TSS Olympia, Caribe, Regal Empress

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

T.S.S. Olympia

Sold to become Caribe, Caribe I, Regal Empress

The superb Greek Lines Trans Atlantic Liner T.S.S. Olympia

From the Jonathan Thurston (UK) collection

Regal Empress was built as the TSS Olympia in Glasgow, Scotland in 1953. She was the first and only ship ever to be built for the Greek Line, as well as being the largest built for Greek interests at the time. Olympia was designed to operate regular transatlantic voyages, between Piraeus and New York, but also became a seasonal cruise ship as of 1961.

Olympia was built to accommodate at total of 1,356 passengers, most of these travelling in Tourist Class, carrying only a small number in First Class. She had a number of interchangeable cabins for 146 passengers. The reason she was built as a predominantly Tourist class ship was in response of a demand for cheaper travel during the post-war years. Olympia has eight passenger decks, Sports (Boat) Deck, Sun Deck, Promenade Deck, Upper Deck, Main Deck, A Deck, B Deck, and C Decks.

An early postcard of the Olympia

Author’s private collection

Each ship in the Greek Line fleet was owned by a separate subsidiary company, the registered owners of the Olympia were the Transatlantic Shipping Corporation.

She was launched on April 16, 1953, yet she had not as yet been named. This did not occur until October12, 1953, when she was delivered to the Greek Line and was then officially named Olympia. She departed that day on a seven-night cruise for invited guests only from Glasgow. TSS Olympia first voyage departed Glasgow on October 15 and she sailed via Belfast, Liverpool, Dublin to Southampton. This was a special coastal cruise to introduce the ship to the British. She then departed Southampton for her maiden voyage for New York on the 19th, 1953 with a full complement of passengers. On November 17 of that year she departed from Bremerhaven and sailed to New York, then, finally on March 26, 1955, the first ever newly built Greek passenger liner, departed New York and sailed for her home port Piraeus. At that time she was re-registered at 17,362 GRT (Greek measurement). In 1961 her service was extended to Limassol and Haifa.

This image of a 1959 Greek Line Sailing Schedule cover was provided by

www.timetableimages.com/maritime/images/shiplist.htm

In the early and mid sixties her ports of call are listed as follows, although they did vary at times: Piraeus, Messina, Naples, Genoa or Lisbon, Halifax, New York. Lisbon, Naples, Messina, Piraeus, Limassol, Haifa, Piraeus. In addition she operated cruises during the winter.

Olympia seen with SS France and RMS Queen Mary in New York

Author’s private collection

“The Birth of Olympios”

Obviously, like most ships all have many personal stories to tell and TSS Olympia also has them. I received an interesting email in January 2009 with the following information which I now include as part of the story and I will expand this story at a later date.

When Olympia departed Greece on April 12, 1960 Mr and Mrs Bournelis were passengers bound for New York. Although Mrs Bounelis was expecting at the time she was not due until after her arrival in the USA. However on April 19 she gave birth to a baby boy who was duly named Olympios Demetrios. His first name is the ships name and the second the Captain’s name, who also became his Godfather during the voyage. They arrived in New York on April 24 with mother and child well!

Thank you Jim (Olympios Demetrios) Bournelis for sending us your interesting story!

A fine view of the TSS Olympic

*Photographer unknown – See photo notes at bottom of page

TSS Olympia’s Specifications

Built: 1953 Alex Stephen & Sons Glasgow - Yard 636

Tonnage: 22,640 GRT (Gross Registered Tons)

Length: 186.5 m (611ft)

Beam: 24.1m (79ft)

Draft: 8.6m (28ft)

Engines: Pametrada Steam DR Geared Turbines geared turbines – producing 25,000 shaft horsepower

Screws: Two

Speed: 21 knots (Service Speed)

Passengers: Min. 50, max 169 First Class

Min 1,160, max 1,306 Tourist

Stabilizers: Flume Stabilizers

Air-conditioning: Fully air-conditioned

Postcards & Photo’s

Original Greek Lines Postcard of the magnificent TSS Olympia

Author’s private collection

First and Tourist Class Pools

Author’s private collection

TSS Olympia seen at anchor during a winter cruise

Author’s private collection

In 1961 her service was extended to Haifa Israel, then in 1968, Olympia was re-registered at Andros, under the Greek Flag. Her tonnage was now listed as 17,434 GRT (Greek measurement). By 1970, with the Trans Atlantic traffic declining, she became a one-class cruise ship accommodating 1,030 passengers. However, this proved to be unprofitable, thus in 1974 it was decided to cease operations and Olympia was laid up at Piraeus, where she remained for the next seven years.

