In what seems to me like a video editing frenzy, VOLUME EIGHT appears on the scene this week, the third new PK Productions project in less than a year. EIGHT maintains the same level of quality and content enjoyed by SIX and SEVEN, employing the amazing Final Cut editing system once again. As with the others, the latest installment features exterior footage of fifty ships in one hour, presented in alphabetical order with basic titles, a background music soundtrack (Chopin, Glenn Miller, Mozart, and more) and my voice as narration. This is meant to be viewed as a moving "book", inspired by the works of Laurence Dunn and Arnold Kludas. In video format we get to see the ships emit smoke, change perspective, and occasionally "speak" with the blast of their whistles. I have lingered much longer with classics such as SS ORIANA, MV ATALANTE, MV SERENADE (ex MERMOZ), SS NORWAY, SS OCEAN EXPLORER I, SS THE TOPAZ, etc. since these are the ships most of the series patrons and I cherish the most. Soon, I will begin re editing the now mostly sold out first five volumes and then will begin the much anticipated "Let's Go Aboard" series, which will take viewers onboard select vessels from my travels that are no longer in existence.

Here is a detailed look at the story behind the ships and footage:

SS ARTSHIP: ARTSHIP was built in 1940 for Delta Line as the 67 passenger C3P type combiliner DELORLEANS for New Orleans to Buenos Aires service. She was last seen in this series as the California Maritime Academy's training ship GOLDEN BEAR, and is shown here making a return from US Reserve Fleet mothballs on August 7, 1999 for a planned refurbishment as a culture center and university of peace at Oakland, California. The renaming ceremony included mayor Jerry Brown, the former California governor, and a number of veterans who served on board during the ship's heroic World War Two duty as the armed merchant cruiser and attack transport USS CRESCENT CITY. ARTSHIP lingered at her Oakland berth for four and a half years as necessary funding was sought to complete her transformation. Ultimately, the Port of Oakland withdrew its support, and ARTSHIP was sold to scrap merchants in early 2004. The 7,988 gross ton ship is also seen at Mare Island Naval Base awaiting an overseas tow to Asian ship breakers. ARTSHIP is one of the last C3P type combiliners, and a heroic war veteran that served in both Guadalcanal and Okinawa.

MV ASSEDO: Post "9/11" Piraeus port authority paranoia prevented me from obtaining a wide variety of views of the active, handsome ASSEDO, last seen in VOLUME SIX as the SHOTA RUSTAVELI. The 1968 built ship was brought out of layup in 2000 and after a multimillion dollar refit, returned as the blue-hulled ASSEDO (which is ODESSA spelled backwards). A burgeoning metal industry drove per ton scrap prices to unprecedented heights in late 2003, and still viable ships like ASSEDO were no longer safe from one way trips to Alang, India, where she was beached for demolition on November 28, 2003. Clandestine glimpses from several vantages at Alang drive home the ordeal these lovely liners endure when they pass from this world.

MV ATALANTE: ATALANTE returns to the series with her slightly modified Paradise Cruises livery and is shown in a remarkable maneuver at the idyllic Greek island port of Simi. The 1953-built ship debarked nearly 400 passengers in the tiny marina and then proceeded to an anchorage in the outer harbor as the SALAMIS GLORY arrived to disembark her passengers. SALAMIS GLORY then exchanged anchorage positions with ATALANTE, which made her way back to retrieve her complement and sail for Limassol. The 13,562 gross ton Cyprus-based ship was originally Messageries Maritimes TAHITIEN, built for Marseilles to South Pacific Island service. She was sold in 1972 to Aphrodite Cruises who refitted her as a cruise ship and ferry for Mediterranean Sun Lines and renamed her ATALANTE. One of the most successful and long-lived Greek cruise ships, ATALANTE had a brief stint as the HOMERICUS for Epirotiki Lines in 1991 following the sinking of her former fleetmate, OCEANOS, which was originally Messageries Maritimes JEAN LABORDE. ATALANTE was extensively rebuilt near Piraeus in 1993 for new owners, Paradise Cruises. She is a remarkable combination of new and classic and boasts some of the finest wood paneled areas still afloat. ATALANTE is extremely popular on her cruise service from Cyprus to Egypt and the Greek Islands.

MV EUROPEAN VISION: Festival Cruises' 58,000 gross ton EUROPEAN VISION, shown departing Rhodes on a brilliant, windy afternoon, was completed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 2001 as the first of two expanded versions of the company's first newbuild, the popular MISTRAL of 1999. The 2119 passenger ship was followed in 2002 with the identical EUROPEAN STARS. After heavily-publicized financial difficulties, Festival Cruises declared bankruptcy in early 2004. All of its ships were seized and EUROPEAN VISION has since been sold to Italian-based Mediterranean Shipping Company.

