"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" Deck Plan

In 1976, can't really remember the date, I went on board MARCONI with a very good friend from my primary school years, Francisco Moura, him also a great ships enthusiast, we been together on many ship spotting in our native Lisbon, this was a special occasion for him though, we embarked on one of the tugs that would assist MARCONI and clearly remember him saying to me, " you were right, this ship is really amazing", minutes later we stepped on board for a tour of the ship, something that being his first time he cherished for nearly four decades, earlier this year we met again is his house and as a gesture and appreciation of my admiration for this ship he decided to offer me the deck plan and a copy of a telegram that he was presented on board, memorabilia that he has saved all these years, I can't thank him enough for this, this is a bit of history posted on this blog, the deck plan of the ship when she was introduced for the Europe to the River Plate service in January of 1976.

"MARCONI" undergoing transformation in 1984

 Two photos showing the "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" undergoing transformation to become the COSTA CRUISES ship "COSTA RIVIERA". Images from 1984 kindly sent by Claudio Belvede

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" at Hobart for the first time

This gorgeous photo shows the "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" arriving Hobart in Australia for the very first time, we don't have the exact date, but it will be December of 1963 because the ship started on the 18th of November her Maiden Voyage. Thank you to Melbourne Photographers, Lindsey Rex and John Bone, copyright photo

MARCONI / GALILEO, Claudio Belvede Memorobilia

Thank you to Claudio for sending these Historic images, some marvelous additions to this Blog.

MARCONI/GALILEO Memorabilia by Claudio Belvede

Thank you to Claudio Belvede for sending me some items he's collected for many years of memorabilia of the Lloyd Triestino sisters, Claudio traveled on both ships back in 1966 with his family and developed an enthusiasm on passenger Liners, these two being his favourites. I am overwhelmed with the interest on the Blog, so once again thank you all the followers and readers.

"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 1961, 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.

"GALILEO GALILEI" at Wellington in 1967

When I started this Blog in August last year, the aim was to bring back to life "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" and pay tribute to this remarkable ship. She and her sister were two of the finest Italian Liners ever built, the largest of their owners, Lloyd Triestino and two of the best known and successful liners of the Australian Immigrant trade, when they came into service, they were innovative in their conception and design, today eight months later this Blog is followed by the people that it was intended to, a Maritime Museum from Italy showed interest on some of the posts, Italian fans of the ship and even Australian passengers showed interest on the Blog. Just last week Tim Noble from Melbourne, keen follower of the Blog volunteered to send me some photos of the "MARCONI" and her twin sister, the "GALILEO GALILEI" during their down under distinguished carreers. The photo included in this "post" is a classic example of that, "GALILEO" is seen here at Wellington in 1967 an outstanding photo taken by Tim's father in 1967, sailing on the ship as a passenger. A big thank you to Tim Noble and all the followers of this Blog, I will endeavour to carry on this work and will do everything  to turn the Blog appealing, please keep it dynamic from your end with all your comments. Once again thank you to Tim Noble, Lindsey Rex and John Bone Melbourne photographers.

"MARCONI" and "GALILEO GALILEI" cruising for I.C.I.

The first Cruising Experience for the sisters "MARCONI" top photo and "GALILEO GALILEI" was short lived both ships were only in service for about ten months, their service failed to impress both in North America, "MARCONI" and in Europe the "GALILEO", by the end of 1979 both ships returned to Genova and were once again laid-up. All photos copyright Luis Miguel Correia

"GALILEO GALILEO" travels to Venezuela and North America

During the I.C.I. period both "MARCONI" and "GALILEO GALILEO" were not by any means successful ships, in fact they were losing money, their passenger bookings far from being profitable in order to keep both ships operating, shortly before being withdrawn from service with I.C.I. and being laid-up once again the "GALILEO GALILEI" made a long distance cruise to Venezuela and the U.S.A., at this time I.C.I. was already running out of ideas in order to keep both ships cruising. Photos above from my collection.

