Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.
>>> Reader Reviews >>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery >>> Join Our Cruise Club.
Latest News...The ultimate family vacation is getting ready to set sail, and a star-studded godmother is leading the way. Royal Caribbean has announced musical icon Diana Ross as the official godmother of Star of the Seas when the revolutionary Icon Class ship debuts August 2025. With her music inspiring generations of families, Ms. Ross will take the stage to welcome the newest family vacation sailing...
Latest News...Carnival Cruise Line is commemorating 35 years of fun cruises from Central Florida with a special celebration aboard its popular Mardi Gras. As the first major cruise line to sail from Port Canaveral in 1990, Carnival has grown its operations over the years to homeport more ships than any other cruise line and embark more than 1.2 million guests from the port annually...
Latest News...Villa Vie Residences proudly announces the inaugural U.S. arrival of its flagship residential cruise ship, the Villa Vie Odyssey, as it docks in Honolulu, Hawaii. This momentous occasion marks the vessel's first visit to the United States, offering a unique opportunity for local residents and officials to experience the innovative concept of residential cruising firsthand....
I'm working in one of Costa's Preferred Sales Agent and I received the following deployment updates from Costa, which involves various ships:
COSTA DELIZIOSAThe Dry Dock period has been postponed and is now scheduled from November 29th to December 13th, 2011 (ex Nov. 18th-Dec. 2nd, 2011). Consequently the CANARY ISLANDS cruise has been anticipated to November 18th - 29th, 2011 (ex Dec. 2nd-13th, 2011).
COSTA MARINAThe ship will cease operations on November 17th, 2011. All the following programs into FY2012 are now consequently cancelled.
GRAND VOYAGERThe Positioning cruise SSH/SVN from March 26th to April 9th, 2012 is now cancelled. The ship will continue the 7days rotation in RED SEA until December 3rd, 2012 (35 cruises added) replacingCosta Marina program.
COSTA ROMANTICAThe Dry Dock period has been extended from October 28th, 2011 to February 20th, 2012 (ex February 9th, 2012). Consequently the CANARY ISLANDS previously scheduled from February 9th to 20th, 2012 has been now cancelled.
COSTA SERENAThe 7days West Med cruise SVN/SVN from November 25th to December 2nd, 2012 is now cancelled.
COSTA MAGICAThe Dry Dock period has been anticipated and is now scheduled from November 2nd to 17th, 2012 (ex Nov. 14th – 27th, 2012). Consequently the following cruises are now cancelled:10 days GREECE/TURKEY cruise MRS/MRS 2-12/Nov/20123 days Positioning cruise MRS/PMO 12-14/Nov/2012
[ 07-13-2011: Message edited by: Andy ]
quote:Originally posted by dougnewman:Ibero Cruceros is indeed a part of Costa, as is AIDA.
That's just a legal/financial structure for AIDA. Same reason their ships are registered in Italy. But the management and operation is very German and very independent on Costa. AIDA is actually based in the old East Germany and an outgrowth/successor to the German worker ships.
quote:Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:I forgot that Carnival also owned those lines. I wonder if the Marina will find a buyer at 42-years-old or if she will be sold for scrap?
No way that she will be going for scrap. The hull and the engines are 42 years old, all the rest is from 1990.
quote:Originally posted by Frosty 4:42yrs and refit in 1990(21yrs)?Alang awaits.F4
We're not talking about a refit, but about a COMPLETE REBUILD. She is SOLAS compliant and essentially a 21 year old ship now, so for sure she has a few more years to go at least.
quote:Originally posted by Cunardcoll:That's right but remember that the engines are the most important thing on a ship and I doubt she will get new engines QE2 style. Let's just wait and see what happens to her.
The issue would be things like the tank tops and structural steel. That is about the first to go and the first thing that generally can not be repaired. When it is gone it is gone.
The motors and propulsion is rarely the issue that ends a ship's life and to replace a motor is not really that big of a deal. Carnival, Royal Caribbean have had to do it with blown motors on their ships. It would be a economic decision of is it worth investing in a smaller, older ship if the motor is a problem.
There are a couple of fringe operators who might like her or actually a few people who want to start new firms that might think she is right.
The sudden nature of her withdrawal/replacement sounds like sale not scrap.
quote:Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:That's just a legal/financial structure for AIDA.
quote:Originally posted by Cunardcoll:That's right but remember that the engines are the most important thing on a ship...
There are really two things, engine-wise, that can spell the end of a ship. The first is if they use a completely obsolete technology (this has happened with steam ships in the past 10 years or so). The other is if parts are no longer made for the engines which can make them very expensive to operate (if you have to have all replacement parts custom made). The first is certainly not the case for this ship and as I don't think the second is either -- she has Wartsila diesels that are incredibly common and should be easy to obtain parts for.
quote:Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:There are a couple of fringe operators who might like her or actually a few people who want to start new firms that might think she is right.
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=59098
In 1986, she was sold to Regency cruises of Greece and renamed REGENT SUN for conversion into a cruise ship. However, the same year she was sold on and renamed ITALIA. Then nothing happened. In 1990, Costa bought her, renamed her COSTA MARINA and had the T.Mariotti yard of Genoa convert her to a cruise ship. The vessel was stripped down to the bare hull (and engines) and completely rebuilt. COSTA ALLEGRA (ex-ANNIE JOHNSON) underwent the same treatment, but in addition, she was also stretched a bit.
She will be emptied of her facilities 17 to 29 November before sailing on Nov. 29 to Asia.
All that remains is to see if they get a financial agreement sorted out to the satisfaction of Costa Cruises.
Apparently COSTA ALLEGRA and interestingly enough GRAND VOYAGER are also for sale. I find none of this at all surprising; these ships are too small for a line like Costa.
Interesting that Costa has decided to spend money on CLASSICA and ROMANTICA though, instead of selling them. They were definitely for sale a few years ago.
She was built for Royal Olympic Cruises in 2000 in which Louis Cruises did have an interest.
Being only eleven years old she might fit in to their fleet moderization plans..
quote:Originally posted by Neil - Ex P. & O. S. N. Company.:I wonder what the chances are of Louis Cruises being interested in Grand Voyager.She was built for Royal Olympic Cruises in 2000 in which Louis Cruises did have an interest.Being only eleven years old she might fit in to their fleet moderization plans..
Ultimate Bulletin BoardTM 6.1.0.3
More Vacation & Cruise Specials...