MONA LISA is owned by the Greek company Leonardo Shipping and managed by Kyma Shipmanagement (also THE TOPAZ). Crew is international and do all speak English as well. Catering services and hotel-management is provided by Quality Cruise Service from Monaco, a well-established company for catering of German-speaking ships.

Passengers and cruise-staff are from Germany, reservations can ONLY be done via a Holiday Kreuzfahrten office - they do all themselves in oreder tu guarantee correct information towards the client about the product.

While we currently hear in Germany many different comments about the ship (this goes from Horror-stories up to lovely old ship) it is difficult to say weather she is good or not. From my personal opinion, I would say that if you like classic ships and can live with older amenities onboard, it will be a fine cruise.
I'll be visiting her on Mai 29th in Cuxhaven to get an impression of her. raoul who's doing the party-night just before, will certainly also post his comments after it.

Activities onboard are of course all in German, as well menues, daily-program, etc.

http://www.holiday-kreuzfahrten.de/?00

As I said, she is a real classic !

I think it must be almost an unicum with cruise companies that Holiday Kreuzfahrten devotes a whole page to the history of their ship, including pics from the ship in all her exteriors from former owners, including the two funneled ones!!!(and the recent ones from Princess and P&O, which after all could be considered as competitors, in a way)

I consider this very sympathetic and respectful to the ship. The interiors look cosy and inviting, plastic deckchairs, and the chairs in the dining room look original scandinavian ?

A 220+day world cruise, even cut in sections, is however a bit too long for me Perhaps there will be next year another one of those "partycruises".

One thing to say: She is a real classic and the only one left of this kind. Lots of wood has been used inside and you feel like stepping back to another Century. But all is very well maintained and clean.

I guess that those who said it is a bad ship, just did not like classic or ancient decor. But she is not a bad ship just because she is not new !

Holiday Kreuzfahrten cares a lot about details and the old-world-ambiance onboard MONA LISA. One highlight is certainly the library. Another pleasant fitting is the buffet on Lido Deck next to the pool. Ver well thought out.
And, she offers, with the current passenger capacity she sails with, mor room per passenger than QE 2 !

Raoul might add a few details about the food and entertainment as he saild one night with her.
The crew made a really friendly impression to me and it seems like they are very proud of such a real classic ship as MONA LISA is. this is also what is advertised by Holiday Kreuzfahrten.
As she is now, I would easily rate her with 4 stars. In the Segment Holiday placed her, she is not less good than her rivals !

Really a ship I would sail with any time.
To be recommended !

as Patrick wrote, I was onboard "Mona Lisa" for a one-night cruise-to-nowhere last weekend.

thundergod, I think you would be okay taking a cruise on her, as many of her international crew (mainly Eastern Europeans in the service department) speak English, as well. Also, the ship's Hotel Manager is from England.

I must say that I had a most fabulous time on "Mona Lisa" which to me is one of the most beautiful ships afloat. Just one day prior to me boarding the ship, "Mona Lisa" passed a Port State Control in Dover with a perfect score, and the Dover authorities were amazed by how much better the ship looks now compared with her time with P&O Cruises.

The food was first class, the service quick, friendly and efficient.

IMHO this ship deserves a four-star rating. Interestingly, Douglas Ward, who rates "Mona Lisa" three stars (as "Victoria" she had ***+) has not been onboard since the ship was taken over by Holiday Kreuzfahrten.

I would not hesitate to sail on "Mona Lisa" again - she is a most fabulous ship. As Patrick mentioned earlier, she can be booked exclusively through Holiday Kreuzfahrten's own booking offices throughout Germany. The company doesn't collaborate with travel agencies. Yet, the ship had an average occupancy rate of 97% last year, which is very high for a German-market ship.

Best,

Raoul

[ 05-31-2005: Message edited by: r.fiebig ]

quote:

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Originally posted by r.fiebig:

I must say that I had a most fabulous time on "Mona Lisa" which to me is one of the most beautiful ships afloat.

Best,

Raoul

[ 05-31-2005: Message edited by: r.fiebig ]

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Raoul,
I agree 100%! I absolutely love this ship. I sailed on her twice as SEA PRINCESS with Princess Cruises. One cruise was an extended voyage from Bangkok to Sydney ... which remains to this day my favorite cruise ever.

Even though P&O thoroughly botched up the ship with their ill-thought refit, she none the less retains so much charm and originality. You just can't find ships like this anymore ... not even QE2 compares IMO. The ship is still loaded with original wood, light fixtures, rails, corridors, etc. Certainly enough originality to satisfy any liner lover. I would say SAGA ROSE and SAGA RUBY are in the same league.

I would love to sail her again, but I fear it will never happen. I don't speak a word of German, and I'm also not sure I would want to overshadow the amazing memories I already have of this fantastic ship.

I agree with you that she (Mona Lisa) is an outstanding, beautiful and fantastic ship, the last ship in operation which is coming close to a "liner".
Altough I understand the problem of having nice memories making it diificult to come back to a nice place or ship, I think she is still in a quite good shape - based on the posts above, what friends told me and a TV program about her I saw some moths ago. Not speaking German should really not be a problem.

Greetings

Ernst

quote:

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Originally posted by Ernst:
Ernie,

Although I understand the problem of having nice memories making it difficult to come back to a nice place or ship, I think she is still in a quite good shape - based on the posts above, what friends told me and a TV program about her I saw some moths ago. Not speaking German should really not be a problem.

