Cruise’n’Travel Journalist /
Cruise Reviewer
& Maritime Historian
Come
Cruising on CIC’s Flagship …
Updated September 2010
MV Athena Classic
International Cruises Flagship cruises out of
The elegant looking MV Athena was
originally a famed Scandinavian Classic Liner
The classic MS Stockholm became the ultra modern MV Athena
The elegantly sleek looking Swedish America Line
Trans Atlantic liner - MS Stockholm is seen here as built
From the author’s private collection
Athena history in short:
Originally named MS Stockholm, she was a
solid Swedish built ship, however at the time she was considered to be rather
too small for a Trans-Atlantic liner being just 11,700-tons, thus did not prove
to be very successful as an Atlantic liner. However, due to her intimate size
and her elegant design she did prove to be very popular as a cruise ship with
Americans, but sadly she was never a great financial success for the Swedish
America Line. Eventually she was sold to
Classic
International Cruises Flagship – MV Athena the Cruise Ship
The superb looking MV Athena is seen at
Fremantle Western
Photograph by & © Alan-Hitchman
Please Note:
The author will be joining the MV Athena in Fremantle on
As you step inside the MV Athena you would
never think that you are entering a ship that was once a Trans Atlantic liner,
for it is obvious that she looks so fresh and as modern as tomorrow, and all
this is due to the ongoing refits and the superb maintenance that is constantly
undertaken by Classic International Cruises.
Years later she was renamed MV Athena and Classic International Cruises obtained her in 2005 and gave her another refit, making what was already a superb ship even better! MV Athena complies with the very latest safety regulations such as SOLAS 2010 and is fully equipped with the finest navigational and safety equipment available on the seven seas!
Athena’s modern Bridge is fully automated
and manned 24 hours per day
Photograph © Andrew Mackinnon
By today’s standards the Athena is
considered to be a medium, or even a small size cruise ship at 16,144-tons,
however that is a great advantage in comparison to those giants that now sail
the seas with 2,300 to 6,000 passengers, for Athena has a rather select number
of passengers of just 550 guests, thus you will never stand in a long queue
when visiting a port wanting to get off the ship or entering the show lounge,
etc. Athena offers a wide selection of beautifully appointed public lounges and
comfortable cabin accommodations spanning eight passenger decks, which are
serviced by two lifts.
The Main Foyer and Reception Desk
As board the ship, head for her main foyer
and you will be amazed by her superbly marbled reception Lobby with its deep
comfy sofas and the elegant curved stairwell and its mini atrium complete with
a stylish mural and splendid décor.
The Main Lobby and the Tour Desk
Photograph by & © Andrew Mackinnon
The magnificent Calypso Show Lounge
There are
a choice of comfortable lounges and an excellent choice of bars, including the
impressive Calypso Show Lounge, Muses Nightclub, a spacious Cinema, Casino,
Shopping Boutique and Photo Shop, Library, Card Room and Internet facility,
Fitness and Health, Sauna and Massage Centre. There is an outdoor pool as well
as two outdoor bars. Her dinning facilities include the impressive Olissipo Restaurant with an alternative Buffet/Grill dining
facility in the Lotus Lounge. Outdoors the Athena is famed for her wide and
ample deck spaces, especially her traditional full walk-around Promenade Deck.
The Captains Club Bar
Athena’s superb and comfortable Library
The comfortable surroundings of the Sirenes
Lounge
Muses Night Club and Bar
Muses Night Club
The elegant Olissipo
Restaurant
Provided by “Classic
International Cruises”
Provided by “Classic
International Cruises”
The spacious Cyclopes Cinema and Auditorium
Provided by “Classic
International Cruises”
The delightful outdoor Aeolos
Bar Aft on Navigator’s Deck
Provided by “Classic International
Cruises”
Athena’s aft Pool Deck
Looking forward over the ships Pool
Photograph by & © Andrew Mackinnon
Accommodations on
the Athena
All accommodation images were
provided by “Classic International Cruises”
The majority of cabins have a sea view,
however all cabins have private facilities having both a bath tub and shower.
There is a television for satellite programmes and in house movies, a phone for
in house and international calls, a fridge and a mini bar facility. In addition
there is a hairdryer and a personal safe. There is a selection of twin-bedded
and double-bedded cabins. The more luxurious mini suites and spacious balcony
suites have the added benefit of Jacuzzis as well as a
Balcony
Grade 11 – Twin/Doubled Bedded Suite with
Balcony on Navigators Deck
Junior
Grade 10 – Twin/Double bedded Suite - Mediterranean & Navigators
Decks
Cabin 437
Grade 7 - Twin/Double Bedded Cabins on Promenade or Navigator Decks
Cabin 549
Grade 6 – Twin Bedded Cabins (some have a third berth available)
Cabin 309
Grade 4 –Twin Bedded Cabins (can be sold as a 3 or 4 berth)
Cabin 318
Grade 2 – Inside Twin Bedded Cabins (can be sold as a 3 or 4 berth)
Considering that this is the second cheapest cabin on the
ship, all I can say, pretty good!
Storage space in all cabins is excellent
for the Athena was conceived to be able operate for around the world voyages
and as mentioned earlier, she has already visited
As is well known to the Western Australian
cruise public, Classic International Cruises has become famed for its great
“Value for Money Cruising” and cruising on their larger flagship,
the Athena is no exception!
The author is currently planning to sail
on Athena from Fremantle to the
Reuben Goossens
Cruise & Ship Reviewer - Maritime Historian
I took this photograph when the
Italia Prima was in
At the time I was impressed with her.
Since then she has been greatly improved by CIC!
Photograph by & © Reuben
Goossens
MV Athena
Gross Tonnage: 16,144-ton
Length: 160m
Breadth: 21m
Draft: 7.6m
Main Engine: 2 X Wartsila
Diesels (2 X 7,500
Propellers: 2
Speed: 17 knots
Stabilizers: Denny
Brown
Decks: Eight
Passenger Lifts: Two
Passenger Cabins: 277
Passenger Capacity: 550
Electric Current: 220v – 60hz
CIC - Classic International Cruises - Index:
Cruise
Reviews … Read
what MV Athena passengers have to say about their cruise experience
MS Stockholm … *Athena’s HISTORY as the MS Stockholm
CIC’s other ship’s
MV Funchal
SS Funchal … * Funchal’s days as
a Portuguese Atlantic Liner, Presidential Yacht and Cruise Ship!
MV
Princess Daphne … Sailing from
MS Port Sydney … * Read the
history of the Princess Daphne and her CIC sister Princess Danae
MS Istra … Arion
was built as a Yugoslavian cruise
ship in 1965 - on ssmaritime.com
An elegant looking Athena in port for the evening
For information on CIC ships and itineraries …
But for general Information and Reservations
(Please NAME the SHIP you are enquiring
about)
International – Phone:
******************************************
Who is the Author of Cruise-Australia & ssMaritime?
Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May
1960
Contact the Author …
Please
Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial
and privately owned cruise site. The author has been in the passenger shipping
industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues to write
cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better to inform cruise and
ship enthusiasts and provide information for those intending a cruise in the
future.
However, if you are interested in a cruise, I
am happy to refer you to a dedicated cruise agent in
Classic Liner enthusiasts visit