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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » MONA LISA - The End? (Page 1)

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Author

Topic: MONA LISA - The End?

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 09-21-2006 06:44 AM

Today in the morning, the German Cruise Operator Holiday Kreuzfahten goes to Court to declare Bankrupcy.

The Mona Lisa had an Charter Contract with this Company until 2010 when SOLAS 2010 will come.

The Ship ist no up to the SOLAS 2010 Conditions.

Who will give her an new Contract for the Rest of the Time until 2010 or will invest an great Sum of Money to make her fit for the new Conditions?

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

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-21-2006 07:34 AM

She'd be good for Fred Olsen. I am sure some of her old regulars from P&O days would return to her with FO. She would also be good with Saga.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 09-21-2006 07:41 AM

Saga could very well be an option there, NAL. But what about Lili Marleen? Is she up to SOLAS standards?

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 09-21-2006 09:24 AM

Sad news. I doubt either FOCL or SAGA would be interested in a charter with her though.

Maybe more like Page & Moy or Travelscope.
What about Plein Cap? They were apparently looking for a larger vessel to charter? Ideal from Adriana? Shame she can only sail for another few years though.

Pam

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

J.S.S.Normandie
First Class Passenger
Member # 6253

posted 09-21-2006 09:38 AM

This is just one bad year for ocean liners.

Posts: 1197 | From: Massachusetts where the Brittania was trapped! | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 09-21-2006 09:52 AM

Peter Deilmann would be a good home for the Mona Lisa

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 09-21-2006 10:03 AM

This is very sad and shocking - it won't be easy to find a new onwer for her - and I guess chances are very low that any of the above mentioned lines will buy her.

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

Jekyll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1878

posted 09-21-2006 11:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by desirod7:
Peter Deilmann would be a good home for the Mona Lisa

David:

We haven't chatted in a bit - but drop me a line as I shall be working with Peter Deilmann in Canada (www.exclusivetours.ca) and think ML would be a great fit - great minds think alike LOL

Posts: 1524 | From: Nowhere | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 09-21-2006 03:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by desirod7:
Peter Deilmann would be a good home for the Mona Lisa

Not to mention a great livery and funnel logo.

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 09-21-2006 03:10 PM

As i read in an German Site, she will finish her Cruise in Warnemünde and drop the Passengers off.

Then her Greek Owner will bring her to Greece.

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

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 09-21-2006 03:44 PM

Instead of Deilman I suggest not to make a compromise and persuade Hapag Lloyd to get her - going two steps backwards they could this way correct the mistakes they made with their new Europa. (they can keep her for heavens sake - or build a NICE modern ship - I have no problem with that)

Seriously: I believe that ther is a market for old ships - imitations like the Deutschland seem to be sucessful - so why not an original? I doubt that this can be done the way she has been operated - one would have to operate her as luxury vessel.

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

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 09-21-2006 03:59 PM

Just a quick livery alteration.

PS: Hapag Lloyd livery would look cool as well

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 09-21-2006 05:50 PM

....and one in Hapag Lloyd livery.

[ 09-21-2006: Message edited by: Onno ]

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES
First Class Passenger
Member # 5641

posted 09-21-2006 05:58 PM

Email Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES

Hi All

There is always the chance that Classic International Cruises could be interested in the Mona Lisa.

Their ships are spending even more time in Australia this year and the start of 2007.

She has cruised before from Australia for P&O.

It would be nice to see her back with two funnels.
The base of the forward funnel is still there !

I felt P&O spoilt her appearence when they removed the forward funnel and altered the aft funnel to give her more of an appearence of a Princess Cruises ship.

Neil ( Bob )

Posts: 2355 | From: Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 30 miles north of London | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

Pascal
First Class Passenger
Member # 5510

posted 09-21-2006 06:19 PM

Wow, Onno !!!

She would look pretty in both liveries.