MV GEORG BUCHNER: One of five combiliners built for Congo service from Antwerp, Belgium, the GEORG BUCHNER dates from 1951 as Compagnie Maritime Belge's CHARLESVILLE. She originally carried 248 passengers and measured 10,901 gross tons. In 1967, the ship was sold to East German Deutsche Seereederei and renamed GEORG BUCHNER, serving as a merchant training ship. In 1977, she was permanently based at Rostock/Schmarl as a merchant marine training ship and youth hostel. She now serves as an hotel and school ship with many large classrooms carved into her old cargo areas. GEORG BUCHNER has some lovely original spaces, namely her dining room, a grand staircase, and a wood paneled cafe. Her chief engineer was kind enough to take me out on his private boat to photograph her from the Warnow River, even momentarily grounding on a muddy bank to allow me a good video op. She was moved to a quay adjacent to the historic Rostock city center in 2002.

MV GOLDEN PRINCESS: The 2001-built GOLDEN PRINCESS is the second of Princess Cruises GRAND Class of ships. She followed the 1998-built GRAND PRINCESS and was joined in 2002 by the STAR PRINCESS. The ships are identical, carrying a maximum of 3,300 passengers and measuring nearly 109,000 gross tons. GOLDEN PRINCESS' distinguishing feature is the Skywalker's Disco, which is suspended high over her stern and is reached via a futuristic glass enclosed walkway. Although their size is enormous, the Grand Class were designed with scaled down spaces to provide a "small ship" feel. GOLDEN is shown at St. John, New Brunswick, and departing New York with a fireboat in late 2002.

MV IMAGINATION: The fifth unit in the eight member FANTASY series of ships built for Carnival Cruise Lines, the 70,367 gross ton IMAGINATION, shown departing Miami, made her debut in 1995. She carries a maximum of 2,624 passengers and has the same layout and vibrant decorative style as her flashy sisters. Her designer, Joseph Farcus, infused her interiors to a great degree with a classical Greco-Roman mythological theme.

MV ISLAND MERCY: The 1,048 gross ton ISLAND MERCY was built in 1961 as the PETITE FORTE for Newfoundland coastal service. In 1985, she joined the Mercy Ships fleet as the GOOD SAMARITAN bringing supplies and relief to the needy in Caribbean and African nations. In 1994, she was renamed ISLAND MERCY for Pacific and Southeast Asian service, and in 2001, she was sold to become a seaman's training ship at Manila. We were lucky to catch ISLAND MERCY arriving at Manila while sitting in a stalled harbor cruise boat drifting off the starboard stern of the magnificent MS PHILIPPINES (ex AUGUSTUS) in late 1999.

MV JADRAN: The JADRAN, which is best known to her local Toronto patrons as "Captain John's", was built in 1957 as the second of three sturdy Yugoslavian coastal liners. The 2,564 gross ton 171 passenger ship operated for Jadrolinija between Venice, Dubrovnik, and Piraeus and in off season cruising until 1975, when she was sold to Toronto-based restauranteur John Letnik and converted into a stationary restaurant and banquet, and wedding facility. Following her tumultuous Atlantic delivery crossing, she was given a citation for speeding in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Her two sisters, the 1956-built JUGOSLAVIA and JEDINTSVO, went on to become the recently scrapped expedition style cruise ship AMBASSADOR I and Olympic Short Cruises still popular day cruise ship HERMES.

MV JI MEI: We revisit the handsome Hong Kong-based JIMEI following her extensive 2000 refit which found her in a more contemporary looking white and blue funnel livery. The JIMEI dates from 1966 as Jahre Line's PRINSESSE RAGNHILD and operated between Oslo and Kiel. Now the 5,990 gross ton ship is an overnight casino ship with modern facilities. She maintains her berth at the domestic shipping terminal by making an occasional voyage to Xiamen.

MV JIN HU: The 7,708 gross ton JIN HU is one of several Hong Kong-based overnight casino ships that spends her days anchored off the former Kai Tak Airport awaiting the embarkation of her passengers via large tenders. The 1968-built ship was originally the DROTTNINGEN for Trelleborg-based ferry service. She later sailed as the ALZAHRAA, IONIAN VICTORY, and PALOMA before being sold to Shantou Shipping in 1993, taking on her current name. She first ran on coastal liner service before becoming a permanent casino ship. JIN HU is seen looking pristine at her anchorage from the upper decks of Star Cruises' fantastic SUPERSTAR LEO and in footage from 1995, departing Hong Kong with alarmingly rust-streaked flanks.

