Year Built 2000
RegistryUnited States of America
Naval Architect & BuilderChesapeake Shipbuilding Corp
Passenger Capacity149 day, 58 overnight (49 overnight US)
Length170' (51.8m) Beam39'6" (12.1m) Draft6'3" (1.9m) Speed12.7 knots
ConstructionWelded Steel
Gross Tonnage86 Gross Tons
Height to Top of Mast43' (13.1m)
Main Engines(2) Caterpillar 3408
Fuel Consumption (Underway)Approx. 70 gal/hr
Generator (3)Caterpillar 190kw, Caterpillar 170kw, Onan 22kw
Shafts(2) Aquamet - 17
Propellers(2) 5- blade Nibral
Searchlight(2) 10" Solar - Ray 800 (25.4cm)
Pilot House ControlsKobelt Electronic
(2) Wing StationsKobelt Electronic
SteeringKobelt Electric/Hydraulic
Bow ThrusterThrustmaster 175 hp
Sewage Treatment PlantORCA Model 11A-36
Electronics: VHF Radios(2) 55 Channel ICOM Depth Sounder(2) Raytheon CompassRitche YB500 Radar(1) Furuno 48 Mile (77.2Km) GPS Chart plotter(1) NorthStar 962 GPS Chart plotter(1) NorthStar 952x Tank Capacities Fuel9,600 gallons approx. (36340L)
Water8,000 gallons approx. (30283L)
Sewage6,900 gallons approx. (26119L)
GalleyElectric
Air Conditioning & Heating50 Tons Carrier
Shell Plating5/16" Plate (7.94mm) Main Deck1/4" Plate (6.35mm) Framing SystemTransverse.
Cruise Review:
The ship has 31 cabins, individually climate-controlled. All have entrances from interior corridors, have picture windows that open, and a small but nicely done private bath with shower. Some staterooms have outside verandas; some are handicap-equipped, some have a TV. There is an elevator between the deck with the dining room and the deck with the observation lounge and library. The elevator does not go to the sun deck.
The observation lounge is where most people hang out when the ship is underway. All the way forward with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, it only takes raising the mini-blinds to reveal a sweeping panoramic view of whatever we are passing. Or if there are no cold breezes blowing, the deck forward of the lounge gives an even closer viewing experience. The lounge has sofas and comfortable chairs, juice and soft drinks for between-meal snacks, a TV/VCR to show the chart readings from the wheelhouse or the latest CNN news. This room is where you can get an early morning juice or coffee and where passengers meet for cocktails and appetizer at 5 o'clock happy hour every day.
Equally panoramic is the dining room which stretches all the way across the stern with windows on three sides. All meals are open seating. For breakfast you can eat at any time. Cuisine is American with local specialties, and there is a choice of two entrees with every meal. Handling special dietary requirements is no problem.
The ship docks in the heart of each town visited so that shopping, museums and other points of interest are within walking distance. There is a library with a collection of books and videos previewing areas to be visited as well as current and classic films. Brochures and maps are posted every day near the bulletin board that holds information on the day's schedule and shore excursions. It is supposed to be a no-smoking ship, although we saw one passenger smoking on the aft deck.
Plans are for the ship to be frequently used by corporate groups and it was designed with that in mind, both the observation lounge and the dining room being usable for meetings. There is satellite TV as well as telephones and a fax machine. They promise me that there will soon be email accessibility for passengers. When desired, a corporate getaway can be combined with golf, with golf experts scheduled to be on board to teach golf and arrange tournaments. There is a putting green on the recreation deck.
