Built in 1966, the Black Prince is an 11,209-ton, seven-deck cruise liner. She is 480 ft in length and 67 ft in width, with a cruising speed of 18.5 knots. Under Bahamian registry, she has Norwegian officers and a mainly Filipino crew of 200. She is now the oldest ship in the Fred. Olsen fleet and will be retired in a few years, before the new 2010 Safety of Life at Sea regulations kick in. Carrying up to 451 mostly British passengers, she sails from Southampton, and also Scottish ports, on cruises of from 7 to 18 days. The atmosphere is clubby and very British, yet Norwegian hospitality and Asian warmth inspire camaraderie aboard.
Fred. Olsen is a venerable Norwegian family-owned firm that dates from 1886 with business interests in cruise and ferry shipping and the Canary Islands. Initially, the Black Prince was built as a dual-purpose ship, plying the North Sea ferry routes in summer and the U.K. to Canary Island fruit and passenger trade in winter. When converted to a full-time cruise ship, the vehicle deck space saw 125 cabins added.
Middle-class Britons, including many regulars, are the in vast majority. They like the intimate and unpretentious nature of the ship, and the regulars would never dream of sailing in a high-tech megaship. In a couple of years, however, if they wish to continue to cruise, they will be forced to switch to one of the company's other three, and soon to be four, larger and newer ships. Gratuities are extra to the passengers' own account.
Norway, the Baltic, Canary Islands, Mediterranean and West Africa are the principal cruising areas. A long cruise from England to the Caribbean and South America is often an annual feature. All cruises depart from the U.K.
Art decorates public areas, and the most recent refurbishment resulted in gentler color schemes but she is an old ship now and showing her age. The dining room has two sections with two sittings, both with side-view picture windows. An alternative dining space high up takes reservations on the evenings it is open. The food is good British-style cooking with the kind of dishes passengers who are decent cooks might prepare at home. Drinks are poured in several bars, and passengers socialize in several lounges, including one showcasing British entertainers of varying professionalism. Organized activities include cocktail parties for singles, dance and crafts lessons. The ship has a decent health center with an indoor pool, sauna, solarium, beauty salon and massage room, and a roomy lido with an outdoor pool and two whirlpools. A 60-ft hydraulic marina with a watersports deck extends aft. However, the marina sees little use. A disco, video room screening films, small casino, library and oversized chessboard are additional features.
The 238 cabins range from tiny to generously proportioned. Many are inside with no view, and 31 sell as singles. Two are wheelchair-accessible. In some cabins, one berth folds down while others have a sofa, and all have a desk and TV. In hot climates, the air conditioning varies in effectivness.
Although geared to British cruisers, Black Prince offers a good value for Anglophile Yankee sailors, especially those over 50 who would enjoy a classic cruise experience aboard a decidedly older ship.
