ssMaritime.net
MV Doulos
“A
Ship Like no Other”
By Reuben Goossens
An American 1914
built ship that sailed 95 Years into History
SS
Medina (1914-1948) was sold and renamed: SS
Roma (1948-1952)
MS
Franca C (1952-1977)
- MV Doulos - (1977-2010)
Doulos
Phos –
(2010 - ) now located permanently in Singapore
Chapter Four
--M/S Franca C--
Part One
“The
Cruise Ship”
-1959 - 1970
M/S Franca C starts a new career as a luxury 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 they intended for her to become the world’s
first ever year-round cruise ship. She was taken to the OARN Shipyards at Genoa, where she was
transformed into a high quality, fully air-conditioned cruise ship. Franca C
would not only be the companies first fully-dedicated cruise ship, but also the
world’s only all first-class-only 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 a
bath, and 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
a 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 or 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
were entrusted to Nino Zoncada who created a
delightfully 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 Lido deck, with the removal of
the aft “mainmast,” a new sculptured swimming pool had been
installed into the aft hold, with a bar located just forward, together with a
host of sporting facilities.
The yacht like Franca C
refit was completed in July 1959 and now listed as 6,822 GRT, and she was ready to commence her first cruise
in the Mediterranean and Black sea. But, at
the conclusion of the European summer season a whole new venture awaited the
Franca C!
Franca C the American Cruise Trend Setter!
Having
already thought for some time about basing themselves in America, Linea C, Costa
Cruises made a decisive move and set up the “Atlantic Cruise Line
Inc” based in Miami to operate the ship as
a General sales agent in the USA.
She was marketed as: The New M/S Franca C “Happy-Go-Luxury Cruise to the
West Indies” operated by “Atlantic Cruise Line Inc” Miami Florida
– Operators. In advance Costa Cruises had made the decisive move to set
up this Company in Miami to operate the ship,
and it operated as their General sales agents in the USA.
The
very first “Atlantic Cruise Line” (Costa) Franca C 1959 -60 Caribbean cruise brochure
From
the author’s private collection
Thus, after debuting in
the Mediterranean, on November
7, 1959 Franca C departed Fort Lauderdale
on Cruise number 1, being a 4 night cruise to Port au Prince, Haiti,
which was followed up by a 3 night private charter. Cruise number 2 was a 13
night Caribbean cruise that departed on November 14, sailing from Port
Everglades (Miami) to San Juan Puerto Rico, St Thomas Virgin Islands, Fort de
France Martinique, Bridgetown Barbados, Port of Spain Trinidad, Curacao Netherland’s
Antilles, and Port au Prince Haiti and back to Port Everglades on November 27.
In all there were eight 13 night cruises as well as cruises of 7, 9 and 11
nights long, a total of 14 cruises between November 7, 1959 and April 22, 1960. After this
season she made a fully booked Trans Atlantic cruise back to Italy and resumed cruising
the Mediterranean.
The Port Everglades / Miami cruise programme proved to be a brilliant move and
Costa Cruises became the first shipping company in history to offer winter cruises,
but also basing a ship for five months in Florida,
for the American public to enjoy cruising the Caribbean.
With the success of the first season, Costa extended the 1960/61 season and
added additional short break cruises of 3 and 4 day voyages to the Bahamas and
this this what is now known to be the “pioneer
cruise ship”, became a regular sight in Florida and the Caribbean for
many years to come. In this way Franca C started a whole new product identity
and Costa Lines contributed to the future of the Miami
cruise industry that has become the world busiest cruise port, but the little
Franca C was the first ever cruise ship to call Port Everglades / Miami home way back in
November 1959 the very early days of cruising. There is a plaque
there that commemorates this fact!
And here
is another first attributed to the Franca C. In 1968 the Franca C was the very
first ship to offer a d new kind of luxury package that became known the
“Fly/Cruise” package for the Caribbean.
This formula revolutionised the concept of vacations. Now for the first
time, passengers were offered an all-inclusive vacation which included their
flights, a luxury all inclusive cruise as well as a
land based package if they chose to do so.
A colourful 1963-64 Brochure
From
the author’s private collection
A
menu as printed in the 1963-64 brochure
From
the author’s private collection
Each year Franca C would
cross the Atlantic and base herself in Miami and her cruises out of Miami and
as Franca C was of the first of the international cruise ships to do this, she
was became greatly loved by the American public, for she was a ship that was
also “all class.” Today Miami
and Port Everglades has become the world’s major cruise, with cruise
ships operating up to a good 210,000-tons, yet the
whole cruise scene was started by a ship that was more like a luxurious
6,822-ton yacht with just 350 first class only cruise passengers.
In 1963
Franca C made a rare call to Newport USA,
the very place where she had been built 49 years earlier. Whilst there, she
received a much deserved coat of paint!
Franca C - Photo Album One
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 ALL images are owned
and © Copyright 2008 by Reuben Goossens www.ssmaritime.net
- These images may not to be copied by any media or format and used, be it for
personal use or professional purpose without prior permission obtained from the
author at
info@ssmaritime.com.
