CMV Astoria

The cruise ship CMV Astoria (fka MV Azores) was originally built as "MS Stockholm" and launched for Swedish America Line on September 9, 1946. At the time of its launch, this was the largest Swedish passenger ship, best known for the collision with SS Andrea Doria (in 1956) which resulted in the sinking of the ocean liner.

NEWS: The shipowner Grand Circle Corporation announced that the cruise vessel leaves CMV's fleet at the end of 2018. However, in April 2019, CMV announced ship's 2020 "Baja California and Mexican Riviera" itinerary program from homeport Puerto Penasco. In January 2020, CMV announced that ends the charter deal for Astoria in October 2020.

For CMV, Astoria entered technical drydock for the last time in June 2020 (at Naval Rocha Shipyard in Lisbon Portugal).

History - construction and ownership

The 600-passenger cruise ship Astoria was built in 1948. The vessel's initial name was "MS Stockholm". It was constructed by Gotaverken (in Goteborg Sweden) for the shipowner SAL (Swedish America Line). The cruise liner was in the fleet of Classic International Cruises (1985-founded, 2012-defunct) and operated under the name "MS Athena" until 2012. In 2013, it was acquired by Portuscale Cruises (2013-founded as the first Portuguese cruise shipping company).

Over time, the vessel sailed under many different names - Völkerfreundschaft, Volker, Fridtjof Nansen, Italia I, Italia Prima, Valtur Prima, and Caribe and became famous as Stockholm because of its collision with Andrea Doria in 1956. The latter vessel sadly sank because it was seriously damaged. The collision of the two ships became one of the most notorious maritime disasters in history.

Stockholm (Azores), with LOA length 525 ft (160 m) was at the time the smallest passenger vessel deployed on the North Atlantic route. A curious fact about the cruise ship is that she was the largest passenger ship constructed in Sweden. In the beginning, Azores was planned to sail with 395 passengers, but its max passenger capacity was increased to 548 after a drydock refit.

MV Azores entered service for CMV in 2015, under long-term charter from Portuscale Cruises (Portuguese cruise ship line), and is aimed at the English speaking cruise market. The vessel is “adult only” (child-free) for passengers 16-years plus. Cruise & Maritime Voyages announced that after its 2015 summer season, the cruise ship will be renamed to “Astoria”.

In July 2016, CMV announced that the ship leaves the fleet in 2018. Following the spring 2017 season for CMV (Tilbury roundtrips March 9 through April 27, 2017), the ship was chartered for 1 year by the French company Rivages du Monde.

All CMV 2017 bookings were “buy one get one free” cruise deals - if booked by the end of July 2016. On 2017 bookings made by August 31, 2016, were offered free or half-priced car parking at Port Tilbury, plus free cabin upgrades and up to GBP 1000 in onboard credit.

Cruise itinerary program

MV Astoria itinerary program is based on cruises departing from UK ports to European destinations, such as the Mediterranean, Iberia (Portugal and Spain), British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Iceland. Departures are roundtrip from England (Hull and Tilbury-London).

During its last CMV (2-month 2016) season, the ship operated on roundtrips from Bristol (Avonmouth), following the winter docking in Greece. On March 11, the ship sailed up to Avonmouth. On March 21 started 7-day "Scottish Islands and Emerald Isle" itinerary. On March 28 started 15-day itinerary "Azores, Madeira and Portugal", visiting Oporto-Leixoes, Lisbon, La Coruna, and two Azores Islands.

Astoria ship's 2020 itinerary program is based on turnarounds (roundtrip itineraries) to Baja California and Mexican Riviera ports leaving from homeport Puerto Penasco Mexico. CMV's 12-day itinerary "Treasures of the Seas of Cortez” visits as call ports Topolobampo, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto, Santa Rosalía, Guaymas (San Carlos). With Astoria's deployment, CMV targets almost exclusively the Arizona-US market due to homeport's proximity to Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma.

