Passenger Ship Website
-
www.simplonpc.co.uk
-
Simplon Postcards Home
-
Search
-
Copyright Information
-
Contact Simplon
Danae
Port Melbourne - Therissos Express - Danae - Starlight Express - Baltica - Princess Danae
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. 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, as
Akrotiri Express
and
Therissos Express
. 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
between 1978-1979. 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 Lines
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
from 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
.
Company names (Costa Lines/Cruising/Crociere etc) follow the usage on the card shown.
Summary of Name Changes:-
Port Melbourne
>
Therissos Express
>
Danae
>
Starlight Express
>
Baltica
>
Princess Danae
Port Sydney
>
Akrotiri Express
>
Daphne
>
Switzerland
>
(Ocean Odyssey?)
>
Ocean Monarch
>
Hellenic Aid
>
Ocean Monarch
>
Princess Daphne
Ship Names on this Page:-
Baltica
- 1994-1996
Danae
- Delian Cruises: 1975-1979
Danae
- Costa Cruises: 1979-1992
Danae
- Prestige Cruises: 1990-1992 (joint Costa/Sovcomflot)
Port Melbourne
- Port Line: 1955-1972
Princess Danae
- Classic International Cruises (Arcalia Shipping): 1996-
Associated Pages:-
Daphne
- complete history of sistership
Princess Danae leaving Harwich
- sequence of photos from May 1999
Classic International Cruises
Costa Line - Linea "C"
Portuguese Liners
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
Search This Website:-
powered by
FreeFind
Danae
Port Melbourne - Therissos Express - Danae - Starlight Express - Baltica - Princess Danae
Port Melbourne
(Port Line: 1955-1972)
Port Lines official card of
Port Melbourne
, showing the original configuration of these ships.
Danae
(Delian Cruises: 1975-1979)
An official Delian Cruises card of sistership
Daphne
, by Vita Nova, Holland.
An official Delian Cruises card of sistership
Daphne
.
Scan: Rogerio Gouveia.
Click to open larger image in new window
Danae
(Costa Cruises: 1979-1992)
Official Costa Linea cards of
Danae
, printed by AGIS, Genova.
Official Costa Linea card of sistership
Danae
, printed by AGIS, Genova.
An official Costa Crociere card of
Danae
, printed by G.Martelli, Genova.
An official Costa Cruising card of sistership
Daphne
, printed by G.Martelli, Genova.
An official Costa Crociere card of sistership
Daphne
, printed by AGIS, Genova.
An official Costa Lines card of sistership
Daphne
, printed by AGIS, Genova.
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S32 of
Danae
in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand.
Photograph: Dave Straka.
Danae
(Prestige Cruises: 1990-1992)
In 1990,
Danae
and
Daphne
were transferred to Prestige Cruises, a joint venture between
Costa Lines
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
from 1994.
A Prestige Cruises official card of sistership
Daphne
, printed by G.Martelli, Genova, Ed '92.
A Prestige Cruises official card of sistershi
Daphne
, printed by G.Martelli, Genova, Ed '92.
Baltica
(1994-1996)
In 1990,
Danae
was transferred to Prestige Cruises, a joint venture between
Costa Lines
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
.
A postcard of
Baltica (ex-Danae)
, published late 2000 by the photographer, Rui Manuel Gouveia Sa.
Princess Danae
(Classic International Cruises: 1996- )
In 1990,
Danae
was transferred to Prestige Cruises, a joint venture between
Costa Lines
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 Classic International Cruises (Arcalia Shipping) official card of
Princess Danae
.
A Classic International Cruises official card of
Princess Danae
.
A Classic International Cruises official card of
Princess Danae
.
Classic International Cruises official card of
Princess Danae
.
Classic International Cruises official card of
Princess Danae
.
Ramsey Postcards serial no.113 of
Princess Danae
.
A postcard of
Princess Danae
, published by the photographer, Rui Manuel Gouveia Sa.
Princess Danae
leaving Harwich in 1997.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 1999
Princess Danae
leaving Harwich in 1997.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 1999
Princess Danae
leaving Harwich in 1997.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 1999
Princess Danae
leaving Harwich in 1997.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 1999
Princess Danae
leaving Harwich in 1997, with Harwich-Felixstowe ferry
Explorer 12
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 1999
Princess Danae
leaving Harwich in 1997.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 1999
Princess Danae
leaving Harwich in 1997.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 1999
Princess Danae
at Gdynia, 1st June 2006
Photo: © Warren Moore
Click to open larger image in new window
Princess Danae
at Dubrovnik
Photo: © Ivo Batricevic
Click to open larger image in new window
Princess Danae
at Dubrovnik
Photo: © Ivo Batricevic
Click to open larger image in new window
Princess Danae
at Dubrovnik
Photo: © Ivo Batricevic
Click to open larger image in new window
Princess Danae
at Dubrovnik
Photo: © Ivo Batricevic
Click to open larger image in new window
Princess Danae
arriving at Harwich in 2007, assisted by
Adsteam Intrepid
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd May 2007