One of the converted ships to a passenger ship was the 1955 built PRINCESS DANAE. She was built in Northern Ireland by Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd at Belfast as a fast cargo liner named PORT MELBOURNE for Port Line’s UK-Australia express service from 1955 to 1972.
In 1972 she was converted as a car ferry operating as THERISOS EXPRESS for Delian Cruises (Defunct) and in 1975 she was renamed DANAE rebuilding her into a passenger liner operating for Costa Cruises until 1992.
Official Costa Crociere Postcard and DANAE entering Grand Harbour, Malta in November 1986.
In 1992 she was acquired by Prestige Cruises operating her as STARLIGHT EXPRESS until 1994 and BALTICA from 1994 to 1996. In 1996 she was bought by Classic International Cruises, Portugal (Defunct) and renamed PRINCESS DANAE trading until May 2013.
Here entering Grand Harbour, Malta back to 15th May 2012 homeported at Madeira (PRT Flag).
She was transferred to the fleet of Portuscale Cruises (now defunct) in early 2013 and renamed her LISBOA after Lisbon as a city . During 2014 she was partially refurbished and on 28th February 2015 it was announced that she had been sold for scrap of which during July 2015, she was dismantled by Aliaga Denizcilik at company’s Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility (Turkey).
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli otherwise stated. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Wednesday 23rd December, 2020