Gone but not forgotten...

How many other cruisers remember the late lamented "Royal Viking Line"? IMHO it was peerless in the 70's & early eighties.
Which current cruise line most nearly resembles the RVL at its best???

And let me wish Tom & the gang well with the forums - a good idea whose time has come

Dave

How many other cruisers remember the late lamented "Royal Viking Line"? IMHO it was peerless in the 70's & early eighties.
Which current cruise line most nearly resembles the RVL at its best???

And let me wish Tom & the gang well with the forums - a good idea whose time has come

Dave

[Oggy Boy]

Hmmmmm, good question. At the time, Royal Viking Line was in a class all its own.....as was its CEO. Today, I would say Silversea, Orient Line and possibly Seabourn? What do you think?

Tom

[rwinter]

I would say SilverSeas as well..closer in size to ships...and of course the old RV Sun is now the Prinsendam. I was on it for one day out of New York and they have made many wonderful improvements, and Danielle is a great cruise director, but the inside and regular outside cabins need work-they did not finish it in time...and of course, it is 2 seatings as other Holland America ships. The spa with the rasul and cleopatra's bath are great, and they are the best Steiner staff I have come across in a long time. The Seabourn Legend was RV also, so if you are looking for the physical plant...they are still around..but the style..and the times are definitely gone.

To add to the rollcall of ex RV, the Black Watch (Fred Olsen Lines) is the old RV Star and reportedly is being very well maintained. True, the style is gone but the reviews from Tom & Nancy of Silversea's Med Cruise show not all is lost.
Tom, I was intrigued at your mention of the Orient Line as a worthy successor. They seem to have a very low profile down here in Australia. I'll have to put them on the "Check This Out" list.
Does anyone have a cruise review of them??
Cheers - Dave

[Oggy Boy]

Dave, I included Orient Line as they are offering small ships with extremely interesting itineraries and everyone that I have talked with that has cruised them has a special feeling for their two ships and crew. I have not personally sailed with them but Raoul Fiebig is scheduled to cruise the Marco Polo in October for a 12 day Med sailing. I know he will write a very thorough review of the experience.

Tom

[Craig]

Couldn't you add Crystal as a close cousin of the great RVL?

Craig,
Probably blind prejudice against larger ships....

I know compared with the mega-liners bumping into each other around the Caribbean that they are small but I seem to have this blind spot for ships over 40,000 tons (& the number of passengers they cater for).

But I do agree that the service level & overall philosophy seems to be a throwback to the RVL

Dave