Royal Viking Line

[Dave, Whitstable]

I bought a wonderful book the other day called 'Monarchs of the Sea' by Kurt Ulrich from a second hand bookshop. I thought the ship in this picture looked familiar:


(Royal Viking Sky)

So I did a little research and discovered that Royal Viking Sky is now Fred Olsen's Boudicca, and that Black Watch was originally Royal Viking Star.

Here's what the book says about them:

'The elegant trio (Royal Viking Star, Sky and Sea'

I wonder what other ships with that kind of pedigree are still cruising?

[Dave, Whitstable]

By the way...

...Royal Viking Sea is now MS Albatros.


Perhaps Fred should buy her and have the full set! ;)

[Mungo, Kent]

I think Vistafjord is now Saga Ruby..............beautiful ship..........have done a ship's tour on her. Sagafjord was Saga Rose -now in the process being scrapped. :mad:

[Malcolm, Essex]

Many older ships have quite a long history.

Olsen's Braemar, pre-Olsen, was at one time charted by Cunard Line, who would name the ship Cunard Crown Dynasty while under their flag.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braemar_(ship)

[Dave, Whitstable]

Many older ships have quite a long history.

Olsen's Braemar, pre-Olsen, was at one time charted by Cunard Line, who would name the ship Cunard Crown Dynasty while under their flag.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braemar_(ship)

Yes Malcolm, but the problem with Braemar (in my humble opinion once again!) is that the recent alterations have completely ruined her once beautiful looks...

[PropShaft, Palatine of Lancashire]

Quote:

'The elegant trio (Royal Viking Star, Sky and Sea

They still are as far as I am concerned, along with Artemis a ship that has size for size, more deck space than most, the modern ships do not have the lovely tiered afterdecks and now look like Benedorm Hotels, and it's all in the name of PROFIT :mad:

the problem with Braemar (in my humble opinion once again!) is that the recent alterations have completely ruined her once beautiful looks...

Can't fully agree Dave, I think you are (Half right) I feel she is much improved as a ship, she has lost some deck space forr'd, but gained it back amidships, the super new lounge above the bridge looks a bit bluff from outside but hasn't altogether spoilt her lines, and it is also a very nice lounge to relax in, I think she is still a very comfortable and usable ship.
Her lovely tiered afterdecks are the most used among all the ships of this design that I have sailed on, but the bit I like the most of all :D is the fact that you can get right to the front of the ship without the obstruction of a wall of blue glass blocking your way and your view, for me Braemar is the tops

[Dave, Whitstable]

...Can't fully agree Dave, I think you are (Half right) I feel she is much improved as a ship, she has lost some deck space forr'd, but gained it back amidships, the super new lounge above the bridge looks a bit bluff from outside but hasn't altogether spoilt her lines, and it is also a very nice lounge to relax in, I think she is still a very comfortable and usable ship.
Her lovely tiered afterdecks are the most used among all the ships of this design that I have sailed on, but the bit I like the most of all :D is the fact that you can get right to the front of the ship without the obstruction of a wall of blue glass blocking your way and your view, for me Braemar is the tops

Hi Propshaft

I certainly take your point about Braemar's good features. I think the problem for me is that she was our first ship and we did three cruises on her before the stretch. When we did her second cruise after the stretch, she wasn't quite finished - and the bit you like most of all was out-of-bounds!

(Don't forget you could always stand in front of the glass wind-break up top though...)

One of my favourite bits is the accessible front - where Fred is standing.

My biggest complaint about Braemar is to do with the show lounge. It wasn't big enough before, but we usually managed to squeeze in. Adding another few hundred people made it impossible to get a seat at all. Their 'solution' was to have a simultaneous second show in the Coral Club lounge, but even then we had to arrive 30 minutes early to get a seat. We find there's a similar problem on Balmoral (although it's not as bad), whereas there's always enough room on Black Watch.

Regards

[Wilba]

I must admit one of the best cruises I have done, and there have been a few, was on Braemar's twin sister Superstar Gemini, then owned by Star Cruise in the Far East.

Food and service was outstanding, great atmosphere, great itinerary. If only they had changed the itinerary in the last twelve years I would definitely have cruised her again.

[PropShaft, Palatine of Lancashire]

Hi Dave
Quote: could always stand in front of the glass wind-break up top though
Yes this is the best feature, I wish other lines would take note and consider passengers who want to take photos forr'd without a wall of tinted glass blocking their way (it's my pet hate)
You are right about the theatre, it is a bit small for use, but part of the problem is the theatre is usually in use before the first show and some passengers stay in their seats having a drink or talking to others, this also happens after the after the first show where some don't vacate their seats, and that again restricts the seating for the second show, most inconsiderate but it happens.