The 1948-built Astoria, widely recognized as the world’s oldest cruise ship still afloat, has been sold at auction for recycling. Belgian firm Galloo emerged as the sole bidder during a court-ordered auction held in Rotterdam on June 17, securing the vessel with an offer of EUR 200,000.
Laid up in the Dutch port since 2020 following the onset of the COVID crisis, Astoria—originally launched as the Swedish America Line’s transatlantic liner Stockholm—will be dismantled at a specialized recycling facility in Ghent, according to the buyer.
The ship's legacy includes one of the most infamous maritime incidents of the 20th century. On July 25, 1956, while operating as the Stockholm, the vessel collided with the Andrea Doria, the flagship of the Italian Line. The Andrea Doria sank with 46 casualties, while the Stockholm, though severely damaged at the bow, managed to reach New York carrying survivors.
Following the incident, the ship underwent extensive reconstruction and served under various operators. Her roles included service as the East German leisure vessel Völkerfreundschaft and later as the luxury cruise liner Italia Prima. Most recently, the ship was chartered by UK-based Cruises & Maritime Voyages before the pandemic halted operations.
In the aftermath of its layup, a preservation initiative backed by US investors based in Puerto Rico failed to materialize, ultimately leading to the auction and planned recycling.