I was amazed to read this week that Louis Cruise Lines has sold the 42-year-old Princesa Marissa. Not because it has been sold; more that Louis still had the ship in the first place.
I had the misfortune to sail on it once, thankfully for just two nights, and have to say it was a perfect example of how not to do it - a dingy cabin. iffy food and cheesy entertainment.
Worst of all, when we boarded in Limassol, Cyprus, the ship was listing, which made me doubly alert on the lifeboat drill.
Thankfully I survived the experience and even carried on cruising (there is surely a film there somewhere?) despite their best efforts to put me off.
Incidentally, Louis has also sold the Serenade, which unbelievably was even older (it has another 10 years on Marissa), as part of a fleet upgrade programme. You may remember it has just bought Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Majesty from Norwegian Cruise Line.
Now we know why.
Jane Archer