MV MERCURY: Celebrity Cruises' sleek 77,713 gross ton MERCURY, shown maneuvering out of Vancouver, is the third unit in the CENTURY-class trio. When built, these vessels were light years ahead of the competition in many technical and aesthetic aspects and were dubbed the ñCyber Shipsî by their publicity agents. The Meyer Werft-built 2,450 passenger MERCURY was delivered in 1997, following the 1995-built CENTURY and the 1996-built GALAXY. Although the three can be called sister ships, they are not identical and each enjoys its own unique design nuances. MERCURY has a two deck high observation lounge atop her wheelhouse, a stunning cone-shaped atrium, and a gorgeous balconied dining room with grand staircase in her stern.MERCURY departs Vancouver in the summer of 2003. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003.

GTS MILLENNIUM: The first of four beautifully laid out and appointed Celebrity Cruises' ships, the 90,228 gross ton MILLENNIUM entered service in 2000, literally on the cusp of the new millennium. She was followed by the nearly identical INFINITY and SUMMIT in 2001, and the CONSTELLATION in 2002. The MILLENNIUM and her sisters have specialty restaurants featuring artifacts from famous ocean liners of the past. In the MILLENNIUMÍs case, there are original walnut panels from the White Star Liner OLYMPIC of 1911. The 2,450 passenger ship originally appeared with a blue hull and livery accents of bright red and yellow, but this was revised to a more traditional blue, white, and gold in 2003. She is powered by three General Electric gas turbine units that drive twin mermaid pods at a service speed of 24 knots.

MV NIAGRA PRINCE: American Canadian Caribbean Line's 99 gross ton NIAGRA PRINCE was built in 1994 and carries 84 passengers. Her low clearance and shallow six foot draft allow access to places large ships cannot go. NIAGRA PRINCE spends most of her time cruising the rivers of the US and Canada between New Orleans, Albany, and Quebec. While on an autumn cruise aboard REGAL EMPRESS in 2002, we passed her off Newport, R.I.

SS NORWAY: We revisit the legendary 76,049 gross ton NORWAY departing Miami in her final Norwegian Cruise Line's livery, with midnight blue funnels sporting gold stylized NCL logos. The NORWAY was built in 1961 as French Line's SS FRANCE, and at 1,035 feet, was the longest passenger ship built to date, keeping that distinction until the advent of the QUEEN MARY 2 in 2003. Underneath those famous winged funnels, the FRANCE was a statement of daring Atlantic modernity. Her cuisine and service were unparalleled, but her time in the limelight was short. FRANCE was laid up in 1975 and thought doomed until Norwegian Caribbean Lines purchased her in 1979 and rebuilt her into the NORWAY. Her outer decks were restyled with lidos, two large tenders were placed on her bow, and her machinery spaces and interiors were rebuilt. NORWAY became the first large cruise ship to offer real Las Vegas-styled productions and name acts. Her success led to a surge in giant newbuilds and, even as NORWAY aged gracefully, she maintained a loyal following. In 1990, two prefabricated decks of suites were added atop her superstructure. On May 25, 2003, a boiler explosion at Miami killed eight crewmen. The 2,565 passenger NORWAY was towed to Bremerhaven for repairs but after a lengthy series of surveys, it was determined she would not return to cruise service. Proposals for her preservation in a static role are being reviewed.

MV NORWEGIAN SEA: Norwegian Cruise Line's 42,276 gross ton NORWEGIAN SEA, shown at her berth in Nassau, was built in 1988 as the SEAWARD. She was the first purpose-built new ship for the then struggling cruise line since the SOUTHWARD of 1971. The SEAWARD was renamed NORWEGIAN SEA in 1997 when the entire fleet was given the NORWEGIAN prefix. The 1,209 passenger ship was extensively refurbished in 2003 and will be transferred to parent company Star Cruises' fleet in 2004 for Asian-based cruise service.

MV NORWEGIAN SKY: The 77,104 gross ton NORWEGIAN SKY, shown departing Miami, was laid down at the Bremer Vulkan shipyard as the COSTA OLYMPIA, a nearly identical sister to the COSTA VICTORIA of 1996. The 35% complete ship sat unfinished for over a year after the order was canceled but was ultimately sold to Norwegian Cruise Lines who completed the construction at Lloyd Werft of Bremerhaven. The shipÍs superstructure was modified with one less deck, the addition of two levels of balconied cabins, and NCLÍs more conservative stylings. She entered service as the 2,450 passenger NORWEGIAN SKY in 1999. In 2004, she was transferred into the NCL America fleet and renamed PRIDE OF ALOHA for US-based cruising.

