Cruise Talk: Regal Empress to replace Oceanbreeze

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Regal Empress to replace Oceanbreeze

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Topic: Regal Empress to replace Oceanbreeze

Westerdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 2093

posted 06-03-2003 12:10 PM

Regal Empress will assume the two-night cruises to Nassau now operated by OceanBreeze on or around June 20, Imperial Majesty president Art Pollack said. Acquired at auction last month for $1.75m, Regal Empress left Tampa yesterday and is en route to Port Everglades, due to arrive on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, Pollack says.
The fate of OceanBreeze remains unclear. ‘We are still looking at several options for the OceanBreeze, everything from sale or charter to the remote option of scrap,’ Pollack tells Seatrade Insider. If the ship is sold or chartered, Pollack says he has no idea where it might operate.

Imperial Majesty launched operations from Port Canaveral in 1999 with the OceanBreeze, which it chartered then eventually acquired for $14m from Premier Cruise Lines. The 1955-built vessel is steam-powered.

Source: Seatrade Insider

Posts: 329 | From: Waukegan, Illinois | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 06-03-2003 12:17 PM

Thanks for the update. I hope someone charters her, it would be sad if she is scrapped...

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 06-03-2003 03:45 PM

How sad that they are going to do that to the OCEANBREEZE. She was christened by Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, when she was the SOUTHERN CROSS for the Shaw Savill Line.

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

M3MAN2K1
First Class Passenger
Member # 2102

posted 06-03-2003 04:19 PM

do you possiably think this is the end of Imperial Cruises??? they only charted regal empress...

Posts: 106 | From: FLORIDA! | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 06-03-2003 04:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by M3MAN2K1:
do you possiably think this is the end of Imperial Cruises??? they only charted regal empress...

What ?

First, they BOUGHT her, and second, even if they had chartered her, why on earth would it be the end of them?

They did very well with OCEANBREEZE and frankly I don't see why they wouldn't with REGAL EMPRESS as well...

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Noordam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3811

posted 06-03-2003 08:37 PM

I think its pretty safe to say that the Oceanbreeze will be leaving the states for good. If you want to sail on her - run down to Port Everglades.

Who wants to bet that the Regal Empress will not be renamed and will probably be wearing her Regal Cruises Colors, which were essentially a carry over from her Commodore days. These poor old ships!

Posts: 441 | From: Los Angeles | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 06-03-2003 08:49 PM

I wonder why Imperial Majesty decided to replace the OCEANBREEZE. Its sad to see a nice ship leave after the $$$$ IM put in her. Long may she sail in Europe(?).

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

gpcruisedude
First Class Passenger
Member # 3533

posted 06-03-2003 09:38 PM

The Ocean Breeze would be good for any company wanting to use her Casino! As she has an excellent casino(2 levels) unlike any other ship sailing! It's quite unique actually!

She would do very well in short cruise service as her steam powered engines seem to do well on shorter cruises!

Also anyone wanting to sail her out of a port with very little competition I think she would do well their too, She did o.k. out of Montego Bay for many years with Dolphin and Premier and also Aruba!

I think the Ocean Breeze has a lot of life left in her until 2010!

Maybe another ship for Ocean Club Cruises??

Posts: 865 | From: Grande Prairie,Alberta | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 06-03-2003 10:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
I wonder why Imperial Majesty decided to replace the OCEANBREEZE.

Probably because she has an inefficient steam plant. I don't think that they were actively looking to get rid of her, but when REGAL EMPRESS was on the block for under $2m, it was likely to good an opportunity to pass up.

Her steam powerplant combined with her certain future SOLAS problems do not make her a good candidate for further trading.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 06-03-2003 10:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gpcruisedude:
As she has an excellent casino(2 levels) unlike any other ship sailing!

Doesn;t some of the RCI ships have two levels too?

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 06-03-2003 10:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
Doesn;t some of the RCI ships have two levels too?

I noticed that too, but got sidetracked somehow with the question about why they'd gotten rid of her.

NORDIC EMPRESS certainly has a pain-in-the-neck two-level casino (brings "impossible to avoid" to new levels, no pun intended). I don't think they extended it to any others, though VOYAGER-class ships have one that can be accessed from the Royal Promenade a deck above the casino itself is only one one level, I think...

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 06-04-2003 01:10 AM

Often when we head to Florida for a cruise, we take a few nights "pre cruise" to get climatized or time zone adjusted. Too often the hotels ha little to offer other than accomodation. Twice now, I have used that time to settle into a 2 or 3 night "pre cruise" cruise. As a ship lover, why not spend the time on one, rather than watching them sail by!! Ocean Breeze was an excellent option; reasonably priced, nice liner feel, better than imagined food and service, and a chance to sail aboard history. Heck, for a ship lover, a port visit to Nassau often gives you the chance to actually see ships you would never want to sail aboard (ie

isney)!! So, concider a short sea voyage rather than 2nights in a hotel, and take an Imperial Majesty cruise. Well worth the dollars, a great deal of fun, and another chance to sail the seas.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

lebelty
First Class Passenger
Member # 3855

posted 06-20-2003 12:40 PM

When will Imperial Majesty update their website? Its June 20th.

Posts: 672 | From: CT/Maine | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

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