![]() When she arrived in New York she received a gala in the harbour reception. She was called Andrea Doria after a famous Renaissance sea-hero. The first of the two sisters entered service in early 1953. Planned to be around 30,000 gross tons, these liners would catch attention because of luxury and style – two things the Italians certainly know how to deal with. These ships were not to be the same size the Rex and the Conte di Savoia had been, or not as fast. By this time, the Italian Line had started planning two new liners for the trans-Atlantic run. The merchant fleets also seemed to regain power as the ships that had served their countries during the duration of the hostilities had been returned from their Admiralties to serve passengers, not soldiers. By then, the financial situation for most countries pointed upwards. The dust from the war did not seem to settle until the early Fifties. As Italy belonged to the states that had lost the devastating war, it would take a long time before the country, and for that matter the Italian Line, would recover. ![]() British bombers had finished her in 1944, while the Conte di Savoia had been set afire and destroyed by the Nazis the previous year. All that remained of the former Blue Riband-champion Rex was a capsized, burnt out and derelict hulk south of Trieste. When World War II was over, the Italian Line stood without their two most prestigious liners. The Cristoforo Colombo in her final days, showing much wear and tear. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |