August 22, 2003 -- In an unexpected announcement, luxe operator Radisson Seven Seas Cruises (800/285-1835, www.rssc.com) this week revealed plans to sell its oldest vessel, the 180-passenger Song of Flower, to an as-yet-unnamed European company. The sale will go through following this October 15's Venice-Rome cruise, after which the vessel's new owners will market her under a new name outside of North America.
Built in 1974 as a container ship and retooled for cruising in 1986, Song of Flower has been with Radisson Seven Seas for fourteen years, during which her innovative itineraries, cozily intimate size, and superb staff have nurtured an extremely loyal following. Appropriately, according to Seven Seas' president and CEO Mark Conroy, many of her crewmembers will be absorbed into staff rotations on the line's other vessels. The company is also retaining the name of the ship, raising the question of whether Radisson will reuse it on a new vessel in the future -- common practice in the cruise industry.
For her final European season, Radisson is offering passengers a choice of (a) free roundtrip economy-class air from 84 North American gateways, (b) a free business-class upgrade at economy-class add-on rate, or (c) a $1,000 per person air credit. Favorite staff and lecturers from the ship's decade-and-a-half of service will be aboard for some or all of the farewell season, and Captain Dag Dvergastein, who captained the ship for much of her Radisson career and is now captain of the line's 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager, will serve as her master again for the October 1, 8, and 15 sailings.
The seven "Farewell Song of Flower" cruises are:
- Aug 30, British Isles, 10-night Edinburgh to Rouen, from $3,775
- Sept 8, Western Europe, 10-night Rouen to Lisbon, from $3,595
- Sept 17, Mediterranean, 7-night Lisbon to Rome, from $2,965
- Sept 24, Mediterranean, 7-night Rome to Venice, from $2,965
- Oct 1, Mediterranean, 7-night Venice to Athens, from $2,965
- Oct 8, Mediterranean, 7-night Athens to Venice, from $2,965
- Oct 15, Mediterranean, 7-night Venice to Rome, from $2,875
All prices are per person, double occupancy, and include shipboard gratuities and complementary wine and spirits.