Why is this ship now considered unsuitable for deep sea cruising ?

In the past, when she was with Viking Cruises, and named Viking Bordeaux, she has cruised around Europe, crossed the Atlantic, and cruised to the Falkland Islands and South America.

I believe her class restricts her distance from land operations.

Best,

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Originally posted by Cunard Fan:
It seems to me like she would make a great super yacht. Or a river boat.

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Or better yet, razor blades. Like most of the old unseaworthy tubs that seem to get foisted on the South African market these days.

[ 02-06-2008: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

With Mombasa being by passed by most cruise ships now, due to the trouble there, is any shipping company going to position a new ship cruising out of Durban when they can use it in a more stable area and not have to compensate passengers for missed ports of call.

I doubt it !

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rdv1111 wrote:
My understanding on this ship is that she is no longer classed for all oceans/operating areas and has not been for sometime.

I believe her class restricts her distance from land operations.

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Do you know what class that is and what restriction?

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Pam

[ 02-06-2008: Message edited by: PamM ]

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She is not in bad nick just very neglected, she does need a new sewerage system though and her interiors are basic in the extreme.

Pretty externally though.

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Brian O

With Mombasa being by passed by most cruise ships now, due to the trouble there, is any shipping company going to position a new ship cruising out of Durban when they can use it in a more stable area and not have to compensate passengers for missed ports of call.

I doubt it !

Neil ( Bob )

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Mombasa is irrelevant to cruising from RSA ports. It was an important port during the liner days, but they ended more 30 years ago. As Pam states there are many other viable ports of call for cruise ships in the region.

Regarding passenger ships calling at Mombasa, we did it on a regular basis when Chitral and Cathay were on the P&O Far East service and running via the Cape with calls at Cape Town, Durban and Mombasa and then to Bombay.

I have also been there on a cruise from Australia, on ss Oronsay, when we also called at Durban, Mombasa and Zanzibar !

According to the Durban port write up and shipping movements information, the Harbour Master at Mombasa has said that over 15 cruise ships due to call there between now and April have cancelled their calls due to the trouble.

Neil ( Bob )

[ 02-07-2008: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

Most of the cancellations are probably down to Costa Marina and Royal Star with Melody on her way back to Genoa. Prinsendam was due to call at some point and Seven Seas Navigator later in the year.

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mike sa wrote:
As Pam said no stabilizers and she really needs them but would be great for parts of the Med, don't think she is suitable for Aussie coastal crusing any more than she is suitable here.

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She would be suitable for the Great Barrier Reef, the Kimberley region in northwest Australia and here around Adelaide in our two gulfs which includes the northern part of Kangaroo Island. She won't be going too far from land. The shallow draught of 3.5 metres will get her into most places. I agree about the Croatian coast and the Greek Islands.

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She is not in bad nick just very neglected, she does need a new sewerage system though and her interiors are basic in the extreme.

Pretty externally though.

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Thanks for that info Mike.

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Cruising from SA is based on our own coast, Mozambique islands (which are absolutely stunning and unspolit truely paradise) Madasgascar, up the west coast to Namibia and occasional trips to the South to a couple of South African islands known for their birdlife etc. Trips to Syecelles are less often but totally possible return from Durban on say a 10 day trip stopping at the former. Mombasa is less often and then normally as a turnaround for trips back to here, most cruises tend to be round trip out of Durban.

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Anyone doing these itineraries out of SA?

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Cheers

P.S. Thanks for the links Pam. I forgot about them.

[ 02-07-2008: Message edited by: bulbousbow ]