Posts: 1371 | From: Aix en Provence | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 09-21-2006 08:00 PM

I would love to sail on her or the former Cunard Countess, Tony and I sailed on her in the early 80's.

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 09-22-2006 04:04 AM

Sadly, the problem for any operator is that she can only sail till 2010 so nobody is likely to pay any significant money to buy her, certainly not Saga. She may find another charter until then, which I think is the most likely option. She may go to Peaceboat and replace the Topaz, which is chartered from the same owner but uses a lot more fuel.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 09-25-2006 01:47 AM

I cetainly hope she finds a good home, she is a great sea boat and takes whatever is thrown at her, I would certainly be happy to sit by stern and listen to her diesels thup thupping away anytime. Probably the 2010 may well effect her, her D deck pax cabins are situated on 2 dead end corridors with no alternative escape routes bar 2 well hidden very steep staircases that emerge into the buffet area of the dining room - this is due to them being between 2 watertight doors that are regularly closed going into port etc. The only alternative escape from the indoor gym and pool is up 2 steel ladders which emerge in the gents crew showers on D deck and then up another staircase forward to C deck to get around the watertight doors. Obviously there is a huge amount of wood on board as well. If you take the D deck cabins out of service you would obviously effect her profitability just when she is at the stage of her life when she would need more and more money spent on her to keep her up to standard.

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 09-25-2006 02:42 AM

Mike it is all the beautiful internal woodwork that will condemn the ship in 2010.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 09-25-2006 06:40 AM

Ideally she would be perfect as a static landmark in Sweden, similar to what is planned with the Rotterdam V. A lot of original décor worth saving, she could be converted back to the original two funneled SAL liner she once was without much effort (the P&O external conversion looks more drastic then it actually was)

Also Kungsholm is small in size and would not take up much space (like Rotterdam V)

Seeing how well and serious the restoration/preservation of Rotterdam V goes surely shows it is possible for Kungsholm as well.

Onno

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

thundergod
First Class Passenger
Member # 5619

posted 09-25-2006 07:15 AM

seeing her as a static landmark here in sweden would be ideal. I think it is possible. The problem is that Mona Lisa possibly will face the threat of the beach very soon, maybe in a few months time worst case. And the time to organize a project of that size and sequre the financial power needed might be too short. I know that there have been talks about this, but with the plan to do this 2010 and not know.

Posts: 138 | From: Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

steeplechase
First Class Passenger
Member # 4056

posted 09-25-2006 09:37 AM

I wonder if the Guy who was going to use the SS Stella Polaris which sank last month would have any interest in using this ship instead??

[ 09-25-2006: Message edited by: steeplechase ]

Posts: 663 | From: elkton maryland | Registered: Aug 2003 | IP: Logged

Indarra
First Class Passenger
Member # 6005

posted 09-25-2006 09:59 AM

I think it is no surprise that these pages often feature discussion of the last of the great mid-20th century 2 funnelers - AMERICA, INDEPENDENCE, UNITED STATES, FRANCE and KUNGSHOLM. I think that is in part due to the striking external beauty of that basic external design.

In general I am not pro-preservation, but in this case I would almost be prepared to make an exception. If one of these ships (excluding AMERICA which has just about disappeared) were to be chosen for preservation, then UNITED STATES comes to mind as the most worthy candidate. But she has no interior. That leaves a good argument for KUNGSHOLM. How about it Sweden? That was a pretty miserable effort on STELLA POLARIS. Now is your chance (and Swedish industry can donate two funnels built to the original specs!)

Posts: 274 | From: Tokyo | Registered: Oct 2005 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-25-2006 06:48 PM

.....and get rid of the rest of the P&O additions on
the promenade deck and return the public spaces
to where the cabins were placed. What a beauty
before Sept of 1978!

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 10-02-2006 02:59 PM

But then it was exactly those alterations that enabled her to make the profit that kept her around as long as she has, if those extra cabons had not been added she would no doubt of gone along time ago given her operating costs.

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

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