I think, Portuguese Arcalia Shipping is an excellent Alternative, for People who whish for an limited Money an Classic Cruiseship.

Now, they have four, except this the ARION, FUNCHAL, PRICESA DANAE.

The last would be my Favourite...

...or the smaller Funchal?

We have an existing thread on this topichere.

The other is in the Region ORTENAU, between Offenburg and Villingen, 13 Kilometers north of TRIBERG, at the Federal Street No. 33.

The second is mine, the smaller with only about 2200 Inhabitants, but worldwide wellknown, because from our Villiage is the Folk Dressing with the typical red and black Boll Hats for Wifes.

Red means you can attack, black means she has somebody else and is married.

It is an nice Region, where the People live friendly and good. We had only an unemployment Rate of 4-5 %, better Weather and better Food than in any other German Region.

So, i am happy, that you enjoyed it.

I myself was in Brasil in 1996 with the Monterey and enjoyed that.

Did you see the Museum with the old Farmhouses from the past Centuries (Vogtsbauernhöfe)
and the Glass Blowing Factory in Wolfach (Dorotheenhütte), the Triberg Waterfalls?

Red bolls on the Hat means, this Girl or Wife is not married and you can look to get her.

Black means she is married and it is better nót to try it.

When you came from Hornberg to Gutach, there is an Bridge near the Guesthouse and Restaurant "Rössle", next Bridge is short before you enter the little Village.

You can see from the Street after the Bridge on the left Side of the River Gutach an white House with 3 Balconies (2 on south Side of the Building in Floor 1 and 2, one on east Side to the Street).

It is the last Building at the little Way, which goes left from the Main Street and follows for some hundred Meters parallel. Vis a vis this white House is an elder with 2 Gardens in Front.

In the elder i lived as Child with my Parents, my Grandparents from my Mothers Side and my Brother.

In the newer white House i live now with my Wife and my Rottweiler Dog "Wotan".

Also we have some Birds and an wild Cat, which comes every Night to pick up the Meat and the Milk, which we deposit at an fixed Place outside.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eric:
Futher to above post, Voyages of Discovery does not seem to have a live web site at present.

---

However there is a page at http://www.voyagesofdiscovery.com which has a brochure request form and a European phone number, and is for a cruise company - so I assume this is them. I entered my address (with "USA" at the end) on two occasions, but got a 405 error message in the center frame when I pressed the "request brochure" button - so I'll be interested to see if something comes or not.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cruiseny:
Seems odd that they haven't managed to put up a website... You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that actually having a real site of some sort - not just an address on the brochure - is good business nowadays ...

---

http://www.schoolcruises.co.uk

Our friend who is a school nurse has been on several ships they have chartered.

The illustration used in the adverts this w/e is definately a "love boat" class ship.I have requested a brochure, UK tel no is 01444 462 140 should anyone in UK like to request one

4 cruises are quoted as examples, 1st is may 17 to Baltic 13 nights & last example is Red Sea explorer through suez canal 8 nights departing Nov 10.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eric:
The ship they are currently advertising for next year is the "Discovery" which was originally one of the two Princess ships.

---

Oh, now I see. Well, I'd say Island. But we don't know, because Gerry Herrod still seems to insist that there is no deal...

Of course perhaps Voyages of Discovery (very literal name if the ship is Discovery ) is dry-leasing the ship from Herrod and then subcontracting management to a third-party (V.Ships as an example)? I don't think Herrod wants to be involved, and I doubt that VoD has the resources to run a real cruise line...

FYI, Island's current name is PLATINUM at last report, and she is variously reported as being laid-up at Istanbul, or being in a yard for refit work there.

I still haven't found anyone with a clue as to what is happenning to Pacific... And if something was out, one of our "inside" folks would know it... So my guess is that Princess has got the new owners (whoever they are) under some sort of confidentiality clause...

Either that or there is no new owner !

"Discovery" is the former Platinum, ex-Island Princess. As I understand it, she's been chartered for 5 years.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tim @ Cruisepage:
"Discovery" is the former Platinum, ex-Island Princess. As I understand it, she's been chartered for 5 years.

---

Aha, so this is the ship that it originally was supposed to be, after all.

She's been chartered by Voyages of Discovery? And from whom? I know you said previously Arcalia didn't get her - I guess this means they won't be doing so, for at least five years . Unless of course it is them who she's been chartered from.

Also - any word on who's going to manage her? As I said, I don't think Gerry (Herrod, not our Gerry) is going to want to get involved... And I doubt Voyages of Discovery has the experience or resources...