Olympia seen laid up in Greece

Photograph by © Nick Hall

A New Life for Olympia

Caribe with her new 1983 “modern” profile. Also, her original tripod mast was replaced with a new one

With the growing Caribbean cruise industry, Olympia was sold to Sally Shipping GmbH, Bad Schwartau, Germany in 1981, but she remained laid up in Piraeus for another year, but under a German flag. She was towed by the Wotan to Hamburg where she arrived on March 11, 1983, and she received an extensive internal refit readying her for fulltime cruise duties. In addition she received an external makeover, which saw the removal of her funnel, her tripod mast replaced by a modern mast, and her forward and aft kingposts removed in order to turn her into a “modern” streamlined ship. With work complete she received a slight name change and became Caribe I. However, they also replaced her steam turbine engines with new and efficient Klockner-Humbolt-Deutz diesels that would provide 20,270 BHP, giving her a comfortable cruising speed of 18 knots.

Next came a big shock for all those who had sailed on her in the past and dearly loved this fine liner, for a new constructed curved, grilled what you may call a “stylised” funnel was fitted, just aft of where her original funnel had been. It looked hideous!

This hideous funnel which was fitted to Caribe I

Thankfully it was soon removed and replaced

With a new livery, she had been given THE “modern” look and she departed Hamburg on June 29, 1983, joining the 1968 built Boheme in Caribbean and commenced cruising under the management of Commodore Cruise Line Pty Ltd. With Caribe I operating seven night Caribbean cruises from Miami, she soon became a much sought after cruise ship, which much due to her elegant old world atmosphere, something that new ships lacked.

Caribe I postcard

Author’s private collection

In 1985 the owners name changed to Olympia Caribbean Shipping Co, Inc, Panama. She was now listed as 14,533 GRT.

In 1988, Caribe I received another refit, which (thankfully) included the removal of that unsightly funnel, and a more conventional funnel was fitted, giving her a pleasing profile.

Due to strong competition of the larger upmarket cruise ships, Commodore Cruises, decided to sell their ships in 1993. Caribe was sold to the newly formed Regal Cruise Line, who renamed her Regal Empress.

In 1996, Regal Empress was given a new “bolder” livery, with a broad navy blue band on both sides of the ship. In addition her anchor well was pained dark blue and the size of her name on her bow was greatly increased, making her quite distinctive to look at. She was unmistakeably the Regal Empress, even from afar.

MS Regal Empress with a new livery, and a more suitable funnel Forward on Promenade Deck

six balcony suites were added. Forward there are another four suites with enclosed verandah’s

*Photographer unknown – *See note at bottom of page

In 1997, REGAL EMPRESS sailed to Mobile, Alabama for another refit, which included adding balconies to six suites, some with their own Jacuzzis and the forward suites received attractive enclosed Lanai’s over looking the bow.

After the sad demise of Regal Cruises, Regal Empress was auctioned off mid 2004, and was sold for what is known in the industry as a “giveaway price.” The successful bidder was “Celebration World Cruises” of the Bahamas, who purchased her for Imperial Majesty Cruises (IMC) who had been operating two night cruises to Nassau using the classic SS OceanBreeze, ex Southern Cross. Like her forerunner, Regal Empress became a success story, sailing mostly to capacity, and she has proven to be one of the most profitable ships operating in the Caribbean.

Imperial Cruises MS Regal Empress looks pristine

There is no doubt, Regal Empress has served her all her owners well, however, very soon in 2009 it is said that she will be retired around March/April and will be sold for scrap as IMC had apparently obtained a newer ship. Although no date for her demise has been set.

The superbly kept Bridge

The popular Captain Sottos has been master of the Regal Empress for many Years

It is time to start thinking of saving the …

MV Regal Empress – TSS Olympia

It is my sincere hope that some enterprising company would consider this superbly built ship, which is in top condition as a possible floating Hotel, Tourist, Convention Centre and Maritime Museum. My choice would be Glasgow in Scotland where she was built, but, we need someone with a vision! Email me: info@ssmaritime.com

Regal Empress is one of the best run and superbly maintained ships anywhere

Yet soon we may see her demise – If only she could be saved for another use!

This ship would make a great floating Hotel & Tourist Centre!

INDEX

1… TSS Olympia - The only Greek Trans Atlantic Liner ever to be built. Sold to become the Caribe and Regal Empress

2… Caribe refit photographs - Photos and story by ex crew member Michael Goldsby

3…. Photo Album One

4… Photo Album Two - Photos by an Australian passenger, Michael Barnes

5 Deck Plan

6… Save the TSS Olympia Campaign – Join the fight!

7… Read the Memorandum of Agreement - To sell the Regal Empress to Greece dated January 2005

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I trust you have enjoyed reading this page and this much loved passenger liner. If you have sailed on her I would like to hear from you, and if you have any photographs I would greatly appreciate some, especially those of the interiors and out on deck. Email Me!

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Please Note:

Photographs on cruise-australia.net are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

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