Swedish America Line Stockholm of 1948 -

This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Swedish America liner Stockholm (4) of 1948 - sailing in 2006 for Classic International Cruises as the Athena.
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. On 3 December 2008 Athena was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Reportedly, 29 pirate boats surrounded the ship at one stage until a US Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft circled above which led some of the pirates to flee. The crew prevented the pirates from boarding by firing high-pressure water cannons at them. No one was injured and the ship escaped without damage, and continued on her voyage to Australia. On 17 September 2012, reports announced that she and her fellow ship Princess Danae were detained in Marseille, France, for unpaid fuel bills, it was also announced that Arion was detained in Montenegro for similar issues. Early in 2013 Athena was bought by the recently created Portuguese cruise company Portuscale Cruises and renamed Azores. As soon as her acquisition was confirmed, she was taken to a shipyard in Marseille, where she was revamped before entering Portuscale Cruises service after completing a charter to Berlin-based Ambiente Kreuzfahrten, from whom she was chartered to Classic International to join her fleetmate Princess Daphne. The charter began in March 2014 with a cruise from Lisbon, Portugal, to Bremerhaven, Germany, and concluded in November 2014 in Genoa, Italy. In 2015 she entered service with Cruise & Maritime Voyages, operating her first voyage with the line from Avonmouth Docks to the Caribbean in January 2015. From May 2016 until March 2017, the ship is on charter to French tour operator Rivages Du Monde. In June 2016, it was announced that Astoria would be leaving the CMV fleet after her final cruise on 27 April 2017 from London Tilbury. In a U-turn decision, it was announced, in February 2017, that Astoria would remain in the CMV fleet for a further season until 2018. She will offer a mini-season from London Tilbury, before being charted by Rivages Du Monde during the summer months.
Ships on this Page:-
Stockholm (4) - Swedish America: 1948-1960
Völkerfreundschaft - VEB Deutsche Seereederei: 1960-1985
Volker - Neptunus Rex Enterprises 1985-1986
Fridtjof Nansen - Neptunus Rex Enterprises: 1986-1989
Italia I - Star Lauro: 1993-1994
Italia Prima - Nina Cia. di Navigazione: 1994-1998
Italia Prima - Neckermann Seereisen (charter): 1995-1998
Valtur Prima - Air Maritim Seereisen (charter):1998-2001
Caribe - Festival Cruises (charter): 2002-2005
Athena - Classic International: 2005-2013
Azores - Portuscale Cruises: 2013-2015
Astoria - Cruise & Maritime Voyages: 2015-

Associated Pages:-
Classic International Cruises
Festival Cruises
Swedish America
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
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References:- Click on images for more details - www.overviewpress.co.uk - info@overviewpress.co.uk

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powered by FreeFind Stockholm (4) (Swedish America: 1948-1960)

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. Swedish American postcard of Stockholm Click to open larger image in new window Swedish American postcard of Stockholm Click to open larger image in new window Swedish American postcard of Stockholm Click to open larger image in new window Jolln A.Wilkersen postcard of Stockholm and Gripsholm in Gothenburg. Click to open larger image in new window Jolln A.Wilkersen postcard of the Stockholm and the Swedish Lloyd ferry Patricia (3) at Gothenburg. Click to open larger image in new window Völkerfreundschaft
(VEB Deutsche Seereederei: 1960-1985)

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. Official postcard of the Völkerfreundschaft. Click to open larger image in new window Official postcard of the Völkerfreundschaft. Scan: Carlos Monteiro - shipsinsulana.planetaclix.pt Click to open larger image in new window Official postcard of the Völkerfreundschaft. Scan: Carlos Monteiro - shipsinsulana.planetaclix.pt Click to open larger image in new window Postcard of the Völkerfreundschaft at Riga, Latvia. Click to open larger image in new window Photo of the Völkerfreundschaft Volker - Fridtjof Nansen (Neptunus Rex Enterprises: 1985-1989)

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, Fridtjof Nansen in use as a refugee hostel in Oslo Photo: © Mike Tedstone Photo: © Mike Tedstone Click to open larger image in new window Italia I (Star Lauro: 1993-1994)

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.
No images available Italia Prima (Nina Cia. di Navigazione: 1994-1998)
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) until 2001, when a planned series of cruises from Havana, Cuba ran into problems, with the ship 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. Official NINA S.p.A. postcard of Italia Prima Click to open larger image in new window Italia Prima (Neckermann Seereisen (charter): 1995-1998) In 1995, Italia Prima was chartered to Neckermann Seereisen from 1995 until 1998.

Official Neckermann postcard of Italia Prima Click to open larger image in new window Official Neckermann postcard of Italia Prima Click to open larger image in new window Italia Prima leaving San Francisco in the evening Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1996 Click to open larger images in new window Italia Prima arriving at San FranciscoPhoto: © Marvin Jensen, 1997 Click to open larger image in new window Photo: © Wil Moojen, 29th May 1997 Photo: © Marv Jensen, 1997 Italia Prima interior - Restaurant (single sitting) Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1997 Click to open larger image in new window Italia Prima interior - Lounge Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1997 Click to open larger image in new window Italia Prima interior - Lounge Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1997 Click to open larger image in new window Italia Prima interior - Lido Restaurant Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1997 Click to open larger image in new window Italia Prima interior - Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1997 Click to open larger image in new window Italia Prima interior - Piano Lounge Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1997 Click to open larger image in new window Valtur Prima
(Air Maritim Seereisen:1998-2001)
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, with the ship laid up in Havana. She was next chartered by Festival Cruises, again from Havana. Official postcard as Valtur Prima Scan: Dimas Almada Click to open larger image in new window Caribe (Festival Cruises: 2002)
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.
Official Festival Cruises brochure image of Caribe. Click to open larger image in new window Festival Cruises brochure for Caribe.Click on any page to open a larger image in new window Athena (Classic International: 2005-2013)
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. 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 Athena leaving Harwich Photos: © Ian Boyle, 27th May 2006 Click to open larger images in new window Athena leaving Harwich Photo: © Ian Boyle, 9th June 2006 Click to open larger images in new window Athena passing Felixstowe whilst arriving at Harwich International Port Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st May 2010 Click to open larger images in new window Azores (Portuscale Cruises 2013-2015) Azores arriving at Harwich International Port Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th August 2014 Astoria (Cruise & Maritime Voyages 2017- ) Astoria at Tilbury Landing Stage Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th March 2017 Astoria at Amsterdam Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th March 2017 Astoria leaving Tilbury, passing Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th March 2017 UK Excursion Ships - Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page ©1999-2017 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site) All Rights Reserved