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Israel Shipyards will do renovation and maintenance work on “Mano Shipping” ships
February 13, 2006

Mano Shipping have chosen “Israel Shipyards” to do the maintenance work and renovations on 3 luxury ships. Mano will invest 6 Million NIS in the renovation. Some of the work will be done abroad.

The 3 luxury ships of Mano Shipping are docking during the winter in Haifa, in the Israel Shipyard docks, where they are being worked on in an investment of 6 Million NIS.

The ships “Royal Iris”, “Iris” and “Jasmin”, which during the 2005 season have made more than 120 sailings, are being checked at the Israel Shipyards for extensive examinations and improvements on its various systems, among them the electric systems, air conditioning and machinery. There is an additional upgrading treatment for its hotel rooms and public areas on board.

Due to the lack of a floating dry dock, certain examinations cannot be made. In order to execute these examinations, Mano Shipping will have to transfer its ships to Shipyards abroad.

As it happens, Israel Shipyards sold its floating dry dock and is about to build a new one, but it will be smaller and won’t accommodate passenger ships such as those operated by Mano Shipping.

“Like every year we take advantage of the winter time to prepare our ships for next season. This year we chose to do it in Israel, not just for Zionism, but because we believe in the knowledge and abilities of Israel Shipyard. As it turned out our choice was the right one”, said Moshe Mano, president of Mano Shipping.

Mano Shipping company have just completed preparation of itineraries for the 2006 cruise season, which begins in March 2006. The cruises this year will include a bigger variety of itineraries to resorts in the Mediterranean and outside.

Port2Port

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******

HELP!!!

I had 4 Cruises on that Ship, 3 under Chandris and 1 under Festival.

Luxury?

Never!

It is 2-3 Stars, at the Bottom of the international Market.

The same with the former Russian Troop Transporters (Ferrys) such as the "Paloma"

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The former "Azur" an luxury Ship?
HELP!!!

I had 4 Cruises on that Ship, 3 under Chandris and 1 under Festival.

Luxury?

Never!

It is 2-3 Stars, at the Bottom of the international Market.

The same with the former Russian Troop Transporters (Ferrys) such as the "Paloma"

That is the Bottom of International Cruising Industry.

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amerikanis, you are right about the fact that those ships should be consider as standards - rather the luxury - but please understand that between the former Azur and the modern Royal Iris - have little in commun. - the Royal Iris is far better that the azur - with refubished spaces - abd well decor laounges - the same with Iris. the iris is not the same old russian vessel but very modern version of it, so you may visit those ships before you talk......

any way here are couple of sots of Iris and Jusmine during their israeli refits:
iris:

jusmine:

I totally agree with Elad's words !

Someone should first think before writing such nonsense and haven't even been onboard!
If you're looking again to have some new conflict, you'd better do this at another place !
By now we kall now that the very best is Celebrity Cruises and the most intelligent passenger around is Amerikanis...

Back to the Topic's theme:

Beside ROYAL IRIS and IRIS also JASMINE has been nicely upgraded and all three ship offer a good product in their category. Mano does a splendid job with them.

JASMINE is currently being negotiated for a sub-charter. One interested party is Metropolis Tur from Moscow. But as things look right now, the vessel will remain in lay up this year. We of course hope to find a way to operate her but no crew has been ordered yet.

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JASMINE is currently being negotiated for a sub-charter. One interested party is Metropolis Tur from Moscow. But as things look right now, the vessel will remain in lay up this year. We of course hope to find a way to operate her but no crew has been ordered yet.

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thanks for the information Patrick
i'm wonder why Mano didnt choose to operate Jasmine rather then sub chartered her.... i think she can do perfectly if mano had choose to operate her in a line between Haifa and Odessa (as in 2004,2005) and between Haifa and Limassol- this combined with short cruises .

I was on 4 Cruises with the Azur.

An old Ferry with small Cabins, an lousy Space-Ratio, lousy Isolation and an Stability on Sea which is never as good as solid Passenger Ships are
is never an "Luxury Ship" as claimed by Mano.

The same is with your old Russian Troop-Transporters, called "Paloma" and the others.

