Last sailing before a ship is sold?

[kaymoz]

Looking for feedback from those who have sailed on a ship just before it is sold to another line....what you see as pros and cons, or just your experiences!

 

I can imagine how it could be a very enhanced/sentimentally memorable thing -- but also just as well how lots of things related to management priorities, maintenance and staff support could be degraded because, well, that often happens when 'the end is in sight.'

 

For those who want to know specifics, we are considering sailing on the Prisendam which HAL will sell in mid-2019.

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[FredT]

Considering how beloved that ship is to everyone in the HAL universe, you can be assured that her last cruise is going to be sold out with passengers who love that ship, and will be determined to celebrate her and make the cruise memorable. If my take on the HAL crew's is right, they will be working hard to do the same. (See Captain Alberts blog on the ships celebration when she hit her 30th birthday)

[rkacruiser]

I sailed on the Statendam's final cruise for HAL, Seattle to Singapore. HAL "pulled out the stops" for this voyage! One of their most experienced Hotel Directors, a very guest-friendly Captain, and an excellent CD headlined a staff and crew that were performing to the "Signature of Excellence" expectations that I have. Cuisine, entertainment (with informative nautical sessions with two of the Deck and Engine Room Third Officers and Cadets (something that none of the guests who attended the sessions had ever experienced), ship upkeep and condition: only the weather experienced on some days could have been improved.

 

While the Statendam was being transferred within the Carnival Corporation fleets--HAL to P&O Australia--and not sold to a different company as the Prinsendam has been, I would expect an excellent cruise experience, full of nostalgia for many of your fellow guests and crew.

[cb at sea]

If you have "feelings" for the ship, by all means, give it a try. We've been on the last sailing before a dry dock...and the last couple of days were chaotic, with repairs being started.....not really sure that would happen with a ship that's being sold...probably not...The selling company won't put any effort into "improvements"... Go for it...it's still a cruise!

[MicCanberra]

First and last cruises always have some great extras but that is due to having some issues as well. Some issues will not affect most passengers so it all depends on how easy going you are and predetermined expectations. If they are high, you may end up disappointed.

[kaymoz]

MicCanberra, What would the issues be that could affect passengers?

[MicCanberra]

MicCanberra, What would the issues be that could affect passengers?

These are just some examples.

For last cruises, some food and beverage items may run out, some staff may have already left so service is a little slower. Some maintenance may not be done or some work may already have started so there may be areas closed off and/or noise.

For first cruises, the ship generally has mainly new staff so they may need some training and also it takes time getting to know the ship and it's processes. Some work/maintenance may still be having to be completed so there may be areas closed off and/or noise.