Cruise Talk: Discovery Cruise Line to Suspend Service

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Topic: Discovery Cruise Line to Suspend Service

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 05-12-2011 06:44 AM

Discovery Cruise Line has announced that they will suspend service as of September 7th, in order to fully inspect and survey DISCOVERY SUN. This may or may not mean the end of her, if it's found that she has expensive mechanical issues or that her tanks are in bad shape (a common issue on old ships.)

Discovery Cruise Line to Suspend Service

If anyone will be in South Florida during the next 3 or 4 months, now is the time to sail on this ship, just in case she doesn't come back.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 05-12-2011 09:15 AM

I wish I was going to be down there in the next 3-4 months. I'd be on her at least once a week.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 05-12-2011 07:26 PM

The Caribe was the first cruise ship I sailed on, back in 1980 on a 2 nighter to nowhere from Alexandria, VA with my Mom and brother. I had seen her a few years earlier, sailing into Hamilton Harbour in Bermuda while we were vacationing there. I was happy to have the chance to get reaquainted with her a few years ago on a day trip to the Bahamas out of Port Everglades. While she is definitely a bit of a clunker these days, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for her.

Here she is sailing from Port Everglades in 2006

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 05-12-2011 08:27 PM

She's still a beauty to me, I love the photo you posted.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 05-15-2011 07:11 AM

I got an update from Vessel Tracker:
Name: DISCOVERY SUN http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Discovery-Sun-I62344.htmlIMO: 6815158Time: 15-05-2011 06:29:01 UTC NEWS: Many Grand Bahamians will have to find another means of travelling to and from Fort Lauderdale as the Discovery Sun will soon bid farewell to Grand Bahama permanently.The ship will discontinue its service between Grand Bahama and Fort Lauderdale on September 7 The Freeport News can confirm. A press release issued by the company last week said that the ship was going on dry dock for an indeterminate amount of time from September 7 to undergo renovations, however The Freeport News has learned this is not the case. Discovery Cruise Line's on island representative, Yannick Toussaint, revealed that during a meeting she attended in Miami on Wednesday, the company announced it plans to terminate services to the island.
http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/335878648366679.php]

Go on her while you can, that can't be said enough. If it were me and I was living down there; I'd be on her about every 2 weeks; just to make sure I got every photo op I can.

[ 05-15-2011: Message edited by: DAMBROSI2 ]

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 05-15-2011 09:42 AM

HERE is a link to the extended article.

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 05-15-2011 04:04 PM

Thank you dmwnc1 for the link....anyone going on this ship before she's officially retired, please; I'm asking if you could get me 2 postcards, if it's possible 2 luggage tags and a shotglass. That's all I need, I'll pay you for the shipping, the postcards and the shotglass. If there is a decent glass stein that has her on it, I'd be happy to get that too. Thank you for much.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 05-15-2011 04:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DAMBROSI2:
Thank you dmwnc1 for the link....anyone going on this ship before she's officially retired, please; I'm asking if you could get me 2 postcards, if it's possible 2 luggage tags and a shotglass. That's all I need, I'll pay you for the shipping, the postcards and the shotglass. If there is a decent glass stein that has her on it, I'd be happy to get that too. Thank you for much.

Deb, I was on her a month ago, and they don't even carry ship souvenirs any more: no glassware or ceramicware items. The post cards are the same ones they've used for decades, taken when the ship sailed from Miami. It was all very disappointing.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 05-15-2011 07:03 PM

Thank you very much Rich. I do appreciate your kind response.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 07-27-2011 06:18 AM

Discovery Cruise Line has formally announced that they will cease operations when DISCOVERY SUN stops sailing in September. Even though this was announced months ago, I think there was still hope that they would acquire another vessel.

Discovery to End Operations

Interestingly, Discovery's TV commercials are still airing as of this morning.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 07-27-2011 08:56 AM

One can only hope Rich, in the meanitme; for anyone in the area. I'm looking to get some night shots of her while she is at Port Everglades on Wednesday and when she comes in, in the evening just as she comes into the port. I don't have shots of her in that mode. If you have the time, can anyone down there do this for me? Thank you so much.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 09-04-2011 12:28 PM

Looks like her death knell is upon us....

