The PRINCESA VICTORIA glistens in the light of a December 1997 morning at her Limassol, Cyprus berth. Photo by and copyright Peter Knego.

PRINCESA VICTORIA

A month after the QUEEN MARY's debut, a far more modest, but nonetheless remarkably successful liner was completed by the Harland and Wolff Yard at Belfast for Union-Castle Lines' London-Round Africa run. Joining her twin sister, the DUNVEGAN CASTLE, the passenger cargo vessel MV DUNNOTTAR CASTLE entered service in July of 1936. Measured at 15,007 gt, the 560 by 71.9 foot liner carried 258 first class and 250 third class passengers. She was powered by B&W diesels capable of 11,200 BHP to drive twin screws at a service speed of 17 knots.

She was requisitioned for war service as an armed merchant cruiser in 1939 and later a troop transport in 1942. In 1940, her less fortunate sister was torpedoed off Ireland with a loss of 27 lives, however, the DUNNOTTAR CASTLE survived, returning to post war service in 1949. At this time, the ship's capacity was revised to105 passengers in first and 263 in tourist.

In 1958, she was sold to Incres Line and taken to Rotterdam for a complete re-engining and rebuilding into the sleek,14,917 gross ton, 573 by 72 foot cruise ship VICTORIA. She was fitted with new FIAT diesels capable of 16,800 BHP for a service speed of 18 knots. Considered one of the world’s finest passenger ships with her spacious cabins, elegant decor, twin pools, and mostly all outside cabins, she sailed successfully until the early 1970's, when the fuel crisis and high operating costs took their toll.

VICTORIA was sold to the Chandris family in 1975 following the collapse of Incres Lines. Originally, her new owners intended to strip the then-neglected vessel and trade her for scrapping, but instead opted to refurbish her. Renamed THE VICTORIA, she became a fixture in their Greek-owned fleet on Caribbean and European Cruises, lasting until 1993, when she was sold to Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines for two and three day cruises to Egypt and Israel from Limassol.

Renamed PRINCESA VICTORIA, she has been well-cared for over the years and is a credit to her builders, past, and present owners for giving over sixty years of reliable service. Your reporter sailed in PRINCESA VICTORIA in December of 1997 on two back-to-back cruises from Limassol and then revisited the ship in December of 1998 during her annual layup at Perama. Her condition is remarkable and she has recently been given a SOLAS refit which will hopefully keep her sailing for several more years. In the summer of 1998, PRINCESA VICTORIA was chartered for stationary use at Lisbon during the Expo.