Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 by Shawn Dake
Shawn Dake examines some of the most recent realignments in the cruise industry including a major announcement concerning two British operators of classic cruise ships. A number of changes have occurred this summer as some smaller cruise lines make adjustments to their fleets.
MV DISCOVERY at Sochi, Russia. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2009.
This past week Cruise & Maritime Voyages announced the newest addition to its fleet beginning in 2013 will be the 698 passenger (780 maximum) motor vessel DISCOVERY (ex ISLAND VENTURE, ISLAND PRINCESS, HYUNDAI PUNGAK, PLATINUM) which is being acquired from Voyages Of Discovery, part of the All Leisure Group. Both companies will jointly market the vessel. All Leisure also controls Swan Hellenic Cruises and ultra-luxury operator Hebridean Island Cruises. All Leisure is having a difficult year reporting an 11.2 million pound loss in the first six months of 2012.
PACIFIC PRINCESS and her twin ISLAND PRINCESS together at Los Angeles in 1976. Photo © Peter Knego
The DISCOVERY was built in 1971 as the ISLAND VENTURE for Flagship Cruises service from New York to Bermuda. However the 20,216 ton ship is probably best known as the ISLAND PRINCESS, flying the banner Princess Cruises and the identical sister of ”The Love Boat” PACIFIC PRINCESS. The vessel features 8 passenger decks, spacious public areas, abundant open spaces and promenades while the interior boasts 2 restaurants – plus al fresco dining on the Lido Deck, 6 bars, 4 lounges, 2 swimming pools — one with a retractable macro-dome roof, 2 large Jacuzzis, a gym with health center, lecture hall/cinema, beauty salon, and a wide variety of comfortable passenger staterooms. The DISCOVERY will undergo a very extensive dry docking and refurbishment over the winter before joining her new operators in February, 2013. The final cruise with Voyages of Discovery will take place in October, 2012. Cruise & Maritime Voyages will also continue their successful programs using the classic 1965-built MARCO POLO (ex ALEXANDR PUSHKIN) with a capacity for over 800 passengers.
MARCO POLO in Cobh, Ireland April 2012. Photo © Peter Knego
North American Vice President of Sales & Marketing, John Dennis said, “We are delighted to welcome DISCOVERY to the CMV fleet and are extremely excited with the incredible itineraries the vessel will perform throughout the UK, and Northern Europe sailing from great historic ports such as London-Harwich, Liverpool and Newcastle. We will increase our highly demanded and unique Northern Lights voyages and offer many new cruises to complement our successful MARCO POLO programs. We look forward to hosting our US and Canadian guests on two fantastic Cruise & Maritime Voyages ships in 2013.”
Cruise & Maritime Voyages will not continue to charter the 1976-built OCEAN COUNTESS (ex CUNARD COUNTESS, AWANI DREAM II, OLYMPIC COUNTESS, OLYMPIA COUNTESS, OCEAN COUNTESS, LILI MARLEEN, RUBY) as they have done for the last three years. The 17,593 gross ton ship operates its last departure on October 9th from Liverpool with a revised final 13-night Canary Islands & Madeira “Farewell Voyage” now scheduled to conclude in Barcelona instead of returning to Liverpool. It is not known what the future holds for this ship after it is returned to its owners. The OCEAN COUNTESS carries 800 passengers, a larger capacity, and is five years newer than the ship it is being replaced by.
VOYAGER rendering, courtesy Voyages of Discovery
Meanwhile, Voyages Of Discovery will continue as a one-ship line with the addition 0f the 1990-built, 15,343 gross ton VOYAGER joining the line in December. The 508-passenger vessel underwent a major refit which included adding balconies and a new bow. It was built as the first ship of the now defunct Crown Cruise Line which also operated as Cunard Crown in a joint venture agreement in the 1990′s. This rather intimate ship is 494 feet in length with a 68 foot beam and also has a smaller passenger capacity than her predecessor DISCOVERY.
MV COLUMBUS at Sydney. Courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Plantours & Partner based in Bremen and catering to German passengers began operating the 15,067 gross ton HAMBURG, built in 1997 as the C. COLUMBUS. The German ship owners, Conti, purchased the vessel from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and chartered it to Plantours. Capacity has been reduced slightly from 420 passengers to 400 guests. The ship was renamed in it’s namesake city of Hamburg on June 7th beginning a new phase of its career.
ORIENT QUEEN II, Abou Merhi Cruises
This freed up the 7,478 gross ton, VISTAMAR (ex SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE) to be acquired by Abou Mehri Lines, now restyled as Abou Mehri Cruises, who renamed her ORIENT QUEEN II. The 385 foot long ship was built in 1989 and carries 290 passengers, with a gross tonnage of 7,478 tons; considerably smaller than their previous 728-passenger ORIENT QUEEN (ex STARWARD, BOLERO) chartered from Louis Cruise Lines. The ship is based in Beirut, Lebanon.
