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Costa Line - Linea "C"

 

Page 1B - The Later Liners 1966-83

 

 

This page is the second of three devoted to postcards and photographs of the Costa Line fleet, known as Linea 'C', then Costa Crociere, in Italy. This page shows official and commercial cards of liners acquired after 1966. Page 1A shows the early liners acquired 1948-65. Page 2 shows the fleet of more modern cruise ships. Alphabetical lists of ships shown on each page are shown below. The table gives links to complete postcard histories of selected ships. The dates given after each ship's name refer to the years in Costa service.

 

Costa Line was formed in 1924, but only operated freighters until 1947, when temporary accommodation was added to the Maria C. Their first true passenger ship was the Anna C, bought in 1948. The line operated mainly to South America, with occasional cruises from an early date, converting later to full time cruising. At its peak, it was the largest cruise company in the western world, second only to the communist fleet in size. As part of the Carnival group, they still form part of the largest cruise company in the world.

 

 

Ships on This Page 1B - 1965-83:-

American Adventure - American Family Cruises

Amerikanis - chartered from Chandris Lines

Angelina Lauro - chartered from Flotta Lauro

Carla C - 1968-92 (ex-Flandre)

CarlaCosta - 1968-92 (ex-Flandre)

Columbus C - 1981-84 (ex-Kungsholm, Europa)

CostaRiviera - 1981-2002 (ex-Guglielmo Marconi)

Danae - 1979-92 (ex-Port Melbourne)

Daphne - 1979-97 (ex-Port Sydney)

Eugenio C - 1966-96 (later the Edinburgh Castle)

EugenioCosta - 1966-96 (later the Edinburgh Castle)

Flavia - 1968-82 (ex-Media)

Fulvia - 1969-70 (ex-Oslofjord)

Italia - 1967-83 (later the Princess Italia, Ocean Princess, Sapphire)

Leonardo da Vinci

World Renaissance - ex-Renaissance

 

Ships on Page 1A - 1948-65:-

Andrea C - 1948-81 (ex-Ocean Virtue)

Anna C - 1948-71 (ex-Southern Prince)

Bianca C (I) - 1957-63 (ex-Indrapoera)

Bianca C (II) - 1959-61 (ex-La Marseillaise)

Enrico C - 1962-65 (ex-Provence)

EnricoCosta - 1962-65 (ex-Provence)

Federico C - 1958-83 (later the StarShip Royale, SeaBreeze)

Franca C - 1952-77 (ex-Medina)

Melanesian - 1957-63 (ex-Indrapoera)

Provence - 1962-65 (later the Enrico C)

 

Ships on Page 2 - 1983-:-

Costa Atlantica - 2000-

Costa Allegra - 1992-

Costa Classica - 1991-

Costa Europa - 2002-

Costa Fortuna - 2003-

Costa Magica - 2004-

Costa Marina - 1990-

Costa Mediterranea - 2003-

Costa Playa - 1995-98 (ex-Finlandia)

Costa Riviera - 1983-2002

Costa Romantica - 1993-

Costa Tropicale - 2001-

Costa Victoria - 1996-

 

Associated Pages:-

Costa Line - Page 1A - The Early Liners 1948-65

Costa Line - Page 2 - The Modern Cruise Ships 1983-

Costa Postcard Set - Set of 10 attractive paintings by Stephen J.Card

Cruise on Costa Europa in March 2008

Norwegian America Line

Ocean Cruise Lines

Cruise Ship Postcard Galleries

Ocean Liner Postcard Galleries

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

References:-

   

 

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Table of Ship Histories

Name	Other Names	Built
Amerikanis	Kenya Castle	1952
Angelina Lauro	Oranje	1939
Carla C	Flandre, Princess Carla, Carla Costa, Pallas Athena	1952
Columbus C	Kungsholm, Europa	1953
Costa Europa	Homeric, Westerdam	1985
Costa Playa	Finlandia, Finnstar, Pearl of Scandinavia, Ocean Pearl, etc	1967
Costa Riviera	Guglielmo Marconi	1972
Danae	Port Melbourne, Therissos Express, Baltica,Princess Danae	1955
Daphne	Port Sydney, Akrotiri Express, Switzerland, Ocean Monarch	1954
EnricoCosta	Provence, Enrico C, Symphony	1950
EugenioCosta	Edinburgh Castle, Big Red Boat II	1966
Federico C	StarShip Royale, SeaBreeze	1958
Flavia	Media	1947
Fulvia	Oslofjord	1949
Italia	Princess Italia, Ocean Princess, Princesa Oceanica, Sapphire	1967
World Renaissance	Renaissance, Awani Dream, Grand Victoria, Blue Monarch	1966

