I think she would make some good competition for America West's ships! But it's odd their has been very little word on her? And could she sail out of Seattle up the B.C. Coast and do a mini cruise up the Strait of Georgia, visit the Gulf Islands, and Explore the B.C. Coast and it's many Inlets.

Anyone have any info, is she owned by MARAD and are they going to Auction her, or is their a delay, any info would help!

[ 01-23-2004: Message edited by: Keitaro ]

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I know the COlumbia Queen has been laid up in Portland since the Collapse of American Classic Voyages, but it's been quite some time now since she's seen active service! She is a New Ship and it's very strange no one has bought her??
I think she would make some good competition for America West's ships! But it's odd their has been very little word on her? And could she sail out of Seattle up the B.C. Coast and do a mini cruise up the Strait of Georgia, visit the Gulf Islands, and Explore the B.C. Coast and it's many Inlets.

Anyone have any info, is she owned by MARAD and are they going to Auction her, or is their a delay, any info would help!

Any pictures of her Laid Up!

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I thought the Colmbia Queen is the the Queen of the West?

COLUMBIA QUEEN on the other hand was built originally to be a casino vessel but never was finished. Delta Queen (AMCV) had her put on a barge in 1999 and brought from Panama City, FL to Portland for finishing as a river cruise vessel at Cascade General shipyard using a Title XI loan guarantee they secured from MarAd for the purpose. The rest we all know, is history...

btw, does anyone know about some reported problems the EMPRESS OF THE NORTH has been having with her propulsion plant which has caused the USCG to temporaily suspend their Certificate of Inspection? She had an incident in the locks at Ice Harbor Dam back in October of last year which shows at the USCG vessel information page for the ship at EOTN
but there is no mention of other problems there. I do know the vessel is very big for navigating the Columbia which has both very strong currents and high winds most all year round and would not be surprised if she has having difficulties as a result.

[ 01-24-2004: Message edited by: Marlowe ]

Yes,I believe that CQ is at Cascade General shipyard at Swan Island.

To PamM:

If you are at all interested in my opinion, I think the EotN was a dumb choice for a newbuild North American niche market vessel. While nice and comfortable, it really isn't a ship that can offer anything other than the Inside Passage and Columbia River (and we really aren't sure yet if she will be able to do both very well). For the $40+M she cost to build, I think a ship more like an enlarged version of Cruceros Australis' m/v MARE AUSTRALIS which they built a couple of years ago in Chile to an Elliot Bay Design Group's plan. Now that is what the American small cruise vessel companies should be building here in the US.

[ 01-24-2004: Message edited by: Marlowe ]

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Originally posted by gpcruisedude:
I am pretty sure he ran a ship called the Oceanic Grace under that name!!

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At any rate she is now the CLIPPER ODYSSEY for Intrav Clipper. Looks like a very nice little vessel, and after several false starts, it seems she's finally found a niche operator she's well-suited for.

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gpcruisedude posted:
After some research I think the name of The Giersdorf's company when the owned Queen of the West before AWSC was thought of is Lewis And Clark River Cruises or something similar to that!

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Anyhow, later that year, under financial pressure he sold the concession to the Glacier Bay lodge & day cruise vessels to an Alaskan Native Corp. called Goldbelt, Inc who operate today as Glacier Bay Cruiseline. As mentioned already, Yachtship was sold under pressure to Clipper Nav. The QotW was brand new in '95 and had quite a few mechanical problems with it's hydraulic sternwheel propulsion drive which cost a bunch to fix and I think the next year Bob had the KLONDIKE and another catamaran doing day cruises in the Columbia River along with the QotW operating as Lewis & Clark River Cruises. I think it was 1998 that that operation was sold to AWSC and the dayboats were phased out fairly soon after that.

The two foreign ships that I know Bob had once operated were the STARSHIP EXPLORER (later the SONG of FLOWER) and the NORTH STAR (later the CALEDONIAN STAR and now the ENDEAVOR for Lindblad Expeditions)

Btw, Bob Giersdorf died in February last year, but his son David Giersdorf was promotion to executive vice president, marketing and sales for Holland America Line last November.

[ 01-26-2004: Message edited by: Marlowe ]

The M/N Mare Australis began construction in the shipyards of Asenav, Valdivia under the SOLAS 2001 and MARPOL 73/78 regulations for worldwide oceanic navigation, and was finished in November 2002.

Characteristics:
• Gross Registered Tonnage: 2,664 (GRT)
• Year of Construction: 2002
• Shipyard: ASENAV (Chile)
• Length: 71.83 mts. (235.6 ft)
• Depth: 3.15 mts. (10.3 ft)
• Width: 13.4 mts. (43.9 ft)
• Propulsion: 2 Cummins, 850 hp each.
• Lifesaving Equipment: 2 SOLAS rescue boats and 14 life rafts, 25 person capacity each

Cabins:
The Mare Australis has 63 cabins divided into 3 categories: AA - A - B. Cabins are equipped with low beds, private bathrooms, independent heating, a safe, closet, 110/220 v. electricity, and panoramic window to enjoy the landscape. It has a total capacity for 129 passengers.

Some small but decent pics:

If you were to ask me, I'd say she is an upgraded version of the SPIRIT of ENDEAVOR or NANTUCKET CLIPPER and just a bit smaller that the YORKTOWN CLIPPER. Definitely not equal at all to the Sea Dream ships but definitely better than anything today sailing to Alaska int he small expedition niche.

[ 01-26-2004: Message edited by: Marlowe ]

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Originally posted by gpcruisedude:

I am pretty sure he ran a ship called the Oceanic Grace under that name!! I belive to the Far East in winter and Alaska in the summer?

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Originally posted by cruiseny:

I thought that was a Japanese operation? I believe she was operated for a while as OCEANIC ODYSSEY, maybe that was the American-owned operation?

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Clipper Odyssey was built in 1989 as Oceanic Grace of Showa Line, Japan.
She has sailed mainly 1 week cruises for around in Japan waters until Jun. 1997.
Occasionally she visited South East Asia Cities, Micronesian Islands, Oceania and Russian Cities.

She has never visited in Alaskan Waters in the Oceanic Grace's days

In the middle of 1997, She begun to sail in Indonesian waters under new name called Oceanic Odyssey

When she was acquired by Clipper Cruises,
She renamed the Clipper Odyssey and made her Maiden Voyage on November 14, 1999, from Singapore

[ 01-26-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

[ 01-26-2004: Message edited by: Marlowe ]

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Marlowe posted:
Keitaro, have you made it to Swan Island to see if the CQ is there? If you did, do you have any pics to share?

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