And last but not least, Orion Expedition Cruises will return their second ship ORION II (ex. RENAISSANCE IV, CLELIA II), to its owners at the end of the year. The 1991-built, 4,000 gross ton expedition vessel has been plagued by mechanical problems resulting in the decision to cancel the charter. It had first joined Orion in June, 2011.
It can be hard to follow the game of musical ships without a scorecard. Hopefully this helps.
Kalle Id
September 11, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I believe the original name of the now-ORION II was rendered as RENAISSANCE FOUR, not RENAISSANCE IV. That small correction aside, a very good wrap-up of the various changes. It is indeed interesting that both CMV and Voyages of Discovery are opting for smaller ships than before – very much contrary to the general trend.
Rob
September 11, 2012 at 5:58 pm
@ Kalle Id
Renaissance had the least creative ship names in the history of the industry. Their first group of yacht-style ships all had Roman numeral names, Renaissance I through VIII. The second batch of small cruise ships had the R names with Arabic numerals, R One through R Eight.
les royle
September 12, 2012 at 5:20 am
article on Discovery is incorrect. Ship has not be acquired by Crusie & Maritime, the vessel is on charter with onboard services supplied through All Leisure Group.
Kenneth Eden
September 12, 2012 at 5:47 am
Shaun
Thank you for doing an excellent job in presenting the long list of hand me downs that are still sailing. Some have had more former names than a hollywood star has had marriages. Still, it is comforting to know these ships are still sailing.
The second round of Renaisance ships do seem to be in demand, not one of them idle.
COLUMBUS 2, REGATTA, ADONIA, AZAMARA JOURNEY, AZAMARA QUEST, PACIFIC PRINCESS, NAUTICA, OCEAN PRINCESS
All with reputable operators. Personally, I enjoy the R ships, having only sailed REGATTA three times, admired the others in port. Wish they had built more so more could be enjoyed today.
Shawn Dake
September 12, 2012 at 9:58 am
In response to Les Royle, while you may disagree with the semantics, the story is not incorrect. I assume the word you object to is acquired. In my experience, ships can be “acquired” through sale or charter. You are quite right that the ship is being operated under charter by the All Leisure Group. They are also the ones that had previously scheduled the extensive dry dock and refurbishment before this announcement was made.
Kalle Id
September 12, 2012 at 10:07 am
@Rob I’m fairly certain the first series of eight Renaissance ships had the numbers spelled out (or whatever the correct English term is) and not written as roman numerals. After checking photographs on the internet this does seem to have been the case. Here is RENAISSANCE THREE with the name clearly written as I have: http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/renaissance_three_1990_b_1.htm, and here is a similar photo of the RENAISSANCE SIX: http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/renaissance_six_1991_b_1.htm. I should have some photos of my own of both ships of the ONE class and the FIVE class, but can’t be bothered to hunt them down.
Of course, this does not change the fact that the names were utterly boring.
les royle
September 14, 2012 at 12:53 am
To Shawn Dake:
An acquisition in the maritime world, is just that – you acquire the ship. A charter, whether bb or time, is an operator taking a vessel on hire from an owner.
Kenneth Eden
September 21, 2012 at 5:24 am
There is a very important “class” of ship still sailing, three in the class, original with modifications.
The three Royal Viking Line ships, celebrating their 40 years this year, ok, two, one next year.
ROYAL VIKING STAR, currently sailing for Fred Olsen as BLACK WATCH, former names include WESTWARD, STAR ODYSSEY
ROYAL VIKING SKY, currently sailing for Fred Olsen as BOUDICCA, former names include SUNWARD, BIRKA QUEEN, GOLDEN PRINCESS, SUPER STAR CAPRICORN, HYUNDAI KUMGANG, GRAND LATINO
ROYAL VIKING SEA, currently sailing for Phopenix Reisen, former names include ROYAL ODYSSEY, NORWEGIAN STAR, NORWEGIAN CROWN
Built in Finland, the three, STAR SKY SEA were the last word in luxury, in their hey day, 1972 to late 1990′s, as Royal Viking ships, then stuck into NCL’s fleet during a messy merger by Kloster Cruises. The end result ruined Royal Viking Line and Royal Cruise Line.
During their tenure with RVL these three ships were lengthened, had balconied cabins added, new pools and casino additions or expansions. I so loved the ROYAL VIKING STAR that I sailed her exclusively, and not sailing the SEA and SKY.
