Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.
>>> Reader Reviews >>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery >>> Join Our Cruise Club.
Latest News...Disney Cruise Line announced today that the honorary role of "godparent" for its new ship, the Disney Treasure, will be held by The Walt Disney Company cast, crew, Imagineers and employees around the world. The profound declaration is a heartfelt tribute to the more than 200,000 dreamers and doers who make every Disney entertainment, vacation and at-home experience possible. Disney Cruise Line is proud to celebrate...
Latest News...Carnival Cruise Line is adding to its line-up of 2026/27 deployment with sailings from New York City on Carnival Venezia, and more Long Beach sailings on Carnival Firenze and Carnival Radiance. “Our two Carnival Fun Italian Style ships offer great options from the east and west coasts, conveniently connecting New York and Long Beach to popular destinations, while delivering unique experiences on board...
Latest News...Vacationers are in for more ways to make memories across Royal Caribbean’s latest combination of tropical and Northeast 2026-27 getaways. The lineup of 12 Royal Caribbean ships rounds out a variety of adventures across Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the Northeast for every type of family and vacationer to get away any time of year. Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members...
As for preserving her, if anyone was looking to preserve a ship like her they missed the boat with APOLLON. Unfortunately, I have not heard anyone else (except myself) ever suggest that she be preserved, and so now she's being scrapped at Alang without any organized effort to save her having gotten off the ground or even being suggested. In the case of THE TOPAZ, there is not a single splinter of original interior inside her (the complete opposite of the almost perfectly preserved APOLLON); everything dates from the late '80s Farcus refit or Thomson's 1997 "toning-down" (which did not remove her wood - that was done by Farcus during her twilight years with Carnival). Internally, she is no more worth of preservation than any modern cruise ship.
Personally I think it is tragic that this ship has outlived her younger running mate, not only because I always preferred EMPRESS OF CANADA but more importantly because APOLLON might have been the best candidate for preservation in the world after ROTTERDAM while with THE TOPAZ frankly I can't see what there is left worth preserving. Even her exterior profile is pretty much ruined. Last time I saw her, my impression was simply of an ugly, worn-out old ship, and nothing more. I have nothing against her but I'd easily have sacrificed her in favor of APOLLON or MARIANNA VII or countless other vessels that have recently gone off to be scrapped and that were far more worthy of preservation than this ugly duckling... Even if she did start out as a beautiful swan (backwards, I know!).
Thanks for your advice!
Michael Germany
Peaceboat
This isn't quite true, her old Empress Room remains much as it did full of lovely woodwork and veneers. Also her "Farcus" refit actually saw much of her panelling painted or wall papered over rather than removed. (Mainly the corridors and stairwells and higher class cabins, the cheaper cabins were stripped.) I agree Apollon would have been the perfect candidate for preservation and indeed some years ago it was suggested that she be moved to the Mersey in a static role. In the end she was caught up in ROC's collapse when she still had plenty of life left.
Ultimate Bulletin BoardTM 6.1.0.3
More Vacation & Cruise Specials...