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Originally posted by locarno:
This company has purchased from Norwegian Ferr operator COLOR LINE the ms M/S Prinsesse Ragnhild . Does any one know who this company is and what their plans are for the vessel? she is too large and has same amenities as most cruise ships including decent size cabins. so hardly a purchase for the Casino trade, which has seen recently several vessels sold and operators going out of buz.
thanks
locarno

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It has been in the Norwegian news today. I tried to Google the name but it doesn't say anything.

This is probably not good news for REGAL EMPRESS though.

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Originally posted by Waynaro:
I originally plan on flying out there in February to cruise on the REGAL EMPRESS...looks like I may need to do before the end of the year...

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[ 09-07-2008: Message edited by: locarno ]

[ 09-07-2008: Message edited by: locarno ]

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Originally posted by DAMBROSI:
What does the new ship look like, I can't get into the site unless I set up a username and password.

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Here is a pretty good youtube video on the ship. I'm surprised to see such an impressive atrium.

Ernie

I hope to be able to add some Regal Empress videos to my page too - seems as if I have to reschedule my 'shooting dates'.

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Originally posted by eroller:
As you can see she is no REGAL EMPRESS. Trade classic liner for 80's style ferry. Mind you she is probably a smart move for Imperial Majesty, none the less it will be sad to see REGAL EMPRESS go.

Here is a pretty good youtube video on the ship. I'm surprised to see such an impressive atrium.

Ernie

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The atrium was, I believe, added during the tremendous refit, stretching and rebuilding which the ship received in 1991. She's been rebuilt twice, the first time added the cabins above the bridge, the second was the lengthening.

Check out Prinsesse Ragnhild on fakta. As rebuilt she will need some work for cruise catering. She has essentially 3 main restaurant areas, with what was a posh waiter service, a smorgasbord and a cafeteria.

She has a 2 level nightclub aft, and some quiet lounges. Her layout is a bit odd with some can't get from here to there stuff. Almost the entire top is available as a sun deck, which should prove popular, although its not obvious how one would put a pool there, since up top is, if I recall correctly, where the air con room is.

The ship doesn't have the best history, having had several serious engine breakdowns, and she has had more than 1 fire, I think at least one was serious enough for a passenger evacuation. Presumably all of this history and mechanical condition explains the low selling price achieved, compared to her recently sold fleetmates.

That said love the vessel. wonder how they will turn here in to a outdoor Caribic cruise ship.

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Originally posted by Maasdam:
Maybe we must stop comparing classic passenger ships with modern. Simply they cannot compete with each other.

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Well in this case there is not much of a choice. We might be faced with one of our few remaining classic liners being replaced by a somewhat modern, 80's style ferry. I think it's fair to discuss the difference and how the Imperial Majesty experience will change.

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Originally posted by eroller:

I think it's fair to discuss the difference and how the Imperial Majesty experience will change.

Ernie

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Obviously the 'experience' will change for the better for most people. Outside of the few of us classic shiplovers, most people who sail on Imperial Majesty are not cruise mavens. They are there as part of a package marketed to them for a vacation stay in Florida along with a 'luxury' cruise to the Bahamas.

I've sailed many times on REGAL EMPRESS, and on OCEAN BREEZE before her. Most of the people I've encountered on board have never been on a ship and don't know one from another. But almost anyone who has ever taken another cruise is appalled at the small size, the old style layouts, the "vintage" plumbing and other facilities, etc. It's the same phenomenon I saw constantly on the NORWAY--people expecting the latest glitzy modern resort simply do not understand what a classic ship is all about.

A new, modern ship would result in much happier customers overall, even though we few who appreciate the old ships may see things differently!

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

I've sailed many times on REGAL EMPRESS, and on OCEAN BREEZE before her. Most of the people I've encountered on board have never been on a ship and don't know one from another. But almost anyone who has ever taken another cruise is appalled at the small size, the old style layouts, the "vintage" plumbing and other facilities, etc.

Rich

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I recall last March seeing (and hearing) the head of a large family being extremely vociferous at the Reception Desk aboard RE, complaining about their accommodation, facilities etc and demanding to leave the ship before she sailed and get their money back!

Does it not boil down to being given erroneous or misleading advice beforehand as to what to expect?

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Originally posted by ahrpd:

Does it not boil down to being given erroneous or misleading advice beforehand as to what to expect?

Tony

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To a large extent, yes. These people are put up in mediocre hotels and condos during their Florida vacation stays, not always in prime locations, but they seem to accept that. But their expectation of a "luxury" cruise always has high standards, especially if they've ever been on any of the modern ships built within the last 20 years. Let's face it, most current cruisers have never seen an old vintage ship, and I think that also holds true for a majority of people here at CT who "think" they would enjoy the classic experience.

There are a lot of warts and blemishes that come with old ships, which of course the lines and literature don't mention. My last two times on REGAL EMPRESS found lots of cockroaches in the cabins and elsewhere. Stinking black water swirling in the toilets, rusty water from the sink taps, lots of wood all around the ship which frankly is hard to make look gleaming clean, even though it may be, etc., etc. I can overlook these things and accept them because I've sailed on scores of vintage ships and know the difference from modern ones. But it is definitely NOT what people have in mind when they think "cruise ship."

Now that I've made REGAL EMPRESS sound so horrible, please believe me, it's NOT bad, just different. And if anyone plans to be in Florida, please plan a couple of days to sail on her, because I do not believe Imperial Majesty is going to wait around until 2010 to find a replacement for her, especially if a good offer becomes available now.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

Obviously the 'experience' will change for the better for most people. Outside of the few of us classic shiplovers, most people who sail on Imperial Majesty are not cruise mavens. They are there as part of a package marketed to them for a vacation stay in Florida along with a 'luxury' cruise to the Bahamas.

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Call me selfish, but I'm not "most" people and neither are the people that read CT. We are like minded ship lovers and for most of us the cruise experience goes well beyond the midnight buffet, or lack there of.

For me, once REGAL EMPRESS leaves Imperial Majesty I will have no interest in the line. It's not like I would sail IM for the fabulous food and service, the enchanting fellow passengers, or the exotic port of Nassau .... it's for the vintage classic liner of course! REGAL EMPRESS is a little gem and that is the only reason I would have any desire to sail a 2-night cruise to Nassau.

For myself and most CT readers, the experience on IM will change drastically. There will be nothing unique about the line anymore, therefore no reason to sail IM over other lines. So yes, the time-sharing crowd that has never set foot on a ship will perhaps prefer the converted 80's ferry .... but do I really care about them? Probably not.