The Last Ocean Liners

Italian Line

Cristoforo Colombo / Leonardo da Vinci / Michelangelo / Raffaello / Giulio Cesare / Augustus / Donizetti / Rossini / Verdi

 

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The Italian Line, or Societa di Navigazione Italia enjoyed enormous popularity for their good food and enthusiastic service, and as well for the relatively warm weather of their mid-Atlantic crossings. Italian Line ships all featured several outdoor pools and sunny open deck areas to take advantage.

Cristoforo Colombo was a beautifully proportioned ocean liner, the finest Italy could produce, even in a land of superb artists. Its unfortunate sister ship Andrea Doria sank in a 1956 collision and was replaced by the new Leonardo da Vinci, an evolved version of the others built for the Italian Line in the 1950s. They had a strong national following.

Each class had its own main lounge, dining room and swimming pool with veranda bar. First class and Cabin class each also featured a separate ballroom and First class included an additional cocktail bar and observation lounge.

The Cristoforo Colombo and Leonardo da Vinci together offered about three sailings per month on the express route from New York to Gibraltar (6 days), Naples (8 days), Cannes and Genoa (9 days).

In 1965, the much larger and faster, ultramodern Michelangelo and Raffaello were introduced on the Italian Line's New York express service, cutting a full day off the transatlantic schedule. They were splendid twin luxury superliners with six swimming pools, original artworks, opulent public rooms and private facilities in every cabin. Service aboard Michelangelo and Raffaello was immaculate, food was flawless, wine flowed and the dance bands played on.

The two former express ships had their black hulls painted white, and were redeployed. Cristoforo Colombo took over the Adriatic route from the retiring Saturnia and Vulcania. Leonardo da Vinci was assigned to a New York to Naples run via Spain and Portugal and undertook more cruises. Soon, Michelangelo and Raffaello began to offer winter cruises from New York to the Caribbean and more ports were added to some of their Mediterranean crossings, rebranding them as "Mediterranean-Go-Rounds".

"You are in Italy the moment you step on board and enjoy the beauty of the murals, paintings and tapestries created especially for these vessels by the finest modern Italian artists. Everything aboard is conducive to the complete relaxation of both body and spirit ..."

Michelangelo and Raffaello enjoyed some success competing with the new jet airliners for a few years. Nevertheless they were built too late and were largely subsidized by the Italian government. As well, with their strict class divisions and no portholes in the Tourist class cabins, they were considered unsuitable for conversion to full-time cruise ships.
 

The Italian Line also operated the very fine ocean liners Giulio Cesare and Augustus on the important route from Italy to Brazil and Argentina. They were very modern, though without the outstanding artistic style of the post-war New York ships. Over a four year period after the 1956 loss of Andrea Doria, Giulio Cesare and Augustus also assisted on the New York run. In 1964, they were converted from three classes to two, carrying the wealthy and notables in First class and tourists and migrants in Tourist.

A lesser known Italian Line service connected Italy with the West Coast of South America via Mediterranean and Caribbean ports, through the Panama Canal and then southward to Chile. The last ships employed on this service were Donizetti, Rossini and Verdi, the "Three Musicians", which were obtained from the Lloyd Triestino line in 1963. With up to 14 intermediate ports, there was considerable cargo handling... generally manufactured goods enroute to South America and returning with cotton, minerals and coffee.

In 1973, Cristoforo Colombo was transferred to the South America service to replace Giulio Cesare, which had developed serious mechanical issues. In 1977, all Italian Line transatlantic service was discontinued for the usual economic reasons.

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Sample minimum one-way fares from New York to Genoa: First class $422; Cabin class $317; Tourist class $253; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.

Continue to the ships below ...

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

Cristoforo Colombo Italian Line Built: 1954 by Ansaldo SpA, Sestri Ponente, Italy Gross tons: 29191 Length: 700ft (213m) Width: 90ft (27m) Draft: 30ft (9m) Speed: 23kn Power: 50000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 229 First 222 Cabin 604 Tourist End of service: Sold 1977 as worker accommodations; scrapped 1982 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Leonardo da Vinci Italian Line Built: 1960 by Ansaldo SpA, Sestri Ponente, Italy Gross tons: 33340 Length: 761ft (232m) Width: 92ft (28m) Draft: 30ft (9m) Speed: 23kn Power: 52000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 413 First 342 Cabin 571 Tourist End of service: Cruising only from 1977; laid up 1978; burned and scrapped 1980 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Michelangelo Italian Line Built: 1965 by Ansaldo SpA, Sestri Ponente, Italy Gross tons: 45911 Length: 902ft (275m) Width: 102ft (31m) Draft: 34ft (10m) Speed: 26.5kn Power: 87000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 535 First 550 Cabin 690 Tourist End of service: Laid up 1975; sold 1976 as Iran military barracks; scrapped 1992 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Raffaello Italian Line Built: 1965 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste, Italy Gross tons: 45933 Length: 902ft (275m) Width: 102ft (31m) Draft: 34ft (10m) Speed: 26.5kn Power: 87000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 535 First 550 Cabin 690 Tourist End of service: Laid up 1975; sold 1976 as Iran military barracks; sunk 1983 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Giulio Cesare Italian Line Built: 1951 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy Gross tons: 27078 Length: 681ft (208m) Width: 87ft (27m) Draft: 28ft (9m) Speed: 21kn Power: 37000 bhp Propulsion: Diesel twin screw Passengers: 180 First 1000 Tourist End of service: Scrapped 1973 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Augustus Italian Line Built: 1952 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste, Italy Gross tons: 27090 Length: 680ft (207m) Width: 87ft (27m) Draft: 28ft (9m) Speed: 21kn Power: 37000 bhp Propulsion: Diesel twin screw Passengers: 180 First 1000 Tourist End of service: Sold 1976; converted to hotel ship as President then Philippines; scrapped 2011 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Donizetti Italian Line Built: 1951 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste, Italy Gross tons: 13140 Length: 528ft (161m) Width: 69ft (21m) Draft: 25ft (8m) Speed: 18kn Power: 14000 bhp Propulsion: Diesel twin screw Passengers: 136 First 536 Tourist End of service: Laid up 1976; scrapped 1977 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Rossini Italian Line Built: 1951 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste, Italy Gross tons: 13225 Length: 528ft (161m) Width: 69ft (21m) Draft: 25ft (8m) Speed: 18kn Power: 14000 bhp Propulsion: Diesel twin screw Passengers: 136 First 536 Tourist End of service: Laid up 1976; scrapped 1977 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Verdi Italian Line Built: 1951 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste, Italy Gross tons: 13226 Length: 527ft (161m) Width: 69ft (21m) Draft: 25ft (8m) Speed: 18kn Power: 14000 bhp Propulsion: Diesel twin screw Passengers: 136 First 536 Tourist End of service: Laid up 1976; scrapped 1977 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.