September 11 was the day. First sight of the ship has a mighty presence that is larger than her now 30,000 tons would imply. The added forward deck house spoils the lines. Her riveted hull has a powerful shear both for an aft, however no tumblehome. Up close one can see the imprints of her former names Carnivale and Queen Anna Maria.

She and her sister Empress of England were never really glamourous ships, but were solid well planned and tastefully done. Empress of England did not survive but the Queen Anna Maria had a long uninterrupted career and never had a serious breakdown.

All of the public rooms are on the promenade deck and flow into one another. Floor to ceiling and full with windows everywhere constantly remind you that one is on a ship at sea. The outside decks are not terraced but one great expanse from the stern to the funnel with glass wind screens and a wrap around boat deck on a mezzanine level. The forward part is enclosed with small windows so one can look forward in bad storms. There is a forward large forward observation deck ahead of the bridge; a feature QE2 and SSNorway are missing. The lower cabin decks in the former first class have a long and wide central corridor.

The ship feels much bigger than her former fleetmate Olympia due to a wider promenade deck, higher deckheads and large public rooms flowing into another with expanses of glass so the eye focuses far away.

When Greek Line went under, Mickey Arison and Joe Farcus looked over the Queen Anna Maria and the Olympia and I can understand his choice. I believe the Olympia had much more character, but the space planning is none with public rooms, albeit nicely decorated are scattered haphazardly throughout the ship. The QAM from my experience and other’s say has better sea keeping qualities. Both ships are British built and never had any serious breakdowns.

We got a surprise bridge visit and had all of the 1955 polished brass equipment ranging from the wheels with brass compass, and speed telemotors. I spoke with the captain who was master of the Sea Breeze at one point. He said the Topaz can huff and puff 21 knots if they turn off the hotel systems, but normally can make 19. She is hard to handle in the harbor, but in a force 8 gale he can balance an egg on a table and it not be disturbed. The Sea Breeze corkscrews all over the place in a mill pond. I do recall the QAM to be much smoother than the Olympia. The captain did find that the 600’ ships are better in storms that the 1000’ ones since they sail on top of the waves rather than plow through them and suffer less damage.

Upon boarding it was unrecognizable in most places from the old days.
The 1990 refit of dye lacquered brass tin strip ceiling and mauve carpeting would be spat upon in Las Vegas. It came right out of an Atlantic City flea bag. What is worse is the wall paper covers over all of the beautiful woods from her Canadian Pacific days.

The imaginatively named Windjammer Lounge, former Olympian Ballroom is original and beautiful. Upon sight I remembered playing checkers with my grandmother in there way back when. There is beautiful brass trim, maple paneling, etched glass and steward call buttons about. The forward lounge is original except for some tubular chairs from the Carnivale days.

We went down to the former indoor pool and gym which is now a crew gym and a new refrigeration unit has taken over the pool tank. I do recall an old man dying in it on that April 1971 voyage I took.

Upon entering the dining room I saw immediately the table where my family sat 33 years ago. There were instant memories of the 2 year old girl at the table next to us that would #2 and cry at 6:40 pm clockwork every night of the cruise. The room looked much smaller than I remember it. The space is the same; however all of the original woods are wall papered over and again looks like a cheap Atlantic City burger joint. If you look carefully there are some details from the old days.

I think Mickey Arison told Joe Farcus to make it as cheap and ugly as he knows how since the American public is attracted to bad taste. Then Farcus called in Katzurikas, dropped some bad acid and redecorated the ship. This is the ugliest ship décor I have ever seen. The SS Norway Donghia disaster looks better.

Regardless, it is great to have her around. There is nothing like revisiting after a 3 decade absence, seeing the changes, similarities, and how everything looks smaller as an adult.

Best, Onno

[ 09-12-2004: Message edited by: Onno ]

Also curious for your pictures.

Carnival actually refurbished her in stages through-out the late 1970s and the 1980s, with a couple of complete make-overs. More changes were made when she became FIESTA MARINA and I'm not sure what was done by Epirotiki as well as Thompson.

I agree that many tacky things were done to a lovely classic liner, but in Carnival's defense, they were competing against brand new, modern cruise ships from Royal Caribbean and NCL. American public taste would not easily accept the staid, British panelling and such on "Fun Ship" Caribbean cruises. During my years with Carnival, I cringed every time another piece of the original ship was covered over or removed completely, but this was all done to be perceived as a more modern cruise experience. During her first 6-8 years with Carnival, you would have recognized quite a bit from the QAM--the most drastic changes came in the late 1980s.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
--I worked on CARNIVALE off and on from 1980-1989, and also sailed on her as FIESTA MARINA in 1993.

Carnival actually refurbished her in stages through-out the late 1970s and the 1980s, with a couple of complete make-overs. More changes were made when she became FIESTA MARINA and I'm not sure what was done by Epirotiki as well as Thompson.

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There were three pools and one wading pool on Sun deck in Carnivale days, two pools next to the bar were removed though Jacczi was added in the center of former Lido Beach Club.
One deck below, Fitness center/gym is sutiated staboard and free function room is opposite side in between bridge and funnel. New Yacht Club(for buffet) was added further Aft.
There are 29 newly added cabins in front of the former Fly Awaigh Discotheque on Promenade deck. Fly Awaigh Discotheque were renovated to Game room, Seminar room and Sports bar.
Riverboat Club Casino and Riverboat Longe is currently being used Libraly/Free funtion space and Hemingway's bar.

Can you hear me about FIESTA MARINA's Itinerary, etc.?

