Cruise Talk: Da Vinci, 30 year old ferry transformed into cruiseship?!!

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Da Vinci, 30 year old ferry transformed into cruiseship?!!

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Topic: Da Vinci, 30 year old ferry transformed into cruiseship?!!

buddhaJoe
First Class Passenger
Member # 4356

posted 01-22-2008 01:17 AM

hi there,

thanks to Tony (Van Gogh thread)

Club Cruise has really made a bold move
we all know that they acquired GTS Finnjet in late november for a reported 11 million USD, however
it is reported now they sent the ship to Italy's Mariotti yard in Genua for a conversion into
a cruiseship vessel, how expensive that might be???

she has been renamed this week into Da Vinci and
this remarkable ship, by it's time the fastest ferry with 33 knots with gasturbines, later replaced by
diesel engines is gettig a new unexpected life

i really wonder if any other ship did get a new life
as a cruiser when 30 years old, most ships are already heading for the scrapyard, or become a casino in asian waters (ofcourse there some exceptions)

her a link to the excellent finnjetweb site
with pics from her renaming
http://www.finnjetweb.com/en/

best regards
b. Joe

[ 01-22-2008: Message edited by: buddhaJoe ]

Posts: 366 | From: De Goorn, small village in The Netherlands | Registered: Jan 2004 | IP: Logged

rd77
First Class Passenger
Member # 2117

posted 01-22-2008 03:12 AM

Hi Joe,

I think it's not unusual for old ferries to be turned into cruise ships. But, as you say, indeed normally they are turned into casino ships, and never before has such a big ferry been turned into a cruiseship! Mariotti is a specialist at extensive rebuilds though, so this will be a nice job for them. They will have to convert the cardecks into cabins, and what about outside space? Are there any outside swimming pools on this vessel? I don't think so!

Brgds.
Ralph

Posts: 1037 | From: The Hague, Netherlands | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

finn-yards
First Class Passenger
Member # 5541

posted 01-22-2008 07:05 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rd77:
Hi Joe,
They will have to convert the cardecks into cabins, and what about outside space? Are there any outside swimming pools on this vessel? I don't think so!
Brgds.
Ralph

yes, maybe they will convert the cardecks to new cabins because the old cabins are nice but old and quite small. the b-class cabins especially.
They could build new bigger cabins to lower decks and use the space of the older cabins to build restaurants os showlounge.

There are no swimmingpools in the outside decks. only one small inside in the bottom of the ship. but there is quite large aftdeck and if they remove the commodore-class cabins they could have a one big lido-deck. and of course the old finnjet would be in it´s original form.

Posts: 52 | From: Finland | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 01-22-2008 12:37 PM

A while ago I was looking at photos of FINNJET and suddenly it hit me that with a little imagination she could become a 'big sister' to COSTA MARINA/ALLEGRA.

Well, those were done by Marriotti - now all Club Cruise has to do is hire Guido Canali to design the 'new' ship!

Marriotti is very experienced in serious conversions - e.g. Russian research ship hulls to MINERVA and SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR, and container ship hulls to COSTA MARINA and ALLEGRA - so I imagine FINNJET will hardly be a challenge.

I think she could make a delightful cruise ship.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

recab
First Class Passenger
Member # 1677

posted 01-22-2008 02:24 PM

Doug,

The Finnjet is nothing like Costa Marina/Allegra.

Posts: 730 | From: Aland, Finland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 01-22-2008 05:35 PM

Roland - I'm not saying she is, but rather that with a suitable conversion she could be rather similar to them.

Imagine her with the Commodore Class cabins removed and a new lido in its place, the superstructure extended to the stern with a 'glass wall' as on those ships, etc...

Anyway, I doubt Club Cruise will be hiring Guido Canali to design the DA VINCI .

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

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