Cruise Talk: Recent rumours

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Topic: Recent rumours

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 03-10-2009 10:35 AM

Perhaps someone here may have some more up to date news on the following.

Following the announced closure of Ocean Village,
Island Escape is to remain with Island Cruises ? Rumour has it that Thomson Destiny will transfer to the brand ?

Oceana is rumoured to be moving TO the OV brand replacing the ships being moved to Australia....?

She could be joined by Sea Princess in short order these ships no longer considered suitable for the Princess brand being too small and too expensive to upgrade to include all the Princess signitures ? Obviously Sun & Dawn will stay down under.

Send one here we'd be quite happy with either Sea P or Oceana.

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

rd77
First Class Passenger
Member # 2117

posted 03-12-2009 07:11 AM

Hi Mike,

AFAIK, both current OV ships are being transferred to Oz because the OV brand will be closed down. So, I would not expect new ships to be moved to the OV brand.

The other rumour about Island cruises, I've heard that one as well. Let's see if it actually happens!

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

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 03-12-2009 09:10 AM

Thanks I knew OV was closing but then so was Island !

Here's another from Italy today - Quail is closing down, Pacific could therefore be available should anyone want to take on her knackered Fiats.

She was my first ship, and I love her dearly but from what I have heard and seen she is a candidate for permanent retirement.

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

KenC
First Class Passenger
Member # 6341

posted 03-12-2009 11:05 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rd77:
Hi Mike,
AFAIK, both current OV ships are being transferred to Oz because the OV brand will be closed down. So, I would not expect new ships to be moved to the OV brand.
The other rumour about Island cruises, I've heard that one as well. Let's see if it actually happens!

I have read that the OV brand will not be closed completely but will lie dormant in case Carnival decide the UK market can sustain it at some future date, should suitable tonnage be available.

Ken

Posts: 353 | From: Brighton, UK | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 03-12-2009 11:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mike sa:

Here's another from Italy today - Quail is closing down, Pacific could therefore be available should anyone want to take on her knackered Fiats.

From Italy? Quail is a Spanish company! Its demise is not surprising, given the state of Spain's recession and following Vision's collapse a few days ago. While PACIFIC's days were obviously numbered, I assumed Quail would continue with their charter of OCEAN COUNTESS after her stint in Brazil. What now of her?

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 03-12-2009 12:49 PM

The only news that I can find on Quail is that the first 2 cruises 9 & 16 March were cancelled supposedly due to a shipyard delay. The passengers have been offered a refund, transfer to Iberocrucros or delay sailing date to 23 or 30 March. This was the other day so things may have changed. See here.

However there are posts on the Spanish forums indicating the 23 March sailing was cancelled today.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 03-13-2009 01:09 AM

Island is being kept as a "sub-brand" of Thomson. This has always been the intent since RCCL pulled out of the JV. It seems likely THOMSON DESTINY will change over to the Island product.

Ocean Village is probably dead.

PACIFIC has been in pretty poor shape since she was still a Princess ship and in this economy I would not be surprised if she goes to scrap. I guess either she or, amusingly, the similarly-named CLIPPER PACIFIC (ex SONG OF NORWAY) will be the first of the 1970s-generation cruise ships to go the breakers'.

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

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-13-2009 08:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by dougnewman:
It seems likely THOMSON DESTINY will change over to the Island product.

Destiny under Thomson (and formerly Sunbird ubnder Airtours/My travel) used to get lots of great reviews. However recently reviews suggest the ship is getting a little 'tired'. It sounds like a refit is overdue?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

scorpio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1245

posted 03-13-2009 02:40 PM

Malcolm,
We cruised on Sunbird three times and loved the ship. Last year we tried it again (as Thomson Destiny) but were very disappointed. The teak is rotting on the prom deck and the ship is generally in poor condition. The mattresses desperately need replacing - our were badly stained with blood and urine, so we insisted on replacements. Unfortunately, there were no spare mattresses on the ship, so we got a slightly better one from an unused cabin, and had a topper fitted over it. I would suggest that any passengers remove the sheets and examine the mattresses soon after embarkation - the sheets may be tied on to prevent examination.
The cruise was good, the entertainment was enjoyable and the passengers were the best group of people we have ever met on a ship. The food was not of a good standard (even the sous chef came out to apologise for the quality of the meat. I doubt if a re-fit will do much to improve this ship now; it is too far gone.

Posts: 92 | From: UK | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-13-2009 04:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scorpio:
I doubt if a re-fit will do much to improve this ship now; it is too far gone.

I'm sorry to here that. I get the impression that Thomson do not spend a lot on the 'hardware' but normally their food, service, atmosphere and entertainment is very good, for the fare. I found this to be the case a couple of years ago on board Thomson Celebration.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 03-14-2009 12:16 PM

Was Sunbird/Thompson Destiny the once Pride of RCCL Song of America?
What a shame!
Indeed I'd rather see her in Alang than deteriorate in bad hands like the poor Song of Norway(what if she still had that bar in the funnel?)

I wonder what ship will replace the Oceanic on Pullman's Valencia?
Surely not ssSky Wonder who might be Pullman's and the first 80's cruise ship to reach Alang?
Personally I fear that ssoceanic will deteriorate with Peaceboat ..history proves it!
Surely smaller ssEmerald would have fitted the role better?
The former Santa Rosa (beautifully rebuilt internally by Regency cruises as Regent Rainbow)
is to me a better replacement for Topaz.

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

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