picture from http://www.faktaomfartyg.com/

Thanks to Stephan Giesen for these great news.

Patrick

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Patrick ]

It looks like a lot of sister ships that were split up over the years are reunited again. Former Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam, former Sagafjord and Vistafjord and now two Royal Viking sisters.

Without a doubt I think the ship will fit well and be appreciated with Fred Olsen. Does it mean that Black Prince is going soon?

I visited the ship not long ago and liked her a lot, she offers the best of both world, the pleasure of sea traveling and the comforts of cruising.

How does the GRAND LATINO’s interiours look like? Are they in good condition or does she need a good refurbishment.

Onno

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Onno ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ernst:
I have not cruised with her recently, but I have seen the Black Watch in a miserable condition some years ago. So I don not know whether this makes me happy...

---

Well, as you say, some years ago . . . . .

I though Olsen would want a much newer ‘small’ vessel as per Braemar, rather than another ship of this age - although there are not a lot of small ships available these days.

Black Prince’s cabins in particular are outdated and SOLAS looms. Olsen were expected to lose her by 2009, if not sooner.

I must admit that I'm a little disappointed! I like choice. I had hoped for three different Olsen ships, as there are now. I assume that this new addition to the fleet will have similar decor and similar public spaces to Black Watch - which does not over excite me. Even if there are differances, there will naturally be a lot of similarities.

Maybe I will warm to the idea? I'd name her 'Blenheim'.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ernst:
I have not cruised with her recently, but I have seen the Black Watch in a miserable condition some years ago.

---

Be careful Ernst there are Olsen fans here! She's in very good condition - see ShipParade

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

As much as I love Black Watch, as much as it would be nice to see the sisters reunited, nostalgia & all that... I wonder if this is really the right move for FOCL? I think we were all of the opinion they were looking for a ship somewhat newer, but still 'smallish'.

2 more or less identical ships? Is that the right way forward? Both ageing, but can share spare parts I am disappointed in the news too.

Though interesting news, thinking about it, it is strange that FO would get an older ship for their fleet and also one that is of the same vintage as BW. Wouldn’t that mean that both these ships retire about the same time. Maybe FO could not find a "new" small ship for the right price, or maybe they bought Grand Latino as an in-between ship and because she is “similar” to BW maybe easier to work with, who knows? I always liked the diversity of FO ships and yet they are similar because of their small size, of course there comes a time that the classic small ships are all gone and then FO has to modernize.

Though the R ships are small in size I somehow can’t see them fit in with FO and the FO passengers.

Onno

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Onno ]

Grand Latino makes perfect sense for FO. It gives them another ship; one that they know their passengers will accept and one the officers and staff will easily assimilate to. She's also in excellent mechanical shape as Star gave her a thorough overhaul and upgrade prior to selling her.

R-Class:

--None of them are readily available.

--They are not, to my knowledge, interested in leasing a ship and buying one outright would cost them a much, much more.

--They were originally built for short-haul voyages. This would cause them many headaches in terms of bunkering and provisions or cost them major money in terms of altering the vessel.

Gemini:

--Braemar and Gemini were built for short-haul voyages. Many headaches as noted above.

--To my knowledge, Star isn't interested in selling her at this point.

Malcolm, FO looked over many ships in the past year and they have a highly defined criteria of what they want in terms of size, amenities and are willing to pay. At the end of the day, the GL was the best fit for them as the other ships were considerably larger, out of the price range and/or would require too heavy a capital expenditure to refit and repair.

Any idea if Olsen run four vessel for a few years or will Black Prince leave the fleet (scrap?) when the new one comes on-line?

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

I always thought that one of the "R" ships would have been perfect for FOCL.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tom Burke:
Forgive a lubber's question, but - what's an 'R' ship?

---

An upmarket cruise line called ‘Renaissance’ went bust. They had a fleet of very nice modern small ships.

They had very imaginative names: R1, R2, R3 etc.

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

An upmarket cruise line called ‘Renaissance’ went bust. They had a fleet of very nice modern small ships.

They had very imaginative names: R1, R2, R3 etc.

---

As Tim has said, although the 'R' ships looked ideal to the layman they were good reasons including the fact that they were just are too-upmarket i.e.expensive for Fred.

Anyone got an interior images of Grand Latino?

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Anyone got an interior images of Grand Latino?

---

Malcolm go to this site: http://www.infocruceros.com/review.asp?Id_Barco=118 at the bottom are some links to interior pictures.

Onno

Groovy orange chairs!

It does look like she was refurbished not so long ago, at least her interiors aren’t from her Royal Viking days.

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Onno ]

The deck plans generally look similar to the Black Watch - although several of he public spaces on BW have become cabins on this ship (Marina Theater, Library/Card Room), so there are more cabins in total, and more with balconies. This will possibly make her more profitable than BW?

The Casino looks bigger and there's possibly a bigger spar? A lot of the cabins seem to have baths rather than showes?

Olsen normally converts some of the smaller double cabins to singles.

[ 01-24-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

lebelty wrote:
...I know that they just recentally got the Mistral, was that her replacement vessel.

---

Tyler, it would seem so.

******

quote:

---

Originally posted by Onno:
It does look like she was refurbished not so long ago, at least her interiors aren’t from her Royal Viking days.

---

Can anyone confirm the bath tubs in all F category cabins on Grand Latino?

P.S. I editted my earlier question.

[ 01-25-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keitaro:
I can't find the link to Andy's (Gundam X Divider) interior picture gallery while the GL was the SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN, but it seems like Iberojet has toned down the interiors.

---

My website is in "transitional stage" and that the gallery of Capricorn no longer exists. Meanwhile, let me post some photos to let you have a comparison with the interior when she was with STAR, after the massive refurbishment:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ocean Liners:
Can anyone confirm on Outside Standard(Iberjet sold as F category) cabin's facilities of Grand Latino?
If you looked her cabin's layout, It seemed the bath room isn't enough to bathtub.

---

[ 01-25-2005: Message edited by: Gundam X Divider ]