Comments for MaritimeMatters

Comment on Cruise Ships 2011, The Year In Review: Louis Cruise Lines and Rio Cruises by Eerik Laine

Eerik Laine — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:07:12 +0000

Rio started her service at the end of May last year and continued it only for couple of weeks until the middle of June 2011. The ship was later sold to an other Israeli investor group and has been renamed VENUS. She is due to start cruising again out of Ashdod at the end of this month. Last month the ship was moved to Greek port of Chalkis were she is still being prepared for her new traffic. Last years problems with Magic 1 and Rio make it difficult for this new company to gain peoples trust again, but lets hope things go better this year for this lovely ship.

Comment on Cruise Ships 2011, The Year In Review: Louis Cruise Lines and Rio Cruises by david r

david r — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:28:06 +0000

The Stella Solaris was based in New York during the year of the first gulf war 1990

Comment on Rust and Rocks: LA JENELLE’s Wreck 41 Years On by Manuel Diaz

Manuel Diaz — Mon, 21 May 2012 02:37:59 +0000

It was with great interest that I read this article, I am retired and living on Silverstrand beach past 6 years told by people on beach about La Janelle and I had walk untold number of times by the placque, on visit to museum, with grand daughter noted the name and lineage of La Janelle and name Borinquen struck a cord! My father told me he had come to NY as a young man from Puerto Rico, doing further research using ancestory.com I found his name on passenger list and also my mother who came as a young bride to NY on board the Borinquen in 1932 and my dad again in 1938. It is ironic that I am retired on this beach and the connection showing how my mother and father came to this country rests here!!! I am in the search for any memorabila of the ship I can get (I actually got a teaspoon from it!!!) thanks for the wonderful article

Comment on OCEANIC For OCEAN DREAM? by David L. NYC

David L. NYC — Mon, 21 May 2012 02:05:13 +0000

Some years ago someone told me that the exquisite Oceanic was originally designed for the Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis; and that she was part of an intended two-ship cruise/transatlantic service to be called “Olympic Cruises” or the “Olympic Line.” I don’t know if it’s an accurate story…but there it is.

I remember when my wonderful sixth-grade teacher took a cruise aboard the Oceanic…this would’ve been in the late-1970′s…when she returned, she brought every member of the class a postcard of the ship (I still have mine), as well as a line dance (which we performed at recess) called the “Oceanic Hustle.” It was set to the music, “The Hustle,” which was popular in those days. Well, anyway, she died in February of this year, and I find it somewhat sadly appropriate that her beloved ship should soon follow her.

Comment on OCEANIC For OCEAN DREAM? by Clive Harvey

Clive Harvey — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:18:48 +0000

So sad………………
Still, I can look back at the one cruise that I took aboard the lovely Oceanic – not as a Home Lines ship but with Pullmantur. Yes, it would have been better to have enjoyed Oceanic when she was in her prime but never the less she gave us a most enjoyable Mediterranean cruise and it was always such a delight to return to her, a ship of extraordinary beauty.

Comment on OCEANIC For OCEAN DREAM? by Kenneth Eden

Kenneth Eden — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:30:24 +0000

Lets take the “way back machine”, back to the good old days of proper ships and real dress codes, the early 80′s.

Back then Home Lines dealt with a very major problem, what to do with the then faltering SS OCEANIC. I sailed with and met many times with the officers and senior deck staff, and the SS OCEANIC was a tearful subject, and her failings were already starting to show up. Nothing major at the instant, but looming. The biggest problem, retrofitting her engines, and the galley was inadequate, plumbing was an issue – like an old house, nearly impossible to correct.

It was deemed that she, SS OCEANIC, would not be scrapped, they, Home Lines, were insistant that she be sold and sailing, she was the pride of Home Lines, and a new ship would be built in all intents and purposes, to be as good, and even better. Home lines had serviced marked the term “The crest of the new wave in cruising” for the less than perfect MV ATLANTIC, and it was used for the new HOMERIC quite positively. Old time Home Line devotees loved the new ship.

What came from the yards was the magnificent HOMERIC, truly state of the art, still sailing, still grand. ATLANTIC, sailed on better than expected.

What a sad sad summer the last one for OCEANIC. I could not bear it, and regertably, I stayed away. Then, I got to curse her as the BIG RED BLOAT, er boat. The sight of it in the Bahamas was nauseating.

Comment on SUNSHINEs Over CARNIVAL DESTINY’s Future by Nicktor

Nicktor — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:13:23 +0000

Always negative comments. I have never had a bad Carnival experience. I have already booked the first cruise onboard the Sunshine. It will leave Venice in April 2013 for Barcelona by way of Croatia, two stops in Turkey, two stops in Greece and Three stops in Italy for a total of 14 days. I dare someone to find a better price on any other cruise line.

Comment on OCEANIC For OCEAN DREAM? by Dan

Dan — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:41:24 +0000

You are right that the Oceanic was beginning to fail. But I felt that if another ship operator was to keep her going, then they would have to do a complete overhaul the ship’s engine space, plumbing, electrical, and A/C systems. That might have allowed the ship to sail on for a few more years without any further problems. Not sure how much that would have cost to do. Soon there won’t be any interesting ships to see as hotel vessels. I am just glad that the SS Rotterdam got to be a hotel ship. I just wish that there were more ships that her that would get that opportunity.

Comment on OCEANIC For OCEAN DREAM? by Peter Knego

Peter Knego — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:19:49 +0000

I’d love to but would need a rich sponsor to get me there, lol. Unfortunately, I am limited by my means but would love to see her again.

Very sad about OCEANIC but she was beginning to fail. Good for her to go out under her own power. She is a spectacular work of maritime architecture and had that special magic that few ships share.

Comment on OCEANIC For OCEAN DREAM? by Dan

Dan — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:54:30 +0000

That for the update, Peter. Such a shame that the Oceanic couldn’t avert the scrapyard like the Mona Lisa:
https://www.facebook.com/veronicaduqm/photos

Any plans to visit Oman in the near future to do an update story on the Veronica?