Ocean Princess Sold

Porthole Magazine just released that Norwegian Cruise Line has purchased the Ocean Princess from Princess Cruise the ship will be delivered to Norwegian Cruise lines newly acquired Oceania Cruise Line, the sip will under go a 35 day 40 million dollar make over and will be renamed The Sirena, delivery is set for March of 2016.

Sad news. We will miss the OP

Well, that is sad but not unexpected. At least she'll still be sailing on a nice line.

Looks like she's being delivered after the completion of all announced voyages.

Fingers are crossed this is the case!

Here's a link to a USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2014/11/25/princess-oceania-ocean-ship/70087606/

Sad news. We will miss the OP

Indeed. :(

Well, at least they are not going to cancel that epic 64-day Round South America voyage. I have friends on that cruise that will be happy to hear that. :)

Just glad they found her a new home.

We thought the ship was getting tatty a year and a half ago, it'll all be downhill now while Princess still own it, just like when NCL were selling Marco Polo.........

That honestly went a lot faster than I expected, but seems to be a good home for her...

Makes you wonder if the Pacific Princess will be let go after 2016. It is sad news losing the Ocean Princess.

Makes you wonder if the Pacific Princess will be let go after 2016. It is sad news losing the Ocean Princess.

I read somewhere that the Pacific was also available

Sad to see the Ocean go. But better than letting her get worn and tatty and head for the junk heap.

Not surprised to see Oceania as the buyer, as they already have several of the former Renaissance R-class ships in their fleet.

I'm glad we were able to sail on her on out British Isles cruise this past summer. I loved the intimacy of the ship, and the way you really got to know many of your fellow passengers and even some of the crew.

Based on what happened when the old Regal was sold, you do not want to book the Ocean on its last few cruises.

Available wines were few as inventory was being drawn down. Shops were closed for much of the final voyage. Etc.

It may be a sentimental last journey, but not up to the quality you expect on a Princess voyage.

Based on what happened when the old Regal was sold, you do not want to book the Ocean on its last few cruises.

 

Available wines were few as inventory was being drawn down. Shops were closed for much of the final voyage. Etc.

 

It may be a sentimental last journey, but not up to the quality you expect on a Princess voyage.

With a $40M makeover on the horizon by the new owner, it is hard to imagine that the old owner will pour a dime into her during the last year of service.

We are sad to see the Ocean sold. We have many happy memories sailing on her.

If the ports were right and the price was discounted to fill the ship shabby chic or not I would sail on her. Neither store product or wines interest me.

Based on what happened when the old Regal was sold, you do not want to book the Ocean on its last few cruises.

 

Available wines were few as inventory was being drawn down. Shops were closed for much of the final voyage. Etc.

 

It may be a sentimental last journey, but not up to the quality you expect on a Princess voyage.

It looks like the last two voyages on the OP have already been cancelled. She was supposed to go from FLL to Los Angeles and then return as two voyages. While they still show on the Princess web-site, pricing is no longer available.

EDIT: Just checked the Roll Call for the 64-day SA cruise. A poster reports their B2B going through the canal has been cancelled due to the ship being sold.

That makes the 64-day around South America voyage her last with Princess.

Based on my experience with a 61-day journey on her from Singapore to Dover, I don't think wine inventory is going to be a problem. Seems on the 61-day journey there was zero checking for anything brought on board. Plenty of good South American wines can be purchased in ports.

As far as the shops go, that won't be a huge loss.

I have to agree though the concern will be maintenance. She probably won't be a sparkling gem but if she's safe and reasonably within Princess' standards, I'm happy to visit all those new ports on her last journey as the Ocean Princess. We should throw one heck of a going-away party!

Never had a chance to sail on her, but it is sad to see the smaller ships leaving the line. They did provide some alternatives to the new mega-ships.

A wonderful ship our cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles in Marrch 2016 has just been cancelled, notication sent to us within the last couple of hours.

we sailed on her from Sydney to Singapore earlier this year and at this stage still on the Grand South American. She convinced us that the smaller ships are very special....love her library.

Sigh! I've sailed on her several times in the past (as the Tahitian). I will certainly miss her. I guess Princess has given up on their "small ships".

Never had a chance to sail on her, but it is sad to see the smaller ships leaving the line. They did provide some alternatives to the new mega-ships.

I sailed on her two months ago Venice to Rome.

Beautiful ship and a different experience from my usual Grand Class.

Indeed a sad loss for the passenger if not the line.

Norris

Wait...NCL now owns Oceania? That's unfortunate. Although it's been years since NCL took over another line, every time they did in the past, the product was eventually phased out.

Wait...NCL now owns Oceania? That's unfortunate. Although it's been years since NCL took over another line, every time they did in the past, the product was eventually phased out.

Just curious, what other lines have they taken over in the past?

Thanks,

Wait...NCL now owns Oceania? That's unfortunate. Although it's been years since NCL took over another line, every time they did in the past, the product was eventually phased out.

Actually they bought both Oceania and Regent Seven Seas:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article1986451.html