The Last Ocean Liners
Companhia Colonial
Santa Maria / Infante Dom Henrique
The Companhia Colonial de Navegacao of Portugal ordered three handsome medium-size ocean liners in the 1950's for their routes out of Lisbon. First came the Vera Cruz for Brazil service, but she was used mainly as a troopship after 1960. A sister ship, Santa Maria was completed for a new transatlantic service to Florida and Venezuela. Lastly, in 1957 they ordered Infante Dom Henrique for the colonial trade to Angola and Mozambique.
Santa Maria was ahead of her time in design with substantial use of aluminum allowing a higher superstructure, more in the style of modern cruise ships than of ocean liners. The well-designed interior featured decorative touches like murals, wall hangings and a variety of inlaid woods used in paneling and carvings of saints.
She was a three class ship with 78 First class staterooms and suites with private facilities and 75 relatively large Cabin class staterooms on B and C-Decks. There were also 194 simple 2, 4 and 6-berth cabins in Third class on D, E and F-Decks. Each class had its own lounge and smoking room with bar. First and Cabin classes each enjoyed an outdoor swimming pool and all dining rooms were on D and E-Deck.
The Companhia Colonial de Navegacao Infante Dom Henrique was the largest Portuguese ocean liner to date. The interior design was 1950s modern in metal and glass which was in marked contrast to the beautiful woods used in the earlier ships.
First class occupied the Boat Deck, which included suites, staterooms and the pool area aft. A-Deck included the First class lounge and smoking room and the Tourist class smoking room and swimming pool. B-Deck had First class staterooms forward and the Tourist class lounge, gallery and bar aft. The two dining rooms were on C-Deck and Tourist class cabins on D and E-Decks.
"The comfort and luxury awaiting you are virtually indescribable... dining will be an exquisite and continuing adventure, for the artistry of our Portuguese chefs is world renowned. Once onboard, you'll exchange cares for the carefree relaxation induced by tangy salt air and the excitement of one of the most elegant, modern luxury liners afloat."
Santa Maria stayed on the same transatlantic route for Companhia Colonial de Navegacao throughout her career, except for a notorious 12-day hijacking by 24 revolutionaries in 1961 who opposed the Portuguese prime minister and forced the ocean liner to follow a secret route off the coast of Brazil. Infante Dom Henrique was retired upon independence of the Portuguese African colonies, eventually becoming a cruise ship for new owners.
Sample minimum one-way fares from Lisbon to Ft. Lauderdale: First class $420; Cabin class $308; Third class $246; from Lisbon to Lourenco Marques: First class $455; Tourist class $252; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.
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