never had the chance to cruise in MONA LISA ex-Kungsholm but always admired the lines of FAIRSKY. So maybe another childhood dream may come true? Take her to drydock, I can hardly wait to finally sail in her!
)
bOb
January 22, 2011 at 3:40 am
would you please check this – I think this is Home Lines Atlantic built to be running mate to the Oceanic. If I am wrong I apologize in advance
Kenneth Eden
January 22, 2011 at 5:00 am
I recall Home Lines dillemna back in the early 1980′s regarding the steam proiulsion of the SS Oceanic, and the costs if posssible for replacing. The results came throught, it was impossible, the way the engines were placed and the superstructure and such would mean practically rebuilding aft sections and passernger and public rooms, and pool. Stretching the ship was also considered.
Bottom line: the new HOMERIC was buitl, the beloved Oceanic was sold, and still sails today, I believe, under steam.
Frédéric Guisset
January 22, 2011 at 10:54 am
Im sure this is TSS Fairsky because the V of Vlasov ( the Sitmar Owner ) on the funel . Atlantic built in the same shipyard of la Seine sur mer near Toulon in 1982 before the Fairsky .
The nose of the 2 ship is very similar .
Im remenber in 1988 after Home Line purchased by Holand America Line many Italian oficier and crew of Home Line go working in Sitmar / Princess cruises.
Corey palm desert
January 22, 2011 at 11:55 am
The sky looks like a ship. When she was built people probaly said she doesn’t look as good as the classic ocean liners of the thirties thru sixties. Now with time passing she is very classic looking compared to today’s ships. Time changes everything
Martin Cox
January 22, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Hi Bob: We checked. The ship pictured is definitely the FAIRSKY, now ATLANTIC STAR and soon, we hope to be MONA LISA II.
The ATLANTIC of Home Lines, built 2 years earlier and not a steamship is not mentioned in this story.
All the best – martin
Kalle Id
January 22, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Kenneth Eden: The (I think) crucial distinction for the OCEANIC today is that she doesn’t sail in normal cruise traffic but for what is essentially a charity organization (to my understanding).
Converting a ship from steam to diesel is of course possible, as proven by the QE2, but you highlight an important point: does it make economic sense? Were there provisions made to the FAIRSKY for an engine conversion when she was built? How similar or different is she structurally to the OCEANIC, making conversion less (or more!) difficult?
David
January 22, 2011 at 7:02 pm
She is one of my favorite Sitmar/Princess ships. I sailed her as the Fairsky and the Sky Princess…..LOVED HER !
bOb
January 22, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Thank you – I spent some time this morning researching. My mistake
David
January 22, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Yes the ship above is definitely the Fairsky. The Home Line ship Atlantic had a much differant profile and her lifeboats were on the highest deck and almost looked like an afterthought. She was not a actractive ship outside what so ever !
Dirk
January 23, 2011 at 12:12 am
…not to mention the ship’s name on the bow…
Kenneth Eden
January 23, 2011 at 6:37 am
I can read FAIRSKY on the hull.
There was a familial rivalry between Home Lines and Sitmar, that began in the 1940′s, and it was agressive, not so passengers would notice, but familial non the less.
I was tenedered out to the Fairsky in Newport, RI for a private luncheon and toured the ship, this was in the 1980′s. she was very Spartan inside, her deck plans were “busy”. compared to Home Lines new ships, Atlantic and Homeric, for interior design Home Lines was the winner, hands down.As for the Atlantic being “not attrractive”, on the outside, that was true. She looked like a big white bread box. Ah, but inside, what a beauty.
The old Atlantic, today sailing for MSC as Melody, looks great, compared to many of the latest builds. This was all just before balconied cabins and suites were the rage.
Frédéric Guisset
January 23, 2011 at 9:55 am
In november i look in the french blog : Mer et marine .
