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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Portuscale Cruises

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Topic: Portuscale Cruises

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 05-12-2013 07:17 PM

Ships from Portuscale Cruises, former ships from Classis International Cruises. Arion, now Porto, Princess Danae, now Lisboa, and Athena that will be called Azores.

Ships photos

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 05-13-2013 05:00 AM

Good names for the fleet, thanks for the news. Being very very very nit-picky, AZORES is a bit out of line to me - Ponta Delgada or perhaps better being shorter, Horta.

Why do some lines have such long names for their vessels? Short ones are cheaper surely when it comes to the signage.

I just hope there is the money to see all this work and upgrading through to the end and things don't stall. Is there really going to be much return from the investment?

Pam

[ 05-13-2013: Message edited by: PamM ]

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 05-13-2013 07:21 AM

I agree that Azores isn't according to the other's fleet names. I specially like the name "Faial", one island from Azores archipelago (here Horta is the main 'capital'. But if they put city names in ships, they also can put as you made reference, Horta...
I don't know nothing about investments, but maybe it will be back...this ships are amazing, and aren't for "mass cruisers". They are only for people that likes the sea, the pleasure of travel, and the pleasure to stay in one ship, not for the only ones that want's to make a cruise only for eat lots of food, dance in discos, and jump like one elephant to the pools... :-)

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

Jepp
First Class Passenger
Member # 5576

posted 05-28-2013 05:33 AM

M/S Funchal is now announced in three cruises from Göteborg starting August 16th.

Latitude Travel - in swedish only
/Jepp

Posts: 158 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 05-28-2013 03:56 PM

A big contrast, funnel-hull colors...at moment the ship is under the old colors, only without Classic Internacional Cruises logos...Next days i will try to show more photos from them (Funchal, Porto and Lisboa). I think that in next days Funchal will enter in dry dock, and Porto (ex-Arion) will leave them. When Porto go out, Funchal enter.

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

Tim in Fort Lauderdale
First Class Passenger
Member # 953

posted 05-28-2013 05:10 PM

I don't portend to know the Swedish market, but at a rate of $250-$300 USD per person, per day, this had better be one heck of a product.

They had better be delivering top notch food and service and a flawless ship for that price.

Tim

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

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 05-28-2013 05:12 PM

Classic luxury ship...Welcome to new Funchal cruise ship :-)

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 05-28-2013 08:00 PM

The base rate for the first cruise works out at £127pppn, not much more than Adonia to Norway mid August in an inside at £109. Both are a bit pricey, but not extortionate. I have not looked at anything else, maybe they are more.

However, is she *really* going to be ready in 2 1/2 months? after all this time. I don't think I would be booking the first cruise, or anything at all until actually seeing her back in action

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Jepp
First Class Passenger
Member # 5576

posted 05-29-2013 05:03 AM

quote:
Originally posted by PamM:
However, is she *really* going to be ready in 2 1/2 months? after all this time. I don't think I would be booking the first cruise, or anything at all until actually seeing her back in action
Pam

I was thinking the same thing...
/Jepp

Posts: 158 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Tim in Fort Lauderdale
First Class Passenger
Member # 953

posted 05-29-2013 04:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PamM:
The base rate for the first cruise works out at £127pppn, not much more than Adonia to Norway mid August in an inside at £109. Both are a bit pricey, but not extortionate. I have not looked at anything else, maybe they are more.
However, is she *really* going to be ready in 2 1/2 months? after all this time. I don't think I would be booking the first cruise, or anything at all until actually seeing her back in action
Pam

Pam,

I was looking at the middle range of the ship as that is where the majority of the accommodations are. But the pricing you sussed out makes just as valid a point as far as I am concerned - how many people will be willing to pay virtually the same price for an old ship when you can sail on a much newer one for the same amount?

Barconauta - AZORES could hardly be considered a "luxury" ship. Classic, yes, luxury no.

I still have my doubts these ships, save the former ATHENA, will ever sail again.

Tim

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

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 05-29-2013 05:55 PM

There will be some people willing to pay the premium to sail FUNCHAL but not the majority of cruisers.

barconauta - is PRINCESS DAPHNE going/doing anything? She is still sitting in Souda awaiting the outcome of various claims I believe.

