How much longer will Prinsendam be in the fleet?

[Moose Tracks]

DH and I had a lovely cruise on Prinsendam in September. We'd love to sail her again, however, it wouldn't be for another couple of years. Have there ever been rumours of Prinsendam being retired and replaced?

[kazu]

None that i have heard and I doubt it will happen until it absolutely has to. The Prisendam has the highest level of repeat passengers of all of the HAL ships.

 

I can't see them doing any time soon (I hope).

[bepsf]

A couple years back, Saga was looking at Prinsendam as a replacement for the Saga Rose - but that didn't come to fruition and they purchased another vessel instead.

 

Meanwhile, HAL just spent a few million $$$ welding a Motor Lodge to the stern of Prinsendam this past year - so it would seem that they intend to keep her in the fleet at least until she turns 30 years old in 2018.

[Moose Tracks]

Thanks. Glad to hear she has a few more years left in her. Sounds like we'll get a couple more opportunities to sail her.

[TiogaCruiser]

 

Meanwhile, HAL just spent a few million $$$ welding a Motor Lodge to the stern of Prinsendam this past year - 2018.

 

too funny. Could you describe veendam the same way?

[MightyQuinn]

We sailed on Prinsendam in '08 & there were rumors at that time that the ship was for sale. Captain Chris Turner actually addressed it by saying that Prinsendam is (was) always for sale - but at the right price. No right price, no deal. I suspect that is true today as well, notwithstanding the recent $$ invested in refurbs.

[Typhoon1]

Meanwhile, HAL just spent a few million $$$ welding a Motor Lodge to the stern of Prinsendam this past year - so it would seem that they intend to keep her in the fleet at least until she turns 30 years old in 2018.[/size][/font]

 

Or until it has a major malfunction like the Norway had some years ago. Then it gets too expensive to repair.

[Himself]

I have never heard of anyone sailing the Princendam and not liking it. All the words I hear are very positive. I hope it is around for a long time. It makes calls bigger ships cannot make. I have never sailed on this ship but that is because I don't do Erope and when she is doing the Caribbean I cannot get away. I hope she stays in the fleet for a long time.

[CruiseAdict218]

A couple years back, Saga was looking at Prinsendam as a replacement for the Saga Rose - but that didn't come to fruition and they purchased another vessel instead.

 

Well then she dodged tht bullet Saga is investing in the Bleu de France and to add my two cents shes only 8 years old versus the 17 year old Statendam so she probably has a good 10 years unless something happens(*knocks on wood*)

 

~Edit~ I just realized shes older than the Statendam but still she has a while

[Harry1954]

A candid comment from an executive of HAL last year indicated to me that they recognize this ship's unusual nature and consider it strategically part of their future. Granted for the right price most things would be for sale, but this ship is the closest that HAL will get to six star status IMHO.

harry

[James_TheVirus]

Could HAL not build a new class of 2-3 vessels which are roughly the same size and sail them in place of the Prinsendam? What makes this one vessel so unique? If it is her size, then they could surely build a new one which is similar.

[Topsham]

A couple years back, Saga was looking at Prinsendam as a replacement for the Saga Rose - but that didn't come to fruition and they purchased another vessel instead.

 

Meanwhile, HAL just spent a few million $$$ welding a Motor Lodge to the stern of Prinsendam this past year - so it would seem that they intend to keep her in the fleet at least until she turns 30 years old in 2018.

 

 

Hey Brian!

 

I'm glad HAL has the PRINSENDAM but I sure wish Saga has been able to buy her. Their plan was to REDUCE her capacity and make her baack into a one sitting ship. At the time they looked at her Saga felt that HAL were asking too much.

 

Anyhow, now they have purchased the BLEU DE FRANCE. After refit she will start sailing for Saga in March 2012. The big job they have to do with BLEU is make her back into a single sitting ship. This will be achieved by making some cabins into suites (2 into 1) and some cabins will become single cabins. Once she is up and running the new SAGA PEARL II will probaably be renamed QUEST FOR ADVENTURE and run aalongside the SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE.

 

Saga bucks all the trends of the big boys. Smaller ships, reducing capacity to keep single sitting, low bar prices ( about 1/3 of HAL bar prices), no casino, no art auctions, low shore ex prices (1/2 of HAL). The only drawback... for the passenger... they are not offering heavy discounts other than the usual 35% on early booking.

 

Stephen

[Taxguy77]

A couple years back, Saga was looking at Prinsendam as a replacement for the Saga Rose - but that didn't come to fruition and they purchased another vessel instead.

 

Meanwhile, HAL just spent a few million $$$ welding a Motor Lodge to the stern of Prinsendam this past year - so it would seem that they intend to keep her in the fleet at least until she turns 30 years old in 2018.

 

Why does HAL, with a few ships that LOOK like ocean going vessels try to make even those few look like hotels that have fallen down? :(

James the virus....This ship was built more like a liner, designed for ocean travel, not semi-protected waters all the time, stopping a third to half the time at ports.

