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DAMBROSI posted:
Nobody would have trouble convincing me. I'll go on her again.

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Originally posted by Marlowe:
I've said it before on here, but if someone bought her for $15M, brought her back to a US yard, repaired the damage and did other rebuilding work for $45M (which would be quite easy to do) you could apply to the US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Branch to get the ship a coastwise trade endorsement which would allow her the unrestricted ability to offer cruises between US ports (including Hawaii)!

Is NCL nuts or what?

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Yes, but not about this.

So, you'd spend 60m$ (and I think 45m$ is a very optimistic estimate, given the costliness and inexperience of US yards) for only a possiblity of getting a coastwise trade licence.

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Originally posted by claudio:
marlowe why dont u put your money where your mouth is. if ncl who have years of experience in cruising make a dollar out of her what makes you so sure your idea is so brilliant. face it sometimes your time is up i dont drive a 40 year old car and i dont expect to travel on an old boat, that applies to independence and united states as well

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Claudio don´t usse such strong words. You cane make your point in a friendly way.

[ 04-22-2004: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

IS NCL, by asking this price, thinking there are other and better possibilities than the scrapbeach ?

Anyhow it seems too much for use as a museum ship.

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Originally posted by Marlowe:

Personally, I do not believe that NCL has any intention whatsoever to return the two vintage steamers they own to cruising and soon after the NORWAY is sold, they'll sell the pair here in the US for scrap.

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Originally posted by Marlowe:

Personally, I do not believe that NCL has any intention whatsoever to return the two vintage steamers they own to cruising and soon after the NORWAY is sold, they'll sell the pair here in the US for scrap.

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I disagree with yours. I would rather travel on a clean, comfortable, and traditionally designed 40-year old ship, and did so on Rembrandt. I would love to travel on Delta Queen, which is my age, considerably older than forty. And I would rather travel on a classic Pullman car that in the uncomfortable airline-style seating of modern trains.

Oh yes, some time ago, I regretably sold a 1928 Franklin "Airman" Sports Phaeton. It was more than 40 years old too, it just did not have good seat belts and lights, but it was comfortable and powerful! Three rows of seats, a separate windshield for the back, it was quite a vehicle.

There is much to be said in behalf of old and classic designs, and I am one who will say it! And, when possible, I shall put my money where my mouth is!

I have enjoyed a great number of cruises on liners 40 year or older. I sailed on Britanis, The Victoria and Regal Empress.

Older vessels have such a relaxed charm.

These "one-of-a kind" ships will soon be a thing of the past, replaced by classes of "cookie cutter" ships with little personality or individuality. After all, when was the last time you heard someone talk enthusiastically about a Fantasy- or Vista-class ship? It all started going downhill after the Sovereign/Majesty/Monarch of the Seas trio.

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Originally posted by Rego007:

Who knows...maybe the French would have enough pride in this piece of their history to buy her and restore her to the glory days of CGT. I'm sure she'd hold her own as a hotel somewhere in France.[/QB]

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I thought so too, but I am now not quite as sure about it.

There is of course, I think, nostalgia for "France" and so, but it seems that the history of "France" is a bit of an embarassment to official France, which it seems they would love to forget. Lots of bad decisions and management by all parties concerned.

Subsidies were withdrawn by a rightwing government, whose heirs are now in power (even J.Chirac, I think was a minister back then).

After the oil crisis, it signalled the end of the "Golden Years" for the french : the first time an official state-subsidied venture had to end, and state-subsidied personnel had to be laid off. (as was to continue in later years, and in other countries).

It ended in a mutiny, which effectively was lost by the unions, as the ship was not restored to service, and CGT was to go up in another company.

I recently read the memoires of the last commander of the "France" (also during the mutiny), published in 1978 (even before the sale to foreign owners), and the general conclusion was of bitterness, both to the state, and to the top of the company. If you read how the ship was effectively run, with lots of cabals and cliques, it is a wonder, there was even a kind of service, and that there were no major mishaps.

The envy (which is too heavy a word) towards Britain's QE2, and the question why it couldn't be repeated in France is great.

All very interesting. Ocean liners are fascinating social history.

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Originally posted by Rego007:
Who knows...maybe the French would have enough pride in this piece of their history to buy her and restore her to the glory days of CGT. I'm sure she'd hold her own as a hotel somewhere in France.

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French Liner fans would love the idea but I'm not sure any French business men would be easily convinced. The SS France/Norway has a history of burning money!

It's rather like the case of the SS United states. Liner fans appreciate how important she is, but even to this day she is still just a rusty hull. Do we really believe NCL are going to return her to service? Does it really make economic sense?

one, that they are too (insert your own word to describe NCL here) to know that the ship could get a coastwise trade endorsement if they were to switch her to the US flag

or

two, they have not the slightest intention to ever put the SSUS and the INDY back into service and are just stringing the few of us who care about those two old ships along

Look at the numbers:
SSUS rebuilt $400+M vs. NORWAY repair $50M
which make more economic sense for two ships of equivalent size?

[ 04-25-2004: Message edited by: Marlowe ]