Cruise’n’Travel
Journalist / Cruise Reviewer
&
Maritime Historian
Come
Cruising on CIC’s Flagship …
Previous
names: MV Caribe, Vultur Prima, Italia Prima, Italia I,
Fridtjof
Nansen, Volker, Volkerfreundshaft, built as the famed MS
Stockholm in 1948
Updated
April 2010
MV
Athena Classic International Cruises Flagship cruises out of
MV
Athena was originally a famed Scandinavian Classic Liner
From
the elegant MS Stockholm (1948) to the ultra modern MV Athena
The
elegant Swedish America Line Trans Atlantic liner - MS Stockholm
seen 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
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
Suite – Cat 11 - Navigators Deck
Junior
Suite – Cat 10 –Mediterranean & Navigators Decks
Deluxe
Twin – Cat 7 – Mediterranean Deck (third berth
available)
Classic
outside Twin – Cat 6 – Promenade or Navigator Decks
Standard
Outside Twin – Cat 4 - Pacific, Atlantic Decks
Standard
inside Twin – 3/4 berth – Cat 2 - Atlantic,
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:
Deck Plan
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
International
– Phone: +61 7 5546-6798
******************************************
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
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Liner enthusiasts visit
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