History

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                                    History

LOI
Building contract
Building started
Keel laid
9/9/1946Launch
10/1947Sea trial
Second sea trial
7/2/1948Delivered to Ab Svenska Amerika Linjen, Göteborg, Sweden
21/2/1948Maiden voyage from Göteborg to New York.
1953/54Rebuild by AG Weser, Bremen, W.Germany.
25/7/1956Collision with Andrea Doria. 47 dead on Andrea Doria and 5 on Stockholm.
7-11/1956Repaired on Betlehem Steel, New York, USA.
11/1956Back on Göteborg – New York service.
15/5/1959Sold to Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, Rostock, East Germany.
3/1/1960Delivered to new owner. New name Völkerfreundschaft.
1960Operated by VEB Deutsche Seereederei, Rostock. Cruise service
1966/85Winter charters to Stena Line. Cruises from Göteborg to Caribbean and Norway.
1974Owner VEB Deutfracht/Seereederei, Rostock, East Germany.
4/1985Sold to Neptunus Rex Enterprises, Panama. New name Volker.
4/1985Laid up at Holmestrand.
11/12/1985Towed to Southampton for repairs.
20/12/1986 New name Fridtjof Nansen.
12/1986Towed to Oslo, Norway. Used as refugee accommodation.
5/1989Sold to Star Lauro Societeta per Anzoni, Napoli, Italy.
6-27/5/1989Towed to Varco Chiapella shipyard, Genova, Italy.
5/1989Laid up.
1992Totaly rebuild by Varco Chiapella shipyard, Genova, Italy.
1993New name Italia I.
10/1994New name Italia Prima. Owner Nina Cia. di Navigazione, Napoli, Italy.
31/10/1994Cruises on Mediterranean.
22/12/1995Charter to Neckermann Seereisen.
12/1995Cruises on Caribbean and around the world.
6/1/1998Neckermann Seereisen experiences financial problems, laid up in Genova.
1998Chartered out for five months as an exhibition ship in Lisboa.
9/1998Chartered out to Air Maritim Seereisen (Valtur Tourist). New name Valtur Prima.
9/1998Cruises on Caribbean.
2001Laid up at Cuba.
12/2002Sold to Festival Crociere Spa, Napoli, Italy. New name Caribe. Operating plans cancelled.
10/2004Laid up at Lisboa, Portugal.
2004Sold to Nina SpA, Lisboa, Portugal.
7/1/2005New name Athena.
2005Owner Classic International Cruise, Madeira.
3/12/2008The ship was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
12/2008Sold to First Quality Cruises Inc, Napoli, Italy.
5/2009Portugal flag.
5/2009Charter to Phoenix reisen.
17/8/2012The ship was detained in Marseille due to unpaid bills.
9/2013Sold to Island Cruises Transportes, Lisboa, Portugal. New name Azores.
2015Operated Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
3/2016New name Astoria.
5/2016Chartered to Rivages du Monde.
3/2017Operated Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
20/7/2020South Quay Travel Ltd – which traded under the name Cruise & Maritime Voyages – was placed into administration on 20 July 2020.
5/12/2020Laid up at Rotterdam.
24/2/2022Brake a ropes in heavy weather in Rotterdam and the stern collided with a container ship. Towed back to the quay.
17/6/2025Sold at auction to Belgian scrappers.
3-5/7/2025Towed to Galloo Recycling, Ghent, Belgium for scrapping.
2025-2026Scrapped.