My Cruise Adventures

Other Ships

Unknown Ship

This ship docked in San Juan the morning we boarded the Millennium. Asking around, I found that it was a French military ship. I initially thought it was a NASA tracking ship, monitoring that day's Shuttle launch. As you might notice, there is no name on this ship, but it had A601 painted on the side.

Esmerelda

This ship was formerly the Black Prince, of Fred Olson Cruises, and at 43 years was the oldest in that fleet. She held 421 passengers, was 143 meters long by 20 meters wide, grossing 11,209 tons. Unable to pass the SOLAS 2010 requirements, she was sold to a Venezuelan company to become a cruise ship for the Venezuelan market. She is seen here being refitted in St. Croix before beginning her new life.

Royal Clipper

This beautiful ship is the Royal Clipper, of the Star Clippers cruise line. She is the only 5-masted sailing vessel built in the last hundred years. She holds 228 passengers and grosses only 5,061 tons. There are 5 decks on this 440-foot square-rigged clipper. We saw her in St. Lucia, pictured here, and again in Barbados, her home port.

Odyssey

This is the Seabourn Odyssey, the first of three ships of this class. A 5-star ship, she holds 450 passengers in exquisite luxury. She grosses 32,000 tons, is 650 feet long and 84 feet wide. She is shown here following us into port in Barbados.

Wind Star

The Wind Star, of Windstar Cruises, is one of two identical ships (a third burned in 2002). She holds only 148 passengers, grosses 5,350 tons, and is 440 feet long. Her sails are computer-controlled, as is the water-ballast system that keeps her from heeling over while sailing. She was docked in Barbados when we arrived.

Ventura

This is P&O Cruises ship Ventura. I initially thought she was a Princess ship, and she has an outline very similar to the Star Princess. She was the largest ship we saw in Barbados, at 116,017 tons and 951 by 118 feet. She was also the newest, entering service in April, 2008. She holds up to 3,500 passengers.

Freewinds

This is the Freewinds, of the Majestic Cruise Line. At least, that's what one of her shore personnel said. Further research reveals she is owned by the Church of Scientology, and is used for training and testing of the highest-level Scientologists. She was formerly the Boheme, of Commodore Cruise Lines. While undergoing refurbishment in 2001, she was found to contain blue asbestos. While the Church maintains she does not contain asbestos and is perfectly safe, others claim the ship is a death-trap. She does not visit US ports, and apparently Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao do not have any laws against her operation as a private vessel. She is seen here docked in Aruba