Not sure if the ship has asbestos issues. But a ship built in the 1970′s would be interesting to see as a hotel ship. It might get the hotel operator who left the MS Bore to take a look at the MS Vistafjord.

While I know that most ship are bond for Alang, I wonder if the Saga Ruby could be a useful hotel ship like the SS Rotterdam for Finland. Since Mr. Sid wanted a large ship like the SS Finjet, the Saga Rose might fulfill that need, in addition to the MS Bore.

The question is would the Saga Ruby make for an interesting hotel ship?

[ 01-04-2012: Message edited by: Donald Johnson ]

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Originally posted by Donald Johnson:
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The question is would the Saga Ruby make for an interesting hotel ship?

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Besides, the kind of renovations Mr Johnson proposes cost a LOT of money. One needs only to look at the ROTTERDAM case to understand what a difficult proposition it is to preserve a "liner".

[ 01-05-2012: Message edited by: rd77 ]

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Originally posted by Donald Johnson:
The question is would the Saga Ruby make for an interesting hotel ship?

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Originally posted by dougnewman:
No.

Don't get me wrong, this is a very nice ship as a cruise ship, but there's really nothing interesting there from a historic standpoint.

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Not historical? How about:
* The last true passenger ship built in England.
* The last traditional design for a cruise ship.
* The last ship of Norwegian America.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

Not historical? How about:
* The last true passenger ship built in England.

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This does not manifest itself for a visitor aboard. It's nice to know that but that's it. Definitely not worth to keep that much steel around for that. I would rather spend the resources on helping other endlessly more important British built ships like Queen Mary (I apologize for daring to mention Queen Mary in this context since she is in an entirely different league).

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

* The last traditional design for a cruise ship.

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quote:

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

* The last ship of Norwegian America.

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A nice detail at best - again, nothing that manifests itself in the hardware - especially not in Vistafjord.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

I don't know that makes her the best candidate for preservation but she is basically as deserving as the Veronica, ex Mona Lisa, ex Kungsholm.

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She is and never was in the same league as Kungsholm. Of course, Kungsholm has been altered quite a bit and this indeed brought her closer to Vistafjord. However, although even in her present incarnation Kungsholm has at least some features that are at least a bit special it's not nearly enough to justify a 'museum' (she is kept right now for very different reasons).

[ 01-11-2012: Message edited by: Ernst ]

Being the last one built of this or that may make her an interesting historical footnote but no more. But if we look at the physical ship there is absolutely nothing that makes her unique or in any way special enough to warrant preservation. She is not an outstanding example of her type. The only thing outstanding is that she was built later than most similar ships, but I can't honestly I find that important. Indeed the fact that she was built later and is therefore more "modern" than other similar ships makes her a worse example, not a better one.

You are confusing historical significance with commercial potential and appeal.

Historically this ship does get a place in the books. Maybe more so than say the Bergensfjord she replaced. Bergensfjord was a big Oslofjord and a small Sagafjord, another of the sort of overlooked sister ships (even though she was a unique revision of a basic design).

Vistafjord gets the credits I gave her mostly for the lasts, NAL, English, etc. You might also call her NAL's first and only real cruise ship.

What makes her traditional? Her layout with cabins in the hull, no balconies, etc. Her single midship funnel. Her traditional lounge deck lay out. Vistafjord is largely the Sagafjord with a higher placed dining room and some extra cabins. Also don't confuse her 1970s as built GA with what Cunard did to bastardize her for more revenue.

But does all of this give her commercial potential like the Queen Mary or the Rotterdam. Nope. Those two have more history and still have difficulties in a commercial world. I agree Vistafjord's history is for the ship buffs and not the general public. She could become a floating hotel like the Veronica and is equally suited but otherwise she is doomed to the scrap heap. By the way I don't think the Veronica would have had any greater commercial appeal as a historical ship aka restores Kungsholm.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
Re-read my comments guys.
You are confusing historical significance with commercial potential and appeal.

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I don't think so. 'Historic' is a 'big word' - being the last NAL vessel or the last British built vessel is an interesting trivia fact but not more than that.
As you stated yourself, this is hardly relevant to someone not interested in ships.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

What makes her traditional? Her layout with cabins in the hull, no balconies, etc. Her single midship funnel. Her traditional lounge deck lay out.

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I do not at all agree with that. There were many ships built after Vistafjord with cabins in the hull and the layout of her 'cabin decks' (as well as the cabins themselves) is already rather modern (e.g. no class separation). Wen it comes to public rooms she is also closer to modern and even contemporary ships than to ships of the same vintage as Rotterdam or Queen Mary.

quote:

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

Vistafjord is largely the Sagafjord with a higher placed dining room and some extra cabins. Also don't confuse her 1970s as built GA with what Cunard did to bastardize her for more revenue.

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Absolutely. However, I think that Sagafjord was the much nicer ship. For me Vistafjord became interesting only recently since we indeed do not have too many ships 'like that' around anymore. However, when I and Vistafjord were younger ( ) she was totally boring compared to truly old vessels - in fact she was (and is) an imitation of these vessels at best.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:

But does all of this give her commercial potential like the Queen Mary or the Rotterdam. Nope.

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My comments were not about commercial potential. If you compare these three ships you will find that Vistafjord neither features high quality craftsmanship, unique artwork nor does she reassemble a type of ship not in service anymore like Rotterdam or Queen Mary do. Also, not only her exterior but also her interior has been changed quite a bit compared to her original interior - which is of course from the 1970ies and was not special or unique in any way.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
[...]
Just because something has history does not mean it has commercial appeal in this world but to write off Saga Ruby ex Caronia ex Vistafjord with no historical significance is a mistake. That's my point.

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quote:

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
Re-read my comments guys.

You are confusing historical significance with commercial potential and appeal.

Historically this ship does get a place in the books. Maybe more so than say the Bergensfjord she replaced. Bergensfjord was a big Oslofjord and a small Sagafjord, another of the sort of overlooked sister ships (even though she was a unique revision of a basic design).

Vistafjord gets the credits I gave her mostly for the lasts, NAL, English, etc. You might also call her NAL's first and only real cruise ship.

What makes her traditional? Her layout with cabins in the hull, no balconies, etc. Her single midship funnel. Her traditional lounge deck lay out. Vistafjord is largely the Sagafjord with a higher placed dining room and some extra cabins. Also don't confuse her 1970s as built GA with what Cunard did to bastardize her for more revenue.

But does all of this give her commercial potential like the Queen Mary or the Rotterdam. Nope. Those two have more history and still have difficulties in a commercial world. I agree Vistafjord's history is for the ship buffs and not the general public. She could become a floating hotel like the Veronica and is equally suited but otherwise she is doomed to the scrap heap. By the way I don't think the Veronica would have had any greater commercial appeal as a historical ship aka restores Kungsholm.

Just because something has history does not mean it has commercial appeal in this world but to write off Saga Ruby ex Caronia ex Vistafjord with no historical significance is a mistake. That's my point.

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