 

 

 

 

 

Costa Fleet List

Part 1B - The Later Liners 1966-83

 

 

 

 

Eugenio C - EugenioCosta (1966-96)

 

Eugenio C was the last classic transatlantic liner built in Italy, entering service in 1966. She replaced Federico C on Costa's main route to South America, on which she served for 10 years. As time passed, more time was devoted each year to cruising. After 1983, the only Atlantic crossings were twice yearly positioning voyages. Eugenio C became Eugenio Costa in 1984. She finished her last cruise for Costa on November 1996, but has since sailed for Direct Cruises and Premier.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Costa Line card of Eugenio C

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio C

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio C

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio C

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio C

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio C

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio Costa. Note the additional yellow riband along the hull.

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio Costa

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio Costa

Scan: Ken Murayama.

 

 

Official Costa Line card of Eugenio Costa

 

 

A Costa art card of Eugenio C, from the Costa Liners set using paintings by Stephen J.Card.

Enlarged images of the complete set are shown on this link.

 

 

 

 

 

Carla C - CarlaCosta (1968-92)

 

This ship was originally the French Line's Flandre of 1951. Designed to operate on services to the Caribbean, she was modified during construction for services between le Havre and New York. She was not a successful ship with CGT, suffering boiler and turbine problems. In 1963, her hull was painted white and she switched to the West Indies service for which she was designed. Her last voyage was in January 1968, when she was bought by Costa and renamed Carla C. After a very major conversion, she was handed over to Costa service in November 1968. However, they had already chartered her to Princess Cruises, so entered service with their colours from Los Angeles, being the first Princess ship to display the now famous logo on the funnel. Although marketed as Princess Carla, her official name remained Carla C throughout.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Princess Cruises cards of Carla C/Princess Carla

 

 

Princess Cruises cards of Carla C/Princess Carla

 

 

In 1970, after the loss of Costa's Fulvia, the Princess charter was cancelled and Carla C finally received Costa colours, as shown in the three cards below. She operated Caribbean cruises until 1974, when boiler problems prompted Costa to re-engine her with diesels. Carla C then returned to Caribbean cruises. She received another major refit in 1984, but was sold Epirotiki in 1992. Her life with them was short, since she was destroyed by fire in 1994.

 

 

Official Costa postcard of Carla C.

 

 

Official Costa postcard of Carla C.

 

 

Official Costa postcard of Carla C

Scan: Ken Murayama

 

 

Official Costa postcard of Carla C

Now with extended exhaust pipe

 

 

A Costa art card of Carla C, from the Costa Liners set using paintings by Stephen J.Card

Enlarged images of the complete set are shown on this link.

 

 

Carla C was renamed Carla Costa in 1984. The first card below is as Carla C.

 

 

The card above reissued as Carla Costa, with additional yellow hull riband.

 

 

An advertising postcard showing Carla Costa

Scan supplied by Dimas Almada

 

 

 

 

 

Flavia (1968-82)

 

This ship was originally built as the Cunard cargo-passenger liner Media of 1947. She was sold to Codega in 1961 and rebuilt as the Europe-Australia emigrant ship Flavia. In 1968 she was chartered to Costa, who refitted her as a cruise ship. She operated Caribbean cruises from Miami, and was so successful, Costa bought her in 1969. Her engines became troublesome, so she was sold in 1982. She was sold to Hong Kong based C.Y. Tung Group. Her name was changed to Flavian and was to commence cruising locally. Instead, she was laid up for four years and was sold in 1986 to another Hong Kong shipping company, Virtue Shipping, who changed her name to Lavia. She remained laid up at anchor near Landau Island.
On January 7, 1989, but neglected Lavia caught fire. She was completely gutted and her hulk was sold to
Taiwanese shipbreakers.

 

Complete history of Flavia

 

 

Costa company postcard.

 

 

Costa company postcard.

 

 

A Costa art card of Flavia, from the Costa Liners set using paintings by Stephen J.Card

Enlarged images of the complete set are shown on this link

 

 

 

 

 

Fulvia (1969-70)

 

The success of Flavia's Caribbean cruises prompted Costa to seek a second ship. They chartered the Norwegian America liner Oslofjord of 1949. Oslofjord had been built in Amsterdam in 1949. She was 16844grt and carried 266 First Class and 359 Tourist Class passengers. In 1966, unsuccessful negotiations were made to sell Oslofjord to Finnlines. In 1967 Oslofjord was refitted, and was chartered to the Greek Line in 1967-68. Costa Line chartered the Oslofjord in 1969. She was renamed Fulvia, and joined Federico C and Flavia on Caribbean cruises. Fulvia retained Norwegian flag and crew. Fulvia caught fire near the Canaries in July 1970, and subsequently sank, all passengers and crew having been saved by the Ancerville.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Costa company postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