SS OCEAN EXPLORER 1: We last featured Majestic Cruises' historic 1944-built OCEAN EXPLORER I while she was laid up at Eleusis following her use as a floating hotel at Lisbon's Expo '98. Shortly thereafter, the 20,071 gross ton twin funneled steamship went to a nearby shipyard for a refit in early 1999 for Canadian-based The World Cruise Company on a series of round the world voyages. Unfortunately, the 1,400 passenger vessel, despite her elegant profile and spacious open decks, was a poor choice due to her heavy fuel consumption, and the venture, predictably, failed. OCEAN EXPLORER I, with her handsome blue funneled livery, was laid up after one complete voyage in 1999. OCEAN EXPLORER I was momentarily reactivated to serve at the G8 Summit in Naples and again for the canceled NATO Summit at Genoa in 2001. As shown in the opening footage, she arrived in Piraeus Bay for the last time that October, to be laid up and offered for sale or charter. With rising scrap prices, a charter for French personnel at the 2004 Olympics was canceled, and OCEAN EXPLORER I was sold to Indian shipbreakers. The ship was built in 1944, serving as the P2 troop transport GENERAL W. P. RICHARDSON and was rebuilt numerous times to serve as LA GUARDIA, LEILANI, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, ATLANTIS, and, perhaps most successfully, as EMERALD SEAS. This grand lady is shown looking pristine at her Eleusis anchorage in 2001, and then looking a bit forlorn in late 2003.

MV OLYMPIA EXPLORER : Royal Olympia Cruises' 24,931 gross ton 922 passenger OLYMPIA EXPLORER, seen departing Ft. Lauderdale and again laid up at Long Beach, enjoyed a brief career for her first owners. Laid down at Blohm and Voss as the slightly improved sister to the OLYMPIC VOYAGER, Royal Olympic's first ever newbuild, a dispute arose between the financially-troubled company and the shipyard. The EXPLORER's delivery was delayed from Spring until Autumn of 2001, during which time all the company's ships were given the OLYMPIA prefix instead of OLYMPIC. The EXPLORER is an extremely fast ship with a service speed of 28 knots and a special mono-hull construction that was derived from the similarly styled Fast Ferries. All of the now bankrupt companyÍs ships were arrested at the end of 2003, and the OLYMPIA EXPLORER sat at a lonely anchorage off Long Beach until April of 2004, when she was auctioned off to new owners who will operate her for the University of Pittsburgh's Semester at Sea program of world voyages.

MV OLYMPIC COUNTESS: The 1976-built OLYMPIC COUNTESS returns to the series with her blue hulled Royal Olympic livery in the autumn of 2001, shortly before the company was renamed and the ship became the OLYMPIA COUNTESS. This change was brief, however, since Royal Olympia's ships were seized and auctioned off in early 2004. The COUNTESS kept her royal pedigree when she was purchased by Greek-based Majestic Cruises and renamed OCEAN COUNTESS. Her first role will be to replace that company's dowager OCEAN EXPLORER I at the 2004 Olympics as an accommodation ship. The OLYMPIC COUNTESS was originally the CUNARD COUNTESS and later the AWANI DREAM II before joining the Royal Olympic fleet in 1998. She was captured at various ports during one of her three night Aegean cruises.

SS ORIANA: The truly legendary 41,915 gross ton SS ORIANA, shown at Shanghai following her failure as a static attraction, was built in 1960 for Orient Line's UK to Australia service. She was the last ship commissioned for the famed company before its merger with rival P&O Lines and ultimate dissolution in 1965. Like all Orient Liners, ORIANA boasted a large bow crest, hers being a special "double E" monogram to commemorate both Elizabethan eras, the Tudor one she was named for and the Windsor one in which she was built. Her looks were controversial to some, but there was no mistaking the knuckled bulbous bow, terraced back superstructure, obtusely placed funnels of different dimensions (the aft was a dummy), and piled up stern decks. ORIANA carried 638 first and 1,496 tourist class passengers and was powered by Pametrada turbines that drove twin screws at a service speed of 27.5 knots, making her the fastest liner ever on the Australia run. With her modern appointments and open decks, she was a very successful Sydney-based cruise ship in her latter years, but was withdrawn from service in 1986. Her new owners, Daiwa House, gutted and rebuilt her interiors into large museum spaces and restaurants to serve as a museum and hotel at Beppu, Japan. The venture was not a success and ORIANA was sold to Chinese interests for a similar role at Qinhuangdao in 1995. She next went to Shanghai in 1998, but was only open for a year. In 2000, ORIANA was sold to Dalain-based owners and refurbished for a static role in that Chinese resort area.

