Transilvania

[Henry Casciaro]

Dear friends since I don't seem to find a thread on this interesting vessel thought it would be a good idea to open one starting with a few original pictures obtained from a Rumanian website.

She and her sister Besarabia (later Ukraina of Blasco) were smart looking combination liners built for regular service in the Black Sea and surrounding areas for their owners Navrom and faithfully served the Black Sea routes for many years.

Her technical details from the little records I have are that she was built in 1938 by Burmeister and Wain (Copenhagen) with a gross tonnage of 6,672 length 432 feet width 58 feet and could achieve speeds of up to 18 knots and carry up to 400 passengers in several classes.

Interestingly in the early 70's she was chartered by Clarksons of UK for several seasons and her 7 day circuits of the Black Sea proved very popular with the British fly cruise market as they were extremely cheap and very good value. During this operation she operated as one class and her public rooms and cabins were beautifully furnished in the old classic style with dark woods and polished surfaces.

In her later years she was refitted several times and her lifeboats were raised and new davits installed. They also streamlined the funnel, added a fin and rounded cowl and gave her a more modern look without altering her overall profile.


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[Henry Casciaro]

Here are a few more photos in her later guise. Interestingly she never had a swimming pool but i suppose for her intended service this was not a priority and her cruising role was really just an extension of her regilar liner service. i will add some pages from a brochure later on today.

Photos taken from Shipspotting, Old Ship Photos and other sources.

Henry.

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[Henry Casciaro]

As promised here are the brochure pages featuring the Transilvania Black Sea cruises showing a good exterior shot and an internal cabin view.

Just look at those prices £42.00 for a 7 day cruise including flights from UK Incredible !!
(Obviously just before the fuel crisis!)

Enjoy, Henry

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[Ellinis]

Thank you Henry for the intersting thread.
TRANSILVANIA must have been taken out of service sometime in the mid 70s, as in 1979 she capsized in the shallow waters of the Danube river. The wreck was partially scapped in 1982/83 and her last remains were only removed in 2008/09.

TRANSILVANIA was pictured below in Valetta harbour during a special cruise outside the Black Sea, in the Med.

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Source: Great Cruise Ships and Ocean Liners, from 1954 to 1986 by W.H.Miller.

[neven]

Attached an image of Gruz, the port of Dubrovnik with the ships ACHILLEUS, TRANSILVANIA and VULCANIA.

[Henry Casciaro]

Great picture Neven! Can you identify the ships on the right hand side of the photo. Looks like some older Jadrolinija coastal ferries?

Thanks, Henry.

[Nicholas Peppas]

Postcard of Transilvania

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[Ellinis]

A splendid looking ΤRANSILVANIA anchored at Istanbul, defying her 35 years of age. Photo taken by T.Jones sometime in then early 70s.

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[TSS QUEEN ANNA MARIA]

Great picture Neven! Can you identify the ships on the right hand side of the photo. Looks like some older Jadrolinija coastal ferries?

Thanks, Henry.

Must be Cres and her sisterhip Dalmacija Henry.

[Henry Casciaro]

A splendid looking ΤRANSILVANIA anchored at Istanbul, defying her 35 years of age. Photo taken by T.Jones sometime in then early 70s.

Splendid photo Aris! Do you have the complete picture by any chance?

Cheers
Henry.