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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » ALBATROS to Alang???

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Topic: ALBATROS to Alang???

Karsten
First Class Passenger
Member # 1509

posted 12-13-2003 11:59 AM

There are more and more rumors that ALBATROS will be scrapped in the very near future instead of a refit in Genoa...

I hope that it is only a rumor, but in these days I have my doubts ...

Posts: 875 | From: NRW/Germany | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 12-13-2003 03:26 PM

When i was in Asia in March 2002 with the ASTOR, we hear in Thailand that the Albatros was there some Days before, and they extend their Time in the Harbour because they had Technical Problems and some Parts are brought to the Ship by Airplane, to repair and fix the Problem.

She is now 46 Years old...

...i think, an EXTENDED Repair is not of Commercial Sense, and the Problem is not small, i am sure, because for an small Problem they would not cancel the World Cruise...

...so i think, she goes to Alang.

Book the MONA LISA, this Ship is much better.

Posts: 1034 | From: Gutach, Black Forest, Germany | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 12-13-2003 03:37 PM

How sad. Albatros was the first ship I ever sailed- back in 1982 as Fairwind. I will be very sad to see her go to the breakers, but I understand that this is the way of things.

She has had a wonderful history- and has played an important roll in recent liner/cruise history. I somehow always expected her sister, China Sea Discovery, to go first. But nearly 50 years in service is a remarkable record. I'll be surprised to see many ships built in the 80's last that long.

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 12-13-2003 04:10 PM

quote:
Fairsky posted:
I somehow always expected her sister, China Sea Discovery, to go first.

I agree. From what I heard, Phoenix takes better care of the ALBATROS than China Sea Cruises does with teh CSD. I wonder whay CSD's current status is...

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 12-13-2003 09:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
From what I heard, Phoenix takes better care of the ALBATROS than China Sea Cruises does with teh CSD.

From what I understand V.Ships gives ALBATROS the very best of maintenance, at least mechanically. She's just OLD and, well, like people, ships just can't last forever...

As for CSD, I doubt that maintenance standards have been very good, at least not since they dumped V.Ships as managers (or was it vice versa).

quote:
I wonder whay CSD's current status is...

Still laid-up somewhere or other I think. I believe she also had major mechanical trouble.

I would never, ever have thought this but I think it's not impossible that FEDOR SHALYAPIN might be the last of this quartet to actually survive. The two ex-Sitmar vessels both seem to be in imminent danger of scrapping, whereas the Ukranians seem quite content to let SHALYAPIN rust away indefinitely.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-14-2003 08:34 AM

A very sad news: Albatros is a charming vessel, carefully manteined by V Ships and Phoenix Reisen.
A question:
Which ship could replace her ?
Phoenix Reisen has generally chartered classic ships... so which one could be a good fleetmate for Maxim Gorkij ?
I don't believe that Phoenix will be a " single ship " company... they're quite successfull in the German cruise market... longer cruises at affordable prices.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 12-14-2003 12:04 PM

quote:
Italian Cruiser posted:
Which ship could replace her ?

Rumors has it that Phoenix is looking into the CROWN (ex. NORWEGIAN STAR). According to Maritime Transport Consultant, the CROWN is "under offer"...

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Andy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3856

posted 12-18-2003 05:20 AM

I think the China Sea Discovery is still in Taiwan... I heard that's because the operator is not paying salary to the crew...

Well, truely sad that Albatros is cancelling the world cruise. She was supposed to visit HK next March, that I can go to see her. Really sad to see a nice classic ship sailing on her finally journey.

I am happy to see Phoenix putting an eye on the Crown (ex Norwegian Star 1). The Royal Viking Sisters are all nice classic ships. I am happy to see the Crown to sail (possiblely world cruise if acquired by Phoenix) again.

Posts: 581 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

rd77
First Class Passenger
Member # 2117

posted 12-18-2003 07:18 AM

The latest word on the ALBATROS is now that her fate will be decided today (repair of scrap). Phoenix are said not be interested in the CROWN because of the latter's mechanical troubles. However, Phoenix IS interested in the sistership SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN, which has just undergone a major (mechanical) overhaul...

Posts: 1037 | From: The Hague, Netherlands | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Andy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3856

posted 12-19-2003 12:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rd77:
Phoenix are said not be interested in the CROWN because of the latter's mechanical troubles. However, Phoenix IS interested in the sistership SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN, which has just undergone a major (mechanical) overhaul...

Oh, that means they may purchase the SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN instead of the CROWN?? I am wondering whether STAR CRUISES is ready to sell the CAPRICORN now? They spent so much money on her recent refurbishment, and STAR now simply doesn't have enough ships to use...

Posts: 581 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 12-19-2003 12:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Gundam X Divider:
I am wondering whether STAR CRUISES is ready to sell the CAPRICORN now?

I find it surprising as well given that big refit but she seems to be on the market for $24m.

Her interiors, which are definitely decorated to Asian tastes, would need a major toning-down so as not to put off German passengers, but aside from that she might not be a bad fit for Phoenix. The fact is they need a ship NOW and there's not much out there to choose from.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 12-19-2003 01:17 AM

quote:
cruiseny posted:
I find it surprising as well given that big refit but she seems to be on the market for $24m.

Where did you find this? I don't think Star is really to sell CAPRICORN. Star needs more capacity still so it doesn't make sense for them to get rid of CAPRICORN. Could Star be adding tonnages soon...possibly from NCL besides the NORWAY?