Newsletter from 5 october 2010 ,
MSC put Melody in sale .
http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=114141
David
January 25, 2011 at 11:49 pm
I agree Kenneth the New Builds today are simply…..as a rule…..look like shoe boxes with bows on them !!!! Unattractive is an good workd also !!! Compared to them the Atlantic was a beauty on the ourside. I was on the Homeric/Westerdam,,,,,and found that she was an unsteady ship in heavy seas. Rolling was very noticeable especially as we plowd our way up the Pacidic Coast from San Diego to Vancouver a fews ago…..late 90′s on a coastal cruise. Also had some heavy seas in the Caribbean on her in the Atlantic as the Homeric….. she was not a pleasant ship what so ever. Interior was beatiful but again the outsite boxy and a veryu short bow.
David
Kenneth Eden
January 26, 2011 at 5:35 am
It seems long ago and far away the hey day of Sitmar. There were four Cunarders, Ivernia, saxonia, Carinthia and Sylvania, each around 21-22,000 grt, built sturdy and used on the transatlantic runs, Canada, to Europe and back, mostly. These were work horses, less glamerous than Caronia and the Queens.
Ivernia and saxonia went on to Russian buyers. The Carintia and Sylvania went to Sitmar, and beacme Fairwind and Fairsea, respectively.
It was said that the TSS Fairwind/sea ships could burn hair tonic and vasel;ine, and not use diesel (I doubt they resorted to hair tonic or vaseline).
At the very decline of Sitmar, the Fairsky was built. Sitmar and its ships went on to become a major part of Princess Cruises. I never sailed Sitmar, today I wish I had. As Sitmar ships, they helped pioneer Alaska and the Mexican Riviera, which Princess still covets to this day.
This proves a point, old ships versus new: Sitmar sailed old ships for ever!~ and was popular – There is no crime in sailing an old ship, and bestowing love and care to it. You all have heard of SILVERSEA – owned by the family that founded SITMAR ages ago. I dioubt they burn hair tonic.
Dave
January 26, 2011 at 6:49 am
I’ve got some friends that have cruised extensively for 40+ years, they sailed Sitmar extensively and they never had anything but the highest praise for them, something they rarely lavished on anyone else since.
I too cruise rather extensively and much prefer the smaller ships and some of you have also said. My budget doesn’t allow the premium cruise lines and I very much like like HAL’s Prinsendam, and the S-class ships of HAL (Veendam, Maasdam, Ryndam and Statenday). I guess you’d call them smaller mid-size today, about 55,000 grt, and very elegant without all the gee-gaws and distractions cruisers seem to demand today.
Kenneth Eden
January 28, 2011 at 4:46 am
Dave
Are you aware of wht has been done to the Statendam Class ship, Ryndam, Maasdam et al?
Pool removal, lanai suites that now open to the promenade, leaving little room for steamer chairs, aft cabins?
I suppose this is a plus they are not being sent to pasture. They will earn their keep, and pay off the money used to resturcture the ships.
Dirk
January 29, 2011 at 12:13 am
Sad news come from Germany. After my re.designed image of the possible future looks of MONA LISA II was published here:
http://www.seereisenmagazin.de/004-topnews.html
Lord Nelson announced a day later that reconstruction and re-engining costs have obviously skyrocketed and become totally incalculable, so the planned works are likely to NOT be carried out and the ship is likely to NOT be cruising for them. Sure, this is no definite and final NO, but after Lord Nelson had suffered from bancruptcy when still called Holiday Seereisen (back in 2006) I think they will shy away from everything that seems suspicious. It would be a shame to see that lovely vessel continue loitering around workless…or even go to scrap just because of those hungry turbines!
Dave
January 29, 2011 at 3:05 am
Yes, I”m aware. The removal of the outside pool and replacement with “The Retreat” (a crazy wading pool with big screen) was only done on Veendam and Rotterdam, and deemed less than a success, so it will not be carried out on the others (thank goodness). I guess the driving force was more veranda cabins at the stern. As to the lania suites, having been in one to visit, I guess it helps the financials but leaving room inside for access to the door certainly cramps the furniture positioning inside. But yes, I still like those ships very much. Off on Ryndam today for 14 days.
