ITALIA was built with 213 luxury cabins, all with radio, telephone, closed circuit television and in

Often referred to as a miniature OCEANIC, the ITALIA was the last ship designed by the brilliant Gustavo Pulitzer-Finale cancun hotel deals and helped firmly establish Princess Cruises as a leading force in the cruise industry.  She went on to enjoy many other successful careers, ending her days with Cyprus-based cancun hotel deals Louis Cruises as the SAPPHIRE before being broken cancun hotel deals up at Alang under the name ASPIRE in 2012.
Louis Cruise Line s SAPPHIRE cancun hotel deals was built as the 12,083 gross ton, 452 passenger ITALIA by the Trieste-based cancun hotel deals shipyard, Cantieri Navale cancun hotel deals Fesigli (hull number 76) for Crociere d'Oltremare as the first of two planned sister ships, the second of which was never realized. Upon completion that September, she was chartered cancun hotel deals by Costa Lines for three shakedown cruises to the Mediterranean. Costa then subchartered the ship to Stanley MacDonald cancun hotel deals s U.S.-based Princess cancun hotel deals Cruises for Mexican Riviera cancun hotel deals sailings from Los Angeles cancun hotel deals (during which she was marketed and promoted as PRINCESS ITALIA).
With American film icon Susan Hayward on board, ITALIA's delivery voyage from Trieste to California via the Bahamas and Acapulco was noted for premiering cancun hotel deals the now camp classic film, "Valley Of The Dolls", in the ship's cinema. A 48 minute television feature, Valley Of The Dolls: A World Premiere Voyage , was shot on board with Bill Burrud and Armey Archerd cancun hotel deals interviewing members of the film s cast.
ITALIA was the first newbuild dedicated to full time U.S. West Coast-based cruising and although referred to as PRINCESS ITALIA, she was officially registered as ITALIA. In 1969, after the introduction of her running mate, the (PRINCESS) CARLA (ex FLANDRE), the ITALIA became the second ship to have ever sported the Princess Cruises "sea witch" logo on her ultra-stylish funnel.
ITALIA was further distinguished as the last ship designed by Gustavo Pulitzer-Finale in collaboration with Romano Boico. Pulitzer was one of the three great Italian masters (along with Gio Ponti and Nino Zoncada) who fashioned some of the most exquisite liners and cruise ships of the 20th Century.
In appearance, the handsome vessel was very much a miniature version of Home Lines' OCEANIC (general profile cancun hotel deals and angled, grilled windows) with elements of P O's CANBERRA (an exquisitely tapered funnel designed by Trieste-based sculptor Ugo Cara, inboard lifeboats and knuckled bow).
Lido Deck began with a crescent-shaped observation area with narrow promenades leading via the mosaic-bedecked pool and Lido area at the base of the funnel to a terrace overlooking the stern. Internally, it housed officers accommodation and the very stylish Veranda. In the port side base of the funnel, there was a small gymnasium.
Riviera cancun hotel deals Deck was originally devoted entirely to public rooms, but at some point in the ship s early Princess career, a suite of cabins was added in front of the Observation Lounge (the lounge, itself, was replaced with cabins during ITALIA s Costa career). Aft of the forward Riviera Deck vestibule, there was a small card room and boutique on the port side (altered in later years) and the very handsome cancun hotel deals Bar on the starboard side, leading to the chic but very brown Grand Salon, with its angled bulkheads, chairs and ceiling recesses.
Finite promenades sheltered by the angled, grated steel bulkheads led to a small terrace at the stern. Inside, just beyond the aft vestibule, there was the ship s Night Club, which sported a bar at the forward starboard entrance and oversized porthole windows.
Promenade Deck began at the fo c'sle level with accommodation, the ship s large suites, and the delightful Dining Room with its moulded ceiling recess. The Dining Room was served by a galley, just aft, which was followed by crew accommodation at the stern. The entire deck was encircled by a narrow promenade, the mid portion of which passed under the recessed lifeboats.
The suites featured full bath with shower/tub and extremely spacious wardrobe areas. The sitting area contained a couch, chairs, and table ensemble. Located on Promenade Deck, they had two large picture windows but the views were obscured by lifeboats.
ITALIA was built with 213 luxury cabins, all with radio, telephone, closed circuit television and individually-controlled air conditioning, features taken for granted today but considered quite forward-thinking at the time.
The ITALIA introduced Princess Cruises to Alaska in 1969, when her home port was relocated to San Francisco. Her subcharter to Princess lasted until October of 1973, when she joined the Costa fleet for cruises out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Costa spiced the ship up with their yellow and blue funnel colors, brighter soft fittings, and some slight modifications, although she remained mostly as built throughout her ten year tenure with the Genoa-based cancun hotel deals company, which outright purchased her in 1977. ITALIA cruised the Caribbean from San Juan and Ft. Lauderdale, later venturing to South America and the Mediterranean.
