Cruise Talk: Costa Tropicale

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Topic: Costa Tropicale

Ryndam
First Class Passenger
Member # 1315

posted 12-07-2000 11:40 AM

I don't know if they are going to use this name, but Carnival Cruise Lines will transfer its 1,022-passenger Tropicale to sister company Costa Cruises in February 2001. Prior to its delivery to Costa, the 36,674-ton vessel will complete its current schedule of 10-day Panama Canal cruises until February 2001. After that, Costa will immediately reposition the Tropicale to Genoa for an extensive refurbishment and refit before placing the vessel into European service. As a result of its transfer to Costa, the Tropicale will not operate its 2/3 day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral. I don't know if the Costa Homerica project will go on.

Ryndam

[This message has been edited by joe at travelpage (edited 12-07-2000).]

Posts: 260 | From: Genoa (Italy) | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-07-2000 12:03 PM

What a strange idea!the Tropicale is too colorfull to integrate well in the Costa fleet(I don't like the projects of Joe Farcus,even the Atlantica is too eclectic) and it's 20 years old.The company should spend a great sum of money to bring the ship to its standard.Do you know wich cruise will it perform?

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-07-2000 12:21 PM

Is this really true? If it is I will be very disappointed!! It seems all my favorite ships are going someplace where it's very unlikely I will get to sail on them again. I was really hoping Carnival would keep the Tropicale in the US. It's my favorite little ship!!Oh Well at least it's still in the Carnival Corp. Wounder what it will look like without it's winged funnel?

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 12-07-2000 02:15 PM

geno-r: I saw that you read my recent post concerning my upcoming 2 night sailing aboard Ocean Breeze. This is my idea of a pre-cruise vacation extender. What I did not say is that upon disembarking from her, I will board Tropicale for a 10 night sailing. While she is neither a new mega liner, nor a classic from the past, she is also one of my favourite ships owing to her layout and size. She is the most traditional of all of Carnival's vessels, in particular I love the series of stern outdoor teaked deck terraces. A comfortable size as well. She certainly was the forrunner of Carnival's newbuilds right up to the Destiny class. While many of this board's readers will probably not envy my choices for this year (Ocean Breeze & Tropicale) it would seem that you certainly would. I try to balance my sailings between new vessels (Galaxy) and older vessels such as this year, and not that long ago Victoria. Next year will probably include HAL's Zaandam, Volendam or Amsterdam. When it gets right down to it, all cruises are great; after all it is what you make of them that sets the tone. For me it is the ship and being in a maritme environment, not the on board product, that matters.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-07-2000 05:12 PM

Grant!! you are a lucky guy!! Those are my two favorite ships, we had a great, great time on both. I feel just like you do about the Tropical, it seemed like a slight upscale version of Carnival. I hope you share lots of pictures and a big review when you get back. Have a great trip!

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Jesse C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1678

posted 12-07-2000 06:02 PM

The MS Tropicale is lucky to be transferred to Costa Crocriere. This ship was scorched in a fire one time, and I saw it on an A&E Investigative Reports Show about Cruise Ships. No casualties, but it was close to Carnival losing the MS Tropicale to a fire.
The MS Ecstasy also got scorched, and the MS Celebration was closed to being hit by another ship.

Bless the Tropicale!!!

Posts: 244 | From: Houston, Texas, United States of America | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Bernard
First Class Passenger
Member # 1038

posted 12-07-2000 07:45 PM

I was aboard the Tropicale for one day in 1997.

I really like this ship.

I do not know why people would say that this ship is a step down for Costa.

She is a great ship and maybe i will be sailing Costa for the first time if they buy this vessel.

I've visited some Costa ships and i must say
she is much better then ships like Costa Marina.

I still think the tipping envelopes aboard Costa Ships are very bad.

Bernard, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Posts: 94 | From: The Netherlands | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-08-2000 10:07 AM

I have asked to a friend who works at Costa crociere in Genoa about the transfer of the Tropicale.She has told to me that Carnival Corporation has confirmed only the transfer of the Westerdam(the date is to be announced)that will operate only for the german cruise market(what a pity,I like this ship).I have also sent an e-mail to Costa corporation.I'm awaiting for an answer.I hope that the Tropicale will perform cruises to the Panama channel from S.Juan.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 12-08-2000 11:02 AM

What does this bid for the CostaRiviera...currently Costa's oldest ship at 37?

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-08-2000 11:14 AM

The Costa Riviera will be put for sale(in 1996 when the ship was scheduled to be retired there weren't buyers)or laid up.The new Costa Tropicale will perform its itineraries(the 7days cruises in the western Mediterranean are very successfull).For the winter I hope that it will perform new itineraries out the Mediterranean.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-08-2000 11:31 AM

I think it's a big mistake for Carnival to transfer the Tropicale to Costa. Their is a lot to be said for good luck and lucky ships. Laugh if you will, but since the Tropicale came upon the scene Carnival has had much sucess. Their first new build, lately they have used it to try out new itineraries and every new intinerary it's tried has been so sucessful they've had to replace it with larger ships, in short, The Tropicale has been Carnival's good luch charm.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

nycruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 960

posted 12-08-2000 12:36 PM

I have never cruised on the Tropicale but I did send a young couple on there a year ago. They said it was a nice ship but it was dated and a little on the dirty side.

Personaly I think if Costa wants to identify themselves in the premium cruise market (along with Disney, Celebrity, Princess and Holland)I feel that this may be a bad move for them. They should phase out the Costa Marina and Allegra because they are older ships. Costa should just focus on the new builds.

This ship would be good for a cruise line like Regal Cruises. They should retire the Regal Empress who is 45 + years old a refurbish the Tropicale.

Posts: 665 | From: Westchester County, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-08-2000 12:58 PM

Nycruiser,I disagre with you:the only old cruise ship in the Costa Fleet is the Costa Riviera.The Costa Marina(1990)and the Costa Allegra(1992) are fine medium size cruise ships,particularly the second.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 12-08-2000 01:46 PM

But I thought the ALLEGRA and MARINA were actually rebuilt container freighters that dated from the 70's?

Am I wrong?

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 12-08-2000 02:02 PM

Rex,

It is true that the hulls of the two ships date from the seventies, but the ships were completely rebuilt, new engines, new super structue, and all else. Therefore they are, from a passenger standpoint, relatively new ships.

Thad

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

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