ssMaritime
The two delightful ships, MS Istra and
Dalmacija became known as the “Great White Yachts” yet in reality
they were small and extremely popular intimate ships. They were built in 1965
at the Brodogradiliste Uljanik
ship yards in
MS Istra is seen here in 1966 as built
An original Jadrolinija postcard
Both ships offered popular cruises
offering a warm and friendly Yugoslavian style of service. They operated 14 day
voyages from the Adriatic to the
1. The MS Istra story
In
A fine bow shot of the Istra
Photographer unknown - *please see photo notes at bottom of
page
Original
interior photographs of the MS Istra
The Main Social Hall
The Tavern (Bar)
The lobby to the
The Restaurant
Stairwell and lobby
In May 1993 the Istra was obtained by the
Russian “Goring Shipping Company” who renamed her, Astra and she
was reregistered in the
She was sold to Goring Shipping and renamed MS
Astra & is shown here with the Caravalla livery
Postcard from the author’s private collection
But again she entered the European market and she was chartered by operators like Eurocruises and Mono Company. However, soon enough the German giant cruise organisation “Neckermann Seereisen” decided to add this gem of a ship to their fleet of chartered ships and she was extremely popular due to her intimate size.
Another postcard of MS Astra
Postcard from the author’s private collection
Then in 1996, the little Astra, ex Istra, was replaced in the Neckermann fleet by the larger MV Astra II, which was previously the MV Golden Odyssey.
Goring Shipping decided to reregister the
MS Astra in
MV Arion:
In 1999, Astra I was obtained at auction
and taken to
Externally there were some major changes as her Boat and Bridge decks were moved far forward, and the forward windows on Promenade Deck were altered to make way for a full width Main Lounge, Bar, Casino, etc. However, a good length of the glass enclosed Promenade remains on both sides of the ship, which is now called the “Wintergarden.”
Having been just rebuilt for the second time and
vastly modernised, she is seen as the elegant MV Arion
From the author’s private collection
This is a close up view of her stern with both
her restaurant and decks above having been vastly extended
\
MV Arion seen here more recently with her new
enclosed tenders
From the author’s private collection
You can visit my
feature “Classic Ocean Voyages” featuring the MV Arion and other classic ships cruising to this day!
The MS Dalmacija Story
The clean lines of the MS Dalmacija seen in port
Photographer unknown - *please see photo notes at bottom of
page
With the Dalmacija having been built mostly to operate for cruise market with her sister the Istra, she continued to cruise successfully throughout the years, even after the Istra had long been sold. For Australian’s she did visit our shores during the summer if 1981 and 1982 as a photograph below and a brochure directly below it will prove. She was chartered by a Western Australian venture by the name of “Australian Ocean Line” (AOL).
MS
Dalmacija Photo Album
This mini photo album below has been sourced
directly from the “Australian Ocean Line” brochure mentioned above,
which is part of the author’s private collection. During her charter
agreement in 1981/82, with the Australian Company AOL she operated two line
voyages, a 25 Night southbound and a 26 Night northbound voyage to and from
The Dalmacija visited Sydney Australia in March
1982
Photograph by & © Jeff-Eastwood
Whilst based in Fremantle she operated five 25
night cruises: two Far East Asian cruises, one South East Asian cruise and two
complete circumnavigations of
Front and part of the
back cover of the brochure. As it had been punctured and placed in a file, it
has been photo shopped and has been repaired as has all images below!
A delightful photograph of what was indeed a beautifully designed ship, such as the Dalmacija which is now sadly no more
Photographer unknown - *please see photo notes at bottom of
page
Finally the delightful MS Dalmacija was sold
in 1997 to “Adriatic Cruises” she remained in Croatian (previously
Yugoslavian) hands until the very end of her sailing days! She continued cruising
and gaqve a great deal of pleasure to so many. But
then suddenly twelve years after having obtained the delightful “Great White
Yacht”, Adriatic Cruises due to financial problems folded in 2009, and the
ship was sold at
auction in September of that year to “Baltanas
Shipping Limited” for just US$770,000.
Still
looking radiant the MS Dalmacija departed her home
However, the good news is that the elegant and intimate, ex Istra, now the delightful MV Arion continues to sail on, for Classic International Cruises as this superb ship is in SOLAS 2010/2011 condition and remains as popular as ever and she will cruise on for many years yet to come!
Visit
my feature “Classic Ocean Voyages”
MS Istra & Dalmacija:
Built: Brodogradiliste Uljanik,
Owner: Jadrolinija Cruises
Names: 1
- Dalmacija for Jadrolinija Cruises & 1997 Adriatica Cruises
2
- Istra for Jadrolinija Cruises – 1993 Astra
& Astra I Goring Shipping Co. Sold in 1999 MV Arion
First Voyage: 1
– April 11, 1965
2
– May 30, 1965
Tonnage: 5,500
GRT (900 tons cargo)
Length: 383ft
Width: 50ft
Draught: 16.9ft
Engines: 2
Sulzer geared diesels
Screws: Two
Speed: 19
knots
Passengers: 165 First Class
52 Tourist
Class
Also (Day)
Deck passengers
Air-Conditioned: Throughout
Stabilizers” AEG Danny Brown
***********************************
Arion - Index
MS Istra & Dalmacija
… The history of two
great Yugoslavian small ships
On cruise-australia.net
MV Arion … In
2000 the ex Istra was rebuilt into an intimate ship laden with
ambience
Deck Plan
… MV Arion’s Cabin Plan
****************************
Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
Contact me via
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name the ship you are commenting about.
PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I
hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist due to time
restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these lists/schedules
are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request for these will no
longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!
Also visit my …
“Save The Classic Liners Campaign” & “Classic Ocean Voyages”