About 1975/76, I went on my first ‘tourist cruise’. I was about 8yrs old. I don’t recall how many ping-pong balls my cousins and I lost to the sea…
| The Statendam/Rhapsody/Regent Star – Specifications: | |
| Length: | 642 feet (196.2 m) |
| Beam: | 81 feet (24.7 m) |
| Tonnage: | 24,294 gross tons |
| Engines: | Parsons geared turbines, turning two propellers. |
| Service speed: | 19 knots |
| Passengers: | 84 1st Class & 867 Tourist Class |
In September of 1971, the Statendam was taken out of service and sent to her builders for a major refit, during which she was converted into a one-class cruise liner with more accommodation. The enclosed promenade areas disappeared, giving room to new and enlarged lounges and casinos. Her passenger capacity was altered to 740 people, and she was given a lido deck aft. In February of 1972, after five months of work and $7,000,000 spent, she emerged as the first ship in the fleet to sport the new company colours. The grey hull had been repainted in midnight blue, and the funnel colour had been changed to a bright orange.
info and quotes via:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statendam_IV
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=25737177&postcount=1868
http://www.thegreatoceanliners.com/statendam4.html
photos from various sources (google search). I’ll try to dig up some of my family photos.
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