The Last Ocean Liners

Grace Line

Santa Rosa / Santa Paula / Santa Magdalena / Santa Mariana / Santa Maria / Santa Mercedes

 

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The Grace Line of the United States was one of the earliest shipping lines to offer year round Caribbean cruising. Passengers could book the full cruise or travel port-to-port, while several cargo holds earned additional revenue. It was a formula which worked well for the Grace Line such that they decided to replace their earlier ships from 1932-33 with new, larger twins in the late 1950s.

The new ocean liners Santa Rosa and Santa Paula took the names of the older ships. They were designed by the renowned naval architects, Gibbs & Cox, whose masterpiece by William Francis Gibbs was the United States of five years earlier. The new Grace Line ships were smaller versions of the American flagship, and even shared the same interior design firm.

They operated 13-day voyages from New York, with one of them sailing every Friday calling at Curacao, La Guaira, Aruba, Kingston, Port-au-Prince and Ft. Lauderdale. At times for political or economic reasons the regular itinerary varied to include Santo Domingo or Nassau. The majority of passengers booked the round trip voyage as a cruise boarding at either of the U.S. ports.

All First class, Santa Rosa and Santa Paula had among the largest swimming pools at sea, located on La Playa Deck together with the "Techo" bar and a covered buffet where lunch was an option most days. Sun Deck featured the three balcony suites and Promenade Deck had the "Caribbean" lounge forward, followed by the double height dining room with an orchestra loft, and the "Club Tropicana" aft. All cabins were outside with private facilities and two lower beds except for a few rooms intended for single occupancy.

"Join the fun afloat... Grace Line ships are famous for their easygoing tempo, and you'll feel your tensions start to unwind as your ship pulls away from the pier. In this atmosphere of relaxed informality you'll be surprised at the number of new friends you've made before your ship is two days out of port."

In the early 1960s, Grace Line determined there were more opportunities on the west coast of South America than their 52-passenger cargo ships were handling. They ordered a quartet of very modern combination ships to serve the route from New York to Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Peru. The Santa Magdalena, Santa Mariana, Santa Maria and Santa Mercedes offered weekly sailings on a 26-day round trip cruise which could also be booked on a port-to-port basis.

They were among the first ships designed to carry containers, but due to the lack of facilities at most ports, they each had four large cranes capable of handling 20-foot containers. They also carried bulk liquids, bananas and other general cargo. The passenger lounge was on Bridge Deck, "The Club" and dining room on Promenade Deck and swimming pool on A-Deck. The 48 staterooms were on Bridge, Sun and A-Decks, all with windows and private facilities.

Grace Line's passenger business was sold to the American-flag Prudential Lines in 1969, and soon after the Santa Rosa and Santa Paula were up for sale. Santa Magdalena, Santa Mariana, Santa Maria and Santa Mercedes were placed on a new 10-week round trip itinerary from Vancouver and the U.S. west coast through the Panama Canal and completely around South America. In 1977, the quartet were bought by the Delta Line of New Orleans and continued on the same circuit voyages until 1984.

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Sample minimum one-way fares from New York to Callao: First class $575; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.

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Go to Grace Line sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:

Santa Rosa Grace Line Built: 1958 by Newport News SB & DD, Newport News VA, USA Gross tons: 15371 Length: 584ft (178m) Width: 84ft (26m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 20kn Power: 22000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 300 First End of service: Laid up 1971; sold 1975 as Regent Rainbow then The Emerald; scrapped 2012 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Santa Paula Grace Line Built: 1958 by Newport News SB & DD, Newport News VA, USA Gross tons: 15366 Length: 584ft (178m) Width: 84ft (26m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 20kn Power: 22000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 300 First End of service: Laid up 1971; sold 1972 as Kuwait Marriott Hotel; scrapped 2002 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Santa Magdalena Grace Line Built: 1963 by Bethlehem SB, Sparrows Pt MD, USA Gross tons: 14443 Length: 547ft (167m) Width: 79ft (24m) Draft: 29ft (9m) Speed: 20kn Power: 19800 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines single screw Passengers: 127 First End of service: Laid up 1984; scrapped 1988 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Santa Mariana Grace Line Built: 1963 by Bethlehem SB, Sparrows Pt MD, USA Gross tons: 14442 Length: 547ft (167m) Width: 79ft (24m) Draft: 29ft (9m) Speed: 20kn Power: 19800 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines single screw Passengers: 127 First End of service: Laid up 1984; scrapped 1988 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Santa Maria Grace Line Built: 1963 by Bethlehem SB, Sparrows Pt MD, USA Gross tons: 14442 Length: 547ft (167m) Width: 79ft (24m) Draft: 29ft (9m) Speed: 20kn Power: 19800 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines single screw Passengers: 127 First End of service: Laid up 1984; scrapped 1988 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Santa Mercedes Grace Line Built: 1964 by Bethlehem SB, Sparrows Pt MD, USA Gross tons: 14442 Length: 547ft (167m) Width: 79ft (24m) Draft: 29ft (9m) Speed: 20kn Power: 19800 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines single screw Passengers: 127 First End of service: Converted to training ship 1984 as Patriot State; scrapped 2011 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.