Big Red Boat demolition picture

[Host Sue]

Sad, indeed...

http://www.maritimematters.com/images/brb2alang0206a.jpg

[sweetcharlotte30]

What cruiseline was that again? Just "The big red boat" cruiseline? I remember seeing commercials for this quite awhile ago, wasn't it a family friendly cruiseline?

[Jsme]

This is sad.

[Homosassa]

It was Premier cruiselines. When Disney first started offering Disney World/cruise vacations, Disney used Premier's Oceanic (the big red ship) for the cruise portion.

Unfortunately, the cruise portion did not measure up to the first class experience that a Disney World vacation was at that time. The ship was dirty, the food inedible, and the crew surly.

My DH, DD and I booked the Disney World/cruise package. Our experiences on the ship caused me to write my first and only letters of complaint about a cruise.

No surprise - Premier didn't bother to respond.

Disney, however, wrote a letter apoligizing for the cruise portion and informed us in the letter that due to the number of complaints, the contract with Premier was not going to be renewed. We also received a nice credit towards a future Disney vacation.

[Host Sue]

Didn't they have a fire onboard, too? I thought I read that there was a fairly extensive fire, the sprinklers went off and all the cabins got soaked, the ship had no electricity, no air conditioning, and people were stuck on her for days like that. Talk about a crappy cruise!

But still, it's sad to see a ship looking like that, it reminds me of an elephant graveyard for some reason.

[Cruiserlisa]

I have better memories of the Big Red Boats. Yes, they were Premier and Kenny and I took our honeymoon on the Majestic, which also featured Disney characters. We had a great time and when we were able to cruise again 10 years later we wanted to do Premier again but our travel agent was really against it. Two weeks later all their ships were seized in foreign ports and the passengers were given 15 minutes to get off the ships. I called our travel agent and said to her "You knew". She said they didnt know anything specific but that they knew the line was in real deep financial trouble and were told not to book anything with them.

[Folgy]

I have better memories of the Big Red Boats. Yes, they were Premier and Kenny and I took our honeymoon on the Majestic, which also featured Disney characters. We had a great time and when we were able to cruise again 10 years later we wanted to do Premier again but our travel agent was really against it. Two weeks later all their ships were seized in foreign ports and the passengers were given 15 minutes to get off the ships. I called our travel agent and said to her "You knew". She said they didnt know anything specific but that they knew the line was in real deep financial trouble and were told not to book anything with them.


This also happened to me. My very first cruise was supposed to be on big red.I had not made a final payment yet and I was told the boat was seized. This cx'ld our group cruise. We then booked with RCCL. Low and Behold in Freeport Bahamas was big red moored in the shipping yard.It had full time pumps running to keep her from settling on the bottom.
Man oh Man did it ever look like a piece of sh*t

[Host Lori]

Now why didnt they ask cruisefools to purchase it, dang

[Homosassa]

It was funny. While we were boarding the Oceanic, my husband kept saying, "I've been on this ship before." He finally asked the purser's deask if it had been the Home Lines (don't remember name). The purser confirmed it was indeed the old Home Lines ship. My DH had taken passage to Europe on the ship as a chid.

He was excited. Too bad the cruise was so bad.

From that day forward, I referred to Premier as "the cruiseline from hell." The funny thing is that any travel agent who heard me say that usually responded "Do you mean Carnival?" (Remember this was in the 80's.)

[Livtojump]

http://www.maritimematters.com/images/brb2alang0206a.jpg

It had full time pumps running to keep her from settling on the bottom.


Now why didnt they ask cruisefools to purchase it

I don’t think that would be a prudent fiscal decision for CF at this point but keep those donations rolling in. :p

Looking at this ship in its current state...empty...deteriorating...reminds me of a recent visit somewhere but I can’t quite put my finger on where that somewhere is.

[allenee]

It's so sad. I have fond memories of watching it sail in and out of Port Canaveral when I was young.

[Catnip]

http://www.maritimematters.com/images/brb2alang0206a.jpg







Looking at this ship in its current state...empty...deteriorating..


Yeah, I agree. It's really a shame that something that was once so vibrant and exciting has fallen on such rough times. I guess that's what happens when passsengers move on to bigger and newer ships that have more to offer. :boat:

[Host Sue]

Yeah, I agree. It's really a shame that something that was once so vibrant and exciting has fallen on such rough times

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Look at the bright side, with all change comes new beginnings, and even better things to come... I guess it's all in the eyes of those who are looking at it. Some people hate change, others embrace it. In this case, they got rid of the eyesore and replaced it with something that appeals to more people. I'm sure that many people will miss the old beast, but I'd venture a guess that most won't waste their time dwelling over it. What's sad is that people say they want change, but then waste their time dwelling over what was lost, and can't fathom why others don't feel the same way they do.

Some of my favorite ships have been the refurbished ones, the crew have the system down pat, and the ship still holds it's grace and appeal to many of her loyal past cruisers. Bigger and newer is exciting to some, but the repeat cruisers have alot to offer as well. I guess it just goes to show that there is something for everyone...

[Host Kristi]

What's really amazing is the amount of people that say it's so sad to see her like that, but just keep coming back for another look. I guess some people just can't let go of the past. It's sad.

I'm glad to see you posting again though Denise! Welcome back! :D

[Betty]

Was Premier Cruise Lines bought out or did they just go out of business?

[Host Sue]

I'm not sure, I know that they had that fire, got a horrible name for themselves, and were seized. Not sure if anyone bought them after that, haven't heard about them in years. Here's what I could find on the internet:

Home Line decided to sell the Oceanic, which was purchased by Premier Cruise Line in 1985.

After a refit, she was renamed StarShip Oceanic and commenced cruising for Premier in 1986. Departing from Port Canaveral she undertook mostly three and four night cruises to Nassau and Salt Cay.



Renamed Big Red Boat I, she became known for offering the best cruise value to the Bahamas, which could be combined with a Walt Disney World vacation. Premier added to their fleet, however, it soon became apparent that the company was in severe financial trouble and they finally folded in 2000, leaving a fleet of fine classic liners laid up.



Following the collapse of Premier, Oceanic was acquired by the Spanish Cruise Company, Pullmantur, who renamed her Oceanic once again. For the fast four years, she has successfully cruised for this company to the point they have now acquired other ships.

She continues to cruise for Pullmantur, however, with new ships added to their fleet, it is expected that Oceanic will be placed on the market soon, and this is where our “Save a Classic Liner” campaign comes in. We are now investigating a solution and see her continue cruising.



...It looks like they didn't find a solution. :(

[Cruiserlisa]

Wow., I'm going to have to dig out our honeymoon pics and look at the ship again. We were on a 4 day cruise and the funny part was it cost us $1064 to go and we had an oceanview room. WE went to the Abaco islands and that was where Kenny and I discovered snorkling. We had a wonderful time and the crew was wonderful.