Cruise Talk: Minerva is now Explorer or Saga Pearl ?

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Minerva is now Explorer or Saga Pearl ?

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Topic: Minerva is now Explorer or Saga Pearl ?

Christophe D
First Class Passenger
Member # 1680

posted 07-20-2003 03:22 AM

I receive yesterday a brochure from Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. On the brochure a pic of Minerva now call Explorer II.

Explorer will cruise in january and february 2004 in Antartic.

But, I believe that Minerva will become Saga Pearl for Saga Holidays.

Any explications ?

Posts: 282 | From: Dunkerque, France | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Andy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3856

posted 07-20-2003 06:31 AM

I also saw this on RSSC's website. Is she going to RSSC or Saga? Or on charter, or just like Pacific Princess, operating both under P&O Australia and Princess?

Posts: 581 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

newship2001
First Class Passenger
Member # 4006

posted 07-20-2003 06:58 AM

I think both operators are right.
She will be operated by Saga just for the summer / autumn periods, while the remainder of the year she will sail for the other operator.

So it will be a dual life from now on.

Posts: 13 | From: The Netherlands | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 07-20-2003 10:48 AM

In summer she will be SAGA PEARL, with Saga Holidays.

In winter, she will be EXPLORER II with Abercrombie & Kent, but several cruises are also marketed by (chartered by?) RSSC to replace HANSEATIC which they no longer market.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Marlowe
First Class Passenger
Member # 1632

posted 07-20-2003 12:20 PM

There seems to be many small expedition style cruiseships leaving the industry these days:

1. (the old) EXPLORER
2. BREMEN (advertised for sale)
3. HANSEATIC (first heard here now)
4. SONG OF FLOWER (advertised for sale)
5. RADISSON DIAMOND (going off charter next year?)
6. PAUL GAUGUIN (advertised for sale)

Any others being laid up or for sale, why or what is happening with them

Posts: 414 | From: mt. vernon, wa, usa | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 07-20-2003 03:03 PM

Explorer II (ex Minerva) is advertised in todays UK press by Noble Caledonia for 22 night round trip (only appears to be 12 nights on ship) for Antarctic Penisula/south georgia to Falklands trip. Standard cabin fares quoted are ....22 nov 5995gbp & 6 dec 6295gbp both with a 2000gbp discout for booking before aug 30th. Still out of my league & rather expensive I thought compared to Marco Polo
Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 07-21-2003 12:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Marlowe:
3. HANSEATIC (first heard here now)

She isn't leaving the market, she's just going back to being German-market-only as RSSC will no longer market her.

quote:
6. PAUL GAUGUIN (advertised for sale)

She is no longer for sale having been sold by her original French owners to, IIRC, some sort of Swiss investment bank. RSSC will continue to manage and market her and say that there will be no changes in operation.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 07-21-2003 08:52 AM

There is another well-known expedition-style ship, the COLUMBUS CARAVELLE which will be coming back from her few years as a casino-ship iin Hong Kong. Her last operator, Roman Holidays, has not been very successfull in operating the ship in Asia so that the owners, Odessa Cruise Company, have decided to agree into a charter-purchase-contract with a Greek company which decided to convert her into a luxury expedition-cruiseship like the COLUMBUS CARAVELLE has been used before.

A privious deal between Odessa Cruise Company and Discoverer Reederei, to operate the ship as a fleet-mate to the sistership WORLD DISCOVERER, has been cancelled due to a financial problem with Discoverer Reederei. As the rumors are going around, Discoverer Reederei hasn't paid all invoices yet for the refurbishment of the DREAM 21 into the WORLD DISCOVERER.

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

Marlowe
First Class Passenger
Member # 1632

posted 07-21-2003 12:46 PM

I had read about the bank holding the WORLD DISCOVERER's note had called it in some time ago and forced Discoverer Reederei & Society Expeditions into a tight situation but it appeared that they had come out of that...I wonder if it is true that they are solvent again? Has the high cost of the conversion (I heard over $30M total) made it hard for the debt to be serviced in this current market?

Regarding the COLUMBUS CARAVALLE, I have seen her listed for some time at $29M but recently saw her down to $22M at one website but no indication she had been sold. My understanding is that she is a near sister to the WORLD DISCOVERER but larger and have always thought that she would be an excellent ship for someone to put back into the expedition market however the asking price was very high considering a major interior refit would be needed to change her back from the casino configuration. It wil be very interesting to see how she turns out with her new owners and under Odessa's management. I am eager to learn more about the intended service.

Is there any clear word if BREMEN is in fact on the market for $25M? I have heard that from an informed source but no confirmation of it.

Posts: 414 | From: mt. vernon, wa, usa | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

SHIPS AGENT
First Class Passenger
Member # 3827

posted 07-21-2003 12:53 PM

Dear friends,

Just to let you know that the Explorer II will be cruising also next 2004 in a 2 months cruise chartered by UNION CASTLE LINE...I already have one advertisement showing her in UCL colours, however unfortunately I could find any official programme on the company web-site.

She will sail for 3 different companies possible with three different funnel colours....by Saga as Saga Pearl for 6 months... as Explorer II by Aberkrombie & Kent....for 4 months...and for Union Castle Line for 2 months....furthermore she will call Madeira cruising for these three companies next 2004!!!

Simply great!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best regards from Sunny Madeira

Dimas Almada

Posts: 100 | From: Madeira Island | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 07-22-2003 03:24 PM

It looks that Discoverer Reederei has solved the money-problem by now but it's very difficult to obtain information about this since it's not a very good image for them if such rumors turn around.
From what I know, they do well with their product but it's true that refurbishmant-costs of the WORLD DISCOVERER exeeded the estimated amount.
While it took much longer than expected to get the ship back in service, they have lost clients as well as a lot of money. Further the total loss of their previous ship damaged their finances as well as the ship was stripped by pirates and lots of valuable materials were stolen and the insurance did not pay what was expected.

The BREMEN is indeed for sale. Hapag Lloyd announced this already a longer while ago as they intend to develop a concept for a newbuild. The BREMEN will continue to operate for Hapag Lloyd as long as a buyer is found and possibly also under bare-boat-charter after a purchase if the new plans can't be finished in time. It might also be possible that Hapag takes her out of the sales-list again.

Great news about the EXPLORER II. I saw her as SAGA PEARL in May in Civitavecchia and she looked great.

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

Captain Rhone
First Class Passenger
Member # 3498

posted 07-22-2003 03:31 PM

Does anyone have actual photos of the Saga Pearl?

Posts: 686 | From: New York,USA | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 07-23-2003 12:52 PM

Yes, I have some. I'll send them to Joe so he can maybe post them here.

[ 07-23-2003: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

Christophe D
First Class Passenger
Member # 1680

posted 07-30-2003 01:30 AM

Beautiful pictures !!!!!

Posts: 282 | From: Dunkerque, France | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Noordam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3811

posted 07-30-2003 11:47 PM

The Miverva/Saga Pearl/Explorer II - is just a cute ship.

I would think though that she won't be used much longer by Saga. Especially with the introduction of SagaVista in the fall of 2004

Posts: 441 | From: Los Angeles | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

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