Kenneth Eden
January 29, 2011 at 6:09 am
Have a great cruise!! I too really love the Statendam Class, I like the Ryndam, my favorite is Maasdam perhaps because I sailed her 5 trimes during her very short tenutre from Norfolk a few years back.
Have a great cruise, and give an update!
Gregg
January 30, 2011 at 2:17 pm
ah the Fairsky, one of my favourite ships hands down. I loved Sitmar, no cruise line comes anywhere near the quality and just hands down service.
Even the older Sitmar ships I loved, the Fairwind and Fairsea, too much pink and red but nonetheless awesome ships.
I hope whoever has bought this ship will convert her, this ship is a winner if the job is done right, I think the fad of these mega ships is not going to be a hit. So having a mid size ship is more a benefit. less people, less line-ups..
Dan
January 31, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Hi Gregg,
I feel that converting the ship to diesel might be a waste of time. If this was a viable solution, why wasn’t the Maxim Gorkiy’s steam turbines or the SS Norway’s remaining 4-boilers converted to diesel? I am not sure what the conversion cost would be for the Fairsky. However, I not heard of any steam driven cruise ships converted to diesel in more than 25 years since the QE2′s steamplant was replaced.
Gregg
January 31, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Hi Dan,
I wouldnt have a clue on the cost for the conversion and I havent heard of it either since the QE2. But if they bought the Atlantic Star at a reasonable price it may be worth it in fuel savings. I think i also read another ship I cant remember the name but they couldnt convert it due to the space that the originals were, they would have had to stretch the ship. Mind you new cruise ships are 500 billion dollars so maybe spending 35 mil or 50 mil on this ship if shes solid would be worth it especially with the German market geared for the older style ships.
Dan
January 31, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Hi Gregg,
Wouldn’t the best alternative for the SS Fairsky to be a hotel ship, like the SS Rotterdam? The ship could be a 4-Star Hotel and Maritime Museum. As for spending 35 mil or 50 mil on this ship for the German market, why couldn’t they have convert the Maxim Gorkiy to diesel instead for sending her to the scrapyard needlessly?
Kenneth Eden
February 1, 2011 at 6:04 am
The SS Rotterdam was a ship of state for the Netherlands, and an imense source of pride for the Dutch. When I sailed her, she was something to take pride in, majestic. She deserves her place in Rotterdam for all who care to see.
The poor old ships, such as the Fairsky, were built to the demands and the tastes of her er. How fast the tastes changed, as see with the Fairskys peers.
To retro-fit this wonderful ship – for todays pasenger, minimally, inclusions would be new engines, balconied cabins, top-rate spa, gala show lounge, alternate dining venue. To make her even more competetive, another deck or two, more cabins – all at a cost that would never be returned.
The fact is, we are trying to beat a dead horse, by thinking all of our lovely old ships should-could-must be saved. Oh, if it could be.
Back in the 1970′s – 80′s – old liner, ferries and freighters were retrofitted, some totally gutted, and rebuilt for modern day cruising, mostly in Greek ship yards (oh, they could turn a pigs ear into a trully grand ship). Why? there were few new ships coming on line, and far fewer passsngers than today. I thoroughly enjoyed such ships and cruises. However, I enjoy and demand what the new ships have to offer, afterall, everything evolves to another level in life, ships do too.
Gregg
February 1, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Hi Dan
I think the Maxim Gorky was 25 years older, it was made in the mid sixties I think and the Fairsky was 1984..My bet would be to retrofit the Fairsky just in an age perspective..
Chris Thompson
February 1, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Hi Folks,
can definitely see the confusion between Fairsky and Atlantic!
Well both came out of the same french builder about 3 years apart, checkout the following wikipedia links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Atlantic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Star_(cruise_ship)
Hull design and smokestack very similar, difference in lifeboat location.
