Vistafjord / Caronia

Cunard, under the direction of Trafalgar House Co., acquired Norwegian America Cruises in 1983 for US$73 million (approx. $111 million). With this purchase, Cunard gained two superb liners; Sagafjord and Vistafjord (later Caronia).

When Cunard acquired Sagafjord and Vistafjord, they were originally to be renamed with traditional Cunard names; however, Cunard maintained their identities and they consistently received 5-plus star ratings by cruise review specialists, such as the Berlitz Guide.

Vistafjord was completed in 1973 and, after years of cruising with Cunard, undertook a major $30 million (approx. $45 million) refit in late 1994.

During this refurbishment, Vistafjord was given a largely refreshed interior designed to ensure she retained her high-quality rating. The work included the addition of two large “owners suites” to her top decks near the funnel.

The following year, Trafalgar House Co.’s financial position started to falter. Vistafjord’s fleet mate Sagafjord was retired from Cunard earlier than expected, along with a number of other Cunard ships including Cunard Princess and Cunard Crown Jewel, in an attempt to reorganise and rationalise the fleet. Vistafjord, which had recently been refurbished, was retained.

The remaining Cunard fleet continued to sail on an altered schedule to try and make as much money as possible for the line. In 1997, Cunard Countess and Cunard Crown Dynasty were sold to Mediterranean shipping interests. Vistafjord and the rest of the Cunard fleet were sold to Kvaerner Shipbuilders Co. in late 1996 when it acquired interests in Trafalgar House Co.

Vistafjord continued to cruise as a 5-star ship, but by early 1998, she and the rest of the fleet were in desperate need of further refit. Kvaerner were unable to maintain the fleet and the question of selling or scrapping the fleet was a possibility. However, this option was less appealing than a resale of Cunard Line.

In April 1998, the Carnival Corporation bought the Cunard Line. Carnival merged Cunard with Seabourn Cruises, which they already held a controlling interest in, to form “Cunard Line Ltd”. Carnival put the newly formed line under the direction of Larry Pimentel, as President and COO.

In early 1999, the decision was made to split the fleet, with the two luxury liners to go to Cunard, while the luxury yachts were merged with the Seabourn operation. As a result of this, QE2 and Vistafjord were matched as fleet mates in the Cunard division of “Cunard Line Limited”. Royal Viking Sun and the Sea Goddesses were transferred to Seabourn.

The plan was to rebuild the Cunard side as a ‘British Luxury Cruise Line’ and the Seabourn side as ‘Luxury Norwegian-style cruising’. As a result of this, the decision was made to rename Vistafjord, and after her late 1999 refit, she emerged as Caronia; shortly after, she joined the Lloyd’s Register as a British-flagged liner. The refurbishment work saw all rooms refurnished and recarpeted, along with a major refurbishment of her top-grade penthouse accommodation and the creation of the “White Star Bar”.

As Caronia, the ship enjoyed ongoing support from her loyal client base (many of whom had followed her from her days as Vistafjord). In 2003, it was announced she had been sold to Saga Cruises. Caronia departed from Cunard service in late 2004. She was originally intended to leave as the Queen Victoria was to enter service, but due to that ship’s late arrival, there was a significant gap left by her departure.

With Saga Cruises she was named Saga Ruby and sailed with the line until 2014, when she was sold to interests in Southeast Asia for use as a floating hotel. Sadly, the ship has since been scrapped.

Image: QE2 and Caronia off Barbados (Cunard)