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Post by Ferryman on Jan 12, 2010 20:10:05 GMT -8
Was just reading through parts of a Cruise Ship forum , and found out that a fairly classic looking Cruise Ship will be used as a floating accomadation for Olympic Volunteers and Officials. She'll be tied up in Squamish, most likely at the Deep sea port that's there. The ship has had a pretty unevenful life, other than alot of changes of ownership over the years since her launching in 1965. She was otherwise known as the Kungsholm (for Swedish America Line), the Sea Princess (for P&O and also Princess Cruises), the Victoria (for P&O), and the Oceanic II (for Royal Carribean. Her future is somewhat up in the air, since she won't meet SOLAS 2010 requirements, which will be implemented this October. But from the sounds of it, she might be used as a floating hotel instead by then in Gothenburg. For more info about her and what she looks like: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa_(ship)
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 12, 2010 21:08:07 GMT -8
Now THAT is what I call a nice looking cruise ship The funnel may be a bit odd looking, but compared to those grotesque, top-heavy lunks they're making these days, that is the best I've seen in years! Go Mona Lisa!
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Post by Scott on Jan 12, 2010 22:12:03 GMT -8
Wow, that's a beautiful ship.
I'm wondering what other interesting ships might be in town for the Olympics. Will we have some extra navy ships from Canada or elsewhere?
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Jan 13, 2010 10:13:41 GMT -8
thats kina cool! I've seen pictures of her before, never thought she would be in this part of the world :-)
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 13, 2010 19:24:00 GMT -8
thats kina cool! I've seen pictures of her before, never thought she would be in this part of the world :-) She has been in this part of the world before, during the latter 1980's when she was part of Princess Cruises and named the Sea Princess. DOT photo ©
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jan 14, 2010 19:28:56 GMT -8
That is one fine looking vessel, but you don't have to look too far to see how time has passed her by, aside from any SOLAS issues.
How many of today's cruising passengers would accept outside cabins with nothing but tiny portholes for a view? Some people dislike those cruise ships that look like floating apartment blocks, but people want different accommodation today.
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 14, 2010 20:31:03 GMT -8
It turns out that my brother (Mr. DOT & his family) were on board the Sea Princess for a repositioning cruise in the spring of 1989. The ship was being moved from Hawaii to Vancouver at the beginning of the Alaska cruise season. He tells me that as they entered Vancouver Harbour at the end of their cruise they were following the Star Princess which was then on its maiden voyage into Vancouver and also at the start of its Alaska cruise season. Apparently the Sea Princess spent about 5 seasons doing the Alaska market. This vessel was radically altered in appearance by P&O/Princess. She originally had two funnels although the forward one was a dummy. For more, check this out.
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 15, 2010 6:42:04 GMT -8
yep, I like her original funnels better.
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 16, 2010 8:57:47 GMT -8
There's a cruise ship at Ballantyne Pier now, but didn't get close enough to see who she was. This is one of the ships that will apparently house security personnel. Might be one or two more arriving as VANOC had originally chartered 3 cruise ships but think that number may have been scaled back.
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 16, 2010 9:13:18 GMT -8
Totally agree with the comments about the MONA LISA. That ship, ex-Swedish American Line is a what a "ship" should look like, maybe a little larger but have to love that ocean-going bow. Those mega floating cities, that masquerade as today's cruise ships DO offer the cruise traveller all description of 'experiences' at sea, but the sheer size of the new floating cities, DO deny today's cruise traveller of one important experience, that being the feeling that one is actually on a boat and at sea. Book me on the MONA LISA any day, and will also gladly take an outside cabin with a round porthole! Now THAT'S being onboard a ship at sea. Hmmm. let's see, wonder if we can get this brass porthole opened up? Cruising along, open porthole, head stuck as far out as possible, inhaling the salty mist and maybe even feeling that sea spray on your face! ahhhhhh.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Jan 16, 2010 9:58:49 GMT -8
The Mona Lisa is clearly descended from the design lineage of the French ocean-liner SS Normandie, which is generally considered in shipping circles to have been the most graceful passenger ocean liner ever built. The Normandie pioneered several design elements also featured in the Mona Lisa: the sharp, carved prow, arcing up from the water; curved, glassed in forward facing promenade spaces, and a much cleaner bow area, with efforts taking to keep much of the machinery hidden from view. The Normandie was famous for a whale back structure that swept across the bow, with all her bow machinery hidden underneath. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Normandie_color.jpg
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 22, 2010 13:36:11 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 23, 2010 14:10:53 GMT -8
She is now at anchor in English Bay in Vancouver, transiting to Squamish to be used as housing for Olympic staff.
