To keep a consistent company identity,
A ship about the same size and vintage would be of choice. I would think the 1957 Statendam/Sea Harmony which already has diesels would be good. To bring her up to SOLAS would be about $5m. She could be purchased for about $10m.

The second choice would be the Stella Solaris, re-engine to diesel since her boilers are shot, and some interior design updating.

The Seawind Crown is a nice ship in bad condition all around.

The Principe Perfieto $5m asking price needs to have lower grade cabins converted to private bath, SOLAS, and re engined to diesel.

What's this about the passenger list on the Regal Empress? Are you going to have that thread again? Actually, I'm thinking of sailing on the RE just to get another quick fix on an older ship. Quick before it vanishes.

quote:

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Originally posted by blf49:
[B]The Rembrandt would out class the old Olympia. B]

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Rembrandt outclasses everything that is still afloat. Regal's customer base: Gregory Gold Chain and Heather High Hair; would not appreciate her.

Take the Empress with low expectations

The Olympia was my first cruise as a child. She will always be special to me. Nixon was president of the US then. As the Empress she lost much of her charm due to renovation. The Zebra room, Mycenean Room, Pavillion, Atlantic bar and Taverna are gone.

The dining room, Library, Aegean Lounge, Stairwells, Rest deck, and upper deck foyer are all that is left. Her Sun deck Suites are Mahogany panelled.

[ 05-09-2002: Message edited by: desirod6 ]

quote:

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Originally posted by desirod6:
Commodore, Premier, Reniassance and Cape Canaveral all closed their doors and Regal keeps humming along: amazing.

Since she is note getting the Nieuw Amsterdam III,
The Enchanted Isle is a good bet. EI is the same size and era and meets SOLAS.

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Yes, I agree that the Isle would be a good ship for Regal... A solid old vessel, well-maintained, SOLAS-compliant...

On the other hand, if they were really serious about getting Nieuw Amsterdam, they could still get Noordam, even though she is perhaps the less desirable of the two (Nieuw Amsterdam had significant refurbishments to become Patriot).

Stella Solaris is out of commission - again ! However, her boilers are now newly redone as opposed to shot, and she is a real beauty... I would love to see her in active service with some real job security...

Rembrandt would overshadow Empress way too much. But then again Stella would do that too... The lovely old Princesa Victoria is also for sale, and looks to still be in good shape... She is SOLAS compliant, and a steal (I think) at the asking price of $5 million!

All of those three ships (Rembrandt, Stella Solaris, Princesa Victoria) would overshadow Empress big-time... Perhaps they'd want one (or more!) as a replacement! They could do a deal with Louis (who own ROC) for Princesa Victoria and Stella Solaris, which would make some pair!

quote:

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Originally posted by desirod6:
Regal we all know is a one ship line. If she is out of comission for any length of time, ouch!

To keep a consistent company identity,
A ship about the same size and vintage would be of choice. I would think the 1957 Statendam/Sea Harmony which already has diesels would be good. To bring her up to SOLAS would be about $5m. She could be purchased for about $10m.

The second choice would be the Stella Solaris, re-engine to diesel since her boilers are shot, and some interior design updating.

The Seawind Crown is a nice ship in bad condition all around.

The Principe Perfieto $5m asking price needs to have lower grade cabins converted to private bath, SOLAS, and re engined to diesel.

Other thoughts?

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Rumor is the TOPAZ (ex CARNIVALE) of Thomson is being considered by Regal. Her charter expires for Thomson in Spring of 2003, and ROC/Louis are looking for a new suitor to charter/purchase her. I think she would make an excellent running mate for REGAL EMPRESS, and I absolutely LOVE the TOPAZ. In fact, I can blame her on my obsession for ships. My parents sailed on her as the CARNIVALE in the mid-70's, and when they returned I became interested in cruise ships and ocean liners. The rest is history!

I for one would sail on her in a NY second should Regal get their hands on her. I hope so!

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:

Rumor is the TOPAZ (ex CARNIVALE) of Thomson is being considered by Regal. I for one would sail on her in a NY second should Regal get their hands on her. I hope so!

Ernie Roller,
Atlanta

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Ernie,

The Topaz was also the Queen Anna Maria: the Greek Line running mate to the Olympia. It would be wild if the 2 were reunited 27 years later.

I sailed Queen Anna Maria in 1971: 15 months after Olympia. I understand she has been remisfitted beyond recognition. As a kid I loved her 4 swimming pools.

