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How I would love to have the time and money to do this cruise!!
Tony
quote:Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises):Perhaps the new Orient Line might be interested in buying her and updating her when she is withdrawn from service.
That would be wonderful, and she would be ideal for the Orient Line fleet, but I doubt that the new operation has sufficient funds to refit the ship to the new SOLAS standards.
Rich
contrary to what you apparently believe, Orient Lines had taken a thorough look at several other ships before they decided to purchase "Maxim Gorkiy".
Best,
Raoul
Myself and many other ship enthusiast would be delighted to step aboard the Saga. The old Hamburg, not so much!
quote:Originally posted by Cunard Fan:I wish they would let younger people on at least 1 cruise. I would love to sail on Rose but still have quite a bit of time before I reach 50.
There's more of a deterrent to sailing than simply age; Saga's fares are quite high. Many people here think Cunard's rates are sky-high: check out the fares for SAGA ROSE. I've just reached the age to be able to sail on her, but my finances won't allow it!
Orient Lines did say they wanted classic cruise ships and that is what they have got when they bought the Maxim Gorki
There is some companies that do not want to operate a block of flats on a pontoon as a cruise ship !
They like ships that look traditional and have under 1000 passengers on board.
Another good example of a company operating older cruise ships, which are also being updated, is Classic International Cruises.
quote:Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises):cruisemoleOrient Lines did say they wanted classic cruise ships and that is what they have got when they bought the Maxim GorkiThere is some companies that do not want to operate a block of flats on a pontoon as a cruise ship !They like ships that look traditional and have under 1000 passengers on board.Another good example of a company operating older cruise ships, which are also being updated, is Classic International Cruises.
I wish that the Orient Line had gotten their hands on the SS Topaz before the scrappers did. It would be interesting if they would consider the SS Indy as well.
quote:Originally posted by Noordam:No offense to the tired Maxim, but she ain't no Sagafjord. Myself and many other ship enthusiast would be delighted to step aboard the Saga. The old Hamburg, not so much!
Exactly.
quote:Originally posted by Redlinekid2:I wish that the Orient Line had gotten their hands on the SS Topaz before the scrappers did. It would be interesting if they would consider the SS Indy as well.
I doubt it. Both are well over 50-years old and Indy is apparently a mess after years of a poorly prepared lay-up.
The Saga Rose apparently does not carry enough passengers as well as not being SOLAS 2010 compliant. Saga charges very high fares which offsets the lower capacity issue. I hope that Saga Rose can be modified but it may just be to expensive based on her age.
Pam
quote:Originally posted by cruisemole:Well, they dont seem that fussy about what they do buy.
As Raoul pointed out, Orient Lines looked at quite a number of other ships before settling on MAXIM GORKIY.
What ship would you suggest it should have bought?
Looking at the comments on this thread I am curious why people are so down on her - while she is not as attractive a ship as SAGA ROSE she does not look as bad as some are making her out to be.
I have said this before but the idea that any old ship (no pun intended) would be suitable for Orient is ridiculous.
As for INDEPENDENCE, as she is reportedly almost derelict, she would also be decidedly a poor choice.
quote:Originally posted by NAL:For how long will we have the Saga Ruby? Has she had the necessary changes for SOLAS or are they still to be done? What changes will they be?
quote:Originally posted by NAL:Thanks for the news on Ruby, Doug. I didn't know all the work had been carried out previously.
quote:Originally posted by dougnewman:There are no plans to retire RUBY. She is fully SOLAS-compliant and of course carries many more passengers than ROSE and is newer.
According to on board sources, the tentative retirement date of SAGA RUBY is 2014.
it is obvious that many here consider "Maxim Gorkiy" an old, tired tub and they suspect Orient Lines bought her simply because she was the cheapest and probably most run down ship on the market.
I will gladly leave them with that impression knowing how totally wrong they are. I wonder how many of those who whine about what an old tub "Maxim Gorkiy" is have ever been onboard her.
quote:Originally posted by viking109:Just a thought, but how many disasters at sea have happened to ships that would not have happened were they already compliant with the future SOLAS regs.
Almost all of them--safety regulations are usually in response to past incidents. The SOLAS regs of 1948, 1960, 1966, etc. all came after example disasters.
The Americans and Brits just happen to love the Sagafjord more. Afterall, she has many more outside cabins then Maxim, and we generally like a view
quote:Originally posted by Noordam:I certainly don't doubt that Maxim is special. [...]
These days she became sort of special - no doubt - but she is not nearly in the same league as Sagafjord.
Aesthetically she is n ot as pretty but technically I thin k she is mopre interesting and she's also had a more evntful career. I cannot wait to sail on her!
Mike
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