MV PRIMEXPRESS ISLAND: The 7,662 gross ton PRIMEXPRESS ISLAND, shown on two occasions at Limassol, was built for the Soviet Danube Shipping Company in 1977 as the AYVAZOVSKY. The well-appointed 312 passenger AYVAZOVSKY was renamed CARINA in 1996 for a charter to Phoenix Seereisen. She became the Cyprus-based casino cruise ship PRIMEXPRESS ISLAND in 2000, but was laid up in the outer part of Limassol harbor in October of 2001, and sold to Dutch interests in January 2004 for use as the student hostel ROCHDALE ONE at Amsterdam.

MV PU TUO SHAN: The PU TUO SHAN was built in 1961 as the Danish ferry BORNHOLM for service between Ronne, Travemunde, and Copenhagen. The 4,993 gross ton ship operated on varying Baltic services under the names NYBORG 4 and POVL ANKER until being sold to Chinese Overseas Shipping in 1980 to become the MINH ZU. In 1987, she was renamed PU TUO SHAN for service between Shanghai and Pu Tuo Shan. Seen from various vantages at her Shanghai anchorage, she was sold to Chinese breakers in 2001.

MV QUEEN CONSTANTINA: The 5,276 gross ton QUEEN CONSTANTINA, seen at Limassol in layup, dates from 1966 as the Argentine-owned 33 ORIENTALES. She was sold to Cycladic Cruises and rebuilt into the CITY OF RHODOS in 1980 and was laid up at Eleusis following their collapse in late 1992. In 1994, she was refitted as Vergina Cruises' QUEEN ELENI and laid up in 1996. In 2001, she was extensively refitted for an unsuccessful season of Caribbean cruises as the JOYWAVE and LImassol-based short cruises as the QUEEN CONSTANTINA for New Marathon Cruises, which went bankrupt late that year. Laid up ever since, the rapidly deteriorating ship remains for sale.

RMS QE2: The celebrated QE2 returns in her latest guise under the Carnival-owned Cunard banner. Gone are the midnight blue hull and racing stripes of the Kvaerner era. The 1968-built liner, easily the world's most famous passenger ship until the advent of her new fleetmate, QUEEN MARY 2 in early 2004, sports a dark charcoal gray hull once again. Ironically, when the QE2 was new, many claimed she would be the world's last large passenger ship, but now dozens of ships surpass her in size. On April 25, 2004, the QE2 departed New York in tandem with the QM2 in what would be her final "official" transatlantic crossing. The QM2 will assume the Atlantic role while the 1,791 passenger 70,327 gross ton QE2 will spend her final years in UK-based cruise service. The beautifully proportioned liner, seen during her call at Los Angeles in 2004, will also continue to undertake Cunard's annual world cruise for the foreseeable future. Her night time departure is particularly impressive as she blasts her thunderous whistle and heads out into the mirror-like channel for the final segment of her circumnavigation.

MV R FOUR: Renaissance Cruises' 30,000 gross ton R FOUR, the fourth of eight identical cruise ships built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, entered service in 1998. After the collapse of Renaissance in 2001, the 702 passenger ship, seen at Ft. Lauderdale, was laid up until being sold to Princess Cruises, becoming the TAHITIAN PRINCESS in 2003.

MV RASA SAYANG (wreck): On August 27, 1980, the 18,379 gross ton 878 passenger RASA SAYANG was undergoing a refit at Perama when an engine room fire consumed the ship. She was towed to nearby Kynosaura, just off Salamis Island, where she burnt out and capsized. Now, the bones of the RASA SAYANG, originally the sparkling Norwegian American liner BERGENSFJORD of 1956, are used to anchor fishing boats and derelict ships.

