The Italian Coast Guard has seized Quail Cruises PACIFIC (ex SEA VENTURE, PACIFIC PRINCESS) against debts of USD $14 million owed to the Genoa-based San Giorgio del Porto shipyard.

Quail Cruises was set up by one of the ex bosses from the other Spanish cruising company Pullmantur Cruises.

Their ship, mv Pacific had been one of the Pullmantur Cruises ships.

At present Quail Cruises is operating cruises with two ships which they have chartered.

With the mv Pacific being seized she could now be sold off to clear some of these debts.

Although a lot of her cabins are small she might be of interest to Fred Olsen, as a replacement for the Black Prince or Saga might be interested in her as a replacement for the Saga Rose.

Her sister ship which was the original Island Princess sails for Voyages of Discovery as the mv Discovery.

When was she built Neil.?

The ' mv Pacific ' dates back to 1972, being one of the original Love Boats in the TV series.

She was then named ' Pacific Princess '.

Her sister ship is the Voyages of Discovery ship ' mv Discovery ', which was the original ' Island Princess '

Some of her cabins on the lower decks are small when compared with the newer cruise ships.

Photos below of the sister ships -

I think shes probably too old for Fred. now.

Hi Swan

Regarding Fred Olsens present fleet, Bodiccia was built as the Royal Viking Star in 1972 and Black Watch was built as the Royal Viking Sky in 1973.

mv Pacific was built in 1971 so not a lot of difference regarding her age

All of these ships have had renovation work carried out in recent years.

According to the Spanish press, the information about the Pacific being seized because of US$14 million debt owed by Quail is not 100% correct. Apparently, the debt is much lower and it is not owed by Quail.

ElEconomista, among many other Spanish newspapers, has printed the following article on 16 July ::CLICK::

I'll try to translate the main parts of that:

Quail Cruises said that the 'Pacific' were still being repaired and that the debt is only 112,000 euros

(...) "The boat has an arrest for a debt of EUR 112,562 in March 2008 that is owed by the previous owner, Flamek International, because it is a debt prior to the date of sale," explained CEO of Quail Cruises, Alfonso Lopez, in a statement to EuropaPress.

Lopez insisted that the March 2008 date is earlier than the date of purchase by Quail Cruises' and stressed that the contract stipulated that in case of debts prior to that date should be borne by the seller and all technical defects of the vessel prior to the date of 1 June 2008.

Therefore, the amount in Genoa it is not the responsibility of Quail Cruises, because the ship is being repaired due to technical deficiencies prior to the date of purchase," he explained.
(...)


In a different paper it was also said that M/V New Pacific and M/V Gemini operate as normal, and are occupied 91% and 87% respectively.

Anyway, I'm quite currious what the future will bring for M/V Pacific.

Finally, those of you who are interested in recent pictures of the Pacific will find many here on Photobucket.

soedergren

Thanks for the update. It is always interesting to hear what really goes on rather than the alarmist headlines.

Hi soedergen

Many thanks for the news update on the cruise ship mv Pacific .

This report makes very interesting reading.

As the Italian Coast Guards are now involved I doubt if the ship will be released until the money owed to the Italian ship yard is paid by someone !

A new picture of the cruise ship Pacific which still remains laid up at Genoa.

Her future remains unknown.