[Randyk47]

I'm not a naval architect but I wonder, as mentioned above, if the Prinsendam is unique within the HAL fleet not just because she's smaller but because she was designed to be more an ocean liner than a cruise ship? From what I've read and heard over the years the modern fleet is designed more for providing income producing space and less longevity in mind than ships like the Prinsendam. It seems to me that HAL will reach a decision point, and maybe they have privately, about the Prinsendam and her long term place in the HAL fleet. They may have already decided at some point in the future to basically abandon the niche that the Prinsendam fills and not build another like her. Maybe they'll move one of the S or R ships into that niche whether or not they're designed for that purpose. I guess another alternative is to build a niche ship like Silversea has done with Silver Spirit. My "heart" tells me I want HAL to do that, my "brain" tells me they'll eventually abandon the small ship niche as not part of their business plan.

[kazu]

I'm not a naval architect but I wonder, as mentioned above, if the Prinsendam is unique within the HAL fleet not just because she's smaller but because she was designed to be more an ocean liner than a cruise ship? From what I've read and heard over the years the modern fleet is designed more for providing income producing space and less longevity in mind than ships like the Prinsendam. It seems to me that HAL will reach a decision point, and maybe they have privately, about the Prinsendam and her long term place in the HAL fleet. They may have already decided at some point in the future to basically abandon the niche that the Prinsendam fills and not build another like her. Maybe they'll move one of the S or R ships into that niche whether or not they're designed for that purpose. I guess another alternative is to build a niche ship like Silversea has done with Silver Spirit. My "heart" tells me I want HAL to do that, my "brain" tells me they'll eventually abandon the small ship niche as not part of their business plan.

 

I still don't think she will go until she has to. Look at the prices they get for the Prisendam. She is far more expensive than the other ships and rarely if ever on sale. Taking that into account I suspect the profits on her are better than the other ships percentage wise.Why wouuld the company get rid of a ship that commands higher prices and is usually sold out without any sales? JMO

[rafinmd]

I suspect one real benefit to HAL is it gives their loyal customers a chance for a premium experience without having to experiment with an unfamiliar cruise line.

 

Roy

[Harry1954]

I suspect one real benefit to HAL is it gives their loyal customers a chance for a premium experience without having to experiment with an unfamiliar cruise line.

Roy

I agree with your supposition .. 6-star Crystal has the Symphony which was built at same city by same folks and is about the same size .. it is a wonderful ship too, but significantly more expensive.

harry

[Randyk47]

I still don't think she will go until she has to. Look at the prices they get for the Prisendam. She is far more expensive than the other ships and rarely if ever on sale. Taking that into account I suspect the profits on her are better than the other ships percentage wise.Why wouuld the company get rid of a ship that commands higher prices and is usually sold out without any sales? JMO

 

I agree but I'm thinking they have a notion of when she'll not longer be cost effective to run and/or maintain. If nothing else SOLAS or some other consideration will catch up with her. I certainly wouldn't predict when that is, it could be five years or ten years for all I know.

[CruiseAdict218]

I would say her size gives her special characteristics, most lines that have a ship smaller than the line's Tonnage range were most likely built for another company, building a replica would cost to much(my opinion could be wrong)

 

Some examples:

 

This ship, Celebrity's Xpedition, and the Prince Albert II for Silversea Cruises they all sail to places where, big ships cant, or to special places and that brings in the $$$$ for the company, just my two cents and may have gotten slightly off topic :D:o

[mabert]

I understand the Prinsendam has the greatest profit margin of all their fleet. With a repeat rate at 70% of passengers, higher prices for cruises with few discounts, it is a cash cow for them. Which is why they welded the motor lodge on the 8 deck aft. Until, as someone pointed out, repairs become expensive and not supported by the fares, I expect and hope they'll keep her.

 

BTW, the rumor of the sale was also passed around on the P when I was on in November 2010.

[bepsf]

I'm not a naval architect but I wonder, as mentioned above, if the Prinsendam is unique within the HAL fleet not just because she's smaller but because she was designed to be more an ocean liner than a cruise ship? From what I've read and heard over the years the modern fleet is designed more for providing income producing space and less longevity in mind than ships like the Prinsendam. It seems to me that HAL will reach a decision point, and maybe they have privately, about the Prinsendam and her long term place in the HAL fleet. They may have already decided at some point in the future to basically abandon the niche that the Prinsendam fills and not build another like her...

 

Perhaps you're forgetting that CCL/HAL didn't commission or build Prinsendam? HAL inherited the vessel from CCL's Cunard/Seabourn acquisition...

...Prinsendam entered service in 1988 for Royal Viking Line as the Royal Viking Sun.

 

 

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/RVSunPCs.html

 

I daresay that given the choice, CCL/HAL would have NEVER commissioned such a vessel.

[Nancyquilts]

Perhaps you're forgetting that CCL/HAL didn't commission or build Prinsendam? HAL inherited the vessel from CCL's Cunard/Seabourn acquisition...

...Prinsendam entered service in 1988 for Royal Viking Line as the Royal Viking Sun.

I daresay that given the choice, CCL/HAL would have NEVER commissioned such a vessel.

And wouldn't it be a shame if those of us who love her had to settle for the ever-increasing number of passengers allowed on the new builds.

[Cinder Again]

I wonder if another smaller ship comes up for sale, if HAL might consider buying another and refurbishing, like they did with the P? Since it's consistently at the top of the satisfaction rate, and can go into smaller ports, it would make sense for HAL to have a second ship, no? I guess it would depend on the dollars and sense of the bigger ships, making more money just by sheer size, versus higher fares for the smaller vessels...