1960 – 1980 / Commissioned as a replacement for the lost Andrea Doria, the Leonardo da Vinci could be described a refined version of an already successful design. Unfortunately, she was destroyed by fire in 1980 and was sent to the breakers.
Daniel Othfors
70 posts
1962 – 2006 / Also known as Norway / Another French masterpiece, the third France was built at a time when ocean travel was dwindling. When facing an early retirement, she was instead bought and transformed into the cruise ship Norway that would revolutionise the industry and remain in service into the 21st century.
1965 – 1991 / The first of a stylish pair of Italian liners, the Michelangelo was built in a time when passengers preferred air travel. When failing to turn a profit, she was sold for use as an Iranian accommodation ship.
1965 – 1983 / Like her companion Michelangelo, the Raffaello came into service at a time when the demand for passenger ships was rapidly shrinking. Seemingly tightly bound to her older sister, she too was sold to the state of Iran, but was sadly destroyed during an air raid in the Iran-Iraq war.
1966 – 2015 / Also known as Sea Princess (I), Victoria (II), Mona Lisa, and Oceanic II / The largest and fastest, but also final ship built for the Swedish-American Line, the fourth Kungsholm was the crowning achievement of the ‘White Viking Fleet’. When the company folded, she went on to have a career under many different flags, but was sadly beached at Alang in 2015 and dismantled there.
An insight into some of those great ocean liners that never came into exsistance, doomed by war, poor economics or better replacements.
The story of one of Sweden’s greatest ships of the 17th century.
A complete listing of every ship in history that has possessed the Blue Riband.
A list of the largest passenger vessels ever constructed, beginning with the Great Western. Ships are listed both according to tonnage and length.
A size comparison chart of famous ships, from Great Western to Independence of the Seas.