MV REGAL EMPRESS: The 14,533 gross ton REGAL EMPRESS returns under the banner of Imperial Majesty Cruise Lines. She was built in 1953 for Greek Line as the two class transatlantic liner and cruise ship OLYMPIA. When Greek Line folded in 1974, OLYMPIA was thought doomed, but the fates intervened after 7 years of layup, when she was purchased by Sally Shipping to be converted into Commodore Cruises CARIBE. A re -engining and extensive refit kept many of her beautiful wood paneled public spaces intact, and the ship, which was further renamed CARIBE I in 1983, maintained a very devoted following. In 1993, she was sold to Regal Cruises becoming the REGAL EMPRESS, and in 2003, following the collapse of Regal Cruises, she was laid up and offered for sale. Imperial Majesty Cruises purchased 1,068 passenger ship, replacing their 1955-built OCEANBREEZE on two night cruises from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau. REGAL EMPRESS is one of the last of her kind, with old world stylings of etched glass panels and glowing woodwork. She makes a late afternoon departure from Ft. Lauderdale, sounding her whistle as she enters the channel.

MV RENAISSANCE EIGHT: Renaissance Cruises' yacht-like 4,200 gross ton RENAISSANCE EIGHT was built in 1992. The last of a series of eight vessels engaged in worldwide cruise service, the 114 passenger ship was laid up in late 2001 following the collapse of Renaissance Cruises. She is currently sailing for Mauritius Island Cruises as the ISLAND SKY along with the former RENAISSANCE SEVEN, which is now the ISLAND SUN. The EIGHT is captured at Helsinki and St. Petersburg in 2000.

MV SEA BIRD: Linblad Expeditions' diminutive 100 gross ton 76 passenger SEA BIRD was built in 1982 as the MAJESTIC EXPLORER. She is based in various worldwide locales on adventure and enrichment-style cruises, has a bow ramp and a small arsenal of zodiacs and sea kayaks. With deadlights covering her lower deck windows, SEA BIRD enters San Francisco Bay and then salutes us along the Columbia River.

SS SEABREEZE 1: SEA BREEZE I returns in her final Premier Cruises' livery with white funnel and stylized red 'P' logo. The beautifully proportioned former ocean liner was built in 1958 as Costa Line's three class FEDERICO C for Genoa to Buenos Aires crossings and off season cruising. In 1968, she was extensively refitted and was given a one class cruising capacity of 1,259 passengers. In 1983, she was sold to Premier Cruise Line and became the first 'red boat', ROYALE, her name later changing to STARSHIP ROYALE. In 1991, she went to Dolphin Cruise Lines as the SEABREEZE I, and in 1997, when Dolphin, Premier, and Seawind Cruise Lines merged to form Premier Cruises, Inc., her hull and funnel were painted deep blue. In 2000, the struggling company altered its livery to the white funnel shown here. Upon the collapse of Premier, she was arrested at Halifax on September 14, 2000. On December 17, 2001 while enroute to Freeport for layup, the SEABREEZE I encountered mountainous seas 200 miles off Cape Charles, Virginia and began taking water in her engine room. 34 crew members were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter just before she sank. She is shown at Ft. Lauderdale in 2000 during one of her much-publicized breakdowns. Her starboard portals are open, awaiting new boiler tubing and mechanical equipment.

MV SERENADE: Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines operates one of the world's most diverse and interesting fleets. Among their jewels is the beautiful 1957-built SERENADE, which was originally the JEAN MERMOZ, a three class liner built for Fabre Line's Marseilles to West African service. In 1971, the ship was completely rebuilt into the chic, deluxe cruise ship MERMOZ for Paquet Cruises, earning a stellar reputation for fine cuisine and service. MERMOZ was sold in 1999 to Louis, who have employed her in short cruises from Limassol to Egypt, Israel, and the Greek Islands. The SERENADE is very much unchanged from her MERMOZ days and has wonderful teak promenades, a clubby elegance, fine wood paneled cabins, and two spacious lidos. She measures 13,804 gross tons and carries 757 passengers. SERENADE departs Limassol on a sunny autumn afternoon.

MV SPIRIT OF OCEANUS: Cruise West's SPIRIT OF OCEANUS was built in 1991 for Renaissance Cruises as the HANSEATIC RENAISSANCE and was later renamed RENAISSANCE FIVE. She is nearly identical to the RENAISSANCE EIGHT, shown earlier in this volume. The 4,200 gross ton 114 passenger ship was sold to her current owners after the collapse of Renaissance in 2001. SPIRIT OF OCEANUS has rich veneers and quality fittings and is operates in a number of locales from Fiji to Asia and Alaska. She is shown departing Vancouver on a brilliant summer afternoon in 2003.