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
was located starboard aft of the Portofino Lounge
With the Writing Room located on the Port side
Gift and
Duty Free Shop
This
is a photo of the shop located far forward port side on Lounge deck
Taken from
the 1959 brochure
The Rapallo Restaurant
This mural was eventually removed and we have no record what
happened to it after 1970
Lido Deck and Pool
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
Mr & Mrs Cook take a
cruise on MS Franca C in 1964.
I received an email from Ms Pamela Cook with
details of her Grandparents, Mr and Mrs Joseph Cook who undertook a 13 day
Caribbean cruise on the famed MS Franca C. They departed Port Everglades
Florida at 3 PM on February 22, 1964.
This voyage visited many colourful and fascinating ports such as; San Juan, St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada, La
Guairá, Curacao and Nassau, returning to Port Everglades at 8 AM on March 6. The cruise was obviously a
huge success as they retained a number of their menus! Upon their return home
and their local (obviously a monthly edition) newspaper the “Stuart
News” proudly reported on their voyage and that they had won several
trophies during their cruise. In addition to this news clipping, Pamela kindly
sent several menus from that voyage has had been retained over the years!
The
short item in the “Stuart News”
Provided
by Pamela Cook - California
Luncheon
menu cover Wednesday March 4, 1964
Provided
by Pamela Cook - California
Luncheon
menu cover Wednesday March 4
Provided
by Pamela Cook - California
The
“Adios” - “Godspeed” Captain’s Farewell Dinner
menu cover - Thursday March 5
Provided
by Pamela Cook - California
“Captain’s
Dinner” menu cover - Thursday March 5
Provided
by Pamela Cook - California
I am most grateful to Ms Pamela Cook for
providing the menus and clipping of her Grandparents voyage on the delightful
MS Franca C back in 1964, I was happy to provide the actually details of the
ports of call and dates as I happen to have the actual brochure of that voyage as
can be seen further above, as well on the next page entitled: “Brochures” – See link at the
bottom of the page.
***************************************************
Part Two
Franca C - “The Luxury Cruise Ship” - 1970 - 1977
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 Genoa
to the Northern European Capitals, after which she would be taken to the ship
yards of Cantieri del Tirreno in Genoa,
were she was given her second brand new fiat diesel engines, a four stroke,
18-cylinder unit capable of 8,100 HP.
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
accommodating 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 C - Photo Album Two
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 Germany
In 2008, MV Doulos still uses the 1970 Franca C carpets in the
Dinning Room
A Buffet feast
in the Rapallo Restaurant
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 February 4, 1971,
Franca C departed Venice looking fresh as she
commenced a series of 14 day cruises in the Mediterranean.
In 1974 she returned across the Atlantic to operate out of La Guaira, offering a series of 3 and 4 night cruises to
Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and Margarita, returning thereafter to Europe. However, Costa Cruises had decided to lay up the
Franca C at the conclusion of the 1977 Mediterranean cruise season. However,
certain passengers on Franca C’s very last cruise would soon have a
decisive effect on the ships future!
A photograph of the Lido/Sun Deck taken during her final cruise
Provided
by Sven Benseler & used with permission
This
photograph of the Lido/Sun Deck was taken when Franca C was about to be sold
Provided
by Sven Benseler & used with permission
When Franca C
was sold, the sculpture from the San Remo Lounge had been relocated to another
Costa
ship, but it is currently located on the 114,500 GRT
(ton) Costa Concordia, built in 2006
Author’s
private collection
The
author’s first experience with the Franca C was in Italy in 1971,
the next time he saw her would be some twenty eight years later in Sydney
Australia, but she had been renamed - MV Doulos – The story continues.
The Index is located below the following item!
Franca C seen in the height of her cruising career
at Dubrovnik
Taken
from a slide – provided by Stephen Moore Australia
Go
to Franca C - Brochures – 1959 to 1977
Ciew her very first Cruise Menus from Nov/Dec 1959
Also - Cabin Plan One - 1959 – 1970
& Cabin Plan Two – 1970
– 1977
Next
Chapter 5 - A New Role for a Grand Old Lady of the Sea - MV Doulos - 1979
Return
to the Author’s – MV Doulos “A Ship Like No Other” Main Index
PLEASE
NOTE:
Doulos was
decommissioned by OM Ships in December 2009 whilst she was in Singapore
Read my … “MV Doulos
Preservation Campaign” page for details
…
on how my campaign saved
her for the future to become the Doulos Phos.
***************************************************
If you have enjoyed
this feature and you feel you might have something of interest to add, be it a
story or some photographs, I would appreciate hearing from you!
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Commenced in Passenger Shipping
industry in May 1960
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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate
pages are: 1. By the author. 2. From
the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies
and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided
regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images
would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given.
I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other
sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and
even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback
when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the
right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do
not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the
photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.
Copyright: “MV Doulos - A Ship Like No Other” is owned, protected
under the International © copyright laws and is the property of Reuben Goossens
of ssmaritime.net. No part of this work
including any of the images shown may be copied or reproduced by any means or
reproduced by any format whatsoever, be it for private or commercial usage,
without prior written permission from the author.
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