Cruise Talk: Louis, Golden Star and Aegean Pearl

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Louis, Golden Star and Aegean Pearl

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Topic: Louis, Golden Star and Aegean Pearl

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 05-20-2008 10:49 AM

Talk about twists and turns in the Greek cruise scene!!

Louis Cruise Lines PERLA is being chartered to 'competitor' Golden Star Cruises this summer as AEGEAN PEARL - a replacement for another Louis ship, IVORY, which sailed for Golden Star last summer as AEGEAN TWO.

Is it not strange that AEGEAN PEARL is now being marketed on both the Louis and Golden Star websites?!

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES
First Class Passenger
Member # 5641

posted 05-20-2008 11:08 AM

Email Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES

I think there might be a connection between these two companies which is why this has happened.

Neil (Bob )

Posts: 2355 | From: Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 30 miles north of London | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

soundsailor
First Class Passenger
Member # 4164

posted 04-04-2009 05:26 PM

I just got to take this picture and am wondering if she once belonged to NCL?

Posts: 150 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 04-04-2009 05:59 PM

Yes, she was original NCL's STARWARD. Later with Sun Cruises (Airtours/MyTravel) as SEAWING and then Louis as PERLA/THE AEGEAN PEARL.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

miamicruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4413

posted 04-04-2009 06:03 PM

I believe originally she was NCL's Southward.

Posts: 54 | From: miami | Registered: Jan 2004 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 04-04-2009 06:41 PM

Sorry, I was thinking SOUTHWARD but wrote STARWARD.

The former STARWARD is of course ORIENT QUEEN, also with Louis.

And Louis owns the former SUNWARD II, now CORAL.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

soundsailor
First Class Passenger
Member # 4164

posted 04-04-2009 07:26 PM

Thank you dougnewman and miamicruiser. I just couldn't think of the name. It sucks to get old. The SunwardII was the first ship that I worked on when she became the mts Triton. Nice to know that she is still alive.

Posts: 150 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

gpcruisedude
First Class Passenger
Member # 3533

posted 04-05-2009 01:13 AM

Sun Cruises/My Travel sure had some great names for their ships, I wonder why ships change names sometimes when their is nothing wrong with their current ones, Its weird especially in Louis case.Some ships had very good names which suited them then some just get down right screwy names altogether. Like Coral...what kinda name is that. Or Perla, Weird!

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

Pascal
First Class Passenger
Member # 5510

posted 04-05-2009 03:30 AM

By the way, I'm booked on the Orient Queen for her first cruise of the season. Nice Itinerary, very affordable fares and it's somehow nice to be on an old ship...
I will of course let you know of the onboard service, food and general condition of the vessel.

Posts: 1371 | From: Aix en Provence | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES
First Class Passenger
Member # 5641

posted 04-05-2009 06:26 AM

The other ship which should have entered service about the same time and joined Southward in the NCL fleet was to be named Seaward.

She was bought by P & O Cruises from the builders before she was finished and entered service as the Spirit of London.

The hull designs of the two ships are nearly identical but not the funnels as the Spirit of London only had one largish funnel..

She was later named Sun Princess and was the original ' Love Boat '.

She is now named Flamenco 1 and has just been sold by auction having been arrested in Singapore after the collapse of her owners the Dutch Cruise Club.

Her future use is not known although it is thought she might become a casino ship.

Posts: 2355 | From: Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 30 miles north of London | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

bcscot
First Class Passenger
Member # 22351

posted 04-09-2009 09:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by soundsailor:

I just got to take this picture and am wondering if she once belonged to NCL?

I was amazed by this photo. I would have thought that this ship would be looking quite old & worn by now. In this photo, she looks to be in remarkably good condition. I wonder what she is like inside.

She is another ship with 'provenance.'

Graham.

Posts: 266 | From: BC, Canada | Registered: Mar 2009 | IP: Logged

The Merchant
First Class Passenger
Member # 4658

posted 04-12-2009 08:43 AM

We ponder that question too Graham; had many a wonderful cruise on board as Suncruises' Seawing, and in fact were the last lot off that memmorable day in Oct 2004 when we and the hip's crew were finally disembarked in Valetta before Old Rock-Dodger Capt. Phil Rentell took Her to hide from Loius - who wanter Her for a song. We got a fantastic day in Kushadasi 'cos of that hide-n-seek as MyTravel were sure the Greeks would impound Seawing in Paereus!
She was in a right mess when Suncruises took Her back from bareboat contract before by LCL, and Suncruises had to spend a fortune both in dry-dock and inboard, making Her uptp acceptable British Officer and Crew safety standards. Some stories would make your toes curl!
Where She stands now, given my assumption She does not meet SOLAS 2010, is anyone's guess - and I would value peeps-in-the-know opinions.
A great small ship (only 16.7GT's) and very sadly missed by the MyTravel fraternity - we got to know and love the Ship and the Crew like family; and I hope my review of the day was appropriate.

John H (The Merchant)
PS. I will look out some pics of Her as The Aegean Pearl - stacks duly adorned

Posts: 123 | From: Leics, UK | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 04-12-2009 10:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by The Merchant:
Where She stands now, given my assumption She does not meet SOLAS 2010, is anyone's guess

She should not have any SOLAS problems. I imagine she will sail well beyond 2010.

There is this misconception that a whole lot of ships will have to be retired in 2010 because of SOLAS but this is not true - most of the ships that would be affected are so old (pre-1970) that they were retired before then anyway.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

The Merchant
First Class Passenger
Member # 4658

posted 04-13-2009 09:39 AM

quote:
Originally posted by dougnewman:
She should not have any SOLAS problems. I imagine she will sail well beyond 2010.
There is this misconception that a whole lot of ships will have to be retired in 2010 because of SOLAS but this is not true - most of the ships that would be affected are so old (pre-1970) that they were retired before then anyway.

Thanks Dougnewman for that; so what is the primary significance of SOLAS 2010? My impression was it was mainly expossed/hidden asbestos based; also LCL kicked and screamed for years while BB'tng Seawing, not to invest in sprinkers to bring Her finally upto 2005 Certification. SUncruises had to take Her out of service at the start of the 2004 season, such was the mess and unsatisfactory condition, shall we call it, of Certificates held aboard; She was fully DN Certificated - what standard and who with is She now? Thanks

Posts: 123 | From: Leics, UK | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

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