MV STELLA OCEANIS: The beautifully proportioned STELLA OCEANIS, seen departing Piraeus on a bright morning in 1997, dates from 1965 as the ferry APHRODITE as an Italian war reparation for the Greek government. She was built by the Cantieri Riuniti DellÍAdriatico of Monfalcone, Italy, sporting their stylish swan's neck bow and swept back superstructure. Sun Lines purchased her, replaced the garage with cabins and restyled her interiors with the finest fittings courtesy of famed Italian designer Nino Zoncada. With newly sculpted stern and rakish finned funnel, the 4,480 gross ton 369 passenger STELLA OCEANIS emerged in 1966 as one of the top rated cruise ships of her day. In 1995, Sun Lines and rival company Epirotiki merged to form Royal Olympic Cruises and the STELLA OCEANIS was given a dark blue funnel livery. She was laid up in 2000, and although well maintained, sold in a parcel of three ships including the STELLA SOLARIS and APOLLON to Indian shipbreakers in late 2003. As the S OCEAN, she sailed to Alang, where she was beached on November 30, 2003.

GTS SUMMIT: Celebrity Cruises 90,228 gross ton 2,450 passenger SUMMIT, shown departing Ft. Lauderdale, was completed in 2001 as the third ship in the remarkable MILLENNIUM quartet. She is shown here in her initial livery of dark blue, yellow, and red, which was to be replaced by the white and blue styling shown on the MILLENNIUM earlier in this volume. Like her sisters, SUMMIT features dynamic art and decor and an impressive collection of original ocean liner fixtures, including the NORMANDIE's La Normandie statue and gold leaf panels. She has some of the most architecturally pleasing spaces afloat, from a breathtaking observation lounge and terraced midships lido to a cloistered three deck high grand lobby with onyx staircase.

MV SUN JO I: The mysterious SUN JO I was built in Spain in 1983 as the 600 passenger ferry CITANIA, becoming the SEA TRAVELER II and SEA LINER in 1989 and 1991, reverting to CITANIA in 1992, and taking on her current name in 1995. In recent years, this 1,229 gross ton vessel has been anchored or berthed at Freeport, Bahamas. In 2002, she was damaged when high winds brought the maneuvering day cruise ship DISCOVERY SUN into contact with her forward/starboard superstructure.

MV TARA II: The TARA II, shown from a wave-tossed tender at Eleusis, would have been refitted into a cruise ship had her owners not encountered financial difficulties. The 1966-built vessel was originally the Royal Australian Naval destroyer depot ship STALWART. She was purchased by Marlines in 1990 and renamed HER MAJESTY M with a planned conversion at Perama to have been completed by 1992. Instead the 15, 500 gross ton ship sat at Eleusis, eventually becoming the TARA II before heading to the scrap yard.

MV TERAAKA: The 980 gross ton 80 passenger TERAAKA was built in 1959 as the Yugoslavian coastal vessel OPATIJA. She became the NINIKORIA in 1968 and was sold to her current owner, Edgar Sebastian Roberts, who converted her into the diving yacht TERAAKA in 1975. Aside from her platformed stern, her lovely exterior lines are very liner-like. TERAAKA has completely rebuilt interiors and well-maintained machinery spaces and has sat out the greater part of the past decade in layup at Ensenada, Mexico.

MV THE AZUR: THE AZUR, shown at Limassol and again in a dawn arrival at Eleusis, was built in 1971 for P&O Ferries as the EAGLE for Southampton to Lisbon and North African service. In 1975, she was sold to Paquet and renamed AZUR for Mediterranean cruise and ferry service. In 1986, she was sold to Chandris Cruises, who renamed her THE AZUR. In 1994, the 9,159 gross ton 1,334 passenger ship went to Festival Cruises. In February 2004, she was arrested at Gibraltar when the company declared bankruptcy.

SS THE TOPAZ: Topaz International's 1956-built 32, 327 gross ton steamship THE TOPAZ has led a charmed, varied, and distinguished life. Originally the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, she was the first postwar newbuild for Canadian Pacific Lines Liverpool to Montreal service. The two class ship, nicknamed "Ginger Odeon" by famed maritime historian Laurence Dunn for her interior stylings and pallete, was sold in 1964 to Greek Line. In 1965, following a major refit, she emerged with a built up stern and a large lido as the QUEEN ANNA MARIA, sailing in tandem with OLYMPIA (featured earlier as REGAL EMPRESS). In 1974, she was laid up at Piraeus, then purchased by fledgling Carnival Cruises, who refitted her as the CARNIVALE in 1975. In 1993, she was transferred to short-lived Carnival subsidiary FIesta Marina Cruises and renamed FIESTA MARINA. In 1994, she went to Epirotiki Lines and was renamed OLYMPIC for Aegean cruising. In 1998, she was bought by her current owners who refitted her as THE TOPAZ with fore and aft superstructure extensions. The 1,050 passenger ship was chartered to UK-based Thomson Holidays through 2002, before going to the Japan-based Peaceboat organization for a long term charter on worldwide "awareness" voyages. The last of the Canadian Pacific Liners still afloat is shown during her glorious maiden Vancouver arrival and departure in 2003. THE TOPAZ departing Vancouver in the summer of 2003.

