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The ship will then be laid up in Marseilles pending a decision about her future.
She was the last large steam turbine passenger ship built and entered service for Sitmar Cruises as the Fairsky in 1984.
Her cruising programme is expected to be taken over by Pacific Star which was the Celebrity Cruises ship Horizon.
Will she be the youngest ship to get to Alang I wonder.
I remember her most clearly from Norfolk when she underwent her transformation to Princess and a total crew change and reregistration in the UK, it appeared that she had not been well looked after by Sitmar and a lot of money was spent on the mechanics, rumours of spares not used when they should have been etc. seems it really caught up with her in Aussie and she has not looked back since.
Well wish her well but it seems they are really struggling with her. Any bets they wish they hadn't bought her ?
quote:Her cruising programme is expected to be taken over by Pacific Star which was the Celebrity Cruises ship Horizon.
For what it's worth, the former "Horizon's" current name is "Pacific Dream".
Best,
Raoul
The assignment to Portugal is just a fill in for the summer because Pacific Dream is going to CDF for a winter Caribbean program.
So maybe there is hope for the Atlantic Star or maybe someone will buy her and finally find peace with the poor ship. Her mechanicals seems to have been trouble for years and she may be some structural concerns to deal with as well. Maintenance was not always the best on her over the years. I remember seeing some rather dramatic decay/rust some years ago.
Thanks for that.
She was named Pacific Star when operated by P & O Australia having been transfered to them in 2005 from Costa Cruises where she was the Costa Tropicale.
She was built in 1981, as the Tropicale for Carnival Cruises, so although she has deisel engines she is older than the ship which has been withdrawn.
[ 05-13-2009: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises) ]
quote:Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises):She was named Pacific Star when operated by P & O Australia having been transfered to them in 2005 from Costa Cruises where she was the Costa Tropicale.She was built in 1981, as the Tropicale for Carnival Cruises, so although she has deisel engines she is older than the ship which has been withdrawn.
PACIFIC DREAM was built in 1990 as HORIZON, became ISLAND STAR in 2005 and PACIFIC DREAM in 2009.
The former TROPICALE, COSTA TROPICALE and PACIFIC STAR is a totally different, much smaller and older ship that is now called OCEAN DREAM.
The disco is miles from anywhere - ie at night you have to climb up and down decks to go from casino to bar to disco etc.No proper buffet restaurantDark blue walls in the observation loungeCrew accommodation is very very basic sharing up to 6 and most with communal showers etc. Dining rooms are small with little room between tables and low ceilings.Galley is one of the worst ever designedWay too many interior cabins Very small narrow staircases and landings/foyersTalking lifts drive you mad.Limited usable deck space, most of the top deck is a basketball court and jogging track and seperated from main flow and difficult to access.Main lobby has very low ceiling.Shops squeezed into what should be a corridorVeranda lounge should be a stunning space but instead it doubles a hamburger joint as there is no where to eat outside.Dingy spa.
Likes:LibraryEnclosed bar in showlounge, still watch the show but can drink and smoke in peace - why don't they have similar on other ships ?Piano lounge and bar, again bar seperate and very pleasent.Rear decks although very crowdedPizza restaurant albeit could do more than just pizza.
Sorry I know she has her fans but to me she is a poor design and full of poor comprises. And that does not even start of her mechanics ! Send her to scrap, one of the poorest purpose built vessels ever built especially when compared to her contemparies - Royal Princess for instance.
quote:Originally posted by mike sa:Piano lounge and bar, again bar seperate and very pleasent.
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