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This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Classic International Cruises
(Arcalia Shipping)
These pages are devoted to postcards and photographs of the Classic International Cruises fleet, the operating name for Portuguese ship owners Arcalia Shipping.
An alphabetical list
of ships covered on this page is shown below.
The table below this
, gives complete career histories for selected ships. Below the table are postcards of
the 2001 fleet
in current colours (previously they carried yellow funnels with a blue band).
Ships on this Page:-
Arion
- Classic International: 1999-
Athena
- Classic International: 2005-
Funchal
- Classic International: 1985-
Ocean Monarch
- Classic International Cruises: 2008-
Princess Danae
- Classic International: 1996-
Princess Daphne
- Classic International Cruises: 2008-
Associated Pages:-
Costa Line - Linea "C"
Portuguese Liners
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
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Simplon Postcards Home Page
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Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
Built
Photos
Arion
Istra, Astra, Astra I
1965
Athena
Stockholm, Völkerfreundschaft, Italia Prima
1948
Funchal
1961
Yes
Princess Danae
Port Melbourne, Danae, Baltica
1955
Yes
Classic International Fleet List
Funchal
(Classic International: 1985- )
Funchal
was built for the Portuguese line Empresa Insulana de Navegacao, Lisboa, and was used on the Lisbon-Azores-Madeira route. She was reconditioned as a full time cruise ship in 1973, when her steam turbines were replaced by diesels. Her exterior profile has changed little, with only a small extra deck added over the stern, and large tenders now carried in front of the bridge.
Funchal
is 9846 grt in size, 501 ft long and carries 402 passengers. She is currently owned by Arcalia Shipping, Panama, and has been marketed as International Cruises and Classic International Cruises.
A complete history of
Funchal
Additional photos of
Funchal
at Harwich
The two official Classic International Cruises postcards below of
Funchal,
released late 2000, show the extended accommodation aft.
Princess Danae
(Classic International: 1996- )
The
Princess Danae
was built in 1955 as the fast cargo liner
Port Melbourne
(with sister
Port Sydney
) for Port Line's UK-Australia express service. They had a service speed of 17 knots, faster than most contemporary cargo ships. This made them suitable for conversion to passenger use and in 1972, both ships were sold to John Karras for conversion to car ferries. However, the plans changed, and instead they were completely rebuilt as the up-market cruise ships
Danae
and
Daphne
, operated by Delian Cruises on lengthy (and expensive cruises). The venture was not a success, and both ships were offered for charter,
Daphne
sailing for Lauro Lines amongst others. Both ships were then chartered by
Costa Lines
, and purchased outright in 1984.
In 1990,
Danae
and
Daphne
were transferred to Prestige Cruises, a joint venture between Costa and Sovcomflot, receiving new funnel colours. In 1992,
Danae
was damaged by fire whilst undergoing a refit.
The remains were sold for rebuilding, and she served as
Baltica
in 1994, before becoming
Princess Danae
for the Lisbon-based company Arcalia Shipping, who now trade as Classic International Cruises, and who also manage the
Funchal
.
A complete history of
Princess Danae
Additional photos of
Princess Danae
at Harwich
A Classic International Cruises official card of
Princess Danae
.
A Classic International Cruises official card of
Princess Danae
.
The two latest Classic International Cruises official cards of
Princess Danae
.
Arion
(Classic International: 1999- )
Arion
was built as the
Istra
in 1965 by Brodogradiliste Uljanik in Yugoslavia (now Croatia) for Jadranska Linijska Plovidba (the Yugoslav state shipping company). She has a sister
Dalmacija
, which is still in service in 2007 Adriatic Cruises along the Croatian coast. The sisters operated a long route from Venice calling at numerous Yugoslav, Greek, Lebanese and Egyptian ports, including Piraeus and Dubrovnik in both directions. They were the first large trans-Mediterranean passenger ships to be built in Yugoslavia, and were fitted with enclosed swimming pools. First class cabins all had private facilities and were on the promenade, upper and main decks. The sisters carried 165 first class passengers and 52 tourist class. Twin-screws driven by Sulzer diesels of 7500bhp gave a speed of 18 knots, and stabilisers were fitted from new. They were measured at 5465 grt and were 384ft long.
Istra
sailed as
Astra
from 1991, becoming
Astra I
in 1997. She remained under the Yugoslav flag and operated on charter to German owners, before eventual purchase by Arcalia shipping of Lisbon in 1999, who renamed her
Arion
. Current passengers are listed as 312 in 141 cabins, and tonnage is 5888grt.
