Greek Line
The Greek Line, formally known as the General Steam Navigation Company of Greece, was a passenger ship line that operated from 1939 to 1975. The Greek Line was owned by the Ormos Shipping Company. The line operated transatlantic and short-to-long distance voyages. The company later began operating leisure cruises as the jet age replaced passenger ships as the means of transportation across the Atlantic Ocean.
Except for one ship, the Olympia, all of the ships that the Greek Line operated were second-hand purchases. One of the line's former ships, the Queen Anna Maria, became the Carnivale. The Carnivale was the second ship to sail for the then newly-formed Carnival Cruise Lines, which today is one of the largest cruise lines in the world.
None of the Greek Line's former ships are in operation. The last ship was retired and sold for scrap in spring 2009.[1]
Ships operated by the Greek Line
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Greek Line | Gross Tonnage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nea Hellas later New York | 1922 | 1939-1959 | 16,991 GT | First ship to operate for the Greek Line. She was scrapped in 1961.[2] |
| Katoomba later Columbia | 1913 | 1946-1957 | Unknown | |
| Neptunia | 1920 | 1948-1957 | Unknown | |
| Canberra | 1913 | 1948-1954 | Unknown | |
| Olympia | 1953 | 1953-1975 | 21,909 GT | The first and only newbuild for the line. She was converted into a cruise ship during the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was later known as the Caribe, Caribe I, and the Regal Empress. She was the last surviving ship until she was sold for scrap in early 2009. |
| Arkadia | 1931 | 1958-1966 | 20,260 GT | |
| Lakonia | 1930 | 1963 | 19,040 GT | Destroyed by fire during a voyage in December 1963. The fire was responsible for the loss of 128 people. The ship sank soon after.[1] |
| Queen Anna Maria | 1956 | 1968-1975 | 25,516 GT | Formerly the Empress Of Britain. She later became the Carnivale, Fiesta Marina, Olympic, and The Topaz. She was sold for scrap in 2008. |