MV TROPIC SEA: The TROPIC SEA was built in 1966 as the ferry PRINSES PAOLA for Sealink's Oostend to Dover service. In 1988, she was sold to Sea Venture Cruises and renamed TROPICANA for a planned conversion to a deluxe cruise ship. Instead, she went on to day cruise service as SEA PALACE and ST LUCIE before taking on the name TROPICANA in 1995. In 1996, the 4,549 gross ton 858 passenger ship was laid up at New York, then Charleston, where her name was changed to TROPIC SEA, and finally was moved to Freeport, where she is seen in this video.

MV VEENDAM: Holland America Line's 55,451 gross ton VEENDAM was built in 1996 as the fourth and final unit of the popular STATENDAM class. The VEENDAM features a large spiral glass atrium sculpture entitled "Jacob's Staircase" by Luciano Vistosi and all the standard Holland America fleet features including a full wraparound teak promenade deck, two story showroom and dining room, and Crow's Nest observation lounge. She has a maximum passenger capacity of 1,613 and spends her winters in the Caribbean and summers in Alaska. She is seen making an ebullient departure from Ft. Lauderdale and again from Vancouver's Lion's Gate Bridge.

MV VIKING BORDEAUX: The VIKING BORDEAUX was built in 1960 as the German ferry BREMERHAVEN for Bremerhaven to Helgoland service. She was sold in 1965 to Sun Lines, who completely rebuilt her into the chic, yacht-like 2,683 gross ton 210 passenger cruise ship STELLA MARIS II. The STELLA MARIS II was transferred to Royal Olympic Cruises following Sun LIne's merger with Epirotiki in 1995 and was sold to to Luxemburg-based Viking Bordeaux, Limited, in late 1998. She entered service in 1999, but was arrested at Eemshaven in 2004 when her owners ceased operations. We see VIKING BORDEAUX undergoing her transformation from STELLA MARIS II near Piraeus and in St. Petersburg, Russia.

MV VISION OF THE SEAS: The final unit in Royal Caribbean's six member VISION class of ships, the 78,491 gross ton 2,416 passenger VISION OF THE SEAS entered service in 1998. She is nearly identical to the RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS of 1997 but differs significantly from the other two, slightly smaller pairs, LEGEND and SPLENDOUR and GRANDEUR and ENCHANTMENT. The VISION ships are attractively proportioned with semi-rounded sterns, large midships lidos and precipitous Viking Crown observation lounges. They incorporate a large amount of glass in their construction, allowing natural light to diffuse their cathedral-like atriums. She is seen from different vantages departing Vancouver.

MV ZAANDAM: Externally, Holland America's 2000-built 60,906 gross ton ZAANDAM looks identical to her 1999-built twin VOLENDAM. And, while the two 1,846 passenger ships share the same layouts, the ZAANDAM's decor is decidedly youth-oriented with an emphasis on bright colors and bold, pop art. Both ships have evolved from the STATENDAM class with longer bows and more refined hulls that take their stylings from the twin flagships ROTTERDAM and AMSTERDAM. ZAANDAM is based out of Port Canaveral, Florida in the Winter and Vancouver in the summer. She is captured at Vancouver and later, in tumultuous seas from the passing OOSTERDAM off Florida.

MV ZUIDERDAM: The 84,000 gross ton Panamax ZUIDERDAM was christened by Joan Lunden in 2002 (captured here) as the first of Holland America's four Vista Class ships, named for the four points on the Dutch compass. Their hulls are of the same dimensions as parent company Carnival's SPIRIT Class, but their layouts, superstructure design, and machinery are substantially different, utilizing supplemental gas turbines. ZUIDERDAM is the first passenger ship with twin functioning funnels since Italian Line's RAFFAELLO of 1965. She is shown exchanging introductory salutes in an exciting side-by-side encounter with her newer sister OOSTERDAM off the coast of Florida. ZUIDERDAM's interior look is even more youth-oriented than that of the ZAANDAM, employing vivid colors, pop art, and metallic surfaces. ZUIDERDAM is based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on year-round weekly eastern and western Caribbean cruises.

Peter Knego, June 4, 2004

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