After more than seven decades sailing the seas, the cruise ship Astoria, formerly known as Stockholm, has completed its final voyage. The vessel, considered one of the oldest cruise ships in the world still seaworthy, was towed from the port of Rotterdam to Ghent, Belgium, where it will be dismantled by the recycling company Galloo.
Built in 1948, the 15,614-ton vessel marked a milestone in European naval history as one of the first ocean liners constructed after World War II. Initially operated by the Swedish American Line, the “Stockholm” achieved worldwide notoriety for its tragic collision with the Andrea Doria in 1956. Despite the damage sustained, the ship remained afloat and rescued 572 people, cementing its place in maritime history as a symbol of resilience and heroism.
Throughout its long history, the ship sailed under different flags, names, and purposes. From an East German holiday cruise ship as the “Volkerfreundschaft,” to floating accommodation for asylum seekers in Norway under the name “Fridtjof Nansen,” and even facing a pirate attack in 2008 as the “Athena,” the ship was constantly reinventing itself.
In 2020, the “Astoria” was laid up in Rotterdam following the bankruptcy of the shipping company Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), a victim of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It remained moored until it was finally auctioned on June 17, 2025, and awarded to Galloo for €200,000 plus outstanding port fees.
The tow from Rotterdam to Ghent, a mere 100 nautical miles, brought to an end a life at sea that had accumulated countless voyages. Over the years, it also bore the names “Italia I”, “Italia Prima”, “Valtur Prima”, “Caribe”, “Azores”, and, since 2016, once again “Astoria”.
Galloo estimates recovering more than 12,000 tons of materials, including metals, wood, glass and plastics, with a projected recycling rate of 97%, in line with industry sustainability standards.
Numerous maritime enthusiasts and fans came to the canal between Terneuzen and Ghent to bid farewell to the legendary ship, which, after multiple reinventions and historical episodes, leaves an indelible legacy in the naval history of the 20th century.
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