ATHENA/AZORES now seems to be the ship advertised by Royal Caravella as their ASTORIA, previously PRINCESS DANAE/LISBOA. Cruises commence 27 June - not long. But as far as I can make out she is still sitting in Marseilles - or is she now in Lisbon?

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 05-29-2013 08:33 PM

Tim, at moment Funchal is under a total reconversion to one luxury ship. The interior of the ship is "in steel", no others materials can seen. Everything was retired from inside it, till few months ago.

Pam, Princess Daphne isn't Portuguese ship anymore...i don't know nothing about its future...
Athena at moment is in Marseille harbour. Maybe in next month it will arrive Lisbon.

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

Jepp
First Class Passenger
Member # 5576

posted 05-30-2013 05:11 AM

I think the prices on the criuses from Göteborg are simular to previous years . With only three cruises this summer I can´t imagine that they will have any problem filling the ship.
If you compares the deckplans you will see that major reconstructions have been made, particularly on Madeira deck.
[IMG]http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm157/eldarejepp/Fartyg/Deckplan2009_zps8aa7 a5bf.jpg[/IMG]
2009

[IMG]http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm157/eldarejepp/Fartyg/deckplan2013_zps1582 002f.jpg[/IMG]
2013

/Jepp

[ 05-30-2013: Message edited by: Jepp ]

Posts: 158 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 05-30-2013 12:58 PM

News photos about them:

Porto

Funchal e Lisboa

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

Jepp
First Class Passenger
Member # 5576

posted 06-11-2013 05:36 AM

Hepp!
Latitude travel now announces cruises Lisbon-Göteborg Aug 6-14 and Göteborg-Lisbon Sep 9-20.

pdf-brochure in swedish

/Jepp

Posts: 158 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Galaxy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5160

posted 06-11-2013 05:14 PM

I really look forward to see Funchal agein.....she is one of the most beautifull cruise ships in the world

Posts: 591 | From: Norway | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 06-18-2013 12:05 PM

Portuscale Cruises is up with a new website now: www.portuscalecruises.com
It's quite basic for the moment but it has a few interesting renderings of the new interiors of the FUNCHAL.
More information will certainly be available soon.

PRINCESS DAPHNE is still laid up in Souda. The Potamianos-brothers are still the owners of this single ship and they want to operate her in the future under a new company and make her available for charter. But it's still uncertain if and when things will get settled.

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

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 06-28-2013 07:42 PM

Some update photos from a shipyard visit in drydock.

Funchal dry dock views

Also i can said that ALL interiors from the ship will be new. They will look similar that the old ones, but in new materials that respect the new rules from SOLAS, and confort to passenger guests. Also crew spaces, and tecnical areas will be new. Also some small changes in deck plans arrangement, like one new self-service outside restaurant, two new suites near restaurant, new hospital space...The public areas, will look familiar the old ones, but everything in new materials, and new materials respecting SOLAS convenction's.

Best regards

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 07-05-2013 10:11 AM

AZORES (ex. ATHENA) is in drydock in Marseille.
You can see first pictures here: http://sergiocruises.blogspot.pt/2013/07/paquete-azores-ex-athena-em-fim-de.html

Her hull has been painted dark already and her funnel colors changed to yellow.

As much as I like this new livery on PORTO and FUNCHAL, I do not like it so much on AZORES, apart that her ducktail looks much more hidden in dark as it does in white.

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

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 07-10-2013 04:15 PM

Funchal already have the yellow funnel. You can see the update in my blog, followind the below link.

Best regards

Ricardo LINK to photos

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 07-17-2013 11:01 AM

Another update from Funchal in NavalRocha shipyard, Lisboa.

FUNCHAL Update
Please use google translate at the left top of the blog.
Best regards

Ricardo

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

barconauta
First Class Passenger
Member # 15635

posted 07-27-2013 11:41 AM

Another update from Funchal

Follow the link to PHOTOS

Best regards

Ricardo

Posts: 80 | From: Portugal | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged

buddhaJoe
First Class Passenger
Member # 4356

posted 08-13-2013 03:36 AM

hi there,

finally after such a long wait

the ms Funchal left dock this morning after years of renovation

her first 2 chartered cruises were cancelled
but now her first new cruise is on the doorstep

she will start her sea trial soon

best,
Joe

Posts: 366 | From: De Goorn, small village in The Netherlands | Registered: Jan 2004 | IP: Logged

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