She is in Service in the Red Sea for an Egyptian Company with her first Engine
(Krupp Germania Diesel) She is until today an international Cruise Ship.

Doulos is the oldest passenger ship (built 1914)

Regina Maris is the oldest cruise ship (built 1929)

Next oldest would be the Princesa Victoria (1936) & Ocean Explorer I (1944).

The M/V Doulos

The M/S Regina Maris

The second eldest is the former DUNOTTAR CASTLE, built in 1936 by HARLAND & WOLFF and in her origin an Ship of the well known UNION CASTLE LINE. Now Princesa Victoria of
Louis Cruises.

On this Ship i made an Cruise in 1983 as "Victoria" from CHANDRIS LINES, starting
23rd of July to 6th of August and going from Amsterdam to Spitzbergen and Norvegian Cost.

I saw her on one of her last days as Italia Prima in Madeira, Portugal, when i was there with the "MELODY" of MSC.

She becomes VALTUR PRIMA, for the Italian Club Valtur and offered Cruises round Cuba,
following the COSTA PLAYA, which was stopped in Cuban Business when CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
bought Costa Cruises.

The Costa Playa was sold as an swimming Casino to the Far East.

Since September 11 this Year (you remember
the attack in New York), the Business is more difficult for some Companies in Cruising and for Airlines.

In Europe are the SWISSAIR and SABENA in
Bankruptcy (Airlines),

and the "Reisebüro Mittelthurgau" with the "Switzerland" in Cruise Business.

Switzerland is layed off in Genova since September 25th.

More ships out of order since September:

R 1-8
Pacific Princess
Renaissance Seven
" Eight
Silver Wind
Song of Flower

and the Valtur Prima and Switzerland.

The interior of the Spip is relatively new,
only the Hull is from 1948.

It is an problem of your Government, 40 years after Cuban Revolution and the Desaster of the CIA to boycott this Country.

It will be no problem, if you take the Cruise with starting in Europe on an Airport and fly to Havanna, i think.

an other Alternative for an Club-ship is the
Aida, now belonging to P&O.

She starts from Dominican Republic, i think.

It is my understanding that the Cuban government, hungry for Yankee dollars, are pleased not to stamp your passport either on entry or departure so that no one in the US government will ever know you have broken any laws.

In Egypt they bring a new 5-star Cruiseship: Calimera Mirage for the River Nile.

Better succes is also in Bulgaria and on Greek Islands.

Cruises are cheap for us, in the Caribbean,
if we are intelligent enough, NOT to book an German Ship. They are expensive.

I myself prefer Celebrity, but never pay asked Brochure Prices.

At the Moment there is in German Television Teletext offer an Cruise for the CENTURY, starting 22nd of December for 2 weeks including Flight from Germany to Ft. Lauderdale in the inside Cabin for DM
2.699,--, this is about Dollar US 1.250,--.

including flight and Taxes, Harbour fees,
Cruise for two weeks,

excluding Tips and personal Costs (Excurison,
Drinks etc.).

This is an good Price for an Excellent Ship.

I think, the same is for Malcolm with British Ships (P&O, Princess).

Our expensive Ships are Deutschland, Europa
(and some little more)

the less expensive Berlin, Astor, Astoria, Maxim Gorky, Albatros.

The mv Liemba, known as Graf von Gotzen during the war, served as a cargo
ship on Lake Tanganyika. It was left behind by the Germans, who opened its
water valves so that it could sink rather than leave it for the victorious
British army.

In 1922 the British retrieved the vessel from the floor of Lake Tanganyika
and reinstated it as a cargo/passenger vessel.

Then in 1970, the ship's accommodation facilities were renovated and its
passenger capacity increased from 430 to 600. Its coal fired engines were
replaced with diesel-powered ones to give it an additional 20 years.

According to the Tanzania Railways Corporation, mv Liemba was built in 1913
at Meyers Shipyard, in Papenburg,Germany, and transported in pieces and
re-assembled at the Kigoma shipyard in 1914.