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Jan 24, 2010 18:04:32 GMT -8
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2010 21:42:49 GMT -8
Looks like she leaves English Bay Anchorage 5 for Squamish @ 05:00 26 January. (Info from Pacific Pilotage Authority) "MONA LISA 01/26/2010 05:00 01/26/2010 05:00 01/26/2010 07:00 ENGLISH BAY ANCHORAGE 05 SQUAMISH 1 COMPASS MARINE SERVICES "
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Post by bcscot on Jan 25, 2010 22:59:12 GMT -8
Hello Ferryman. I found my way over here from that 'cruise ship site'! ;D I got a good look at Mona Lisa today from West Van. as I made my way to Horseshoe Bay. It is just as well because she was just a white smudge in the distance from the Queen of Cowichan! Fortunately I had my binoculars with me which helped. She is a beautiful looking ship. I don't think that people can fairly say that she is showing her age because the hull is dirty. Any ship will have a grubby hull after a long ocean crossing. She was the ship built at John Brown's shipyard on the Clyde prior to the QE2. They made a big loss on this one, just to keep them in buisness, but it didn't work for long. I would love to visit her in Squamish, or even better, sail on her. She has been under charter to a German company though & my German is not so good. I would like to see her restored to her original condition in Sweden in the future (just like the Rotterdam V in Rotterdam). I hope this plan comes off so that she too does not end her days in Alang. It is great to see a classic old ship like this in BC waters. I missed the Empress of Britain (Topaz) & Oceanic (Peaceboat) when they visited so I was happy to see this one. It is an interesting looking site that you have here. Hello to one & all. I see that I am not the only one that enjoys a cruise on BC Ferries!
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 25, 2010 23:13:34 GMT -8
Welcome to the Forum!
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Jan 26, 2010 1:29:44 GMT -8
It's almost sounding like a group trip to Squamish my be in order...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2010 9:12:34 GMT -8
She arrived around 08:00 this morning.
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Post by bcscot on Jan 26, 2010 10:51:42 GMT -8
NICE picture! Thank you.
A little touch of paint on that white hull & she will be looking wonderful.
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Jan 26, 2010 12:01:29 GMT -8
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 26, 2010 16:42:22 GMT -8
Is she going to be given a touch-up paint job before the games tourists start arriving?
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 26, 2010 19:00:13 GMT -8
Hello Ferryman. I found my way over here from that 'cruise ship site'! ;D Hey there! I recognize your screename from the Cruise Critics forum, and it's good to see that you've built yourself an account over here as well. Hopefully you'll enjoy browsing through the discussion topics here. Thanks for the prompt posting of the pic, excapg2. It's strange to see a passenger liner docked up there instead of the usual deep sea cargo ships. I wonder if the District of Squamish is kicking themselves yet for not building that Cruise ship terminal at that beach you were standing at, excap. Maybe they will think about it again now.
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 26, 2010 20:11:32 GMT -8
This is a beautiful shot. Thanks for sharing. Any chance of a link to a larger version say big enough to fill a monitor set at a resolution of 1280 x 800?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2010 13:41:53 GMT -8
Taken today from the water. A Mona Lisa smile.
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