MARITIME MATTERS Ocean liner history and cruise ship news
[Home] [Table of Contents] [Shipping Mall] [Index of ships]
For Official ROC Web site click here
Page three: A STAR Emerges From the Former SS CAMBODGE
A fine aerial view of CAMBODGE during the 1960's. Peter Knego collection.
The CAMBODGE and her sisters sailed very successfully throughout the 1950's and even into the early 1960's. In 1956 and again in 1967 with the closure of the Suez Canal, they altered their route around the Cape. In 1962, CAMBODGE helped repatriate the French from Algeria and toward the late 1960's with the stability of Southeast Asia in turmoil and the advent of jet travel, she began to cruise on varying itineraries from Australia to the Indian Ocean.
Artist's rendering of Sun Lines trendsetting cruise ship SS STELLA SOLARIS, former CAMBODGE. Peter Knego collection.
The VIET NAM was renamed PACIFIQUE in 1968 and all three ships were finally sold in 1970. PACIFIQUE and LAOS went to Compania Navegacion Abeto for moslem pilgrim service in the Far East. With vast new capacities of over 1,600 passengers, they were eventually destroyed by fire and scrapped in the mid-1970's. Meanwhile, the CAMBODGE was purchased by Greek interests, and unlike other French combiliners of the day (which were basically given a new coat of paint and an increased passenger capacity for budget Mediterranean cruise service), she was completely transformed.
Her new owner was Sun Line, a destination-oriented cruise line that had earned a great name for itself with smaller vessels in Aegean cruise service. Created in 1958 by respected shipping entrepreneur Charalambos Kesseoglou, the fleet at the time consisted of the 4,000 gt STELLA MARIS (former BREMERHAVEN) and 6,000 gt STELLA OCEANIS (former APHRODITE).
At first renamed STELLA V, the ship was laid up at La Spezia while plans for her rebuilding were finalized. Next, she sailed to Perama, Greece in February 1971 for such an extensive conversion into the STELLA SOLARIS ("Solar Star"), that work was not completed until June of 1973. When the former CAMBODGE emerged from the shipyard, she was sleek and unrecognizable with a streamlined, finned funnel, hugely expanded and terraced superstructure, expansive twin-pooled lido area, spacious fully encircling promenades, large public rooms, air conditioning, and fresh modern cabins with private facilities.
STELLA SOLARIS departs Piraeus on August 4, 1997. In the background, one of her former Messageries Maritimes fleetmates, FERDINAND DE LESSEPS, can be seen in layup as the rebuilt MV LAPALMA.
While she now accommodated 660 passengers, she was remeasured under new standards at a smaller 10,595 gross tons. Her acclaimed decor, which was reportedly supervised by Mrs. Kesseoglou, featured ancient Greek themes and the incorporation of ceramic, metal and velour elements. Soon, the STELLA SOLARIS had joined the ranks of Incres Line's VICTORIA and Home Line's OCEANIC as one of the most popular cruise ships in service and had a repeat passenger ratio that was the envy of her competitors.
The left image shows the STELLA SOLARIS funnel livery under Sun
Lines, while the center was what she wore during the 1995/6 season
immediately following the merger of Sun and Epirotiki Lines into Royal
Olympic Cruises. The right image is the funnel as it looks today.
Photos and copyright Peter Knego 1989, 1996, 1997.
Absorbed into the Royal Olympic fleet following the merger of Sun and rival Epirotiki Lines in 1995, STELLA SOLARIS is still considered one of the finest ships afloat and maintains a loyal following. The current Royal Olympic logo is a combination of the concentric rings of Sun Lines and the Byzantine Cross of Epirotiki.
In 1998, Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines bought the majority of shares in Royal Olympic. A good portion of STELLA SOLARIS' summer 1999 program was canceled due to the Kosovo crisis, resulting in a brief layup at Piraeus. In 2000, there were reports of mechanical troubles and damage to one of her shafts, but ROC quickly addressed these issues and STELLA SOLARIS returned to service in 2001 with full passenger loads on her Aegean circuits.
Let's pay a visit to the beloved and enduring STELLA SOLARIS as seen in October of 2001. Maritime Matters now welcomes you aboard this sparkling veteran for a top to bottom tour.
This view is facing aft from just below the radio mast on the forward portion of STELLA SOLARIS' Sports Deck. The wheelhouse is located just below. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.
The uppermost of STELLA SOLARIS' nine passenger decks is called the Sports Deck. It stretches from atop the wheelhouse aft beyond the funnel and then splits into two wings that overlook the lido. It is spacious, uncluttered, and immaculately kept.
Facing forward from the aft port extension of the Sports Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.
In the above image, a painter touches up the finned funnel. A portion of the lido can be seen just below and to the right.
From the central portion of the aft Sports Deck, the two pools and large lido are among the most inviting afloat. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.
From the central portion of aft Sports Deck, one has a fine view of the lido.
The modern, polished wheelhouse in a starboard-facing view. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.
The next level, Lido Deck, begins forward with the wheelhouse, continuing aft via narrow outside walkways inboard of the lifeboats. Glass paned windbreaks aft of the boats shelter the Lido area on either side.
The Lido Bar is shown in a forward facing view. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.
The interior portion of Lido Deck follows the wheelhouse with officers' accommodation and the Radio Station. In its aft enclosure, the 100 capacity Lido Bar offers buffet style portions of ROC's absolutely delicious cuisine. Although both continental and Greek food are served, the Greek specialties are the best afloat, whether it be a simple Greek salad, a crispy spanikopita, or a mouthwatering moussaka. The Bar opens directly onto the pool area via a large glass screen.
The Lido area in a forward facing view. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.
The Lido borrows a bit from that of Incres Line's MV VICTORIA, another incredibly successful and long-lived cruise ship (See Maritime Matters tour of Louis Cruise Line's MV PRINCESA VICTORIA) that was originally a cargo passenger liner. The twin pools are followed by acres of open blue turfed deck with rows of white deck chairs for sunning.
Click here to continue our tour of the SS STELLA SOLARIS