During my career on cruise ships in the late 80′s I saw both ships many times, both always very sharp looking, surprised to find out that Fairsky is a steamer…looks too modern.
Cheers
Chris
Kenneth Eden
February 4, 2011 at 4:52 am
Our local paper on page 6 today Feb 4, 2011, this could be old, or new news
GROUP GIVES REPRIVE TO SS UNITED STATES
An old stock photo, 1998, the one we’ve all seen countless times accompanies the article. It ie: the article, so states that a group of preservationists bought the ship from NCL for $3million. THIS WEEK …………A
brief history and a possible use for the ship are also part of the article………..
interested parties should contact dailypress.com, contact the writer, pffrost@dailypress.com
Glenn L.
February 4, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Thanks Kenneth, I was hoping someone was going to get on the S.S.U.S subject. I’m glad NCL did’nt take the highest bid. I’d pay a hundred dollars to crawl around the ship with flashlights(torches). In the late 80′s I went to navy firefighting school in Newport News, She was sitting there.
Trevor Coppock
February 4, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Hi Bob,
This is very definitely the ex- Pacific Sky, Fairsky etc. I know her well.
Go to: http://www.seapixonline.com/nsthumbs.php?wds=Pacific+Sky&pid=1559&typ=name&back=temp/nsnamespa&rhit=88
Regards
Trevor Coppock
Auckland
New Zealand
John Cant
February 5, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Glad to hear that the big U has been purchased from NCL. I hope that they can raise sufficient funds to renovate her interiors. Doubt very much that she will sail again as a cruise ship , but could be a hotel ship . I understand that New York and a couple of other ports are interested in having the United States docked there. They are talking of hundreds of millions of dollars to put her back in service, which I doubt will happen. As the former Canadian Manger for US Lines I am very happy that she has been saved from the scrapyard and hope that she will be restored to her former glory
Heinu Schütte
February 22, 2011 at 10:32 am
What is the latest news of the ATLANTIC STAR (ex FAIRSKY, SKY PRINCESS, PACIFIC SKY, SKY WONDER)? Will she be re-engined?
Ralph
March 2, 2011 at 6:03 am
Heinu,
the sale of the ATLANTIC STAR has still not been confirmed, so for the time being she is still in lay-up near Marseille.
gigi
April 4, 2011 at 1:55 pm
i was one of the engineer of the fairsky in 1984 in france and then working for sitmar i confirm this is the fairsky nice ship but time goes by and almost 27 years are a lot ! we had nice time on board ! we were young !
ciao for now
gg
JOANNE
October 5, 2011 at 12:40 am
I have in my possession a Sailor Boy Doll for the Fairsky Ship.
He is in terrific condition due to age. He is also looking for an avid collector to buy him as his now owner is moving to Africa next year.
Please drop me a line if your interested in him.
Hilton Conroy
January 28, 2012 at 11:09 pm
We sailed on this ship as the P and O Australia “TS Pacific Sky” from Sydney and later on a couple of crusies from Singapore. We were on its last trip before it was sold.
She was a great ship in rough seas andf really did look good compared to modern ships with their “cattle ship” look casued by all those balconies hanging off the sides.
There was something very likeable about this old ship, despite is chequered career with incidents like the Dianne Brimble death. The only hassle we had was soot from the funnel falling on the deck at times. Good luck to her !!
