Here is the new look of the Oslo ferries
Af Benita Dreyer-Andersen
Finally, the Swedish owner can reveal the new look of the Oslo ferries.
Now, the Swedish owner, Gotlandsbolaget, can reveal what the two former DFDS ferries will look like under the new ownership.
In a press release on Wednesday, Gotlandsbolaget announced that red and green colors will adorn the two passenger ferries going forward. And on the funnel, the DFDS cross will be replaced with a large "G" for Gotlandsbolaget.
- We are really happy with the new colors. The aqua-green color is inspired by the ocean tones between Oslo and Copenhagen – the exact shade was chosen from more than 15 different color samples. With this color, we significantly distinguish ourselves from other cruise ferries, said Kim Heiberg, the head of the route between Oslo and Copenhagen.
Before the final decision on the new colors was made, Gotlandsbolaget tested the color among some of the route's guests, it was reported.
- Of course, we also conducted focus groups with current guests in both Denmark and Norway before making a decision – and they gave the color top marks, said Kim Heiberg.
The new green color will be used both physically on the ships and in all communication from the route, meaning brochures, advertisements, digital banners, and so on.
- The ships' aqua-green color is complemented by a red funnel. The red color represents the cohesion with the route’s new owner, Gotlandsbolaget, which has a red logo – and thus a red funnel on all their ships. At the same time, the ships will have a contrasting black stripe in the middle of the ship, said Kim Heiberg.
Name change
The makeover is already underway for 'Nordic Pearl', which is the first of the two ships to undergo transformation. Currently, she is docked in the dry dock at Landskrona, where the cabins are being upgraded, among other enhancements, including her external appearance.
Last week, it was revealed that the ships are also changing names from 'Pearl Seaways' to 'Nordic Pearl' and from 'Crown Seaways' to 'Nordic Crown'.
Later in the year, Gotlandsbolaget will unveil the new name for the Oslo route, but Kim Heiberg has previously stated that it makes sense to think along Nordic lines for the new route name, now that both ferries have been prefixed with Nordic.
Nordic Pearl is expected to return to Copenhagen for the first time on January 24, dressed in her new colors and with upgraded cabins and common areas.
In March, the route’s second ship, Nordic Crown, will also sail to Landskrona to undergo a similar transformation and be painted in the same green and red colors.