Greetings

Ernst

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Hi Ernst,
My fear is not that the ship itself would disappoint ... as she looks very much how I remember her in the pictures, but that I would not find the same jovial camaraderie that existed on my sailings. Those two cruises on SEA PRINCESS produced some life long friends and I also met my first true love onboard. To say they were memorable is an understatement.

it was a wonderful coincidence that I was able to see both "Mona Lisa" (on Saturday & Sunday) and "QE2" (yesterday) directly after each other. I have to agree with you: "QE2" doesn't come close as far as the splendid and unique atmosphere onboard is concerned.

Don't get me wrong, "QE2" is a great ship and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting her. IMHO she is considerably nicer than "QM2" which, as a whole, didn't impress me that much. If I had the choice between the two, I would most definitely choose "QE2".

Something I also thought when onboard "Mona Lisa" was the following, while comparing her with "Maxim Gorkiy": While the latter ship is very well maintained and certainly is a favorite of mine, one cannot deny that its interiors look very dated (which to me isn't "bad", however). "Mona Lisa's" interiors on the other hand are also old but don't look dated at all - instead they look almost "timeless" ("classic" doesn't fit here). I considered this truly fascinating.

Holiday Kreuzfahrten's excellent staff and crew helps making this a very special ship. What's also great is that the onboard costs (in EUR) are very reasonable.

Best,

Raoul

[ 05-31-2005: Message edited by: r.fiebig ]

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Originally posted by r.fiebig:

Something I also thought when onboard "Mona Lisa" was the following, while comparing her with "Maxim Gorkiy": While the latter ship is very well maintained and certainly is a favorite of mine, one cannot deny that its interiors look very dated (which to me isn't "bad", however). "Mona Lisa's" interiors on the other hand are also old but don't look dated at all - instead they look almost "timeless" ("classic" doesn't fit here). I considered this truly fascinating.

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Raoul, Yoa are talking on the shps being built in the same era although these ships were built as different concepts and has been operating different companies so it is not suited to compere between the two ships.

As eroller said, she none the less retains so much charm and originality. You just can't find ships like this anymore.... The ship is still loaded with original wood, light fixtures, rails, corridors, etc.

She already lost her original charmes when she has been received transformation in the late eighties, You can't find the original furnitures in most public rooms but still retains original wood walls or bulkheads. Many of the Mona Risa's cabins were added extra berths in addition to the lower bed(s).

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

please accept my sincere apologies for making unqualified statements. I guess I will remain silent from now on, as I obviously really don't know what I am talking about when it comes to older ships.

Regards,

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

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Originally posted by thundergod:
I have heard that under special circumstanses older ships could get dispense from the solas2010? Maybe for limited use or something likte that?

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Where do I get the SOLAS regulations? I would generally be inerested in getting an overview of reulations concering ships. Where do I get proper literature?

quote:

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Originally posted by r.fiebig:
Ernie,

it was a wonderful coincidence that I was able to see both "Mona Lisa" (on Saturday & Sunday) and "QE2" (yesterday) directly after each other. I have to agree with you: "QE2" doesn't come close as far as the splendid and unique atmosphere onboard is concerned.

Don't get me wrong, "QE2" is a great ship and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting her. IMHO she is considerably nicer than "QM2" which, as a whole, didn't impress me that much. If I had the choice between the two, I would most definitely choose "QE2".

Something I also thought when onboard "Mona Lisa" was the following, while comparing her with "Maxim Gorkiy": While the latter ship is very well maintained and certainly is a favorite of mine, one cannot deny that its interiors look very dated (which to me isn't "bad", however). "Mona Lisa's" interiors on the other hand are also old but don't look dated at all - instead they look almost "timeless" ("classic" doesn't fit here). I considered this truly fascinating.

Holiday Kreuzfahrten's excellent staff and crew helps making this a very special ship. What's also great is that the onboard costs (in EUR) are very reasonable.

Best,

Raoul

[ 05-31-2005: Message edited by: r.fiebig ]

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Hi Raoul,
How fun to tour two classics back to back! That really shows off the contrast when you have one ship so fresh in your memory.

I'm so glad you found MONA LISA still full of charm and style. It's very hard to duplicate that these days. The furniture and carpet may change, but the core is still there and that is where the ship gets her soul from. Thankfully most of MONA LISA's original bulkheads, rails, and fittings are still in place. Most cabins are original too. I LOVED my A and B deck cabins on SEA PRINCESS.

I also agree that MONA LISA has a timeless look. The choices that have been made over the years haven't all been good, but they haven't been all bad either. MAXIM GORKIY on the other hand looks a little dated and tatty on the interior just as you stated. As for QE2 ... well, I've save that for another thread!

Anyway, thanks for the report!

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:

Even though P&O thoroughly botched up the ship with their ill-thought refit, she none the less retains so much charm and originality. You just can't find ships like this anymore ... not even QE2 compares IMO. The ship is still loaded with original wood, light fixtures, rails, corridors, etc. Certainly enough originality to satisfy any liner lover. I would say SAGA ROSE and SAGA RUBY are in the same league.

Ernie

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quote:

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Originally posted by thundergod:
intresting that you think that the old NAL liners Vistafjord and Sagafjord is not in tha same league as Mona Lisa. Where they as good as the SAL ships from the beginning or are they simply not built to as high standard?

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Ernie ?

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ocean Liners:

Ernie ?

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

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