John Cant
January 29, 2012 at 5:20 pm
I booked a cruise aboard the SKY PRINCESS in the late 80′s for a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas from Port Everglades. She was very late arriving as she had been delayed in dry dock and Princess took us to a hotel to wait.We were able to board her late that night, and then we were delayed the next day as the Coast Guard would not let her sail until they repaired the engine in one of the lifeboats. So we were a day late in sailing, but Princess did give me a credit towards a future cruise. It is nice to hear that she will probably be sailing again, as she was a nice ship. As an aside, while working for Costa, we charted the CARLA C to Princess, and the renamed her PRINCESS CARLA, but only in their brochures, as I went aboard her in LA and she still had CARLA C on her bow. Princess also chartered the ITALIA and renamed her PRINCESS ITALIA. Costa took over the charter and sailed her as the ITALIA. I traveled aboard her and she was real beauty in miniature as she was only 11,000 tons. Those were the days as the cruise lines hoped to attract 2 million passengers a year
melanie
February 22, 2012 at 5:29 pm
This is indeed the TSS Fairsky. My dad worked at the chantier at la Seyne sur Mer until the ship was built and we still have a beautiful plan drawing of it on our wall! Vive the Fairsky!
melanie
February 22, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Ps. my father, kenneth Wattret, did his apprenticeship at Harland and Woolf and ships were his life. I am very proud that he helped to build such a beautiful ship. It made a huge impression on us, in 1981, before it was even finished!
melanie
February 23, 2012 at 5:18 pm
By the way…the hull is definitely sound! My father is a perfectionist!
melanie
March 6, 2012 at 11:05 am
* Apologies, shippies…Harland and Wolff
booooooy
August 11, 2012 at 4:15 am
f**k i love this ship i saild on her when she was run by P&O i want on her about 8 times i have been on all the p&O and she is still the best
Bob
September 8, 2012 at 2:47 pm
I have sailed the Fairsky as that name for Sitmar, she is the Fairsky.. The Home Line Atlantic was launched as the Atlantic replacing their older “Doric”. Atlantic and Oceanic sailed together.. Ultimately, the Atlantic temporarily became “Westerdam” for Holland America before becoming one of the Big Red Boats, Starship Atlantic.. Where her former mate Oceanic was already “Starship Oceanic”.. both were sporting red hulls with white and orange stripes and a big “P” for Premier Cruises on the stack.
Kenneth Eden
September 9, 2012 at 6:35 am
Home Lines venerable MV HOMERIC became the WESTERDAM and was COSTA EUROPA, never a Big Red “Bloat”. The MS ATLANTIC sailed for Louis Cruises as their MS MELODY, and Louis bestowed love and money in her.
With the exception of the S/S OCEANIC, neither ATLANTIC nor HOMERIC were steamship propelled. M stands for motor, V for vessel S for ship The old S/S DORIC went on to become ROYAL ODYSSEY, one of the worst cruise experiences I have ever endured.
Shawn Dake
September 9, 2012 at 11:14 am
Bob got most of it right, with the exception that it was the HOMERIC that became Holland America Line’s WESTERDAM. When Home Lines was purchased by Holland America both the ATLANTIC and HOMERIC were included in the deal and it was thought that both would be absorbed into the H.A.L. fleet. The newer and better of the two, HOMERIC was repainted in Holland America colors and went to work for them in basically the original configuration. It would later be lengthened and substantially rebuilt including a new two-deck height showroom. The ATLANTIC was instead chartered to Premier Cruises, while remaining under Holland America ownership as STARSHIP ATLANTIC. It still sails today as the MSC MELODY. The former HOMERIC is currently the THOMSON DREAM. Hope this clarifies the lineage. The FAIRSKY was an impressive ship when new for Sitmar. It is the last ocean-going steamship and remains laid up at Marseille, France, as the sale mentioned in the story fell through.
Andrew Smith
October 7, 2012 at 12:42 pm
So who actually owns Atlantic Star at Marseille currently, and any up to date news on her future? Are there enough of us to charter a “farewell to steam turbine passenger ships” short voyage, or to persuade the owners to allow a few passengers on any final trip to the knacker’s yard?
Charles N. Barnett
February 17, 2013 at 10:04 am
I remember sailing on the ship shortly after being purchased from Sitmar. The captain was Rodolfo Potenzoni, the Maitre D’Hotel was Mondo Trombino, the Head Waiter was Franco Guarcino. We had a wonderful time on that great steamship.