Cruise Talk: Kenya Castle returns!

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Kenya Castle returns!

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Topic: Kenya Castle returns!

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-05-2000 12:19 PM

London is to get its first floating hotel, which is to be created from a 1952 passenger liner called the Kenya Castle. The ship will be permanently moored in the London Docklands from 2002.

For more details, see the BBC news web site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1001000/1001055.stm

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 11-05-2000).]

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

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-05-2000 12:24 PM

For more general information on the Union Castle Line: http://www.union-castle-line.com/intro.htm

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

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 11-05-2000 01:34 PM

That means, the current Chandris Liner SS AMERIKANIS will survive !!!

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-05-2000 04:31 PM

So where is Kenya Castle now?

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

nzmike
First Class Passenger
Member # 1308

posted 11-05-2000 07:14 PM

As of a couple of months ago she was still laid up at (I believe) Eleusis. It is nice to see that she may be saved but I would have thought that other laid up liners (eg Windsor Castle or Aureol) would have made better ships for this role as they both still have much of their "classic" interiors remaining. Amerikanis is a nice ship and I believe is still in good order but her interiors have been substantially changed. Still she does have a nice classic ocean liner profile and would look good in the Thames - she is also relatively small so could fit in without trouble.

Posts: 186 | From: Auckland, New Zealand | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 11-05-2000 07:24 PM

Here's a photo...

I agree with Patrick, the last I heard she was still laid up in Eleusis.

Joe at Travelpage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Schaljapin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1659

posted 11-06-2000 10:26 AM

I think, it would be better to bring or hold some of the old Liners in work as Cruise-ships.

A swimming hotel is not the best job for them.

I think, there are a lot of people, they do not want to cruise with 2000 and more
other passengers in a swimming hotel, which misses all the feelings, elder ships will give to their passengers.

Best cruising with feelings from the sea are in 1993, on the Astra (an 5000-ton ship, former Istra), on the northern coast of Iceland.

Waves are minimum 12 Meters high.

Chairs are falling through the dining room.

Most of the passengers are under deck in their cabins.

That was funny!!!

Schaljapin

Posts: 38 | From: Gutach, Germany | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-06-2000 06:50 PM

Schaljapin, I don't think that I would be able to laugh at 12 meter seas!

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

Baker
First Class Passenger
Member # 1311

posted 11-06-2000 10:33 PM

I have to agree that the Windsor Castle would be a great choice, if the report on her is correct in Maritime Matters she has still got her Union Castle interiors intact.also the English built Oriana has just been put up for auction in Shanghia, but I guess her interior would need a lot of work to bring it back to how it was.

Posts: 221 | From: Rosebud, by the Bay.Victoria, Australia | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 11-07-2000 01:35 PM

It´s true what Schaljapin sais. Ships like the ASTRA I, DALMACIJA or AKDENIZ are really great to cruise with if you are in stormy weather (as long as you like this). Then you really know what real sea is about.
My biggest storm I had with MAXIM GORKIY during a cruise to the high North. You don´t believe how strong she went through the sea. Even while moving, the MAXIM is one of the ships which stays very stable in the sea due to her 8,25m draft. But the atmosphere is not to describe, waves, lots of wind, water everywhere, rain... But with the MAXIM, every time again !

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 11-13-2000 07:51 PM

She is probobly the only Chandris ship left.At least she won't be scrapped.

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

PauloMestre
First Class Passenger
Member # 1613

posted 11-14-2000 04:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Commodore:
She is probobly the only Chandris ship left.At least she won't be scrapped.

Another surving Chandris ship is The Victoria now belonging to Louis Cruises. She served alongside Amerikanis for many years, even before, during her years on Union-
Castle.

Victoria in 1967 with Incres Steamship colours; you can perfectly see the effects of the 60's refit.

I'm not sure but she must now be the oldest passenger ship still cruising (the Argonaut, ex Orion, of Epirotiki Line dates back from 1929 but she's now laid up in Piraeus).
I'm not counting Doulos of 1914 because she's not being used as a cruise ship.

Regards

Paulo Mestre

[This message has been edited by PauloMestre (edited 11-14-2000).]

Posts: 311 | From: Alhos Vedros, Setubal, Portugal | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 11-14-2000 01:11 PM

The former ARGONAUT has been sold already several years ago to Memnon Cruises. Phoenix Seereisen has a full-charter on her and uses her for weekly cruises in the Red Sea.
Her new name is REGINA MARIS (named after a once very famous little ship of the Lübeck Line, and later Peter Deilmann Reederei which became the ALEXANDER) and she found many friends already, especially between those people who enjoyed cruising with the AKDENIZ when she was under charter to Phoenix Seereisen too.
The REGINA MARIS does a good job. She has been equipped with the latest technical equipment and fulfils all the newest SOLAS safety regulations. The crew is entirely Egyptian, only cruisestaff in German.

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 11-14-2000 03:30 PM

Patrick.....
I am not so sure about the Maxim. I sailed
on her from Baltimore when she was the
Hamburg for German-Atlantic Line. We hit
some very rough weather and she really
could pitch. I prefer the movement of the
FRANCE [1962], QE2, and Rotterdam V in heavy
seas. In the film "Juggernaut" they used the
Maxim and it is possible to sea her pitching
heavily in very moderate seas.
Continued happy cruising!!

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 04-18-2001 11:03 AM

Another good idea bites the dust.

The Kenya Castle is being scrapped!

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

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 05-09-2002 09:12 PM

Oh well,
It was a wonderful idea.I decidided to renew this topic,because something like this, could happen,and now,maybe more than ever floating hotels are becoming commonplace.The Emerald Seas is a hotel ship.There is still hope of a similar idea,with a much more determined creator.

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

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