I would love to resail her.

She was a better laid out ship than Olympia, but Olympia had more character

Well if Topaz falls thru, there is the Island Breeze: in better shape than the BRBII.

Rembrandt I feel has a better future in Europe since Europeans and American Europhiles better understand her charms and subtleties.

[ 05-10-2002: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

quote:

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Originally posted by desirod6:
[QB]

Ernie,

The Topaz was also the Queen Anna Maria: the Greek Line running mate to the Olympia. It would be wild if the 2 were reunited 27 years later.

I sailed Queen Anna Maria in 1971: 15 months after Olympia. I understand she has been remisfitted beyond recognition. As a kid I loved her 4 swimming pools.

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Hi Desirod,
It would be great if these two great ships were reunited! How fantastic. I have a brochure on her as the QUEEN ANNE MARIA which I love. As a child, I always loved the fact the ship actually had six pools (maybe a record??). Four outdoor, one child's pool, and the indoor pool. I believe two of the outdoor pools have been removed (the smaller ones) and I'm not sure if the indoor pool is still in use.

You might be surprised how much of the ship you still recognize. While the interior decor has changed quite a bit, the actual layout is pretty much unchanged (except for the aft show lounge). Carnival did a great job keeping her up, and even though they painted over much of her beautiful wood with pastel colors during the end of her Carnival career, the ship was still attractive in her own way.

I would love it if Regal restored the wood and brought back some of her old charm. I also loved her low set dining room, and those huge, single wide corridors in the old 1st class areas.

She is still a great ship that I would love to sail on.

Topaz would be a good running-mate - after all, she was a good running mate to Olympic all those years ago!

Apollon is externally perhaps a more handsome ship. I don't know much about either ship's interiors so I can't judge. But Apollon may need a lot of work, I don't know.

I think desirod's interior photos are of Apollon when she was Mardi Gras (at least that's what I think Simplon's site said). But I may be wrong, I will check on that.

quote:

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Originally posted by cruiseny:
Hello,

I think desirod's interior photos are of Apollon when she was Mardi Gras (at least that's what I think Simplon's site said). But I may be wrong, I will check on that.

Happy Cruising,
CruiseNY

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Those are definitely pictures of the CARNIVALE. One is of a Cat. 12 Suite, and the other is of the Fly-Aweigh Disco, located all the way forward.

The CARNIVALE always had the better and more extensive interiors over MARDI GRAS (although MARDI GRAS had a better exterior). In any case, I don't think APOLLON is in very good condition. She was initially turned into a casino ship in Texas and now of course is laid up with ROC. ROC did put her to some use, but has spent little time or money on her.

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:

Those are definitely pictures of the CARNIVALE. One is of a Cat. 12 Suite, and the other is of the Fly-Aweigh Disco, located all the way forward.

The CARNIVALE always had the better and more extensive interiors over MARDI GRAS (although MARDI GRAS had a better exterior). In any case, I don't think APOLLON is in very good condition. She was initially turned into a casino ship in Texas and now of course is laid up with ROC. ROC did put her to some use, but has spent little time or money on her.

Ernie Roller,
Atlanta

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I got thrown off by this pic of Mardi Gras:

It looks a lot like the cabin picture from Carnivale above.

I like the following shot myself:

Showing her deep draft. I think they could have tried to be a bit more consistent with the color of their antifouling though ! Although judging from the rather poor quality of these postcards, this may have been from the cut-rate days of Carnival!

More interior pics:

Very cheap looking decor!

I like the pink velvet seats! Very '70s!

But she was nice underneath! Take a look at that panelling behind the slot machines!

Nice dining room - but I hate those cheapo 1970s chairs! Why no original furnishings?

Is the phrase "relax room" referring to the massage?

Needless to say, I like the old way better - I think the new foredeck (or lack thereof) does hurt her profile somewhat. Still not a bad looking ship though.

Unfortunately, she has now been painted in the ugly World of TUI scheme:

I for one will not be surprised if she reaches fifty!

Long live Empress of Britain, Queen Anna Maria, Carnivale, FiestaMarina, Olympic, Topaz, and perhaps Regal Empress II (not a name I sugggest, but I couldn't think of anything better at the moment)!

Happy Cruising,
CruiseNY

P.S. sorry that I had to split up this post, but I exceeded the maximum image limit.