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With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
MV Royal Star
ex Ocean Islander, City of
Adriatica Lines MS San Giorgio seen in 1957
Author’s private collection
Images on this page are from either: 1. The author’s collection and 2. As provided by the African Safari Club or 3. From other sources.
Having Adriatica Lines Ausonia featured on ssMaritime, I felt to add several of the earlier (Post War) ships built by the company. However, this feature will highlight the delightful MS San Giorgio, which was until recently operated by the Swiss-owned African Safari Club under the name Royal Star. The ship’s current profile is quiet deceptive, for she certainly does not look her age. Since built, her holds and forward and aft masts were removed with a new signal mast atop her Bridge and a stylish mast aft of her funnel. In addition, her Promenade Deck was extended both forward and aft, making her an attractive modern looking ship indeed.
MS Royal Star
Provided by African Safari Club
Adriatica
Lines first Post War Ships
MS Esperia seen in
Author’s private collection
After
the war, Adriatica Line ordered the 9,314
Adriatica Lines official post card of the MS Esperia
Author’s private collection
Adriatica Lines official post card of MS Enotria and Messapia
Author’s private collection
MS San
Marco and San Giorgio
With
the success of the company, Adriatica Line ordered two further ships, which incorporated
exiting new design standards for small Italian Liners. Built by Cant. Riuniti dell’ Adriatico Trieste, the 4,755
During building a design change was made, which would give these ships yet another look. Instead of a smallish funnel with projecting fins, a well balanced funnel with rounded top was fitted. All these features combined with a sharply raked bow gave these ships a well balanced look.
Post card of Adriatica’s attractive new liner, MS San Giorgio
Author’s private collection
San
Marco and San Giorgio were built to operate on the
First Class public rooms occupied all of Promenade Deck. Lounges exuded an Italian flair, which gave all public spaces on board a sense of light and space. First Class offered both single and two berth cabins, all having private facilities. Second Class public rooms were located one deck lower, located amidships to just aft. Cabins accommodated 2, 3 or 4 berths, all with shared facilities. Tourist Class public rooms were located right aft and offered either 4 or 6 berth cabins, again all having shared facilities.
MS
San Giorgio continued sailing between
However, after 20 years of service San Giorgio was sold in
1976, to Andreas
and George Kyrtatas of
A New Venture and Look for a Fine Old lady!
After her extensive rebuild Ocean Islander became an attractive looking ship indeed!
*Photographer unknown – See Photo notes at bottom of page
City of
MS Ocean Islander
Ocean Cruise Lines promotional image
In 1990, Ocean Cruise Lines was bought by Accor SA and Chargeurs SA, a company who also owned Paquet Cruises.
However, Ocean Islander was not
part of the sale and she was sold to the Swiss-owned African Safari Club. She
was renamed Royal Star and
operated cruises out of
5,600
Provided by African Safari Club
Between 1990 and 2005, she received additional refurbishments, which saw improvements made throughout the ship. In addition, changes were made to cabin layouts, lowering her passenger capacity to just 200 passengers, served by 130 officers and crew. All cabins have private facilities, telephone, music, a safe and adequate storage space. The majority are outside with either a port hole or a window. Some suites have two bathrooms, mini bar, hair dryer and TV with videos.
MS Royal Star seen berthed at night
Provided by African Safari Club
Although the Royal Star looks as modern as tomorrow, she is a genuine classic Liner having acres of teak decks and rich interiors of polished wood and gleaming brass. In 2006 she will celebrate her 50th year at sea.
Royal Star has become famed for her intimate atmosphere, which is more akin to a private yacht compared to today’s larger cruise ships. For this reason, passengers get to know their fellow travellers. Royal Star is fully stabilised and air-conditioned throughout and is ideal for cruising close to shore, visiting intriguing ports, which are inaccessible to larger ships. More importantly, with so few passengers there is no danger of overwhelming the character and often delicate ecosystem of the ports visited, thus preserving the experience sought after.
On board facilities
include … Marco Polo Lounge, Piano Bar, Explorer Bar, Lido
Bar. Belvedere Restaurant, Library, Tourist Office, Casino, Fitness Room,
Swimming Pool, Pool Bar, Sauna, Medical Centre, Beauty Salon and a Boutique.
Sadly in 2007 & 08 the company commenced suffering some financial difficulties and a dispute with the ships owners. Her future considering SOLAS 2010 is nearing is somewhat uncertain! See News Updates below.
Provided by African Safari Club
News Updates:
April 2009: The African
Safari Club has announced on their website that MV Royal Star will be returned
to service after repairs and refit has been completed. Itineraries and a new
brochure is currently being worked on and will be
released within a month or so. During the past twelve months this fine small cruise
ship has had a difficult time, but we are sure that she will now have a long
and a happy future! Visit www.africansafariclub.com.
Although she has been operated by the African
Safari Club cruising out of
February 10, 2009: MV Royal Star has been laid up in
We understand that Royal Star is in an excellent condition and her original FIAT diesel engines remain in full working order.
However, we have been advised that she only has one operational propeller, for the other one has been lost and the shaft has broken anyway. Thus it is unlikely that she will return to to any kind of service without expensive repairs to replace her lost propeller and broken shaft. She can however be made operational again for a delivery voyage working on just one propeller.
Considering her superb interiors and
condition, her best chance could be for the acquisition for use in a static
role as a boutique hotel ship in a suitable location. The Royal Star will be
auctioned by the Kenyan Authorities in
February 28: We understand that the ship Royal Star was sold to TUI Air Leasing
at the auction yesterday, which we believe was a measure to end the dispute
with African Safari Club and stabilise legal issues, but TUI, part of the
African Safari Club group, now wish to sell her and we have been advised that
the asking price could be around $2 million.
Includes the ships deck Plan
***************************************************
I trust you have enjoyed reading this page on this fine and much loved passenger ship. 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: 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!
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Where the ships of the past make history & the MV Doulos Site
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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