"GALILEO GALILEI" in Lisbon during her maiden cruise with ICI

"GALILEO GALILEI" started her maiden voyage with I.C.I. on the 12.4.1979, very first brochure promoting the new cruise ships included here, another former ADRIATICA liner the AUSONIA was also sailing for I.C.I. "GALILEO GALILEI" called in Lisbon during this maiden voyage, here she is captured by the friendly and always hungry lenses of local Maritime Historian and Photographer Luis Miguel Correia, copyright photo. Both ships had extensive refits, their cargo masts were removed but their overall external  profile remained fortunately unchanged, this photo by L.M.C. is a classic example of that, it is in my opinion one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen of this beautiful passenger ship

"GUGLIELMO MARCONI" converted into a full-time cruise ship

"MARCONI" and her twin sister "GALILEO GALILEI" were very successful ships until 1973 on the migrant trade, after the decrease in passenger numbers travelling by sea and the oil-crisis,the sisters were doomed, everything has been done to keep them in service but eventually they were both withdrawn from Liner services, "MARCONI" was loaned for a short period of time to ITALIA LINE from January 1976 to May of 1977 to be used on the Europe/River Plate route, the "GALILEO" was kept in service until end of March of 1977. By April of 1977 both ships were laid-up near Genoa Airport. In 1978 Italia Crociere, a company owned by ITALIA NAVIGAZIONE chartered the ships for cruising, they were both given extensive refits, the "MARCONI" was sent to New York in December of 1978 an attempt to revive Italian Cruising in North America, "GALILEO GALILEI" started cruising for I.C.I. in March of 1979 mainly in European waters. After spending 14 years as Transatlantic Liners the former Lloyd Triestino sisters were now cruising full-time. Photo above of GUGLIELMO MARCONI copyright Luis Miguel Correia

Lloyd Triestino sisters withdrawn from Transatlantic Regular service

After just about 14 years of regular Liner service the Lloyd Triestino Australian sisters were withdrawn from service, first was the "GUGLIELMO MARCONI" at the end of 1975 and the "GALILEO GALILEI" in March of 1977, "MARCONI" had a brief spell on the Europe to River Plate service sailing together with the CRISTOFORO COLOMBO from January 1976 until May of 1977, their future was very much in the balance, they were both laid-up awaiting better days, the next chapter, conversion to full-time cruise ships, subject for our next "posts".

"GALILEO GALILEI" at Hobart

One of the most beautiful photos of these splendid sisters, the "GALILEO GALILEI" at Hobart in Australia in 1965, her remarkable, clean profile can be truly appreciated here, one of a kind

My trip on "GUGLIELMO MARCONI"

                       "MARCONI" at Lisbon in 1976, copyright Luis Miguel Correia

My trip on "MARCONI" is something I will never forget, I was only 18 back in 1976 already a ships enthusiast, well more than that really, she represented everything a passenger ship meant to me, beautiful, sleek, fast, cosmopolitan and romantic, my passion for ships and the sea in just one word "MARCONI". We left Lisbon 10.5.1976 late evening, the ship had a late arrival in the Portuguese Capital due to bad weather, "MARCONI" being a fast ship recovered travelling at 22.5 knots so our arrival to Barcelona was on time on the 12.5.1976. I went ashore, this was my first visit to Barcelona, remember falling in love with this incredible city, the weather was perfect, the passenger ships in those days docked a lot closer to the city centre so my home away from home was always in sight and what a spectacle she was sparkling in the sunshine. We departed on time, the weather changed during the night strong winds hit the ship, officers on the bridge commented how stable she was at sea, we anchored at Cannes the following morning on time, this time I stayed on the bridge and paid my first visit to the engine room, those massive turbines could be kept working for an year, they could last forever on the other end boilers could become an issue any time. Genoa was the next port of call, we steamed at 22 knots it only took about six hours for the ship to get to the first of the two Italian ports scheduled for these ITALY/SOUTH AMERICAN trips, we stayed for nearly 48 hours, Genoa was beautiful and very warm, our home always there with excellent food to be savoured during various times during the day. After Genoa, Naples would be the final port of call the next day, the ship was late due to boiler problems, as if they were expected we only managed 17/18 knots, I remember a lot of black smoke coming out of her beautiful funnel, for me the most beautiful I have ever seen to this day, strong competition from the FRANCE's though. We stayed for five days, plenty of time to visit Naples, I was invited to visit Rome by some new friends met on board, this would be my first visit to the Italian Capital. I went back to Lisbon via the same ports of call spending most of the time on the bridge, engine room and with officers and crew, talking about my favourite ship and subject, Ocean Liners. All photos my collection apart from the one highlighted