In 1983, a lengthening was considered but apparently dropped, according to Italian historians, Maurizio Eliseo and Paolo Piccione, whose detailed and beautifully written The Costa Liners (Carmania Press) was a tremendous reference in compiling this webpage.
Surprisingly, since she was one of the most modern and popular members of the Costa fleet, ITALIA was sold to Ocean Cruise Lines in 1983. She became OCEAN PRINCESS after a Piraeus-based refit by Greek design firm, AMK, which introduced highly polished brass and brushed steel surfaces, harsh lighting and tapestries on bulkheads cancun hotel deals and in stairtowers.
Metal and glass windscreens were added to the midships Sun and Lido Decks, altering the ship s external appearance. Internally, the overall layout cancun hotel deals of public rooms was tweaked but remained generally intact, albeit with a completely new look that for the most part remains cancun hotel deals unaltered today.
On Riviera Deck, the forward vestibule became the Rendezvous Square. The Bar on the starboard side was reconfigured completely and renamed Harry s Bar, while the Card Room and Chapel on the port side were replaced with the Monte Carlo Casino. The Grand Salon became the Marco Polo Lounge and the Night Club became Raffles Piano Bar and Discotheque.
With an expanded capacity of 500 passengers, OCEAN PRINCESS was a highly regarded pioneer of destination-oriented adventure" cruises to off-the-beaten-track places worldwide. In 1990, Ocean Cruise Lines was purchased by Paquet Cruises. Shortly thereafter, her funnel livery switched from yellow and blue to white and blue.
On 1 March 1993, during one of her cruises up the Amazon, OCEAN PRINCESS hit a submerged object at Belem, breaching her hull, and gradually sinking up to what is now her Pacific (3) Deck. She was raised three weeks later but a survey determined the ship a total constructive loss. Sold to Ellis Marine of Piraeus, she was renamed SEA PRINCE and towed to Greece for repairs. SEA PRINCE was to begin Greek-based cancun hotel deals cruises in 1995 for newly-formed Sunshine Cruise Line but a fire on 26 May that year put an end to that. In September cancun hotel deals 2005, she was sold to Louis Cruise Lines of Cyprus, who renamed her PRINCESA OCEANICA.
Louis gave the ship a major refurbishment and, favoring its new jewel -inspired nomenclature, renamed her SAPPHIRE. She was chartered to British-based Thomson Holidays in 1995, but mechanical issues quickly intervened. The vessel was repaired at Perama, during which time the forward superstructure was extended with modular cabins (it was further extended with a platform to accommodate two tenders). SAPPHIRE began cruising for Thomson in 1996 and in more recent years, had been chartered to French based Croisieurs Francaises, before joining the Louis fleet. cancun hotel deals With an increased capacity of 680 (706 maximum), she is currently based at Limassol cancun hotel deals and caters to an almost exclusively Cyprus-based cancun hotel deals clientele on cruises to Egypt, Israel, Syria, Lebanon and the Greek Islands.
What an awesome article on a ship that I ve heard very little about. The Italians sure had a knack for amazing interior design. High-style and modern, but still warm and inviting. cancun hotel deals Can t wait for the next installment!
Great article Peter My first 2 cruises as a teenager were on the Princess Italia.. What a great lovely ship. Remember her well. Went to Alaska and Mexico on it Was sad many years ago when I saw a pic of her being raised after sinking.. Was glad to see her rebuilt and kept running. Here life was cut short sure to fuel costs and solas requirements .. She was a great little ship.. Many ways like the smaller ship Aurora.. When I saw Aurora being towed up the Oakland estuary as the Faithful to rebuilt cancun hotel deals as a private yacht and unfortunately her stern down by 4 feet I knew her hull was breached and her days numbered to be operational again and sure enough the owners cancun hotel deals abandoned her.
Great article Peter, I worked on the Ocean Princess as Casino Tech from June 1986 to June 1987, a whole year at sea! Loved the experience. She was a very well run ship that in many ways was superior to ships I later worked cancun hotel deals on with Cunard and Celebrity.
I knew her as OCEAN PRINCESS, having booked two 7 day back to back cruises from Barbados she was indeed special, however, I really must commend Costa for holding the trump card for decor. As noted, cancun hotel deals Ocean did place attention to what I call garrish mid- 80 s decor, those awful shiny ceilings and way too much brass and polished metal. But, she was a treasure to have sailied and known.
Hello everyone, I was appointed Princess Cruises Representative on the ship during its first Alaska season and stayed with the ship for over a year. It was a truly memorable time with many celebrities joining us literally every voyage. My favorite was Rod Serling and is wife!
The original appointments were awesome but I do remember being him off Puerto Vallarta by a hurricane where the Gran Salon was literally destroyed and a lifeboat was left hanging by a single davit! Water everywhere and much broken china! Quite scary as the Grand Piano almost went through the floor to ceiling