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Nordic Prince


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Cruiselover

 

FYI...I believe that all former RCCL cruise ships are still alive and well and sailing the seas in other parts of the world for other cruise lines. A positive thing for the design, building and maintenance of all RCCL cruise ships! This appears to be one of the things that RCCL continues to do well and not cut costs on....thankfully!

 

I guess you saw the sad news that we will be losing another classic RCCL ship when Nordic Empress (aka Empress of the Seas) leaves the fleet in the near future to go to Europe and sail for Pullmantours.

 

:cool:

 

Hi Mark,

 

Sorry for the late post - I've been posting away at 4 other boards for some upcoming cruises so it's been keeping me hopping. The most recent, a transatlantic coming up on 4/23 on the Splendour of the Seas. Getting excited here! Anyway, there's a great website that shows what has happened to most of the old ships - either scrapped, resold or sunk. Can't remember it right off hand but I'm sure it'll be easy to find. I don't know if the Nordic Empress was an original RCCL ship - it might have been purchased by them from another company that went under. I didn't here good things about the ship from a fellow passenger who's an avid RCI cruiser - he was on the ship and didn't like it. I think that's what I heard from him.

 

Laurie

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Laurie,

 

Nordic Empress was not designed and built by RCCL as were Nordic Prince, Song of America, etc. My recollection is that it was build in France for another cruise line that did not take possession for some reason...could have been Sitmar when they were sold or something like that ... so RCCL bought it and made some modifications but did buy it new! The other ship that they had bought and not built was the Viking Serenade which I believe had been a ferry before RCCL bought it.

 

Mark

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Like I said it could have been a situation like Sitmar but am not sure which company...do know that it was built in France...contrary to the many complaints, I always enjoyed sailing on Nordic Empress...keep in mind she was designed and built for shorter Carribean cruises and not 7 to 10 day ocean crusies.

 

I did read that RCCL did buy the Viking Serenade used as a former ferry

 

I remember another similar story that NCL bought the Dreamward from the German shipyard that had been built for Home Lines which basically sold off its assets to other companies and went of business...unfortunately. I am not sure if the Dreamward story is true but it was what I heard.

 

Mark:cool:

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NORDIC EMPRESS was technically ordered as an Admiral Cruises ship, not Royal Caribbean. Admiral had just been bought by Royal Caribbean and initially they planned on keeping the Admiral brand for the short 3- and 4-night cruises (which Royal Caribbean did not then operate). By the time the ship was finished, Royal Caribbean had decided to dissolve the Admiral brand into their own.

 

VIKING SERENADE had previously been Admiral's STARDANCER (they bought that ship, originally SCANDINAVIA, when she was only a few years old). The other two Admiral ships, EMERALD SEAS and AZURE SEAS, were disposed of. NORDIC EMPRESS replaced EMERALD SEAS on 3- and 4-night cruises from Miami, while VIKING SERENADE replaced AZURE SEAS on 3- and 4-night cruises from Los Angeles. She in turn was replaced on her former (as STARDANCER) 7-night Alaska and Mexico cruises by older, smaller Royal Caribbean tonnage (SONG OF NORWAY or NORDIC PRINCE - I forget which).

 

DREAMWARD and WINDWARD had nothing to do with Home Lines... They originated in a design study for Royal Viking but wound up as NCL ships. Of course in those days Royal Viking was a sister company of NCL under the Kloster Cruise umbrella.

 

I have heard that HORIZON and ZENITH were originally designed for either Home Lines or Royal Cruise Line but the consensus is that both those stories are myths and that they were, in fact, designed for Chandris/Celebrity.

 

An example of a ship that really was completed for different owners than originally intended ROYAL MAJESTY (now NORWEGIAN MAJESTY) was originally ordered for the Finnish company Birka Line but was sold to Dolphin Cruise Lines (who created the "upscale" Majesty brand for this, their first and only new ship) while under construction.

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Doug,

 

You are right...your posting jarred my memory...Horizon and Zentih were the Home Line ships I was thinking of...designed specifically to handle the Home Lines prized NYC Bermuda run in size and tonnange.

 

Mark:cool:

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When I sailed on Nordic Prince it had been stretched and did have a full working casino. The Captain is still with RCCL and is one of the most famous on their staff Leif Otto Bang.

 

I have my passenger list (the good ol days when you got one) with his signature on it from our cruise on the Nordic Prince.........

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  • 1 month later...

Ahhhh.....the Nordic Prince......those were the days! Picture 4 single girls traveling to Bermuda in an inside cabin.....talk about tight spaces!! We loved that cruise so much we sailed her again the next year and then again the year after that (1988,89,90)!! We met so many wonderful people who worked on the ship....David Cole, Andrew Graham, Andrew (?) Kathy (?) and many other crew and staff. It's been so long I can't remember more names...must be getting old!! But we do have memories of the wonderful times and of that beautiful ship. Thanks for bringing those memories back !!!!!

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  • 9 months later...

I just saw this thread. I'll be sailing on the Aquamarine (Louis Cruises) this July. I'll let you know about the experience after I return. I know it will be quite a departure from the more modern ships that I've experienced over the past 10+ years.

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  • 4 months later...