In mid-July 2019, CMV offered free roundtrip bus travel to Puerto Penasco from USA (Phoenix and Tucson) plus USD 200 OBC/onboard credit for all Sea of Cortez cruise bookings made by July 30. Promo sales also included onboard gratuities and free drinks (house beer and wine by the glass at lunches and dinners). CMV Astoria cruise prices started from USD 1600 per person (double occupancy cabin rates).

Cabins

CMV places a high priority on the comfort of its guests and Astoria offers a wide variety of well-appointed, comfortable cabins which are graded according to size, facilities, and position within the ship, and designed to suit all tastes and budgets. MV Astoria has a total number of 277 cabins (of which 9 Suites, 43 Balcony, 229 Oceanview, 49 Inside) in 17 grades. Each of the cabins is air-conditioned and has private en-suite facilities, such as marble-floored bathrooms with a bath and shower, ample wardrobe and storage space. The staterooms also have music channels and a TV for in-house movies and information channels, fridge with a mini bar, a hairdryer, and a personal safe. The owner’s presidential suite, junior and balcony suites and also have a jacuzzi and a seating area.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The Olissipo Restaurant offers sumptuous meals served by Astoria's attentive restaurant staff. Dining is always a special event on board and passengers will experience high levels of gastronomic delight. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the Olissipo or alternatively in the Lotus Buffet which also provides the choice to eat "al fresco" on the Pool Deck.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Astoria offers traditional maritime experience in comfortable surroundings. Discover a wide range of cozy lounges and stylish leisure facilities. On sea days passengers may join a craft session, listen to one of CMV informative guest speakers, work off a few pounds in the gym or relax with a good book. The Calypso Show Lounge is the evening spot for cabaret performances, a show of song and dance or guest acts. For the night owls, there is dancing in the Night Club. For something more mellow, listen to your favorite melodies in ship's Sirenes Bar, try your luck in the Circe's Casino or make up a table for a round of cards in the Card Room. Other Lounges & Bars include Astoria Lounge, Captain’s Club (live music) and Aeolos Bar. Astoria also has a Beauty Salon, Sauna, Fitness Centre, swimming pool, Internet & Library, Auditorium (conference room), Chapel, boutique, and photoshop.

MV Astoria was launched on September 9, 1946. The vessel was built for Swedish America Line as "MS Stockholm" - at the time the largest passenger ship ever built in Sweden. As Stockholm, the ship was best known for the collision with SS Andrea Doria in 1956. The accident resulted in the sinking of the latter - just 5 years after its launch.

In January 2015, Cruise Maritime introduced Astoria to its fleet. The 550-passenger vessel Azores was renamed to Astoria, replacing in the CMV fleet MV Discovery (scrapped in 2015). The ship was chartered from Portuscale Cruises (long term charter agreement) as fleet’s second UK-homeported liner (together with Marco Polo). As a chartered vessel, all its management services and crewing were handled directly by CMV. Astoria's inaugural cruise was a 30-night itinerary from Plymouth England, starting on January 26, 2015 (roundtrip UK to Caribbean). For summer 2016, Astoria was chartered to Rivages du Monde (Paris City-based French travel company). CMV chartered the ship for spring and fall cruises from the UK, which continued for 5 years. For CMV, Astoria serves as an "adults only" ship (allowing 16-year-old-plus passengers only) and dedicated to the English speaking market. Ship's 1994 drydock refit and refurbishment cost ~USD 150 million.

In March 2016, after the drydock in Piraeus-Athens (Greece), the liner started a new itinerary program with roundtrips out of Bristol England to Iberia (Spain and Portugal) and also UK ports (British Isles itineraries).

The following table shows ship's last cruise for CMV UK. The 13-night/14-day itinerary (themed "Land of the Northern Lights") had prices starting from ~GBP 1430 pp / EUR 1680 pp / USD 1860 pp (double occupancy).

In December 2019, CMV homeported the Astoria ship in Puerto Penasco (Sonora Mexico), targeting almost exclusively the Arizona USA market. Shipping operations were scheduled to start on December 7 with 11-day Baja California and Mexican Riviera itinerary ("Treasures of the Seas of Cortez”).

CMV Astoria Mexico prices started from USD 1350 per person.