Published December 1, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego 2003 (unless otherwise noted).

Page Three: ATALANTE (The MSL Years) to HOMERICUS

Owners: Paradise Cruises, Limassol, Cyprus

Another official Messageries Maritimes view of TAHITIEN. Peter Knego collection.

TAHITIEN soldiered on through the 1960s while the jumbo jet began to take its toll on long distance line voyages, much as it decimated the transatlantic ferry a few years earlier. By 1970, she and her combi-liner sisters had become charming government subsidized anachronisms with containerization of cargo and the emancipation of the French colonial empire. Messageries Maritimes closed out its passenger ship operations and sold all of its combi-liners (with the exception of the diminutive 3,709 gt MV POLYNESIE which ran for a few more years between Sydney, New Caledonia, and New Hebrides).

Most of these ships went to Greek owners for further careers. The first of four sisters designed for service to the Indian Ocean, the 1952-built 10,900 gt FERDINAND DE LESSEPS went to Efthymiadas Lines as the DELPHI in 1968. In subsequent years, she became LA PERLA and LAPALMA and went to Alang, India for scrapping in the summer of 2003. The 1953-built JEAN LABORDE was sold to Efthy in 1970, becoming the MYKINAI, ANKONA, BRINDISI EXPRESS, EASTERN PRINCESS, and finally went to Epirotki Cruises in 1976 as the OCEANOS. She sank off South Africa on 4 August 1991 with no loss of life, but with a great deal of PR damage to Epirotiki. The PIERRE LOTI was sold to Efthy in 1970, becoming OLIMPIA and then PATRA. In 1978, she became CHRYSOVALANDOU II and later the EROS, going to Greek breakers in 1986. The LA BOURDONNAIS went to Efthy, as well. In 1968 she became the KNOSSOS. She went to Spanish breakers in 1976 after laying idle for three years as the result of an engine room fire.

CAMBODGE, the second of three 13,162 gt sisters, went to Sun Lines in 1971, and, after a two year rebuilding, emerged as Sun Line's legendary STELLA SOLARIS in 1973. Sadly, she has just been sold for scrap and will be departing Eleusis shortly for the lonely voyage to India. Her sisters, VIETNAM and LAOS went to Far Eastern interests for Pilgrim service and were destroyed by fire in 1974 and 1976, respectively.

ATALANTE, early in her career for MSL. Peter Knego collection.

Our remaining post war twins, CALEDONIEN and TAHITIEN, also would go to Mediterranean interests. CALEDONIEN went to Efthy in 1972 as the NISSOS KYPROS, and later ISLAND OF CYPRUS. This second life was rather brief, and she was sold for scrap in 1975. TAHITIEN was sold to Famagusta, Cyprus-based Aphrodite Cruises in 1971 and rebuilt as the 659 passenger, fully air conditioned ATALANTE. Under the banner of Mediterranean Sun Lines, she entered service as a dual cruise ship and ferry with many structural modifications.

Her main mast and king posts were removed, while extra cabins, a show lounge, second dining room and a 180 car garage were added. Her black funnel was painted white with a blue band at its top and a stylized "MSL" logo on its side. There were plans to heighten the funnel and add an aerodynamic fin (similar in look to Cogedar's FLAVIA), but this did not come to pass. ATALANTE's hull livery remained black and she had crimson red boot topping in a very traditional liner-like manner.

Her deck nomenclature was revised as follows:

The view over the stern from Sun Deck shows ATALANTE's expanded aft section with second pool and lido. Peter Knego collection.

Pont F became Sun Deck; Pont E was officially called Boat Deck; and Pont D became Promenade Deck.

The swinging 70's in full swing and attitude, as seen in this MSL brochure illustration of the Bar, facing aft. Peter Knego collection.

A flirtatious view of the Library, still tres Messageries Maritimes in decor and ambiance. Peter Knego collection.

On Promenade Deck, the first class Smoking Room (which had been expanded into the winter garden later during TAHITIEN's career) was renamed Panoramic Lounge, while the Bridge/Writing Room became the Library and the Cafe Bar was simply called Bar. The Pool Lounge became Lounge and the open terrace aft of it was set up as an open air discotheque.

TThe ATALANTE's former first class cabins on A Deck retained most of their fine Messageries Maritimes fittings and woodwork, although the soft fittings were clearly a product of the 1970s. Peter Knego collection.

Pont C became A Deck and remained virtually unchanged in its forward portion, save for the Children's Playroom being renamed Babies Room (and later was converted into a gym). This level was extended all the way aft, however, to mesh with the aft docking platform. A second lido and pool was added.

The Belvedere Restaurant looking athwartship. It retained its lavish original MM features and fixtures. Peter Knego collection.

Another view of the festive life aboard ATALANTE with a panel by Aujame as a perfect conversation piece. Peter Knego collection.

The Lucullus Restaurant was a secondary dining venue to accommodate the ATALANTE's expanded passenger capacity. Peter Knego collection.

Pont B became B Deck. The steerage dormitories in the forepeak were given over to crew accommodation and the tourist class Smoking Room/Lounge was extended aft amidships. The original dining room became the Belvedere Restaurant and the Galley was expanded to the full width of the ship. A second dining room, the Lucullus Restaurant, was added aft while a new block of passenger cabins filled former crew and cargo space, extending to the fantail area.

One of the new cabins on either B or C Deck. Peter Knego collection.

Pont A became C Deck and new cabins replaced steerage accommodation and holds, leading to a second midships lobby. Another block of cabins was added aft along the starboard side while the port side was given over to crew accommodation.

The next lower deck, formerly cargo space, became D Deck. Two garages were built forward of the machinery uptakes, followed by a club (that was rebuilt into a larger show lounge in 1976). Aft of the machinery, there were two more garages installed.

ATALANTE was engaged in varying seven day budget cruises from Ancona to Corfu, Patras, Katakolon, Piraeus, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, and Patras and later in three and four day Aegean service from Piraeus. With post cruise options offered, passengers were encouraged to bring their cars along in one of the ship's extensive garages. In 1976, she was further refitted and registered at Limassol, and in 1977, she was re registered at Piraeus.

A post card view of ATALANTE as she appeared later on in her MSL career. Steffen Weirauch collection.

In 1978, she was given a second refit that saw her color scheme evolve with the black hull being replaced by a blue band that went only as high as D Deck level. Her new capacity was listed at 549.

Another post card view of the classically proportioned ATALANTE. Steffen Weirauch collection.

After this, at some point, her promenades were glassed in and her forward mast and boons were replaced with more modern loading gear.

ATALANTE even soldiered on successfully in the wake of the 1985 ACHILLE LAURO hijacking, which had a devastating effect on Mediterranean cruising. In 1990, she was relisted at 13,113 gt.

The sparkling HOMERICUS in Tourlos Bay, Mykonos, Greece on 19 September 1991. Photo by and copyright Tony Garner 1991.

In 1991, as a quick replacement for the loss of her former fleetmate OCEANOS, Epirotiki chartered ATALANTE and refitted her for their Aegean cruise service as the HOMERICUS. In their tan hulled livery, she never looked better, but her tenure with the Piraeus-based company would prove to be very short. At the end of her 1991 season, she became ATALANTE once more. She would sail one last season in this configuration before going to Cyprus-based Med Queen Lines in 1993 for a major overhaul that would extend her life considerably.

Please click for page four: Paradise Cruises' ATALANTE

[ATALANTE page one]   [ATALANTE page two]   [ATALANTE page four]   [ATALANTE page five]   [ATALANTE page six]   [ATALANTE page seven]

---

[Home]   [Table of Contents]   [Shipping Mall]   [Index of ships]