Complete history of
Arion
Year 2000-issued Classic International postcards of their 1999 acquisition
Arion
.
Year 2000-issued Classic International postcards of their 1999 acquisition
Arion
.
Classic International's cruise ship
Arion
in winter lay-up in Lisbon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Lisbon, 28th October 2003.
Click to open larger image in new window
Classic International's cruise ship
Arion
in winter lay-up in Lisbon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Lisbon, 28th October 2003.
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Classic International's cruise ship
Arion
in winter lay-up in Lisbon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Lisbon, 28th October 2003.
Click to open larger image in new window
Classic International's cruise ship
Arion
in winter lay-up in Lisbon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Lisbon, 28th October 2003.
Click to open larger image in new window
Classic International's cruise ship
Arion
in winter lay-up in Lisbon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Lisbon, 28th October 2003.
Click to open larger image in new window
Classic International's cruise ship
Arion
in winter lay-up in Lisbon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Lisbon, 28th October 2003.
Click to open larger image in new window
Arion
at Dubrovnik.
Photo: © Neven Jerkovic, 2004.
Click to open larger image in new window
Arion
at Dubrovnik.
Photo: © Ivo Batricevic, 2004.
Click to open larger image in new window
Arion
at Dubrovnik.
Photo: © Neven Jerkovic, 2004.
Click to open larger image in new window
Arion
at Dubrovnik.
Photo: © Ivo Batricevic, 2004.
Click to open larger image in new window
Arion
at Dubrovnik.
Photo: © Neven Jerkovic, 2004.
Click to open larger image in new window
Arion
at Dubrovnik.
Photo: © Ivo Batricevic, 2004.
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Athena
(Classic International: 2005- )
Athena
was originally the
Stockholm (4)
of Swedish American Lines.
Stockholm (4)
was the first post-WW2 liner built for Swedish American, being delivered from Gothenburg builders in 1948. She was the largest passenger ship built in Sweden at that time.
Stockholm (4)
is most famous for her collision with the Italia Line flagship
Andrea Doria
, which sank in 1956 off New York. The
Stockholm (4)
was sold to East German company VEB Deutsche Seereederei in 1960, becoming the
Völkerfreundschaft
, for use by the Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (Trades Union).
Völkerfreundschaft
was sold in 1985 to Neptunus Rex Enterprises, and was laid up in Southampton as the
Volker
. In 1986 she was renamed
Fridtjof Nansen
and used as a refugee hostel in Oslo.
Star Lauro
acquired the ship in 1989 and intended to have her refurbished as the
Surriento
. She was laid up in Genoa, and renamed
Italia I
, until sold on to Nina Cia. di Navigazione who completed the refit, transforming the appearance. She was renamed
Italia Prima
and cruised in the Mediterranean. In 1995,
Italia Prima
was chartered to Neckermann Seereisen from 1995 until 1998, and then Air Maritim Seereisen (Valtur Tourist) as
Valtur Prima
until 2001, when a planned series of cruises from Havana, Cuba ran into problems.
Valtur Prima
remained laid up in Havana. She was next chartered by
Festival Cruises
, again from Havana. She was renamed
Caribe
, but
Festival Cruises
collapsed and the ship remained unused until moved to Lisbon in 2004 for a 10 year charter with
Classic International Cruises
. After a refit, she entered service as the
Athena
.
Complete history of
Athena
Official Classic International postcard of
Athena
Scan: Carlos Monteiro -
shipsinsulana.planetaclix.pt
Click to open larger image in new window
Official Classic International postcard of
Athena
Scan: Carlos Monteiro -
shipsinsulana.planetaclix.pt
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 27th May 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 9th June 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 9th June 2006
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Ocean Monarch - Princess Daphne?
(Classic International Cruises: 2008- )
In 2008
Ocean Monarch
was sold to
Classic International Cruises
, joining her sister
Princess Danae
. It was announced that she would become the
Princess Daphne
, but for 2008 continued to run as
Ocean Monarch
.
Ocean Monarch
at Dubrovnik in Classic International colours (Portuguese flag)
Photo:
© Ivo Batricevic, September 2008
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Ocean Monarch
at Dubrovnik in Classic International colours
Photo:
© Ivo Batricevic, September 2008
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Ocean Monarch
at Dubrovnik in Classic International colours
Photo:
© Ivo Batricevic, September 2008
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Ocean Monarch
at Dubrovnik in Classic International colours
Photo:
© Ivo Batricevic, September 2008
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