In the mid to late 1990s, the one irrefutable question what else is there to Cunard besides Queen Elizabeth 2 was Royal Viking Sun. Yes, Cunard had several other ships, some of which were well-loved by their regular passengers and crew, but Royal Viking Sun was the only one recognized throughout the induistry and the cruising public as a first-class cruise ship.
Acquired from Royal Viking Line in 1994, Royal Viking Sun had little in common with QE2. She was half the size, she was a cruise ship and her officers and cruising style were preimarily Norwegian rather than British. Still she was successful offering luxurious long voyages to destinations around the world.
Proof that Royal Viking Sun was a cut above her contemporaries is the fact that she is still sailing for a major cruise line today as Holland Americ's Prinsendam. Built in 1988, many ships of that era are now serving the secondary market or are now Asian gambling ships. However, Prinsendam coontinues to do long voyages to exotic locales providing intimate, elegant cruises in keeping with Holland America's premium standards.
My profile of Prinsendam appears at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Prinsendam.html and the extensive photo tour and commentary begins at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Prinsendam-Tour1.html .
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