'Voyages of Discovery - M/V Discovery severe engine problems continuing' - Page 10

**Ally** · 08-06-2008, 11:36 AM

If All Leisure are concentrating on Swan Hellenic and not overly concerned about VoD, then that would be absolutely disgraceful. It's as if they have already decided to cut their losses and wind down VoD regardless of the fact that there are passengers booked on their future cruises.

If the repairs needed are so bad, it must be more expensive to keep running Discovery in her 'damaged' state, so it should be in the company's interest, surely, to put up the white flag now and be done with it instead of dragging the apparently inevitable out.

If VoD are in trouble...whether it be financial or if the ship cannot be repaired or is beyond economic repair or whatever...they should come clean and say so. They might gain respect for doing so. If they continue on the track they are taking, then all the hard earned good reputation and respect they had throughout the cruising industry will evaporate....and any help they might have had in regards to a temporary replacement ship etc that they could have had will not be there...damn shame and damned shameful IMHO.

Put something on the website VoD, explain why the itineraries are being chopped about...your guests will appreciate and respect that alot more than being treated like mushrooms, which is the case at the moment.

**neil** · 08-06-2008, 12:57 PM

Hi

At about 18.00 hrs UK time mv Discovery is not showing on the AIS maps for the North Sea.

This may be due to her not having a powerful transmitter or it is turned off.

I have checked both the UK and German maps as you can move them about to cover quite a large area.

She has vanished before !

Saga Ruby was in the North sea off of Germany and showing on the maps.

Tomorrow Saga Adventurer should be in Harwich with her, if Discovery makes it !

Neil

**Ally** · 08-06-2008, 01:01 PM

There does seem to be regulation about AIS fitted to ships...

Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)

It looks like they should have it activated at all times

**neil** · 08-06-2008, 04:11 PM

Hi

In some coastal areas there is no AIS system so although it would be nice to have it turned on, for us to locate ships, I am not sure if you can enforce that the system is turned on.

Neil

**Ally** · 08-07-2008, 08:06 AM

Soooo I wonder if Discovery has arrived in Harwich ready for her next departure this afternoon...and if the passengers getting off, had a good holiday without too many problems?

We do have a member from here, 'aprilschild', who was on the cruise that has just finished. Hopefully they will be back and can let us know what happened.

**neil** · 08-07-2008, 09:35 AM

Hi

Yes - she arrive in the port about 8.00am this morning and appeared to be berthed at the passenger terminal by 9.00am when I checked the port AIS system.

She is shown in the brochure as sailing at 4.00pm today unless their has been a flyer done for her next cruise which would list any schedule changes.

I will be very interested to hear any comments about this last cruise.

Neil

**Ally** · 08-07-2008, 09:40 AM

Saga's Spirit of Adventure should also be in Harwich today. Pity neither ship has a bridgecam....although I dare say that if Discovery had one, it would be turned off

**neil** · 08-07-2008, 11:52 AM

Hi

mv Discovery depart Harwich on time at 16.00 hrs.

At 16.50hrs she was making 16.7 knots towards her first port of call which is Fram, Norway.

She is due there at 09.00 hrs on the 9th August 2008.

Neil

**Ally** · 08-07-2008, 11:54 AM

We shall see if she appears on the webcam for Fram on Saturday...hopefully at the time she is due

swan · 08-09-2008, 04:48 AM

She is not there yet ,at 9.45 am.