Remembering the "SUNDREAM"



This post takes us back to 1997, the "SUNDREAM" is seen secured for sea ready for another departure from Barcelona. The ship was built in 1970 by WARTSILA in Finland as the "SONG OF NORWAY" to Royal Caribbean, she was 18416 GRT with a top speed of 22 knots, the vessel was lengthened by 24 meters in 1978, the GRT was increased to 23005 GRT. In 1996 the ship was sold to AIRTOURS SUN CRUISES and was renamed "SUNDREAM", she is still around operated by INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PARTNERS under the name of "GEMINI" but facing uncertain times with the ship being reported for sale or charter

Comments

  1. Nice memories of SUNDREAM and her sister CAROUSEL when they used to call frequently in Funchal during my childhood when my passion for the sea and ships was growing.
    Excelent images and post. Kind Regards!

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  2. Hi Joao
    I have sailed on CAROUSEL in 1995, I will be doing a post tomorrow with some images of that fantastic experience, they were very charming sisters at the time

    All the best

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  3. We sailed the Sundream from Barcelona in August of 1998. It was our first cruise and we loved it although having cruised many times since then we have to ask ourselves "what were we thinking"

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  4. Thank you for the comment above, SUNDREAM was a nice first time cruise experience, her best days were long gone, having said that I sailed on her sister ship the CAROUSEL, not my first time and enjoyed it

    BR
    Vitor

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  5. We were on the sundream aug 1997, where one night we lost power and drifted to sea for hours, passengers were ill to their stomach and scared , and now thinking about it , we were never compensated for this, really???? what were we thinking???

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    Replies

    1. My wife (Ann) and myself (Barrie) were also on this trip we thought it was great fun it was unfortunate but these things happen and the crew were good to us

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  6. sorry to hear about your ordeal Anne, sometimes things can go wrong, even on younger much younger ships, like we've witnessed recently.

    thanks for your comment
    Vitor

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  7. Took our 1st cruise in 1999 on the Sundream in the western Med. Crew provided great service and had a wonderful time. In 2004 took a last minute winter escape on the Sundream in the Caribbean. Flight, cruise & booze for $1100(CDN). Travel agent tried to talk us out of it for one of the bigger cruise lines. We knew what to expect and had another great cruise. Once again the crew provided excellent service. We have a lot of fond memories of the Sundream. B&J Canada

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  8. We took our first ever cruise in August 2001 on the Sundream. My son and I spent the first day in bed (crossing the Bay of Biscay) whilst my husband was the only 'good sailor' that day. The rest of the cruise was fine though although there were some rough days. The gym was very small compared to those on the modern ships. It was a good introduction to cruises, bigger and better have since followed!

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  9. Went on my first cruise on sundream with my sister in 2001 all around the Carribean had a fab time although many serious "cruisers" have laughed at me for going on the sundream !!! It was great had the best time !!!!

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  10. I've sailed on the CAROUSEL and loved it, don't see why people would laugh if someone sails on SUNDREAM/CAROUSEL

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  11. I worked on the sun dream from 1999 to 2000, in the salon. The best days of my life and I'm sure we had more fun than the passengers, it was like a family. Miss it so much. I have my own family now, married and three children, but I will never forget those days and all the wonderful countries i was lucky enough to visit more than once, the carribean was amazing. :-)

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  12. thank you for the comment above

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  13. My first cruise in 1999 was on Sundream

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  14. Cruised on the ms sundream twice as a kid first around the med must of been 1997 and then again cruise and stay Jamaica and south America in 1999. Absolutely loved it and now 2016 have booked to go on first cruise since for my honeymoon on new carnival ship vista so gonna be a big difference. Absolutely loved ms sundream though :)

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  15. m/v Sundream was my first ever cruise ship. In 1999 I was cruising there to Havana from Montego Bay-Jamaica. It was the turning point in my live, at which I have decided to start my career on sea.
    When I was playing a piano on Sundream, co-passengers liked my music so much and begun asking: where, in which bar I will be playing.
    On return from this cruise, I went for audition at Open Wide International - London Agency, and had a placement! Now - for over 15 years I am entertaining passengers at sea .

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  16. My very first cruise was taken on Sundream. I think it was 1998 or 1999 and we went from Palma around the Med, stopping at Villefranche, Barcelona, Livorno for Florence , Rome and our first stop was going to be Tunis. Due to a delay in the ships departure from Palma (waiting for delayed flights !!), the ship missed out Tunis completely which was a disappointment but the remainder of the port stops were excellent and the ship was lovely. No Norovirus then. I also remember it with fondness as I went with my late Mother.

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  17. Our first cruise was on the sundream in October 1997 from Palma around the med and 11 Caribbean islands. It was amazing. The cabin was basic compared to other cruises we've done since with 2 small far apart single beds...(well it was our honemoon😉!) The crew were great. The food was amazing. The ports were fantastic. Would love to know where the sundream is now...

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  18. Our first cruises were on sun dream (2000 I think ) sailing from Southampton around the med and back. Fond memories must have enjoyed them have cruised ever since great times and adventures with captain Rentell

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