Cruise Talk: Raffaello and Michelangelo

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

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...Seabourn Quest has returned to service following the most comprehensive interior refurbishment ever undertaken on a Seabourn vessel, with updates spanning suites, public areas, dining venues and the spa. The project, completed during a recent drydock, introduces redesigned spaces intended to create a more contemporary and residential onboard environment...

Latest News...Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas has begun its inaugural Alaska season following its arrival at the Port of Seattle in May. The deployment marks the first time the Voyager-class ship has operated in the region since entering service in 1999. Through early October, the 3,430-passenger vessel is sailing a series of seven-night itineraries from Seattle. Two routes are being...

Latest News...Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new pool area and updated brand identity for Isla Tropicale, its exclusive destination in Roatán, Honduras. The new Mangrove Bay complex adds 48,000 square feet of recreational space at the center of the destination, marking the latest phase of development at the site formerly known as Mahogany Bay. Mangrove Bay features a large pool with a swim-up bar, a dedicated splash...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Raffaello and Michelangelo

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Raffaello and Michelangelo

vikingcrown
First Class Passenger
Member # 3437

posted 11-18-2002 01:31 AM

Is it just me, or would these ships been perfect for Caribbean cruising, as Home Lines waned to. Isn't a shame Italian lines would let their once grand ships rot away so they not alter their egos and admit defeat to jets. It is sad they are not around today, and could have had a happy career, instead of becoming barracks in Iran.

Posts: 341 | From: California | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 11-18-2002 03:18 AM

Why didn't Home Lines buy them when they were up for sail ?
I think they would have done well under Home Lines.

Can't imagine Iran paying a lot for them...

Ðraikar

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Patrick
First Class Passenger
Member # 364

posted 11-18-2002 11:54 AM

The Soviets have once been interested in purchasing them. But this was never realized. Instead they ordered 5 new ships in Finland.
A pity because they would probably still be around and sail.

Posts: 1680 | From: OSC Luxembourg | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 11-18-2002 12:07 PM

Too expensive to operate as Liners and way TOO expensive to run as cruise ships.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

tg_lindo
First Class Passenger
Member # 806

posted 11-18-2002 02:54 PM

And didn't someone mention here also that these two had an unacceptable percentage of inside cabins? After all, NCL looked at these two in addition to the France.

Posts: 349 | From: San Francisco, CA | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

billee
First Class Passenger
Member # 1133

posted 11-18-2002 03:43 PM

Too many inside cabins, too many upper/lower berth cabins, tourist class public rooms too autere for Americans and outrageously high fuel bills.

Posts: 159 | From: Baltimore, MD USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

empressport
First Class Passenger
Member # 2511

posted 11-18-2002 10:06 PM

I just purchased a Mercator 1/1250 model of the Raffaello, and when you see all the deck space, she would seem perfect for cruising. Certainly more so than the S/S France. I do recall reading that they had two separate engine rooms with each driving one of the twin screws, which made it impossible to simply shut down one engine room, as they did with France. I wonder why nobody considered a conversion to diesel, despite the cost.
They were definitely beautiful ships, with too short a life.

Posts: 464 | From: Vancouver, BC | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 11-19-2002 01:16 PM

As I recall, there were two major reasons NCL or any other line did not select MIKE and RALPH for cruise service.

1. As earlier mentioned, the lack of portholes in outside cabins. Both ships had two or more decks that could have supported portholes for outer passenger cabins, but instead the cabins are windowless. I'm not certain if this was a cost saving measure when the ships were built or what.... but unfortunately I understand it is not so easy add portholes in the hull due to issues with structural integrity. It's very odd when you look at pictures of the twins and only see one deck of portholes in the entire hull.

2. Engine configuration. Both ships had two separate engine rooms, one for each shaft/propeller. This meant that unlike FRANCE, where one engine room could be closed off, MIKE and RALPH needed both engine rooms at considerable expense to operate both propellers. This was truly the #1 issue that sealed the fate of these great ships.

Other than the issues above, I thought the general arrangement and size of the ships would be perfect for cruising. They are two of my favorite ships (I love all the Italian liners) and I would have loved to have seen them continue their service in a cruising role.

Best,
Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

claudio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1214

posted 11-20-2002 06:32 AM

hey empressport i want one of those models of michaelangelo , tell me how long are they and where can i get one, you know that when the ships were in iran they go ifested with rats raffaello got blown up during iran/iraq war and whats left is still in bushire whilst michaelangelo got towed to gadani beach and scrapped in 1991 anybody out there got any photos of either ship in iran or being towed to pakistan.

Posts: 468 | From: melbourne australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...