Italia (1967-83)

 

Italia was ordered by Sunsarda SpA in 1963, from the Felszegi yard in Muggia, near Trieste. Both the builders and ordering company were owned by the Giacomell group. Italia was one of the earliest purpose-built cruise ships, and was of an advanced design with rear engines and lifeboats mounted on lower decks, giving a very spacious open top deck. Her interiors were designed by Gustavo Finali and Romano Boico, who designed many other fine Italian liners such as the Augustus, Guglielmo Marconi, Homeric, Raffaello and Oceanic.

 

Construction proceeded slowly, and Italia was not launched until April 1965. During fitting out, both the owners and builders were declared bankrupt, and ownership passed to the the creditor bank BNL. BNL formed a new company Crociere d'Oltremare, based in Cagliari, Sardinia, to charter or sell the ship. Italia was delivered in 1967, with a logo of red and yellow triangles on her white funnel. A bareboat charter with Fratelli Cosulich (Genova) had been arranged, and Italia ran three Mediterranean cruises for them. Crociere d'Oltremare then chartered her to Princess Cruises, who used her to inaugurate their Mexican cruises out of Los Angeles. Italia was marketed as Princess Italia during her time with, although her name was not officially changed. At this stage she retained her original funnel logo, not receiving the famous Princess logo until the following year. In 1969, Princess Italia moved to Alaskan cruises out of San Francisco. The charter to Princess Cruises was cancelled in 1973, and Italia was returned to Crociere d'Oltremare. After a partial modernisation, Italia was then chartered to Costa in February 1974, although she was not purchased by them until 1977. She cruised around the world with Costa, plus served on further charters, until sold in September 1983 to Ocean Cruise Lines.

 

A complete history of this ship is shown on this link.

 

 

Costa company postcard.

 

A Princess Cruises card of Princess Italia.

 

 

 

 

 

Danae (1979-1992)

Daphne (1979-1997)

 

The Danae and Daphne were built in 1955 as the fast cargo liners Port Melbourne and Port Sydney for Port Line's UK-Australia express service (see the postcard below). 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.

 

Complete history of Danae - Complete history of Daphne

 

 

Official Costa Linea card of Danae, printed by AGIS, Genova

 

 

Official Costa Linea card of Danae, printed by AGIS, Genova

 

 

An official Costa Crociere card of Danae, printed by G.Martelli, Genova

 

 

An official Costa Cruising card of Daphne, printed by G.Martelli, Genova.

 

 

An official Costa Crociere card of Daphne, printed by AGIS, Genova.

 

 

An official Costa Lines card of Daphne, printed by AGIS, Genova.

 

 

An oversized official Costa Lines art card of Daphne.

Scan supplied by Dimas Almada.

 

 

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 become Princess Danae for the Lisbon-based company Arcalia Shipping.

In 1996 Daphne was sold to a Swiss company who renamed her Switzerland.

 

 

A Prestige Cruises official card of Daphne, printed by G.Martelli, Genova, Ed '92, is shown below.

 

 

A Prestige Cruises official card of Daphne, printed by G.Martelli, Genova, Ed '92.

 

 

 

 

 

Columbus C (1981-84)

 

In 1981, Costa bought the HAPAG-Lloyd flagship Europa, which had been built as the Swedish American liner Kungsholm of 1951. In 1984 her keel fouled the rocks near a breakwater in Cadiz. She managed to reach the quay, but sank alongside soon afterwards. Although subsequently raised, she was sold for scrap in 1985.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Costa company postcard

Scan: Dimas Almada

 

 

Costa company postcard

 

 

CT Publishing postcard

 

 

 

 

 

CostaRiviera (1983- )

 

CostaRiviera was completed in 1963 as Guglielmo Marconi for Lloyd Triestino's Genoa - Sydney service. In 1976, Guglielmo Marconi was transferred to the Naples-Brazil-River Plate service of Italia Line. In 1979 she was transferred to Italia Crociere as a full time cruise ship. This was not a success and she was sold to Costa in 1983. After a two-year rebuild, she reappeared as the CostaRiviera, although the changes in her appearance were not for the better.

 

CostaRiviera alternated between Caribbean and Alaskan cruising until 1993. In this year American Family Cruises was launched, a joint venture between Costa and Bruce Nierenburg, to operate cruises aimed at young American families with children. CostaRiviera was renamed American Adventure for this service. AFC were not successful, and the ship sailed for Genoa in September 1994 where she was converted back to the CostaRiviera, and began cruising again in Europe.

