BIg Red Boat!?

[18andacruiseaddict]

Anybody ever go on that? It's out of business now. It features Looney Tune characters instead of Disney characters (Like the Disny Cruise ships).

[Sandy]

17, I sailed on 2 Big Red Boat cruises with my family when my kids were young. They used to have Disney characters onboard, but Disney terminated their contract with that cruise line when they started anticipating building their own Disney ships. It was then that the Big Red Boats started having Looney Tunes characters onboard instead of the departed Disney.

We had a great time on both cruises. Great kids' programs, the best on a cruise ship at that time.

Sandy

[18andacruiseaddict]

Oh I never knew it had Disney at one time. It was my first cruise. I was 6 at the time. I remember it was so much fun.Do you happen to know why they discontinued it.

[Karen Knowlton]

It was an older ship without the amenities that newer ships have, and once Disney launched their own cruise line, it just couldn't compete.

[Sandy]

"The Big Red Boat" was a nickname given to the ships of Premier Cruise Line. Actually, there were 4 ships to start: Atlantic, Majestic, Royale and Oceanic. We sailed the Oceanic and Atlantic when they were still partnered with Disney.

Sandy

[18andacruiseaddict]

Karen u went on it too? wow there was more to it? I only thought it was one ship. i think i remember sumthing about "the little red boat" what was that about?

[Raoul Fiebig]

Robyn,

the most famous "Big Red Boat" was the S/S "Oceanic", still sailing under that name today, but for Spanish operator Pullmantur Cruises:



Then there was the "Royale", which sank in December, 2000 off Cape Charles with no casualties:

http://www.faktaomfartyg.com/royale_1958_b_1.htm

Another "Big Red Boat" was the "Starship Atlantic", today MSC Crociere's "Melody":

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PremierJP...Atlantic01.jpg

And then, there was also the "Starship Majestic", today operating as "Elysian Flamenco" for Spanish operator Globalia:

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/FestivalJ...majestic01.jpg

In 2000, the year of its collapse, Premier Cruises decided to rebrand another two of its ships which previously sported blue hulls "Big Red Boats". Plans to rebrand the "Rembrandt" (the former S/S "Rotterdam"), as well, were abandoned after major protests from shiplovers all over the world.

Instead, Premier chartered the ship "Edinburgh Castle" from its owners, British Cammell Laird shipyard, and renamed it "The Big Red Boat II". The ship was laid up following Premier's bankruptcy in September, 2000 and was scrapped in India, last year:

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PremierJP...I-03_CC320.jpg

Also, Premier's own "IslandBreeze" was renamed "The Big Red Boat III". This ship was scrapped in India in 2003:

http://members.aol.com/draikar/images/ib4.jpg

[Cruise Fanatic]

I think Premier's biggest mistake was when they renamed all the ships to "Boats". It just never made sense to rename a classic ship like the "Festivale" (renamed "Island Breeze") then call it "Big Red Boat III". It was about as bad as Renaissance naming their ships R1, R2,.etc.

[Raoul Fiebig]

Cruise Fanatic,

I agree that it makes no sense naming a classic cruise liner "boat".

But then IMHO this was not a main reason for Premier's demise. The charter of "The Big Red Boat II" was a technical nightmare and mismanagement (anybody remember the "Seven-Star Service" joke?) was a major factor, as well. Can you spell N-I-E-R-E-N-B-E-R-G?

[18andacruiseaddict]

Thanks for the pictures and commentary. lol all of em look very much alike, hard to tell em apart