- The Last NORTH ATLANTIC Ocean Liners
- Last Ocean Liners to AFRICA & LATIN AMERICA
- To AUSTRALIA, FAR EAST & AROUND-the-WORLD
- SAILING SCHEDULES for Full Year 1966
- RANK & COMPARE the Last Ocean Liners
The Spanish Line, or Compania Trasatlantica Española, began operations in 1850 and unlike some of its larger transatlantic competitors, operated modest sized ocean liners. So it was decided in 1952 that the company would purchase two partially complete cargo ships and convert them into the passenger cargo liners Covadonga and Guadalupe, which then entered service in 1953. They replaced the three older, pre-war Habana, Magallanes and Marques de Comillas.
The pleasant and popular ocean liners were nearly identical, but Covadonga had a traditional Spanish interior while Guadalupe was more modern European. They connected the northern Spanish ports of Bilbao, Santander, Gijon and Vigo with New York either via Lisbon and Cadiz or via San Juan (originally Havana until 1963) and Veracruz. The 11 day return trip was directly from New York to northern Spain with La Coruña replacing Vigo. Together they offered a sailing about every two to three weeks.
Covadonga and Guadalupe carried two passenger classes with First class occupying Boat, Promenade and Upper Decks. This included five suites, 14 staterooms with veranda (an unusual amenity at the time) and 26 mainly outside triples with two lower beds. First class public rooms included a music salon, smoking room, veranda and dining room. The 65 Tourist class staterooms were on Main Deck and public rooms included a smoking room, lounge and dining room.
"Once you step aboard the COVADONGA or GUADALUPE you will immediately feel the sincere hospitality and you will sense traditional Spanish atmosphere in every gesture and detail. Spanish industriousness and energy have spared nothing to make you feel comfortably at home on these vessels."
The Tourist class ocean liners Begoña and Montserrat were originally completed in 1945 as Victory-class freighters, but were soon rebuilt by Sitmar Line as Castel Bianco and Castel Verde for the emigrant passenger routes from Italy. Demand outpaced their capacity so in 1957, they were bought and refurbished by the Spanish Line, mainly to transport emigrants in reasonable comfort between the United Kingdom, Spain, the West Indies, Venezuela and Colombia.
By 1973, Covadonga and Guadalupe had reached 20 years of service, so with airline and containership competition it was decided to withdraw them. In 1973/4, both Begoña and Montserrat had serious mechanical failures and were also withdrawn. All four ocean liners were broken up in Castellon, Spain.
Go to Spanish Line 1966 sailing schedules or select by ship below:
 Covadonga Built: 1953 by Soc. Euskalduna, Bilbao, Spain Go to 1966 sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Guadalupe Built: 1953 by Soc. Española de Construccion Naval, Bilbao, Spain Go to 1966 sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Begoña Built: 1945 by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards, Baltimore MD, USA Go to 1966 sailing schedules for this ship. |
 Montserrat Built: 1945 by California Shipbuilding Corp, Los Angeles CA, USA Go to 1966 sailing schedules for this ship. |