Star Refurb---This just in

[bdjam]

This new immigration policy has guaranteed that the major cruise lines will no longer consider US shipyards for their dry docks.

Thanks Philip - another fine example of US Customs shooting the US in the foot when it comes to the cruise industry...

[sultan_sfo]

Today's Sep 14, 2008, SF Chronicle has an article (link below). Click on "View More Images" and Scroll through the "images" in that article. The drydock is around there. Once Star arrives there, I will drive by and give directions. The area is cordoned off -- so one cannot get too close.

 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/14/MNP112QRDP.DTL

 

A para from above article:

 

Cash-poor port

 

The port's infrastructure problems date to 1968, when the state gave the city ownership of the 7.5-mile waterfront but did not provide an ongoing funding source to maintain aging piers and other property.

 

The port doesn't make enough money at Pier 70 to finance the hundreds of millions needed for future development. The area's main tenant is BAE Systems, an international company that runs the West Coast's largest dry dock on 15 acres. BAE pays about $1 million in rent annually; other nearby businesses, including a self-storage site, a metal recycler, a city tow yard and artists studios, generate much less.

 

(Click on image to enlarge)

 

 

/Sultan

 

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Also, anyone know exactly where the facility is?

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thanks!

[mii]

We will be on the Star next month so I guess we will just have to wait and see what will happen or not happen.:rolleyes:

 

Marilyn

[Solara]

We will be on the Star next month so I guess we will just have to wait and see what will happen or not happen.:rolleyes:

 

Marilyn

Reminds me of the supposed dry dock of the CB in May.

[CL-JW]

What day is the Star scheduled to start the drydock? Also, anyone know exactly where the facility is? We're scheduled to go on the Star in just over a year, and I'm toying with the idea of driving up to SF for dinner and to take a peek at the ship before we leave for Disneyworld on the 26th.

 

Also, what is now going to be done during the drydock?

 

thanks!

 

 

The dry dock is just south of AT&T park. There is a small public pier on Terry A Francois St near the dry dock that can used for viewing of the area.

[catmand]

I just heard from my friend at Princess that they are canceling a very large part of the revitalization project on the Star Princess. The big swap of the Casino and the Steak house along with the new suites has been cancelled due to immigration issues with the laborers. The big screen and other amenity upgrades will continue. My friend says that this shouldn't effect the passengers so not to worry. It's just a major mulit-million dollar problem for them to sort out.

 

I'm guessing, IF the above information is true, there will still be a casino on Star and the company will be happy to take our dough, wherever that casino may be..

also, was it the Sterling that was going to change to the Crown Grill or the other way 'round? Whatever, there should be a steak place of some name.

I sure hope there is a ship waiting when we drive to the pier on October 21ST................:rolleyes:

Chuck

[crusdiva]

Hi all,

I know everyone is wondering about the Star's dry dock and I just got an email from a CC friend who is sailing the Alaska itinerary now. I gave her the name of a friend of ours (a crew member who is taking excellent care of her ;) ) who we have sailed with three times and asked her to get the scoop from him...here's what she wrote me today:

 

".... says, the drydock changes will not be as elaborate as originally planned. Tequila's will become Crown Grille. Casino stays put with no new suites. Piazza coming with Vines and International Cafe. Sanctuary and MUTS coming, too. Star finally gets new menus. That's the current plan in a nutshell."

 

If I get any more info, I'll post it as well.

[TorontoTL]

Well that's not the end of the world if those suites aren't added and the Casino stays put. In some ways it is a good thing. As long as they can still do a good job with the conversion to the Crown Grill from the Desert Rose or Steriling whichever it is called on the Star.

[SFParrtHd]

Thanks for the update :)

[abbydancer2003]

This is sort of interesting - I looked at one of the September repositioning cruises on the Star (September 09). It shows the WS Suites as NA. A 2010 cruise and an August 2009 cruise shows them as waitlisted. I'm not sure what that all means, but it's interesting.

[bdjam]

Well that's not the end of the world if those suites aren't added and the Casino stays put. In some ways it is a good thing. As long as they can still do a good job with the conversion to the Crown Grill from the Desert Rose or Steriling whichever it is called on the Star.

I agree Benny. I didn’t think the addition of the suites and the moving of the casino such a good idea anyway. The other interior changes will really enhance the ship. Now if we can just drum up some labor issues around the MUTS installation, we’ll be all set.

[Crownline270]

I just heard from my friend at Princess that they are canceling a very large part of the revitalization project on the Star Princess. The big swap of the Casino and the Steak house along with the new suites has been cancelled due to immigration issues with the laborers. The big screen and other amenity upgrades will continue. My friend says that this shouldn't effect the passengers so not to worry. It's just a major mulit-million dollar problem for them to sort out.

Just got off the Star 10days ago....ashame it won't get a face lift as it should. Tom Bodette would be ashamed to sail on her. Our rooms (3x) on the Aloha Deck where just average balcony rooms. We had to leave the CABIN door oper the entire trip because of our neighboring cabin in-room smokers. Kinda had that ashtray feel. It was unbareable! DOn't mind smokers, but in the rooms?? Not good. And especially since this vessel caught fire March 23, 2006 because of an alledged smoker. The STAR, compared to the 5 other cruises we have taken just didn't have the WOW factor. Pretty basic by comparison. We will never sail with them again.