I worked on the Nordic Prince in the summer of 1994 at the Purser's Desk. She was my second ship with RCCL, the first being Majesty. What a difference! She seemed so small & dumpy and not nearly as impressive as the Majesty had. Yet almost immediately a sense of 'togetherness' and family was felt. Everyone knew everyone else and worked so well together. All dept's mingled unlike today where it is all very segregated by rank, dept. and unfortunately simply size. Out of all my years working on cruise ships, the NP by far was my favourite!

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Baker

 

I see you worked on Nordic Empress...she was my favorite RCCL ship after Song of America left the fleet...I was sorry to see Nordic Empress leave since I thought she was just about the right size! I think the differences you reference while working on some of the newer ships is due to the fact that they are just so big and maybe just too big...they all have nice facilities but look like floating refrigerators as compared to the classis lines of ships like Nordic Prinnce, Nordic Empress and Song of America...I belived Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas are the last classic looking ships left in the fleet and I did enjoy sailing on Monarch of the Seas.

 

I notice you also worked on Westerdam...I sailed on Westerdam when she was Home Lines Homeric on her 13th cruise NYC/Bermuda...she was also used in the movie Out to Sea after she became HAL Westerdam...Homeric was the ship the hooked me on cruising for a vacaton.

 

Mark

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The Noridic Prince was my First Cruise. It was a sample itenairy and the ship wasn't full. My grandmother had been sick in the hospital a few months earlier and when she got the doctor bill she said "I can go to Bermuda Cheaper than this" My mother took her to a travel agent and originally just my Mom and Grandmother were going to go. I got a call at work and my Mom wanted to know if wanted to go for $350.00 for a 10 day cruise. plus $200.00 Airfare.

 

I can't remember the captains name. We just called him the singing captain. The Cruise Director was Ray Rouse.

 

Went again the next year. Different Captain

 

Two years ago I had to prove I was a C & A. Those first cruises I kept everything so I could prove it. I even had the streamers from the sail away party.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Nordic Prince was my first cruise in 1988. NYC to Bermuda. Docked in St. George's, did a little touring, hopped on the rented scooters to go to Swizzle Inn and then met the ship over at Hamilton. There were 9 of us traveling together, and we picked up another couple (whom I knew) on their honeymoon on the same ship. (She and I had been on vacation a year earlier as single women). We had a blast even though the water down and back was choppy and we were eating bonine like mints. We had the best time dressing up for costume night, doing the horse races at the pool, the shows at night were terrific and the rocking to sleep heavenly.

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I sailed on the Nordic Prince in 1976 and the Sun Viking in 1978.Two of the best cruises ever. We are sailing on our 14th cruise. The food and service does not compare to today's cruise. We have to realize the that cruises are VERY INEXPENSIVE now. :)

 

 

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I sailed on the Nordic Prince twice - in the same year! My first trip was solo from NYC to Bermuda in May 1990. That was the best destination of all my cruises! My second adventure was in Nov. 1990 when my (then) best-friend and I took a 14-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. The ports-of-call were awesome and we both made some lifelong friends. One of our dining couples even invited us to go back to their home after the cruise so we postponed our other Florida plans and went back to West Palm Beach with them for a couple of days. That was an amazing trip but unfortunately I've never been on one quite as fun as that one. I'm hoping to get a chance to sail again (in this lifetime) but sadly I'm unemployed now, so I can't afford a cruise. I highly recommend them to everyone I meet tho. There is nothing more relaxing than a cruise. Everyone should go on at least one in their life! :) I did love that ship!

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  • 3 weeks later...

My first cruise was on Nordic Prince. It was in August 1994 to Alaska. I was 22 years old and I went with my mom, dad, and sister. It was tons of fun and I have wanted to go back to Alaska ever since. Have not made it yet. Maybe a 15 year wedding anniversary present in about 5 years?

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  • 4 months later...
My first cruise was on Nordic Prince. It was in August 1994 to Alaska. I was 22 years old and I went with my mom, dad, and sister. It was tons of fun and I have wanted to go back to Alaska ever since. Have not made it yet. Maybe a 15 year wedding anniversary present in about 5 years?

 

That's funny, I was working the Purser's Desk in Aug.1994, if you remember a BIG haired, blond girl at the desk, that was me!!! :) Granted it was 14 years ago but it is AMAZING the people who remember you years later on ships. I'd highly recommend re-visiting Alaska although you'll notice a HUGE change from '94 with the inundation of jewelry stores everywhere... I guess that can be said for many ports of call now. Sad...

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My first cruise was on the Nordic Prince on 8/12/90 to Bermuda - my honeymoon. It was spectacular. The CD was Andy Grahm. He went around the ship with a fake gun shooting people. Our waiter was Jose and my wife and I still talk about him. He always gave me an extra appetizer. Asst. waiter was Eddy. All staff we great and that is something I can still say about RCI staff. This experience and ship made me a cruisaholic.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

My wife and I honeymooned on the Nordic Prince on a 10-day sail out of Miami, which visited the ports of St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Martinique, Antiqua, and Barbados. That was Nov. 6, 1988, and the Captain was Osten Andreassen. To our delight and surprise, he had him again as our Captain again two and a half years later onboard the Song of America on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise. We loved his voice coming over the loudspeaker, and I got pretty good at imitating him (I thought so, at least). We were not used to his accent, and we were often suspicious that he belted a few drinks before getting on the loudspeaker... but it was probably just us under the influence:p. But he always got us safely there and back, so we salute you Capt. Andreassen, wherever you may be!:cool:

 

Jim

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