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Scandinavia
Scandinavia - Stardancer - Viking Serenade - Island Escape
 
 
The Scandinavia was delivered in 1982 from Dubigeon-Normandie in Nantes for DFDS Seaways subsidiary Scandinavian World Cruises. She operated a cruise-ferry service from New York to Freeport (Bahamas) which was not successful. DFDS Seaways transferred her to their Oslo-Copenhagen service briefly in 1984, but was sold on to Sundance Cruises in 1985 as the Stardancer. The Stardancer was Sundance Cruises only ship. Sundance soon merged with Eastern Cruise Line to form Admiral Cruises. She then became the Royal Caribbean Viking Serenade when Admiral was merged with them.
 
Built as a car ferry, her chunky ferry looks were further spoilt when the funnel was shortened and an RCCL 'sky lounge' were fitted. Recent postcards describe her as weighing 40132 gross tons, having a length of 635 feet, and carrying 1946 passengers (maximum 2560). In 2002 she will be renamed Island Escape and operate 7-Day Mediterranean cruises as part of a Royal Caribbean/First Choice Holidays joint venture.
 
 
Ship Names on this Page:-
Island Escape - Island Cruises 2002-
Scandinavia - DFDS 1982-85
Stardancer - Sundance Cruises, Admiral Cruises 1985-89
Viking Serenade - Royal Caribbean 1989-2002
 
Associated Pages:-
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - Page 1: The First Generation Cruise Ships
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - Page 2: The Mega-Ships
Admiral Cruises - Amalgamated with RCCL in 1989
Celebrity Cruises - RCCL subsidiary
DFDS Seaways - Original owners of this ship.
Island Cruises - RCCL subsidiary
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - Official UK Home Page
 
References:-
Click on images for details
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scandinavia
(DFDS 1982-85)
 
The Scandinavia was delivered in 1982 from Dubigeon-Normandie in Nantes for DFDS Seaways subsidiary Scandinavian World Cruises. She operated a cruise-ferry service from New York to Freeport (Bahamas) which was not successful. DFDS Seaways transferred her to their Oslo-Copenhagen service briefly in 1984, but she was sold on to Sundance Cruises in 1985 as the Stardancer.
 
 
Postcard of Scandinavia at builders in Nantes.
 
 
Scandinavian World Cruises postcard of Scandinavia and Scandinavian Sun (behind).
 
 
This is a Duncan real photographic card of Scandinavia as delivered.
 
 
Official DFDS Seaways postcard of Scandinavia at Copenhagen when operating the overnight service to Oslo.
 
 
Simplon Postcards sp1046 of Scandinavia at Copenhagen when operating the overnight service to Oslo.
Photo: © Kenn Eilersen.
 
 
Photograph of Scandinavia.
Photo: © Lars Helge Isdahl - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
Stardancer
(Sundance/Admiral: 1985-87)
 
The Stardancer was Sundance Cruises' only ship. They merged with Eastern Cruise Lines to form Admiral Cruises. She became the Viking Serenade when Admiral was in turn merged with Royal Caribbean. Built as a car ferry for DFDS, her chunky ferry looks were further spoilt when the funnel was shortened and an RCCL 'sky lounge' were fitted.
 
 
Sundance Cruises card of Stardancer in Alaska.
 
 
Sundance Cruises card of Stardancer.
Scan: Rogerio Gouveia
 
 
Sundance Cruises card of Stardancer in thePanama Canal.
 
 
Sundance Cruises card of Stardancer in Mexico.
 
 
Photograph of Stardancer.
Photo: © Rickard Sahlsten - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg
 
 
Photograph of Stardancer.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
An official Admiral Cruises card of Stardancer.
 
 
A Mexican card of Stardancer at Puerto Vallarta, serial V7209N.
The top picture shows the card as printed. However, the picture is a mirror image,
and the scan below shows the image in its correct form.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking Serenade
(Royal Caribbean: 1989-2002)
 
Viking Serenade was originally built as the Scandinavia for DFDS subsidiary Scandinavian World Cruises. She operated a cruise-ferry service from New York to Freeport (Bahamas) which was not successful. DFDS transferred her to their Oslo-Copenhagen service until she was sold to Sundance Cruises in 1984. The Stardancer was Sundance Cruises only ship. Sundance merged with Eastern Cruise Line to form Admiral Cruises. She then became the RCCL Viking Serenade when Admiral was merged. Built as a car ferry, her chunky ferry looks were further spoilt when the funnel was shortened and an RCCL 'sky lounge' were fitted. Recent postcards describe her as weighing 40132 gross tons, having a length of 635 feet, and carrying 1946 passengers (maximum 2560). In 2002 she will be renamed Island Escape and operate 7-Day Mediterranean cruises as part of a Royal Caribbean/First Choice Holidays joint venture.
 
 
Astral Graphics official postcard dg-P80064 of Viking Serenade.
 
 
Catalina Island official postcard (photo Burney Ramming) of Viking Serenade.
 
 
Catalina Publications official postcard (photo Alan Barlow) of Viking Serenade.
 
 
RCCL official postcard (vik-2) of Viking Serenade.
 
 
 
 
 
Island Escape
(Island: 2002- )
 
Royal Caribbean have initiated a joint venture with UK holiday operators First Choice to operate the Viking Serenade from 2002. The new company is being marketed simply as Island, and Viking Serenade will be renamed the Island Escape. The brochure is aimed at young first-time cruisers, and emphasises the informality of their operation - it appears to be a UK equivalent of the German Aida Cruises (now owned by P&O but sticking with the German market). She will operate two alternating 7-day itineraries from Palma (Majorca) through the summer of 2002.
 
 
This oversized advertising card was issued for the Brazilian market.
 
 
An official oversized advertising postcard for Island Escape.
 
 
This photograph was taken by Thomas Richter in Menorca in May 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Island Escape in Barcelona.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 2nd, 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Island Escape in Barcelona.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 2nd, 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Island Escape in Barcelona.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 2nd, 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Island Escape in Barcelona.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 2nd, 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Island Escape in Barcelona.
Photo: © Frank Lose, June 30th, 2003 - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Photograph of Island Escape in Nice.
Photo: © Lars Helge Isdahl, May 2nd, 2004 - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Island Escape at Santos, Brazil on 10th December 2006.
She is followed Sky Wonder of Pullmantur, now also a Royal Caribbean subsidiary.
Photos: © Marco Antonio Pedro
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Island Escape at Santos, Brazil on 10th December 2006.
Photos: © Marco Antonio Pedro
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Island Escape at Santos, Brazil on 10th December 2006.
Photos: © Marco Antonio Pedro
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
 
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