SAGAFJORD off Nordkapp c. 1966

Stephen

Beautiful painting of the beautiful NAL SAGAFJORD. I saw her many times as the SAGAFJORD and in her later years as the SAGA ROSE.

In October 1986 whilst the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 was in Bremerhaven having her major refit from steam powered to diesel powered I was transferred to the SAGAFJORD for one round trip trans-Atlantic crossing whilst she was temporarily covering for the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2. It was a great experience working on her for that sailing and so different to what I had been used to whilst working on board the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2.

Hope that your keeping well.

Regards

Sean

Thanks Sean. Yes, all well... the brush is busy too!

Yes, SAGAFJORD was quite different from QE2 and VISTAJFORD was completely different as well and when she became CARONIA she was different again! You would have thought SAGA ROSE was similar to QE2. Most of the officers came from Cunard! You must have enjoyed the SAGAFJORD transatlantic. Who wouldn't!

Best wishes to Southampton!

Stephen

Stephen

Stunning work! Lovely three different tones in each cliff giving perfect perspective. She sails very elegant and refined.

Roberto

A nice painting Stephen,

Regarding the Norwegian coast, have you ever done a painting of a ship with the globe marking the Arctic Circle in the background?

Frank

Great painting, what a 'God Forsaken looking place'
Jim

Thanks Frank. This is the ship passing North Cape.... not quite sure... "a ship with the globe marking the Arctic Circle in the background" ?

Jim, looks great when sitting in you dining room on board Saga Ruby. If I recall my table was on the other side of the ship. As far as 'God Forsaken'... the next morning we arrived in Murmansk. Dirty, filthy, disgusting... one of the most interesting shore excursions I have ever done.

Thanks Roberto. I think ships in the past used to sail quite close under the cliffs. The bigger the cliffs, the ship gets smaller. If the ship is too big... the Cape looks too distance. Here I was trying to give a good composition. It is just a try out. I was thinking of a painting of the new Saga ship.... block of flats at the Cape!

Stephen

Stephen

Regarding the NAL SAGAFJORD and VISTAFJORD.

NAL Norwegian America Line changed it's name to NAC Norwegian America Cruises in 1980, purchased by Cunard Line in 1983.

Shortly after Cunard purchased NAC the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 and VISTAFJORD were in port together in Malaga and a few officers we're invited on-board the VISTAFJORD for a tour and lunch. I can remember one of the senior Norwegian officer's pointing to his cap with the NAC initials and stating that it stood for "Never Accept Cunard". It left us rather surprised and the atmosphere at lunch was strange to say the least.

The takeover of NAC by Cunard wasn't totally accepted by some of the long-standing officers on-board but by the time that I was transferred to the SAGAFJORD in October 1986 this wasn't so evident and with a few Cunard officer's onboard the atmosphere had changed to the extent that the ship felt very much a Cunard ship.

I thoroughly enjoyed that trans-Atlantic voyage on-board the SAGAFJORD and I was quite upset when it was over to be honest but I soon got over it by the time I rejoined the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 in Bremerhaven and boarded what seemed like a brand new ship.

Regards

Sean

Sean,

Yes, I saw this kind of attitude in SAGAFJORD a couple of times and also on RVL. Never assume a passenger is just a.... 'landlubber'.

Stephen

'... "a ship with the globe marking the Arctic Circle in the background" ? ... '

There is a 'globe' on the headland at the North Cape which is, of course, far north of the Arctic Circle. I have the 'globe' but no ship as I got there by bus. I don't seem able to add the pic here for some reason but will try to post it in the gallery.

https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1225465/title/globe-at-the-north-cape/cat/500
https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1225467/title/globe-at-the-north-cape/cat/500

It is there in my painting.... right at the top of the cliff... with the small white spot.... the white globe building. The painting is only 10 x 12 inches... could not put more in my two cat hair brush.

Stephen