Some Renovation and fresh Colour will make them a little bit up, but Luxury?

They are at the Bottom of the International Cruise Fleet.

I have now an Experience of 25 Years in Cruising.

You can offer such Ships to bloody Beginners as Luxus, never to me (and never to other, experienced People).

By the Way: I do not look for "some new Conflict", but i will not ask you or an Person like R.F., what you whish, what i should think or write.

A lot of Writers in the German Board "Ruderhaus" are not experienced, and when there are big and non acceptable Problems like those on the "Lili Marleen" or the "Albatros", they are criticless and make the Things better, than Reality is.

The second German Board i was in the Past "Kreuzfahrtforum" was looking for new People to overtake it, and since some Time is now defunct.

No Money?

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Originally posted by Patrick:
JASMINE is currently being negotiated for a sub-charter. One interested party is Metropolis Tur from Moscow. But as things look right now, the vessel will remain in lay up this year. We of course hope to find a way to operate her but no crew has been ordered yet.

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I think Mano needs a new name for either R IRIS and IRIS...its confusing

[ 02-19-2006: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

The Iris is the former Konstantin Simonov, a Ship of an Series built in Poland (first was the Dimitriy Shostakovich), which is now Paloma.

She had also the Names "Natasha" and "Palmira".

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I would have liked to see the IRIS and JASMINE operate together. It keeps the fleet on the same page and a consistant product. I wonder what is so much better on the ROYAL IRIS compared to the JASMINE? and between IRIS and JASMINE?
I think Mano needs a new name for either R IRIS and IRIS...its confusing

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Iris & Jasmine are two sister ship built 1982,1981 respectivly. Royal Iris is the ex Azur, built 1972 as Eagle and opererated for many years by Chandris. both Iris and Jasmine built as ferrys. during the years those two ships has been converted into a full time cruies ships - but they still have a very small cars garage. Royal Iris as well has been constructed as a ferry and been fully converted into a cruise ship. when Iris was aqquired by Mano Cruises, mano added a piano bar a top the ship - somthing they didnt done with the jasmine - this is the main difference between Iris and Jasmine. by the way "IRIS" is called after Moshe Mano's (president of Mano Group) wife Mrs. Iris Mano which is the CEO of the group's cruise devision. the architect of the IRIS is the same one who designed the greek Onasis yacht (as i read somwhere) - so you can understand how tastfully
is the ship's design.
as for Royal Iris - after Mano bought her she passed a 10 $ million refit in Parema shipyard greece: the dining room was "streched" the lido deck as been streched as well, a new deck area, whirpool,pool and more were added, new carpeting and new (natural, little syntetic) favrics and furnitures. from 2001 till now Mano operated Jasmine and Iris together. the Royal Iris have bigger passenger capacity, plus more public spaces and lounges than the Jasmine has - and because of that Mano choosed to operate the Royal Iris rather then the Jasmine

here are some pictures:

IRIS:

Jasmine:

Royal Iris:

refubished dining room:

Moshe Mano:

Iris Mano:

royal iris:

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Originally posted by elad:

when Iris was aqquired by Mano Cruises, mano added a piano bar a top the ship - somthing they didnt done with the jasmine - this is the main difference between Iris and Jasmine.

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the Royal Iris have bigger passenger capacity, plus more public spaces and lounges than the Jasmine has - and because of that Mano choosed to operate the Royal Iris rather then the JasmineWhy not operate the JASMINE instead of the IRIS. Is it because of the name of the ship and the additional piano lounge?

To be honest, the JASMINE and the IRIS are both more exterior appealing compared to the ROYAL IRIS. The ROYAL IRIS looks cheap and old design, but the Russian twins look more solid and buff. Maybe I am just getting used to the Caribbean boat boxes - you tell me .

here are some pictures:

Royal Iris:

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I noticed that on the IRIS, Mano tried to incorporate the funnel to the "lego block" by adding the cage-like that in front of the funnel. Elad, do you have any pictures of this piano bar - it seems very nallow, but long. I think this is a very low-cost unit they could have put on the JASMINE. I have to agree both these ships have really nice interiors!

