[ 08-03-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

[ 08-04-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

[ 08-05-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

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www.simplonpc.co.uk  

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[ 08-07-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

If you look carefully at the postcards of Bergensfjord available on the Simplon website, you'll see that :
- Bergensfjord had no outdoor swimming pool upon her entry into service, then had her rear cargo hatch converted to a swimming pool. The question is : when ?
- Rasa Sayang had the upper sundeck extended and the swimming pool rebuilt further aft. Same question : when ??
The postcard of De Grasse is not a good one but I can assure you that French Line in 1971 had not the time neither the money to make such alterations on this vessel which, at the beginning of her career under the tricolor, even sailed with her NAL grey hull...
So, does anybody know exactly when these alterations did occur on Bergensfjord, then on Rasa Sayang ?
Thank you in advance,

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The Norwegian Liner also had a good sized indoor Pool as well as a portable deck pool, which was fitted into an aft cargo hatch for crusing......

She transferred to the Tricolour(in March 1971) and was renamed De Grasse (Louisiane had been the initial choice). Almost immediately, she entered a French shipyard for a six-month refit and refurbishing....

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You may find the difference between Bergensfjord's and Rasa Sayang's pool and deck extention as below:

Bergensfjord

De Grasse

Rasa Sayang

[ 08-08-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Many thanks for the information and the interesting images of Bergensfjord/De Grasse/Rasa Sayang.
I have made intensive researches in the CGT archives on the short career of De Grasse and I can certify that this liner didn't spent 6 months in a French shipyard in 1971, as you read in 'Fifty famous Liners 2'.
It is true that French Line bought the vessel hurriedly in March 1971 but they only took delivery of her in November, I suppose because NAL didn't wish to cancel her cruises' program immediately. De Grasse was immediately put into service on the West Indies run and for cruising without any alterations except the painting of the funnel in the traditional red and black colours and the name. The hull was repainted white later on.
What I think now is that Bergensfjord received her first outdoor swimming pool when she left the New York run at the end of the fifties (?) and was again refitted some years later (?) so as to extend the surface of her sun deck. And that neither CGT nor Thoresen made any other alterations to the sun decks of the vessel.
Can anybody confirm this ?

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Originally posted by Champlain:

I have made intensive researches in the CGT archives on the short career of De Grasse and I can certify that this liner didn't spent 6 months in a French shipyard in 1971, as you read in 'Fifty famous Liners 2'.
It is true that French Line bought the vessel hurriedly in March 1971 but they only took delivery of her in November, I suppose because NAL didn't wish to cancel her cruises' program immediately. De Grasse was immediately put into service on the West Indies run and for cruising without any alterations except the painting of the funnel in the traditional red and black colours and the name.

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From Transatlantc Liners 1945-1980

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1971 Apr Sold French Line
1971 Nov Delivered to French Line Renamed De Grasse. Refitted. Le Havre-West Indies service and crusing.

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Do you know when did she make her Maiden Voyage?
Please give me a link to an apposite page on the Net.

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Originally posted by Champlain:

What I think now is that Bergensfjord received her first outdoor swimming pool when she left the New York run at the end of the fifties (?) and was again refitted some years later (?) so as to extend the surface of her sun deck. And that neither CGT nor Thoresen made any other alterations to the sun decks of the vessel.
Champlain

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As you see the De Grasse' photo, The photo clearly showed the extention of Upper Sun deck.(Top deck in the photo).
I assumed that Upper Sun Deck was extented and New Pool was fitted before the photo was taken.(The folder printed aug '72)

Bergensfjord pool tank was located adjacent to elevator and stairways(to lower decks only) directly one deck below the Bar on the Sun deck.
and steps to Upper Sun deck were fitted by Cabins(not the further Aft on the Sun deck).

