Cruise Talk: Rotal Viking Saga and Vista

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Rotal Viking Saga and Vista

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Topic: Rotal Viking Saga and Vista

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 09-24-2007 12:36 PM

I was reading through some of my old Steamboat Bills, which is a magazine put out by the Steamship Historical Society of America, and was interested to read that in the late 1970's NAL had decided to merge with RVL and have their two ships, the Sagafjord and Vistafjord become the Royal Viking Saga and Royal Viking Vista. In the end the sale/merger fell through and NAL was sold and became NAC, which in turn was swallowed up by Cunard. But it certainly would have been interesting if these two beautiful ships had ended up in the RVL fleet. I did a quick photoshop of the Sagafjord as the RV Saga.

Does anyone have anymore information on this sale / merger?

Thad

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 09-24-2007 01:30 PM

This sale/merger is also mentioned in Bruce Peter's book "Passenger Liners Scandinavian Style." I suspect that it was RVL's decision not to take in the two NAL ships. Even though the VISTAFJORD was actually newer than the 3 RVL ships, NAL's clientele was more "old guard" than the many of the newcomers to the modern Royal Viking fleet. There may have been a perception that the two 'FJORDS were more old-fashioned, while RVL was looking towards the future and already planning a big new ship.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-24-2007 05:46 PM

I seem to remember that RVL was not willing to pay what Norwegian America Line wanted. Very soon thereafter Norwegian America Line became Norwegian American Cruises......and shortly later Cunard/NAC. Many writers have made the mistake with writing "American" when it was "America" and vice versa. When NAL was at its apex, it was almost at the level of SAL.....and therefore a step above RVL....at least in the hardware. Most SAL and NAL pax hated those tiny RVL cabins. Vistafjord had some tiny cabins, but they were originally singles and not too bad as such.

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

Robertdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 6300

posted 09-24-2007 06:07 PM

When these ships were taken over by Cunard, it was the plan to rename them to the tradition Cunard names Aquitania and Mauretania before it was decided to keep their own names and their Northern heritage. This is mentioned in a book by Miller called Picture history of British Ocean Liners.

Posts: 135 | From: Haarlem, Netherlands | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 09-24-2007 07:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Robertdam:
When these ships were taken over by Cunard, it was the plan to rename them to the tradition Cunard names Aquitania and Mauretania before it was decided to keep their own names and their Northern heritage.

Interesting that it took Cunard so long to finally change Vistafjord's name. Could be that by the late 1990s the old NAL/NAC was long forgotten by most passengers.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 09-24-2007 07:32 PM

Whereas I understand that Cunard urgently needed to reinvent itself, I am convinced that 'throwing away' the name Vistafjord was a stupid decision.

Vistafjord was (and probably still IS) know in the German speaking world and had a very loyal following. This was a bad move of Cunard insofar as there still IS a market for such a ship - I am sure the success of Deutschland is not only based on the TV series but also on the retirement of Europa (of 1981) and Vistafjord.

[ 09-24-2007: Message edited by: Ernst ]

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Tim in Fort Lauderdale
First Class Passenger
Member # 953

posted 09-30-2007 08:08 PM

It's ironic to note that after Cunard's ill-advised purchase of Royal Viking Line, the Saga and Vista, along with the RV Sun were marketed for several years under the Cunard/Royal Viking moniker.

Tim

Posts: 1468 | From: Fort Lauderdale, FL | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 09-30-2007 10:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:
under the Cunard/Royal Viking moniker.
Tim

And w/that odd looking funnel color combo of Cunard red w/the RVL logo.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

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