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A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21st Century
MV Doulos
Chapter Four
--M/S
Part One
“The
Cruise Ship”
M/S Franca C starts a new career as a cruise ship
From the author’s private collection
In 1959 Linea C withdrew her from the Atlantic
trade and decided to once again rebuild and refit her, but this time for her to
become the world’s first ever year round cruise ship.
Pre release cruise promo image of the M/S Franca C the cruise ship
From
the author’s private collection
Most of the cabins would be twin bedded and would have a private bathroom with the majority having bath, the balance a shower. Passenger numbers were reduced to a maximum of 552 berths. Cabins were located on Lounge, Promenade, Upper, A and B decks. Both Lounge and Promenade Decks contained the superior accommodations. There were three two berth cabins and no inside cabins. All cabins were located aft of the Lounges or the Dining Room on Promenade Deck. Main Deck cabins were the same in size and style as those on the two upper decks, twin bedded rooms with bath, however, there were many more two berth and indoor cabins and rooms with a shower. Like on Lounge Deck, only on Main Deck could you walk (inside the ship) forward to the aft of the ship. Cabins on A and B decks were located in sections and these were reached via the clearly marked allocated stairwells.
Décor and furnishings was entrusted to Nino Zoncada who created a delightful light but elegant ambience
throughout the ship. The Restaurant and galleys were greatly enlarged and
modernised and made ready for the one class role. The Ballroom was decorated
with sculptures by Marcello Mascherini, and the room
had tones of grey, violet and sky blue. Whilst in the Restaurant the main
colours were royal blue, sky blue, with sky blue, grey and ochre in the cabins
complemented with yellow velvet chairs. Located aft on
The yacht like Franca C refit was completed in
July 1959 and now listed as 6,822
Franca
Having already thought for some time about
basing themselves in
From
the author’s private collection
Thus after debuting in the Mediterranean, on
This proved to be a brilliant move! Costa
Cruises became the first company to offer winter cruises operating basing
itself in
And here is another first. In 1968 the Franca C
was the very first ship to ever offer a brand new package called the
“Fly/Cruise” package for the
A colourful 1963-64 Brochure
From
the author’s private collection
From
the author’s private collection
Seasonally, Franca C would cross the Atlantic
and base herself in
In 1963 Franca C made a rare call to
Franca
Please Note: All
images of the Franca C on Album One & Two have been sourced from Franca C
brochures some of which were (originally) provided by Sven Benseler onboard the
Doulos. However, the author has since obtained his own copies, as well as
others as seen on this page and the new
“Franca C brochures” Page. Thus
A general
colour Franca C brochure with cabin plan from November 1963 – Note the
narrow stove pipe atop the funnel
The San Remo Lounge/Ballroom was designed by Nino Zoncanda
The wall sculptures were made by famed artist Marcello Mascherini
The Portofino Lounge and Bar was located just aft the San Remo
Lounge
This spacious room stretched from starboard to port. The Bar was on
the starboard side
The Card and Games Room
With the Writing Room located on the Port side
Gift and
Duty Free Shop
Taken from
the 1959 brochure
The Rapallo Restaurant
This mural was eventually removed and we have no record what
happened to it after 1970
Deck games – Horse racing a popular game!
The pool – Note the funnel had a narrow stove exhaust pipe, which
would change to a new one in 1970.
A typical twin bedded cabin with a porthole
A fine night photograph of the Franca C
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Part Two
Franca
The new 1970 Franca C ready to cruise on – Note the new
funnel configuration
Franca C continued cruising until Costa
decided to retain her in European waters in 1970. With the Franca C, already a
good 56 years old, the company were thinking of letting the old girl go and
sell her to be scrapped. Instead they decided that she would operate a few
luxury cruises during the summer of 1970 from
The point was, Franca C had become so popular,
Costa decided to upgrade her even further, thus her interiors received new
carpets throughout, including a host of other improvements. Cabins and public
rooms were again refurbished for her new role as a luxury all first class cruise
ship and cabins on the lower B deck were no longer in use. Additional features
were the installation of a cinema booth in the main lounge and a small casino.
Her bright new contemporary interiors featured modern art works and a host of
fine Italian murals. Again, Franca C was also one of the few ships in the world
to have private facilities in every cabin. She was simply a fine, boutique style, fully air-conditioned cruise ship accommodated a
small number of passengers in the ultimate of luxury and style of the day!
Passengers would come from afar just to sail on this gracious old lady. Her
style, service and cuisine had become renowned.
Franca
The refurbished Rapallo Restaurant with new carpets and fine
ceramics
The above circle ceramic mural feature is currently located on the
entrance wall of the stairwell on MV Doulos
The large blue ceramic mural on the back wall was moved and is
currently in storage, we believe in
In 2008, MV Doulos still uses the 1970 Franca C carpets in the
Dinning Room
A Buffet feast
During the refurbishment the Portofino Bar had been moved further aft
and to the external wall of the ship on the starboard side.
Above and
below: All cabins were upgraded, including adding new chairs
The spacious Lido Deck seen aft of the pool
A delightful stern view of the cruise ship Franca C during her latter cruising days
Photographer
unknown
On
A photograph of the Lido/Sun Deck taken during her final cruise
Provided
by Sven Benseler & used with permission
Provided
by Sven Benseler & used with permission
When Franca
C was sold, the sculpture from the San Remo Lounge had been relocated to the
SS Flavia
Author’s
private collection
Taken
from a slide – provided by Stephen Moore
See
the Index for - Cabin Plan One - 1959 – 1970
Go to Chapter 5 - MV
Doulos via the Index below.
***************************************************
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Chapters
Introduction A Vintage Liner Sails
into the 21st Century
Chapter One “Hull 176”
– SS Medina – SS Medina -1914 - 1949
Chapter Two From Onions to Passengers – SS Roma 1949 – 1953
Chapter Four A New luxury Role – MS Franca C the cruise
ship - 1959, 1970
to 1977
Cabin Plan One - 1959 - 1970
Cabin Plan Two – 1970 – 1977
Chapter Five A New Role for a Grand Old Lady of the Sea
–
MV Doulos
Chapter
Six 1993
Electrical Project - “Heart
Transplant” in
Chapter Seven SOLAS – NEW “Safety Of Life At Sea”
regulations to come in place mid 2010
Chapter Eight Onboard Impressions - My visit
to her in 1999
Chapter Nine Doulos’ Mission
Chapter Ten Doulos Goes High Tech -
2006
Ports Future Ports of Call
Photo Pages Photo Page One
Photo Page Two
NEW - Doulos -
2008
Part One Doulos arrives in
Brisbane –
Part Five Doulos
at Sea - Page Two
Part Eight Doulos in
Sydney – Aug/Sept 2008 - Including the official opening
& 94th Birthday
Part Nine Doulos in Geelong, Albany & Fremantle – NOW
online
The Doulos
Campaign
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PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of
requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and
Sailing Schedules. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist
due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these
lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request for these will no longer be answered
regardless of the circumstances presented!
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