[ 08-09-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

DE GRASSE departed from Le Havre on her maiden voyage to the West Indies on November 5th, 1971, then ran a series of 7 cruises in the Caribbean and arrived back at Le Havre on January 29th, 1972.
She then made two roundtrips to the West Indies and Venezuela (February 1st to February 26th and February 27th to March 22nd).
On March 23rd, 1972, she left Le Havre for a series of 5 cruises in the Mediterranean.
...
Her last line voyage took place between June 12th (from Cannes) and July 7th, 1973 (Le Havre).
For her last cruise under the tricolour, a voyage to Greece and Turkey, she departed from Cannes on September 30th and arrived back at Cannes on October 13rd, 1973.

Ok, DE GRASSE already had the extended aft sundeck, but when did these alterations take place ??

Could you post her Itineray for North Cape Cruise and/or Iceland-Spitzbergn Cruise in 1973.

I also wondered whether De Grasse had cruised along with Norwegian Inside Passage Route or Open Sea?

[ 08-10-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

10 cruises from May 19th to October 13th, 1973, among which :

North Cape (14 days from 9th to July 23rd) : Le Havre - Southampton - Bergen - Geiranger - Narvik - Hammerfest - Skarsvag (North Cape) - Trondheim - Gudvangen - Southampton - Le Havre.

Island & Spitzberg (17 days from July 24th to August 10th) : Le Havre - Leith - Thorshavn (Feroe Islands) - Reykjavik - Spitzberg - Skarsvag (North Cape) - Hammerfest - Geiranger - Bergen - Leith - Le Havre.

Could you post the date of Departure and Arrival for each Port of Call.

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Bergensfjord had some cabins with only Toilet facilities in single cabins on the Atlantic, Bordeaux, Champagne deck and double cabins on the Bordeaux deck.

It seemed Rasa Sayang was fittied with showers in lack of its cabins prior to her Maiden Voyage.

[ 08-11-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

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Originally posted by JOE:
Do you think the De Grasse could've helped the French Line Survive a bit longer (2 more years for Le France) if she cruise for the French in the South Pacific. And would she cruise from Singapore or Tahiti? Reccomendations?

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Does anybody know when BERGENSFJORD's aft sundeck was extended further aft ??

For Ocean Liners :

North Cape cruise :
Le Havre departure 9 July 11:00pm
S'ton 10 July 08:00am-11:00am
Bergen 12 July 07:00am-06:00pm
Geiranger 13 July 12:00am-06:00pm
Narvik 15 July 09:00am-04:00pm
Hammerfest 16 July 11:00am-02:00pm
Skarsvag (N Cape) 16 July 07:00pm-12:00pm
Trondheim 19 July 08:00am-06:00pm
Gudvangen 20 July 02:00pm-06:00pm
S'ton 22 July 08:00pm-11:00pm
Le Havre arrival 23 July 07:00am

Island & Spitzberg cruise :
Le Havre departure 24 July 04:00pm
Leith 26 July 07:00am-11:00pm
Thorshavn (Feroe I) 28 July 07:00am-10:30pm
Reykjavik 30 July 06:00am-07:00pm
Spitzberg 2 August 11h30am-04:00pm
Skarsvag (N Cape) arrival 3 August 10:30pm, departure 4 August 03:00am
Hammerfest 4 August 08:00am-01:00pm
Geiranger 6 August 12:00am-05:00pm
Bergen 7 August 07:00am-06:00pm
Leith 8 August 08:00pm-11:00pm
Le Havre arrival 10 August 07:00am

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Originally posted by JOE:
Was the Rotisserie Dining Room a grill room or regular restaraunt?

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The Rotisserie Dining Room was a regular restaraunt.
I assume fomer Saga Dining Room was converted into one of Lounge:

Viking Room Lounge
Garden Lounge
Deauville Lounge
Yorktown Lounge
Saga Lounge
Rue de la Paix Lounge
Cafe de Paris Lounge

from Bergensfjord's deck plans:

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Club Bergen with Bar and Writing Room on the Sun deck,
Garden Lounge, Promenade Lounge, Saga Dining Room, Cruise Office, Dance Stadio, Ball Room, Library, Horseshoe Bar and Observation Lounge on the Promenade deck,

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and other facilities

Library
Cinema
Outdoor Pool
Outdoor Sunwalk Cafe
Indoor Pool
Co-ed Gym

[ 08-11-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]