the new ALBATROS (ex ROYAL VIKING SEA) of Club Cruise has successfully started in time her first cruise under charter of Phoenix Reisen.
She departed Monte Carlo on Sunday 25th April at 08:00 pm and left for Catania where she arrived today after one day at sea.
The vessel has lately been adapted to the requests of Phoenix and has got a complete overhaul including a new hull color, cabin-upgradings and engine-repairs. As well she has got the latest technical upgrading for navigation.

As I expected, the ship was ready in time due to the competent organisation of Club Cruise.

Club Cruise also manages the Ukrainian vessel VAN GOGH (ex GRUZIYA) which is currently under charter to Travelscope for British passengers. Also the VAN GOGH has recently left the German Bredo-Werft after the annual overhaul. In this event, she met after a long time with her sistership DELPHIN which was docked just next to VAN GOGH.

Please have a look at the following 2 pictures from Stephan Giesen which he took on April 9th.

Patrick

[ 04-27-2004: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Years ago, I knew some folks who went on GRUZIYA when she belonged to Odessa America....they loved it.

Neat little ships.

Club Cruises was original located in Rotterdam there office was located at the Wilhelminaplein near the Wilhelminakade.
The plan was that they offer in the summer cruises from Rotterdam and in the winter cruises inn the mediteraen. When the ship sailt in Rotterdam she was not ready yet specialy at the outside the pool was not yet placed. I visited the ship. And found it nice not more than that. The crew almost all from Rusia and the former republics. They speak very bad Englisch. And ssucker and coffee cream where surfed in soupbowls and there where no teaspons around. Oke starters problem.

Buth there cruises where to places where no cruise line would even think off to go. Quit interesting only the wether played a part and so passengers left off after the first reports came out. They complain about that sometimes the ship was not able to make port by bad wether ore that they where not able to profide tender service fore the same reason.

After a wile good reports came about the service aboard wich was good. It was to late passengers bookings droped and Dutch travel companys don't want to sale there cruises. Club Cruises desided that the ship would be located to the meditarean sonner than original planned. And after a France travel firm wanted charter the ship, they quiqly droped ther program and charter the ship. Renamed here van Gogh.

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Originally posted by linerguy:
Very cool shot, Patrick....thanks for sharing.

Years ago, I knew some folks who went on GRUZIYA when she belonged to Odessa America....they loved it.

Neat little ships.

Russ

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Russ,

I went on this ship when she was the Gruziya. I liked her too. Only complaints were no draw spaces in the cabins & all the shows were in Ukrainian. She sailed to Canadian ports round-trip from Montreal at the time.

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Originally posted by Maasdam:
Rd77 Club Cruises are Dutch and they are located in Venendaal wich is not so dull place.

Club Cruises was original located in Rotterdam there office was located at the Wilhelminaplein near the Wilhelminakade.
The plan was that they offer in the summer cruises from Rotterdam and in the winter cruises inn the mediteraen. When the ship sailt in Rotterdam she was not ready yet specialy at the outside the pool was not yet placed. I visited the ship. And found it nice not more than that. The crew almost all from Rusia and the former republics. They speak very bad Englisch. And ssucker and coffee cream where surfed in soupbowls and there where no teaspons around. Oke starters problem.

Buth there cruises where to places where no cruise line would even think off to go. Quit interesting only the wether played a part and so passengers left off after the first reports came out. They complain about that sometimes the ship was not able to make port by bad wether ore that they where not able to profide tender service fore the same reason.

After a wile good reports came about the service aboard wich was good. It was to late passengers bookings droped and Dutch travel companys don't want to sale there cruises. Club Cruises desided that the ship would be located to the meditarean sonner than original planned. And after a France travel firm wanted charter the ship, they quiqly droped ther program and charter the ship. Renamed here van Gogh.

Was surpriced that they have bought the Royal Viking Sea.

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rd77, the ALBATROS is owned by TSS Albatros Shipping, Nassau which is controlled 100% by Club Cruise. They were actually able to aquire this ship with the potential of a charter-contract with Phoenix which can be used as a financial guarantee.
Her registry is still Bahamas.

The VAN GOGH flies the flag of St. Vincent & Grenadines because her owners are Maritime & Leasing. The flag of St. Vincent starts to become popular for Ukrainian companies as it is not expensive, is well-seen and allows to run the ship anyway with a full Ukrainian crew.

The fact is that Club wanted to aquire the DELPHIN but as I've heared it came to a major discussion between Hey and Pulkermann when it came out that the DELPHIN should have been an ALBATROS-replacement for Phoenix. As well the price was a major point in which both parties could not agree.
Therefore Club aquired the CROWN which became the "new" ALBATROS.