Anyways, I think Phoenix should look into MyTravel's SUNDREAM...

Just checked my email and received news that the ALBATROS has been sold!

[ 12-19-2003: Message edited by: Keitaro ]

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Andy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3856

posted 12-19-2003 02:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
I don't think Star is really to sell CAPRICORN. Star needs more capacity still so it doesn't make sense for them to get rid of CAPRICORN
[ 12-19-2003: Message edited by: Keitaro ]

Agree. Star is not having enough ships, while they seems not going to purchase any second hand ships in the future.

While during the drydock earlier this year much changes was done on CAPRICORN to give her more Asian taste, e.g. a new spa has been added. Interestingly, the deck plan of CAPRICORN made by STAR has something wrong!

Well honestly the CAPRICORN is a fine classic ship, and doesn't really fit STAR very well, or in fact, not fitting Freestyle Cruising (Dinning) very well. There is just one main restaurant onboard (and one outdoor "restaurant") and Freestyle Dinning doesn't work well (particularly during bad weather). I would hope to see her operating traditional dinning, but that's the thing that STAR won't do.

Posts: 581 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 12-19-2003 02:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
Where did you find this?

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 12-19-2003 12:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
Where did you find this?

Here, also confirmed by a very in-the-know source in Asia.

quote:
I think Phoenix should look into MyTravel's SUNDREAM...

I don't think that ship is really right for Phoenix. She's not at all designed for the type of cruises they do and besides this as I understand she's not in very good condition.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 12-19-2003 06:47 PM

I agree that Sundream is not suitable. She is very light with thin plating not meant for open ocean crossings. She is getting on in years too, and her machinery might not be up to week long pulls across vast distances. More importantly, her very small cabins (120 square feet compared to 190 on Albatross) with almost no storage space just do not bode well for voyages lasting months, not just a few days. Perhaps something along the lines of the ex Crown Odyssey or Noordam are more in keeping with their requirements.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 12-19-2003 07:06 PM

"She is very light with thin plating not meant for open ocean crossings."

If it was she would never have got her certification. Not up to your usual standard Grant!!

....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 12-19-2003 09:29 PM

quote:
Grant posted"
More importantly, her very small cabins (120 square feet compared to 190 on Albatross)

O OK. Just curious, how big are the cabins onboard the ex. RVL trios?

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 12-19-2003 10:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
Just curious, how big are the cabins onboard the ex. RVL trios?

I think they're in the 170 sq ft range.

I've never seen 190 sq ft quoted for a standard on ALBATROS. An old Princess brochure quotes 140 sq ft, Phoenix' web site quotes 13-14 sq m which is about 140-151 sq ft. The cabins on the original RCCL trio are truly tiny though; I have a brochure with a photo showing a standard cabin on one of these ships... A couple is seated facing each other, one on each of the parallel lower berths - and their knees are interlocked . (They are not sitting on a chair becuase the cabin is not large enough to fit on!)

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 12-20-2003 08:44 PM

I have often heard that the hull plating on the original RCCL vessels was much much thinner than that used on older vessels; not so thin as to have a bearing on her certifications. When their trio of sisters over at Royal Viking were constructed, they used thicker plating owing to the types of voyages expected. Heavy seas of taken a toll on the hulls of the RCCL sisters, with stove in areas along the sides as well as on the bow arears. This not unlike what is seen with similar vessels from the Cunard fleet, while the Island and Pacific Princesses faired much better. Maybe I have remembered incorrectly, but I'm sure I was told that the ships had been constructed for fair weather cruising only, and that the thinnest possible plating was used. This would not be the first time I've been wrong, and certainly will not be the last!!

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Karsten
First Class Passenger
Member # 1509

posted 12-21-2003 06:27 AM

To SUNDREAM:

For the 2005 season not SUNDREAM is booked for Amsterdam, but the CAROUSEL. So it seems that SUNDREAM will leave the fleet... or they switch their cruise areas. But why should they do ....????

Posts: 875 | From: NRW/Germany | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 12-21-2003 07:52 AM

Port of Amsterdam is now expected to arrival of Sundream in 2004 as below

SUNDREAM 30-07-2004 10:00

SUNDREAM 27-08-2004 10:00

[ 12-21-2003: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

Johan C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1201

posted 12-21-2003 08:15 AM

Albatros left the port of Genoa a few hours ago .
Is she already heading to Alang?

Posts: 256 | From: Ghent, historic city in Belgium | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 12-21-2003 09:05 AM

Hi Grant....I'm afraid that's really not the way ships are built. When they are designed it is done to the RULES of the Classification Society which will be overseeing the construction. These rules define the dimensions and type of materials ued.

In the days when those ships were built the material was called "mild steel" and the quality varied considerably. These days it is totally different and the material specs are monitored right from the furnace to being fitted.

Thus, the steel used wasn't thinner, it was the quality that differed.

Of course, ships were built with heavier plating for special purposes but then the ship's Classification would show that.. i.e. Ice Class, Heavy Lift, etc.

The only company I know that built their ships to exceed Class requirements was Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line. But then they carried their own insurance.

....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Karsten
First Class Passenger
Member # 1509

posted 12-21-2003 09:11 AM

.... and CAROUSEL at Amsterdam 26.08.05 and 23.09.05!

Posts: 875 | From: NRW/Germany | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

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