Vasco da Gama (Seawind Crown, Infante Dom Henrique)

[Henry Casciaro]

You are right Henry. I found that in March 1990 she was chartered to Paradise Cruises to operate out of Limassol. If you notice, the funnel logos are the same to the ones that "RIVIERA STAR" had when she was owned by Ambassador Cruises, only with the colours reversed. I think that Paradise and Ambassador were affiliated companies belonging to the same person.

Thats right Aris in fact Paradise Cruises were the general sales agents for Ambassador as they had the travel agency retail outlets in Cyprus to sell the cruises they also used the Sun Ambassador (ex Vera Cruz 1), Romantica (ex Romanza) and Atalante respectively in successive seasons.

[a.molos]

Περαμα 1988 και μετασκευή του Ιnfante dom Henrique σε Vasco da Gamma απο την Seawind Cruise.

[Ship's Agent]

Dear Friends

Enjoy her very rare official postcard under CTM colours as a floating hotel between 1997-1986.

In 1977 this ship was sold to GAS - Gabinete da Area de Sines, ( Sines port develpment bureau)- *** company under CTM interests to be used as accomodation ship to the port workers, that by then were commencing to work on the construction of this commercial port.

under this stage, ship was officially managed by CTM.

At this time 10 billion USD were spend transforming ship into a " flotel", also an artifical laguna was constructed around the ship, to protect it from sea, and by November 1977 was officially inaugurated as floating hotel.

However 9 yaers after, it revealled to be a bankrupt venture, and ship languished there rusting, till 1986,w here she was taken to lisbon hwre Mr. George Patomianos, bought her and converted her into MV VASCO DA GAMA, to be operated by Arcalia Shipping Lisbon / Transworld Cruises.

Infante_Dom_Henrique-01.jpg

[Ship's Agent]

Dear Friends

Enjoy Seawind Crown official postcard under Premier Cruise lines colours, however postcard produced by Brasilian tour operator ATI Viagens, during her 1995 brief season cruising along Brasil coast line.

SeawindCrown13.jpg

[Ship's Agent]

Dear friends

Enjoy her official postcard as VASCO da GAMA under Arcalia Shipping colours , under her charter by German cruise operator Neckermann Seereisen.

VascoDaGama01.jpg

[ΒΙΚΤΩΡ ΧΙΩΤΗΣ]

Dear friends

Enjoy her official postcard as VASCO da GAMA under Arcalia Shipping colours , under her charter by German cruise operator Neckermann Seereisen.

VascoDaGama01.jpg

Dear friend,really historic card.The yellow and the blue were the traditional colours of the late Georgios Potamianos family used previously in Greece though in different way.Αlso remember the funnel markings of Epirotiki owned by his first cousin Andreas Potamianos.
The crane on the fore deck,fitted during the conversion at Perama,was taken from the pass c/f SAPPHO of NEL Lines.

[Henry Casciaro]

Dear friend,really historic card.The yellow and the blue were the traditional colours of the late Georgios Potamianos family used previously in Greece though in different way.Αlso remember the funnel markings of Epirotiki owned by his first cousin Andreas Potamianos.
The crane on the fore deck,fitted during the conversion at Perama,was taken from the pass c/f SAPPHO of NEL Lines.

Victor thanks for this very interesting anecdote!

[Henry Casciaro]

Dear Friends

Enjoy Seawind Crown official postcard under Premier Cruise lines colours, however postcard produced by Brasilian tour operator ATI Viagens, during her 1995 brief season cruising along Brasil coast line.

SeawindCrown13.jpg

Dimas good to hear from you. Thanks for sharing this very interesting card.

[Ship's Agent]

dear henry

there is one now runningon ebay.... search well!

[Henry Casciaro]

dear henry

there is one now runningon ebay.... search well!

Dimas have tried everything in the search box but yr going to have to be more specific............thks and best regards