 

A complete history of CostaRiviera is available on this link.

 

 

An official Costa Crociere card of CostaRiviera, scan supplied by Dimas Almada

 

 

An official Costa Crociere card of CostaRiviera, printed by G.Martelli, Genova

 

 

An official Costa card of CostaRiviera, printed by G.Martelli, Genova

 

 

An official Costa Cruises card of CostaRiviera, serial no.1148 12/94

 

 

An official Costa Cruises card of CostaRiviera.

 

 

An official Costa Cruises card of CostaRiviera.

 

 

An official Costa Cruises card of CostaRiviera.

 

 

 

 

American Adventure (1993-94)

 

CostaRiviera alternated between Caribbean and Alaskan cruising until 1993. In this year American Family Cruises was launched, a joint venture between Costa and Bruce Nierenburg, to operate cruises aimed at young American families with children. CostaRiviera was renamed American Adventure for this service. AFC were not successful, and the ship sailed for Genoa in September 1994 where she was converted back to the CostaRiviera, and began cruising again in Europe.

 

 

Official American Family Cruises card of American Adventure.

 

A.Giacomelli postcard NE-23 of American Adventure.

Photo: Antonio Giacomelli, Miami, February 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chartered Ships

 

Amerikanis

 

Kenya Castle was completed in 1952 for the Union-Castle Line round Africa service by Harland & Wolff, Belfast. The second of three sisters built 1951-52, the others being Rhodesia Castle and Braemar Castle. In 1967 Kenya Castle was sold to Chandris and renamed Amerikanis. She was intended for summer Atlantic service, but the market had been effectively ended by air competition by the time she was ready for service in 1968. Amerikanis was used initially on cruises from New York, later sailing in Europe and the Caribbean. Between 1980-84, Amerikanis was chartered to Costa Line, reverting to Chandris service from 1984. She was laid up in 1996.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

A scan of an official Costa postcard is shown below.

Scan supplied by Dimas Almada.

 

 

 

 

 

Angelina Lauro (1978-79)

 

Angelina Lauro was completed in 1939 as the Oranje, of Nederland Line. She left on her maiden voyage to Batavia on September 4th, after a cruise from Amsterdam-Madeira. She remained in Sourabaya following the outbreak of WW2, later transferring to Australia where she was converted to a hospital ship for the Royal Australian Navy, though remaining under the Dutch flag. Oranje re-entered Amsterdam-Batavia service in 1946. In 1950 she began a Round-the-World service via Panama, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Suez. In 1964 she was sold to Achille Lauro, who renamed her Angelina Lauro. As with fellow Dutch liner Willem Ruys/Achille Lauro, conversion was seriously delayed by a fire. Angelina Lauro finally re-entered service from Europe to Australia and New Zealand in 1966. In 1972 she became a full time cruise ship. In 1978 Angelina Lauro was chartered to Costa. She was destroyed by a galley fire during a Caribbean cruise in March 1979. Whilst being towed to Kaohsiung for scrapping, she began taking on water and then sank in mid-Pacific on September 21st 1979.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Costa company postcards

Scan supplied by Dimas Almada.

 

 

Costa company postcards

Scan supplied by Dimas Almada.

 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo da Vinci

 

Official Costa Line Inc postcard

Scan: Dimas Almada

 

 

Official Costa Line Inc postcard

Scan: Dimas Almada

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

 

 

World Renaissance

 

World Renaissance was built for the Paquet's subsidiary Cie. Francaise de Navigation as Renaissance, who used her on routes from Marseille to the Eastern Mediterranean. Ownership passed to Nouvelle Cie. de Paquebots in 1970. She was sold in 1977 to Epirotiki Lines, and was renamed Homeric Renaissance. Costa Lines took her on charter and renamed her World Renaissance. She later operated for Epirotiki themselves, and also for a charter with Club Awani as Awani Dream. She returned to Epirotiki Lines and passed to Royal Olympic Cruises, again as World Renaissance. Following their collapse in 2004, she was sold at auction, becoming the Grand Victoria.

 

Complete history of World Renaissance

 

 

Official Costa card of chartered World Renaissance

 

 

Official Costa card of chartered World Renaissance

 

 

Rare US-issued Costa postcard of World Renaissance

Scan: Dimas Almada

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

Rare US-issued Costa postcard of World Renaissance

Scan: Dimas Almada

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

 

 

Costa Line - Page 1A - Costa Line - Page 2 - Costa Postcard Set - Carnival Cruise Line - Ocean Cruise Lines

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