The final passenger saloon, the Manhattan Café, is just aft of the Show Lounge on Deck 7. Modern and rather uninspired, it still featured signs noting that the currency accepted on board was US Dollars. The after end of this deck is given over to more passenger cabins, many of which were added (along with a number on the Bridge Deck above) during a very early Stena refit when the aft superstructure was extended.
The Scotia Prince’s outside decks are a delight: full-length, teak-planked promenades either side on Deck 7 and similar above on Deck 8 plus tiered platforms astern as well as top deck space forward and aft of the funnel, including a deck bar and hot tubs. When looking around these I suddenly felt a feeling of sadness for her sister the Egnatia III. It was the expansive outside decks which had been one of the most striking features when we sailed on her during that one golden Summer with HML in 2003, perfectly suited to the hordes of deck-class backpackers that the company used to take over to Greece. Whilst the Scotia Prince was in generally very good order, with engine repairs in progress and a new charter to Algeria Ferries due to commence at the start of June, her sister remains in lay up with a very uncertain future. That 2003 season was really HML’s last hurrah, but at the time it seemed eminently possible that their new ship, filled with both tourists and locals, could be the start of a successful new era. Alas it was not to be and now, amidst the financial wreckage of her owners, she is entwined in legal wrangles and looks unlikely to ever sail operationally again.
Looking down on the vehicle deck, there was indication of the engine repairs in progress, with this being evidently used as a workshop whilst work was ongoing. The car deck was originally a standard-full-height space with central casing and mezzanine decks but, at presumably the same time the ship was stretched, the starboard side mezzanine was fixed in place with cabins added at this level. The passenger cabins beneath the car deck remain in use, as are numerous crew cabins and, adjacent, a modest crew mess.
Leaving the Scotia Prince at about 4.30 we headed back to the ferry terminal to reclaim our bags and board our evening departure to Olbia on the Janas. At this stage Brucey left us – his plans couldn’t accommodate the second part of the trip and we last saw him marching off trying to track down a vessel to take him on a harbour cruise. The pleasant walk from shipyard to Traghetti Terminal took about half an hour and after a quick detour to the terminal’s supermarket for water and other supplies, we made our way to our ship. [continued...] |