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 09-04-2011 12:40 PM

Discovery Sun leaves Freeport

Discovery Sun at sea

Discovery Sun leaves Port Everglades

[ 09-04-2011: Message edited by: Ernst ]

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 09-04-2011 04:02 PM

Thank you for the videos Ernst. Rich, I contacted the company via email and no one is responding to a request for a poster.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 09-06-2011 10:08 AM

I watched her sail out this morning, Port Everglades webcam will have a full video of her departure from this morning on FaceBook. Also the NORWEGIAN SKY is facing the Freeport inlet so we can watch her arrive in about three hours. NORWEGIAN SKY Cam

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 09-07-2011 12:12 AM

Did anyone watch her come in for the final time?? I did. I'll post photo grabs from the Port Everglades webcam tomorrow. Just a sad time to see her go... I never heard from anyone from the office if they could send me a poster. I'll have to keep watching on Ebay.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 09-08-2011 02:00 PM

It did not come as a surprise to me as I got an email from Vessel Tracker announcing that the DISCOVERY SUN has been bought by the breakers in India. She is slated to depart Port Everglades at 11:11 AM on Sat. 9/10/2011. I do hope someone in the area will be there to watch her depart and post photos here. I didn't hear from my contact about a poster and I now doubt that I will.

So, I've got a post on "Want It Now" on Ebay and am continuing a search for a poster of Discovery Cruise Line.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

Garnett
First Class Passenger
Member # 6346

posted 09-08-2011 08:23 PM

More here

Garnett

[ 09-08-2011: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Posts: 72 | From: North Carolina, USA | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 09-09-2011 11:52 AM

Thank you Garnett. According to the PE Schedule, she's due to depart Saturday 9/10/11 at 22:22 hours. I'm hoping someone will be able to go down there and get marvelous photos.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

Garnett
First Class Passenger
Member # 6346

posted 09-10-2011 11:23 PM

Just watched Discovery Sun depart Port Everglades for the last time...very sad.

I had thought that maybe there would some type of "send-off" by her former owners, port officials, or some of the ship's fans, but if they were there, their presence could not be seen by viewing the Port webcam.

In retrospect, I would assume that any "festivities" would have to be done dockside (if they even could be done there), given the enhanced security of this weekend (10th anniversary of 9/11).

Garnett

Posts: 72 | From: North Carolina, USA | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 09-11-2011 02:29 AM

At the end of March back in 2008, I was aboard REGAL EMPRESS inbound to Port Everglades after a two-night cruise to Nassau. As we approached in appalling weather and while I was huddled under the REGAL's bridge wing for protection from the pouring rain, DISCOVERY SUN loomed out of the murky darkness and at precisely the point we passed, the clouds broked momentarily. I've posted the sequence of shots on my Flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50194818@N05/

Hope you enjoy them! While I'm sad that she is going to the breakers, I'm hopeful she will stop at Gibraltar en route, to take bunkers. Maybe possible to get some more pics of her final journey.

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 09-11-2011 06:31 AM

Thank you Tony, the pictures are superb with the dark broody skies and even a rainbow. A lucky catch, worth the time shielding oneself from the rain.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 09-11-2011 08:24 AM

Thank you for those marvelous photos Tony and like Pam that photo with the rainbow is so beautiful. I'm hoping she's headed your way, for the moment she's at Freeport this morning. Not sure when they'll do a name change on her, I expect it will happen there.

We just need to track her. She's at her normal spot at Freeport and I don't know how long she will be there. Any updates will be very helpful as well as photos.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 09-12-2011 10:11 AM

Nice shot of her as Caribe from a brochure during her Maine - Canada service.

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 09-12-2011 10:47 AM

She really looks really beautiful in that photo Thad.

So clean and new, thank you for posting that. For Tony, when the ships that are on their way to the breakers, do you get to board them while they are there as they take on bunkers?

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

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