[bdjam]

Just got off the Star 10days ago....ashame it won't get a face lift as it should. Tom Bodette would be ashamed to sail on her. Our rooms (3x) on the Aloha Deck where just average balcony rooms. We had to leave the CABIN door oper the entire trip because of our neighboring cabin in-room smokers. Kinda had that ashtray feel. It was unbareable! DOn't mind smokers, but in the rooms?? Not good. And especially since this vessel caught fire March 23, 2006 because of an alledged smoker. The STAR, compared to the 5 other cruises we have taken just didn't have the WOW factor. Pretty basic by comparison. We will never sail with them again.

Sorry you didn't enjoy Star Princess - I think she's a brilliant ship and I definitely think that "basic" is in the eye of the beholder. I'd much prefer understated elegance to neon and glitz. But that's just me. WOW isn't all its cracked up to be.

 

As for smoking on ships and fires, over the 100 or so years that people have been sailing in ships, there have been very few fires caused by cigarettes. Princess has retrofitted all of its ships with heat sensors and sprinklers on the balconies so the likelyhood of a fire like the one that crippled Star Princess is reduced. Hopefully the cruise line that you choose instead of Princess has done the same...because not all of them have.

[DanJ]

This refurb has nothing to do with the cabins anyway. Not sure why you had to leave the cabin door open because of your neighbours smoking. Wouldn't that just increase the chance of smoke coming in? Surely you aren't suggesting the smoke just wafted through the walls? Carnival already tried the no-smoking thing. Lasted a couple years then they had to drop it.

[TorontoTL]

I agree Benny. I didn’t think the addition of the suites and the moving of the casino such a good idea anyway. The other interior changes will really enhance the ship. Now if we can just drum up some labor issues around the MUTS installation, we’ll be all set.

 

The problem is for the MUTS installation, I'm sure that the LED screen has already been paid for and ready to be installed. Because they've spent the money on it already, Princess would find a way to install it one way or another. Nice to know you agree with me on the rest of my post Brian. Great minds think alike.;)

[sultan_sfo]

More on SF Drydock: Source: SF Examiner

 

The dry dock, operated by BAE Systems, is the longest continually operated ship-repair facility in the nation. The Port plans to allow it to continue operating indefinitely while the other 50 acres on Pier 70 could be redeveloped.

 

 

The dry dock was treated to a $5 million upgrade this year, about $3 million of which BAE borrowed from Princess Cruises — San Francisco’s most frequent cruise visitor.

 

The Princess Star will spend about two weeks in port. Its 900 crew members will continue to live on the ship, while 1,400 craftspersons — some from the Bay Area, others flown in from around the world — raise the ship out of the water, repair its hull and renovate its decks, Roybal said.

 

The dry dock will receive about $28 million for the work.

 

Click to enlarge:

[psbtrvlr]

Aren't they currently scheduled for 3 weeks? But this article says 2. Anyone know what they are planning for the extra week?

[LARGIN]

Aren't they currently scheduled for 3 weeks? But this article says 2. Anyone know what they are planning for the extra week?

 

The schedule that I have says the Star will be dry dock from September 22nd through October 10th. That is 2 weeks..

[Solara]

The schedule that I have says the Star will be dry dock from September 22nd through October 10th. That is 2 weeks..

If we want to get technical, it's 18 days (or 2 1/2 weeks).

[saturngazer]

Thank you, Solara....

[cruzinchris]

DH and I were on the last cruise of the Star prior to dry dock. Ship was to remain in Seattle for three days before sailing down to SF. Replacement of carpet in some areas had begun the morning we disembarked the ship.

 

Based solely on information gleaned directly from staff, the scope of renovation is much less than originally reported. Head Waiter, Douw, told us that menus had arrived prior to our sailing, so it seems a sure thing that Tequila's will become the Crown Grill. Star will also get new dinner menus that we've already had on CB and Emerald.

 

Internet staff person told a group of passengers, including us, that the Internet Cafe would relocate to the card room.

 

Sheets and duvet on Star were new but pillows and old bedspreads will be updated, according to our cabin steward. Hopefully, flat screen TVs will be installed in all staterooms.

 

At the Captain's Circle Cocktail Party, Captain Ed Perrin mentioned only the new Piazza that would include International Cafe and Vines and the Sanctuary near Lotus Spa. Perrin made no mention of MUTS but other staff seemed to think it was a done deal.

 

Passengers on the first sailings of the Star following dry dock will likely be our best source of accurate information when they are onboard and can report firsthand how the ship has been updated.

Chris

[mii]

Chris, thank you so much. This info is truly appreciated. I will be on the 2nd sailing after drydock and looking forward to the new additions whatever they may be. Again thanks.

 

Marilyn

[sultan_sfo]

Thanks Chris.

The article from SF Examiner from which I quoted earlier stated the drydock as starting on Sep 26. I omitted that info because I thought it would cause confusion!

 

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Ship was to remain in Seattle for three days before sailing down to SF.

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Chris

[TucsonRick]

Today's Star webcam shows a crane at the bow of the ship. Something is being loaded or installed in Seattle. Perhaps MUTS is being installed there??

[bdjam]

DH and I were on the last cruise of the Star prior to dry dock.

Welcome home, my friend...

Today's Star webcam shows a crane at the bow of the ship. Something is being loaded or installed in Seattle. Perhaps MUTS is being installed there??

Poor Star Princess...