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this piano bar is really nice, with moden contemporary decor. in the evenings light jazz music and piano(well,its a piano bar... ) are being played - this is the place to go if you prefering quite, elegant ambience- i think they should put one on the Jasmine as well!
here are pictures:
piano bar:

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Why not operate the JASMINE instead of the IRIS. Is it because of the name of the ship and the additional piano lounge?

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To be honest, the JASMINE and the IRIS are both more exterior appealing compared to the ROYAL IRIS. The ROYAL IRIS looks cheap and old design, but the Russian twins look more solid and buff. Maybe I am just getting used to the Caribbean boat boxes - you tell me

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you are right, the Mano twins look far more modrn and contemporary - and its is a fact!- they have been built 10 years later than the Royal Iris!
about the boxy design - those ship builted in the 80's when the "fashion" of angular ship has been started (see Noordam, Holiday)
but when we compare the facilities onboard the jasmine and her public spaces to those onboard the refubished Royal iris - we will found that Royal Iris is better - she have more facilieties,lounges and her design is far better than the Jasmine's design

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WOW! I would never expect this to be on this ship. Amazing. I think it looks better than the two main dining rooms on the NORWEGIAN SEA - heck I go as far to saying better than the dining rooms on the ELATION

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here are some more pictures:
Royal Iris- lobby- refubished 2005:

pool:

the Mnao twins in Haifa:

My Sailings are in 1992, 1993 (2) and 1995, the last under Festival, the first 3 under Chandris.

They give me (on all 4 Cruises) an very good Price, and Service and Food are good at that Time.

But - it is never an LUXURY-Ship.

In the 1980's i cruised with Ships of the Black Sea Shipping Company (most Times), "The Victoria" of "Chandris, the "Orient Express" of Sealink and the "Winston Churchill" of DFDS.

Compared with this Ships - except of the Victoria -, the "Azur" was comfortabel.

The last Cruise with the "Azur" was in 1995.

This is now more than ten Years ago.

Before my first Cruise with the Azur i was also on Board of the "Romanza", the "MS Rousse" and the "Finnjet", between the Cruises with the Azur i was also on Board of the "Nicolaiy Baumann", again the Winston Churchill, the "Deutschland" (2 Cruises on River Rhine), the "Astra", the "World Renaissance", the "Crown Dynasty" (2 Cruises),
the "Costa Allegra" and the "Royal Star".

Then was the last Cruise with the Azur.

Compared with this Ships - except the Crown Dynasty and the Costa Allegra, and of Course except the River Boats - the Azur was acceptable.

Later, i had more modern and better Ships, and TODAY i would not book again.

But, at the Time, i booked it, it was an good Experience for an good Price.

Not more and not less.

But: LUXURY is something else.

I want to say, that I respect both Patrick's and Amerikanis' opinions and neither member should be disregarded in any way.

For Elad: when you post (link) images at CruiseTalk, please always tell us where they come from, now you have posted several photos from the Mano site, without mentioning where they are from.

AJL

[ 02-20-2006: Message edited by: AJL ]

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Thank you for this news piece, very interesting! Maybe the Israeli Shipyards should've thought about it a little longer before deciding to sell their big floating dock. I feel the whole article underlines Zionism big way, but that's just their style... It's the same thing almost always when you read an article in Israeli media.

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we in Israel are proud of the Zionism, our achivments, our beautifull country and our maritime capabilities

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For Elad: when you post (link) images at CruiseTalk, please always tell us where they come from, now you have posted several photos from the Mano site, without mentioning where they are from.

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.......if its so important to you..........

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For Elad: when you post (link) images at CruiseTalk, please always tell us where they come from, now you have posted several photos from the Mano site, without mentioning where they are from.

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forgot to tell that some of the photos were taking by me

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Originally posted by elad:

.......if its so important to you..........

Elad

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?? Not only for me. But it is a common way when posting photos, it's considered as being polite. What were the dots for............?

& I thank you for posting your own photos, nice to see some material from Haifa!

AJL

[ 02-20-2006: Message edited by: AJL ]

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A lot of Writers in the German Board "Ruderhaus" are not experienced

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Again: My web site does N O T have a board!!!