These are ships that are more liner like than cruise like, with raked bows, and a solidity that can not be denied. They are as modern today as they were yesterday. Under new names they are a proud trio that has had a great deal of attention and fussing done to keep their images true to their heritage.
A little respect is due here, for these are truly grand ships of the past, sailing with dignity into the future.
Dave in NJ
September 21, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Kenneth, I’d appreciate your comments on just where the Prinsendam (ex-Royal Viking Sun) fit’s into the picture with the aforementioned Royal Viking sisters. I’ve sailed on her several times as the Prinsendam and among the HAL fleet she is certainly my favorite.
steve Taylor
September 21, 2012 at 1:49 pm
ANYONE GOT ANY NEWS ON WHATS HAPPENING TO THE M/V KUNGSHOLM (X sea princess/mona lisa etc)
Steve.
Kenneth Eden
September 22, 2012 at 5:48 am
Dave in NJ
The ROYAL VIKING SUN was built in the famed Warsilla yard in the 1980′s. Along with the RVSUN a spate of newbuilds took place with various lines and in various ship yards. Quite tame compared to the extensive builing we see today. It strikes me as very odd that many of those spectacular new ships were built just before the cruise lines building them “died”, such as Royal Viking Line, Sitmar and Royal Cruise Line, and not to omit Home Lines. I am pleased that the ships while their parent lines are gone, the ships are still in service.
The ROYAL VIKING SUN was the more glamorous of the new ships, only in the reflection of her owners, Royal Viking. The other new ships for the lines noted were as handsome in and out, reflecting their ship owners personalities. The ROYAL VIKING SUN was not a sister ship the the three earlier Royal Viking Ships.
What made the ROYAL VIKING SUN so gorgeous? Space and an interior so handsome, a deck plan that flowed, much like the real estate term for “open concept”. When seen at anchor or in port, breathtaking to see.
Luckily after NCL got through with her, sailing her was as one of their low budget ships, after Royal Viking Line was no longer, Holland America bought her, and she became PRINSENDAM. Another ship of that ’80′s era that Holland America saved was Home Lines magnificent MV HOMERIC, which was sailed as the WESTWARD, then transfered to Costa. To be honest, as much as I loved the ROYAL VIKING SUN, I liked the ROYAL VIKING STAR more, and the HOMERIC overll.
I am pleased to know that you have sailed this magmificent ship, and that Holland America, with their exemplary reputaion for “ocean liner” service, has maintained the PRINSENDAM, although, as the ROYAL VIKING SUN she had fewer cabins, and one dining seating for all meals, and was registred in Norway. The new cabins and dining regs were changed by NCL.
Kenneth Eden
September 22, 2012 at 6:12 am
Dave in NJ
post script to the above…
In a very confusing merger and corporate deal, briefly Cunard actually had the ROYAL VIKING SUN, through Carnivals expansion, and the RVSUN was transfered to Seabourn as a fleet mate to their small yacht-like ships, and ultimately, she was transfered to Holland America.
Dave in NJ
September 23, 2012 at 6:21 am
Kenneth, thanks for clarifying the origins of the Prinsendam. Last time I sailed on her, 2009, the Captain was the same Captain, Halle Thon Gunderson, who oversaw her original construction. She was fastidiously maintained and I’d love to sail her again, she can’t have too many more years left with HAL who indicated to me that when gone, she won’t be replaced by another similarly-sized ship as that would be encroaching on Seabourn’s market niche.
Kenneth Eden
September 24, 2012 at 4:52 am
Dave in NJ
Interesting that goes around comes around, even in cruise ship circles.
When NCL had the ROYAL VIKING SUN, she was never suffixed with a name ending in “ward”, she sailed as the RVSUN, as did the RV SEA SKY SUN, an attempt to place the SUN in the Seabourne fleet was made. Imagine 800 passegers and two sittings, as NCL refitted her, in the Seabourne fleet, whereby passengers wanting the yacht-like 200 passeenger ships would not deal with her, and it did not work out, to say the least, and luckily, she went to Holland America and became the loved PRINDENDAM. She had not proven successful with Cunard, and maybe the SAGAFJORD and VISTAFJORD were the better choices for Cunard Line, as I loved sailing them, and felt they improved over the stuffiness that was Norwegian America Line.
In the throws of NCL, the Royal Viking fleet sailed on 3, 4, 7 day cruises – how indignant. I have a great deal of annimosity toward that line, stemming from the NORWAY on..
I wonder if when the PRINSENDAMs time comes to leave the HAL fleet if they will replace her, afterall, ships of her size sem to be popular, as the 8 R ships are a hit with cruise lines that have mega ships, and cater to passengers that appreciate the smaller, more intimate ship.