MS
Princesa Leopoldina - Later: MV Coral Princess then Millennium
Queen & Millennium
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-d-Cia.
Nacional de Nav. Costeria Autarquia Federal-d-
MS
Princesa Leopoldina
Page
Four
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Note: All photographs are from the author’s private
collection, unless mentioned otherwise!
The photograph
above was provided by Samuel Branson
The superbly designed sister ships, the 9,696
GRT (Gross Registered Ton) MS Princesa-Isabel and Princesa
Leopoldina were built for a Brazilian Shipping Company named;
“Cia. Nacional de Nav. Costeria Autarquia Federal”
based in Rio de Janeiro. Both ships were built in
The Princesa Isabel was the first to be
launched on January 18, 1961, upon completion she ran her speed
trials and she attained 17.5 knots. She was delivered to her
owners in August 1962, and soon she departed on her maiden voyage
along the South American Coast between ports on the River Amazon
and the River Plate, with ports such as; Manaus, Belem, Rio
de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires.
Here we see
the first of the pair to be built, the MS Princesa Isabel
Just two months after the launching of the
Princesa Isabel the Princesa Leopoldina was launched on March 17,
1961 and in October 1962, she commenced her maiden voyage on the
identical route. The grand total of building these two delightful
ships was ten million dollars.
Princesa
Leopoldina
As one looked at these ships were it became
immediately obvious that these ships most pleasing to the eye
considering their delightful long soft flowing lines, as well as
their beautifully flared bows combined with a well-balanced
superstructure topped with a shapely modern funnel in company
colours of dark blue with the company’s traditional yellow
“La Croix Pattée” or the “Patee Cross.” Then
there was that elegant radar mast above, but located just aft of
the bridge. There were two forward cargo holds, having a capacity
of a good 72,500 cu. ft. The Company made it well known that heir
lifeboats were notable considering there were the following; 2 X
40 person’s sea boats, as well as 2 X 80 person motor boats,
but also 6 X 80 person boats that had the “Fleming”
mechanically operated screws!
Accommodations: These fine ships
could accommodate some 200 passengers in a superb First Class
having 29 twin bedded cabins, as well as 46 three berth cabins.
Tourist Class had facilities for 280 passengers, some of cabins
were two or three berth cabins but the majority were four berth
cabins. In addition, there were 25 cabins (50 passengers) that
were suitable as interchangeable cabins between First and Tourist
as required.
Venues: There were fine spacious
lounges, such as Main Lounge, Smoking Rooms, Library, Card/games
Room, Bars and Dining Rooms for both classes. In addition there
was a separate swimming pool for each class as well as ample deck
space, etc. They were superbly planned and executed in every
sense of the word!
Troubled Times: Since commencing their
maiden voyage in 1962, their passenger loadings never reached
their full potential and their owner had great expectations from
these ships! But they for some reason they never reached their
expectations.
In due course it was decided to introduce
holiday cruises and these were reasonably popular, but somehow,
neither ship ever proved to be a financially viable in the long
run and thus the company was suffering!
Here we see
Princesa Leopoldina during a cruise at anchor fully decked with
festive flags for the cruise
Whist on
the other hand this is unusual stern view of this fine ship!
Photographer unknown – *Please read the Photo notes at the bottom of the page!
New Owner and Service: It was decided in
1966 both ships would be taken over by the Brazilian Government
owned and subsidised shipping company, “Cia. de Nav. Lloyd
Brasiliero” and they were reemployed on the South American
between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, which continued until
1968.
There was one very special voyage of great note
to all Brazilian’s, as the Princesa Leopoldina made a single
return voyage to London, taking Brazilian football supporters to
see the World Cup in 1966, and that voyage was at least one that
was officially fully booked!
However, for all the other voyages, passenger
numbers were just never good enough to support these two ships
financially, for the problem was all too obvious, for all
passenger shipping worldwide such as the great liners to the
smaller more humble ships were all feeling the pain of the Jet
travel revolution, thus the ocean travel was rapidly being
replaced by air travel and many ships were becoming obsolete and
many older ships were being sold to be scrapped.
It was decided late in 1967 that the Princesa
Isabel would be laid up I March 1968 and placed on the market.
During lay up in the first month the company removed certain
parts from the ships, such as machinery and other parts and used
them on her sister the Princesa Leopoldina. However, late in 1969
the Princesa Leopoldina was sadly also laid up and placed on the
market.
It was not until June 1970 that the Princesa
Leopoldina was sold to the China Navigation Co. (C.N. Co), part
of the famous Swire Company. They took the ship to the Taikoo
Dockyard in
When she was completed she had become like a
brand new One Class passenger ship renamed the Coral Princess and
she now accommodated just 480 passengers in complete style. Other
new additions included a brand new air-Conditioning plant, three
new generators, a 500-seat Cinema and the Restaurant had been
extended.
The all new
MV Coral Princess seen in
Photograph by &
© a ‘RobJ’
The MS Coral Princess commenced C.N.Co. (part
of the famed Swire Company) service in May, 1971, commencing a
service out of
Coral
Princess - Photo Album
Some of the
following photographs were sourced from www.wikiswire.com
and we are most grateful this fine organisation!
Above &
below: Two postcards, one obviously aimed at the Asian market and
another a more general card of the all new looking Coral Princess
Above &
below: Coral Princess seen in
Above &
below: I am told that she is seen here arriving and departing
There was no doubt that the Coral Princess was
a ship that was greatly loved and admired, as she was well
maintained and the service was excellent! But as time caught up
with her, in addition for the elite Asian market sadly her age
was catching up with her and thus it was decided to dispose of
her and sell her.
The faithful MV Coral Princess, a ship that has
served Swire’s, China Navigation Co. for a good twenty
years, was sold to Universal Boss Ltd., (Universal Summit)
The Coral Princess continued her cheap gambling
cruises for another six years, but in 1999, she was given yet
another name. The question begs why? Later we discovered that she
was getting a poor reputation and a name change was deemed to be
a great idea, just if people would be fooled! Thus she was
renamed Millennium Queen and she soon continued her cruises. But
this was not going to last, for there was not doubt that the
gloss had long been lost from this once superbly built and
maintained ship, for gabling/casino ships in those days were
rarely well looked after or maintained, and they would wait to
get things done, if they could get away with it.
The truth is that the best thing for the now
named Millennium was the breakers torches, for she had
deteriorated badly and she could never sail again! Finally on
June 28, 2001 she had been sold and arrived at the breakers yard under
tow at Alang
Even though during her last eleven years as the
Casino ship MV Cora Princess, Millennium Queen did nothing for
this once fine cruise ship, but all her days before this was most
honourable, both as the superbly built Princesa Leopoldina and
the greatly loved and usually booked out Swire’s Coral
Princess, for in both guises she was well operated, managed and
superbly maintained and both companies can be very proud indeed!
Sadly whilst she was in
MS Princesa
Leopoldina – Specifications – as built:
Passengers:
480 – 200 First Class, 280 Tourist Class.
Denny-Brown Stabilisers.
As a
perfectly balanced ship, without these ugly aft additions, but
her passengers loved the ship and that is what counts!
INDEX:
Page One …
Princesa Isabel - Later: MTS Marco Polo, Aquamarine &
Lucky Star.
Page Two …
Odysseus - Later: Lucky Star & Lucky.
Page Three …
Odysseus Photo Page & Deck Plan.
Page Four …
Princesa Leopoldina - Later: MV Coral Princess & Millennium
Queen & Millennium.
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