"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" sailing as the cruise ship "COSTA RIVIERA"

MARCONI sailing as the "COSTA RIVIERA", after a complete rebuilt she was back at sea in 1984 after three years laid-up, her superstructure was greatly modified, the original funnel was kept until the very end of the ship in 2002 but a new larger funnel version was added and completely covered the original one.

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" launched fifty years ago

Our ship, the star of this Blog was launched in 196, photo above, and came into service in November of 1963, so this year marks 50 years since this unforgettable Liner was born, a very special thank you to Lloyd Triestino her owners, her designers and to her ship builders to have given life to the ship that marked my life like no other, I still clearly remember the visits I have paid to her engine room back in 1976 when I sailed on her, she had four turbines that propelled her to a cruising speed of 24 knots, during sea trials she reached 27.1, the fastest Italian Liner together with her sister, GALILEO GALILEI on the Australian service

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" bought by COSTA CRUISES

After a very short period with I.C.I. both ships were sold in November of 1983, we've seen on the previous post, the GALILEO GALILEI to CHANDRIS was the first and then MARCONI was purchased by COSTA, she would be renamed COSTA RIVIERA. The ship went for a complete rebuilt that completely transformed her profile, unfortunately she was no longer the beautiful sleek MARCONI that we have known for the past 20 years, but of course she was back where she belonged, cruising. The ship is seen here still laid-up at Genova but already owned by COSTA, her funnel changing colours and a video dated from 1997 showing the ship arriving Savona.

"GALILEO GALILEI" evolutionary profile

Beautiful postcard of the "GALILEO GALILEI" from a Lloyd Triestino's image published later on a FINMARE magazine showing GALILEO's sleek profile but also evolutionary lines with a futuristic mast and funnel.

"GALILEO GALILEI" the first of the sisters to be bought

"GALILEO GALILEI" was bought in 1983 by CHANDRIS she did a few cruises with her original form but in 1984 before starting cruising in the Caribbean additional passenger accommodation was added to her forward decks, changing the ship's elegant profile for the worse, but she was destined to become an historic ship for CHANDRIS and the new company to be formed seven years later, the most impressive CELEBRITY CRUISES. Also before starting cruising in the Caribbean, her name was shortened to just "GALILEO". Top photo Copyright Luis Miguel Correia

"GALILEO GALILEI" at Messina in 1973 with QUEEN FREDERICA from CHANDRIS a sign of things to come for the Italian Liner

"GALILEO GALILEI" is seen here at Messina in 1973, behind her is the 1927 built S.S. MOLOLO here as the "QUEEN FREDERICA" operated by CHANDRIS, a sign of things to come, ten years later "GALILEO GALILEI" was bought by CHANDRIS, in the meantime QUEEN FREDERICA had long gone by then, the ship was scrapped in 1977 after being withdrawn from service in 1973.

"MARCONI" and "GALILEO" laid-up once again at Genova

The I.C.I. Cruising experience for the Australian Twin sisters was short lived, their performance failed to impress, even the famous Italian cuisine so acclaimed on board Italian Liners and particulary on these two ships during their World Voyages failed during the I.C.I. months that the ships were in service, by the end of 1979 they were once again both laid-up with less than a year in service, this would be a long period of hibernation, both Liners now turned into cruise ships were only bought in 1983, the "GALILEO" by CHANDRIS and the "MARCONI" by COSTA. The photo here included shows the ships, brand new, during their Lloyd Triestino years at Genova.

"MARCONI's" beautiful Bow at Barcelona

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" at her berth in Barcelona, photo taken during my voyage in May of 1976, she was at the time almost 13 years old she was by now sailing for ITALIA LINE on the Europe to River Plate service together with another Italian Legend, the beautiful CRISTOFORO COLOMBO. This photo has just been updated after a new lease of life given by Tim Noble which I really appreciate, thank you Tim

"MARCONI" at Melbourne during one of her final voyages for Lloyd Triestino

Another beautiful photo sent by John Bone showing the "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" at Melbourne in 1975 during one of her last visits, she was withdrawn from the Australian Regular Transatlantic service by the end of 1975, the ship would join CRISTOFORO COLOMBO on the Europe/River Plate route for the parent company ITALIA NAVIGAZIONE in January of 1976. Also seen here in port is the P & O ARCADIA. Copyright photo John Bone

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" by Melbourne Photographers John Bone

"MARCONI" is seen here at Papeete and Melbourne in 1975, she was nearing the end of her Australian regular Liner voyages operated by Lloyd Triestino. Photos kindly sent by John Bone from Melbourne, copyright photos. Thank you John Bone for your co-operation on this Blog.