[ 09-13-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

On Oct. 22, 1993, she began 7-night cruises, round-trip from San Juan to St.Thomas, La Guaira, Aruba, and Santo Domingo. The itinerary was also broken into 3 & 4-night cruises, either from San Juan to La Guaira, or La Guaira to San Juan.

The operation from San Juan only lasted for 7 months. On June 12, 1994, FIESTA MARINA began 7-night cruises round-trip from Miami to Samana, St. Thomas, and San Juan. I sailed on her again for a week on August 7, 1994. I'm glad I did, because by October of that year, the operation ceased and the ship went to Epirotiki.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
FIESTA MARINA entered service for the Spanish-speaking cruise operation in October 1993. I sailed on her pre-Inaugural repositioning cruise from Miami to San Juan on Oct. 18th, 1993.
On Oct. 22, 1993, she began 7-night cruises, round-trip from San Juan to St.Thomas, La Guaira, Aruba, and Santo Domingo. The itinerary was also broken into 3 & 4-night cruises, either from San Juan to La Guaira, or La Guaira to San Juan.

The operation from San Juan only lasted for 7 months. On June 12, 1994, FIESTA MARINA began 7-night cruises round-trip from Miami to Samana, St. Thomas, and San Juan. I sailed on her again for a week on August 7, 1994. I'm glad I did, because by October of that year, the operation ceased and the ship went to Epirotiki.

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Thanks for the info.
I always wondered on the above matters.

[ 09-13-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

I'm curious to know what the area was used for in Carnivale days?

[ 09-15-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Since this suite went unused on many sailings, I had a chance to visit it several times. It was well-appointed, although in the glitzy 1970s style of the time!

Linerrich, do you know the departure/Arrival date of Carnivale's final voyage?

[ 09-15-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
I just received my copy of 'The Last of the White Empresses' and am really enjoying it. Even though the Topaz (ex Empress of Britain) has gone through several rebuildings including the build up of her stern, it is great that she is still around today as a classic example of a mid 1950s transatlantic liner. It is a shame her much prettier sister, the former Empress of Canada was scrapped this year.

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I just received a copy of the book too the other day in the post. I have to agree with you it is a most enjoyable book and in my opinion an outstanding addition for any ship enthusiast.

I personally was appalled, from a ship-lover's point of view, but I understood the corporate reasons for this. By this time the HOLIDAY Class had been in service for several years and the FANTASY Class was coming on line. There was no way they could sell the CARNIVALE to the cruising public without modernizing her.

We ship-lovers would protest that many people enjoy the classic style of ships, but remember that CARNIVALE was carrying over 2000 passengers a week, on 3 & 4-night cruises. Unfortunately there are not that many ocean liner enthusiasts around to support such an operation.

So my mind understood these changes, but my heart was bleeding during those days!

[ 09-16-2004: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

I had sketched out turning Olympia into a luxury ship where it was capped at 600 passengers. Turning B deck closets into crew space and a spa.
Many A deck cabins combined 2 into 1. The Taverna a kosher restaurant, and putting a magradome over the midships pool.

The Queen Anna Maria would have needed less: just a 600 passenger cap.

The 4 day bus tour does not do a ship any favors.

If I were a cruise line exec, I would leverage the deep sea design and offer summertime trans-Atlantic service opposite of the QE2 or now QM2.

WinterTime: ships like that I would put on the port intensive exotic itinerary to South America or the South Pacific.

To me: real woods, brass, and leaded glass are luxury: The QM2 is all Formica.

What is more luxurious: A canned atmosphere Grand Hyatt or the original 1900's Hotel Del Coronado?

quote:

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
I personally was appalled, from a ship-lover's point of view, but I understood the corporate reasons for this. By this time the HOLIDAY Class had been in service for several years and the FANTASY Class was coming on line. There was no way they could sell the CARNIVALE to the cruising public without modernizing her.

We ship-lovers would protest that many people enjoy the classic style of ships, but remember that CARNIVALE was carrying over 2000 passengers a week, on 3 & 4-night cruises. Unfortunately there are not that many ocean liner enthusiasts around to support such an operation.

So my mind understood these changes, but my heart was bleeding during those days!

[ 09-16-2004: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

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quote:

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
...We ship-lovers would protest that many people enjoy the classic style of ships, but remember that CARNIVALE was carrying over 2000 passengers a week, on 3 & 4-night cruises. Unfortunately there are not that many ocean liner enthusiasts around to support such an operation.

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Going through some slides and came across this photo from 1987...

As I perused the ship again what is original is of incredible quality of materials, design and detailing that the NCL Dawn and the QM2 cannot come anywhere near. The craft was lost in the early 1970's cruise ships.

We took another tour of the bridge and saw beautifully polished brass instruments. The captain said Topaz is a better riding ship than the Empress of Canada. Topaz can cross the Pacific ocean on a tank of gas, makes all of her own water, and consumes 144 tons of fuel a day.

The ship needs a steam gun to remove the wall paper, expose the Canadian maple, and the tin strip ceilings removed.

I got another look at the GA plans. She is built with twin uptakes for the funnels which allow for great expanses of the interiors. There is a spiral staircase from the bridge that goes down to the engine room.

In New York Harbor viewed from a 45^ angle she still has grace, proportion and charm despite the remisfits.

The ship is a nautical Volvo: Conservative design with thoughtful and interesting details.

It is great that she is finishing her career where her 50yo engines take her on a perpetual world cruise on a peace mission. In 2010 she will be retired.www.peaceboat.org

[ 07-20-2005: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
David; You are very lucky to be close to NYC and participate in these tours. We have nothing like that in L.A..

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If you write to cruise lines and travel agents it is possible to visit ships as a member of the public. You will get lots of 'no chance' replies, but occasionally you will get a 'yes'.