Rotterdam in Turkey, November 2013

I recently acquired a new computer. For the changeover into the new machine, I backed up everything on an external hard drive (something which I semi-routinely do anyway). Everything seemed to have worked perfectly, every folder I checked had the images it was supposed to and everything was accounted for.

I was wrong. For whatever reason, two folders had not been copied in full: the folder featuring images from my spring 2013 Baltic Sea cruise onboard St. Peter Line's Princess Anastasia, and the one with photos from my autumn 2013 Mediterranean cruise onboard Holland America Line's Rotterdam. The photos from the port of Piraeus, which I have been sharing with you during the winter, all originated from that trip. I had also been saving a large number of interior images from the Rotterdam to share with you at a later date, as well as a number of splendid exterior shots of the same ship. Well, I shan't be sharing the interior images with you, as they no longer exist, thanks to the wonders of computers. Fortunately I had copied some of the exterior images to a different folder for some reason. I'm not sure if these are the best selection, but they are the only surviving selection.

Rotterdam

IMO 9122552
Built 1997, Fincantieri Venice, Italy
Tonnage 61 849 GT
Length 237,95 m
Width 32,25 m
Draugth 7,80 m
1 668 passengers
1 668 berths
5 Sulzer Fincantieri diesels, combined 37 500 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
2 stern thrusters
Speed 25 knots

For a very brief history of the current Rotterdam, see the first entry on the ship. Those interested in an account of what it was like to cruise on her can read my four-part report at MaritimeMatters: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. The report also includes interior shots, albeit in a smaller resolution than what I normally use here.

The photographs below show the Rotterdam in the port of Kusadasi (15 November), Marmaris (16 November) and Alanya (17 November), respectively. As always, click on the individual images to see them in larger size.

Showing her scifi-sleek looks, with the equally futuristic (albeat rather differently designed) Celebrity Constellation berthed behind her.

Making her maiden call at Marmaris, which was definately the least interesting port in the itinery - though it did yield fine photos.

Alanya offered by far the best photo opportunities of the voyage. I'm a bit surprised one doesn't see more photos like this floating around.

Kships exclusive: Tallink reveals the new livery of the Baltic Queen!

The Estonian ferry operator Tallink Grupp today revealed that they will renew the liveries of the Baltic Queen (sailing under the Tallink brand on the Helsinki-Tallinn route) and the Baltic Princess (sailing under the Silja Line brand on the Turku-Stockholm route) when the ships are next docked. "The Galaxy has been since the beginning in a livery designed by the Estonian artist Navitrolla. We have decided to honour Swedish and Finnish artists in the new liveries of the Galaxy's sisters, thus our three main markets will be present on the sides of our largest and newest ships", says Tallink's managing director Janek Nalmeister.

The first ship to be repainted is the Baltic Queen, which will receive artwork designed by the Finnish war veteran and internationally renowned artist Touko Laaksonen in its docking next autumn. The Baltic Princess will receive artworks by the Swedish painter Hilma af Klint at a later date.

An artit's impression the Baltic Queen's new livery, by Touko Laaksonen, better known under the stage name Tom of Finland. Photo copyright AS Tallink Grupp/Jani Nousiainen/Kalle Id.