Zion
 
Zion - Amélia de Mello - Dolphin IV
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Zim Lines passenger ship Zion, which later served as the Portuguese Amélia de Mello. She was then sold again and converted to a cruise ship in 1972, reappearing as the Ulysses Line Ithaca. The ship was then transferred to the Caribbean as Dolphin IV in 1979. Ownership was changed to Dolphin Cruise Line in 1984. In 1998 Dolphin IV passed to Cape Canaveral Cruises, but was laid up in 2000.
 
 
Ship Names on this Page:-
Zion - Zim Lines 1956-66
Amélia de Mello - Sociedade Geral 1966-72
Ithaca - Ulysses Line 1972-79
Dolphin IV - Dolphin Cruise Line 1979-1998
Dolphin IV - Cape Canaveral Cruise Line 1998-2000
 
Associated Pages:-
Dolphin Cruise Line
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
 
 
 
Zion
(Zim Lines: 1956-66)
 
Zion was built for Zim Lines in 1956. She was built by Deutsche Werft in Hamburg, as part of Germany's reparations to Israel after WW2. She operated on the Haifa to New York service, with her sistership the Israel. As built, she was 9855grt, 152m long and carried 312 passengers in two classes. She was powered by steam turbines to give a speed of 19knots, through a single screw. She was sold in 1966, becoming the Portuguese Amélia de Mello, of Sociedade Geral de Commercio.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Zion.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amélia de Mello
(Sociedade Geral: 1966-72)
 
Zion was sold by Zim Lines in 1966, becoming the Portuguese Amélia de Mello, of Sociedade Geral de Commercio (SG), running between Lisbon, West Africa and the Atlantic Isles (St Vincent, Madeira etc). In 1967, she was sent to Hamburg for upgrading, returning at 10195grt, 152m long and carrying 355 passengers in two classes. As Portuguese colonies achieved independence, liner services ceased, and Amélia de Mello was withdrawn in 1971. She was sold to Greek owners the following year.
 
 
Postcard of Amélia de Mello.
Scan: Reinaldo Delgado.
 
 
 
Postcard of Amélia de Mello.
Scan: Reinaldo Delgado.
 
Postcard of Amélia de Mello and Infante Dom Henrique, at Lisbon.
Scan: Carlos Monteiro.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ithaca
(Ulysses Line: 1972-79)
 
Amélia de Mello was sold and converted to a cruise ship, at Bilbao, in 1972, reappearing as the Ulysses Line Ithaca. She carried 780 passengers following this conversion, and cruised in the Mediterranean. The tonnage was now measured as 8977grt, despite the additional superstructure. She spent 1973-76 running fly-cruises for Thomson Holidays, but they pulled out following huge cost increases for fuel. After two years on charter to Strand Cruises, Ithaca was transferred to the Caribbean as Dolphin IV in 1979. Ownership was changed from Ulysses Line to Dolphin Cruise Line in 1984, although both companies were owned by the London-based Greek family of Vlassopoulos.
 
 
Official Ulysses Line card of Ithaca
 
 
 
Official Ulysses Line card of Ithaca
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dolphin IV
(Ulysses Line/Dolphin Cruise Line: 1979-1998)
 
Dolphin IV was originally built as the Zion of Zim Lines in 1956. She was sold in 1966, becoming the Portuguese Amélia de Mello. She was then sold again and converted to a cruise ship in 1972, reappearing as the Ulysses Line Ithaca. The ship was transferred to the Caribbean as Dolphin IV in 1979. She ran 3- and 4-day cruises to the Bahamas from Miami. Initially she ran under joint management with Paquet, but in 1984, new company Dolphin Cruise Line took over.
 
 
Editions FISA card of Dolphin IV in original colours (as carried when Ithaca).
Photo by P.Asenjo.
 
 
 
Dolphin Cruise Line card of Dolphin IV in original colours (as carried when Ithaca).
This is an oversized card of 7" x 5" (180 x 130mm).
"3 & 4 Night Cruises from Miami to Nassau - Dolphin Cove Grand Bahama Island".
 
 
 
Dolphin Cruise Line card of Dolphin IV in later colours.
 
 
 
Dolphin Cruise Line card of Dolphin IV in later colours .
This is an oversized card of 7" x 5" (180 x 130mm).
"The beautiful and intimate SS Dolphin IV - 3 & 4-night cruises to the sunniest ports and warmest memories in the Caribbean".
 
 
 
Dolphin Cruise Line card of Dolphin IV in later colours.
This is an oversized card of 7" x 5" (180 x 130mm).
"Every Dolphin 3,4,7 or 14-night cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean or the Panama Canal is a magnificent orchestration where everything blends together in harmony. A masterpiece. A symphony. In the key of sea".
 
Dolphin Cruise Line card of Dolphin IV and SeaBreeze.
This is an oversized card of 7" x 5" (180 x 130mm).
 
 
 
John Hinde Curteich card from the Bahamas, showing Dolphin IV and StarShip Royale, serial number 2BH 92-B.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics card CC/S135 of Dolphin IV at Miami.
Photo by A.O.Wilhelmi 3rd.
 
 
 
CT Publishing card No.052 of Dolphin IV at Nassau in 1994.
Photo by Richard Weiss.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dolphin IV
(Cape Canaveral Cruise Line: 1998-2000)
 
Dolphin IV was sold to Cape Canaveral Cruise Line in 1998, for short Bahamas cruises out of Port Canaveral. I have not seen any ship postcards of her in their colours, but two Cape Canaveral advertising cards are shown below. The service was withdrawn in 2000, and the ship was laid up.
 
 
Two Cape Canaveral advertising cards.
 
 
 
 
 
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