Re: Romanza

The pictured ship is The Regina, later Regina Prima ex President Hoover of Panama Lines.

Alexander Papayannis

Indeed while the comments posted by Finn and BWJFISHER are correct with regard to ROMANZA, Ophelia is correct. The vessel in the photo is in fact REGINA or REGINA PRIMA (depending on when the photo was taken).

Built 1939 for Panama Railroad Company (US Government) as PANAMA, to US Army Transportation Service 1941 as JAMES PARKER, returned to Panama Railroad Company 1946 as PANAMA, sold to American President Lines 1957 as PRESIDENT HOOVER, sold to Chandris 1964 as REGINA, renamed REGINA PRIMA 1972, laid-up Piraeus 1979, broken up Aliaga 1985.

The vessel in question is actually the Regina/ Regina Prima owned by Chandris Cruises. 1964-1985 ex President Hoover

Just adding to Finns comments the Romanza was layed in Piraeus in 1997 and sold to Cypriot interests.
She operated short Mediterranean cruises which i think were a reasonable success. Unfortunately on October 4 1997, whilst on a cruise she caught fire off Limassol. Sadly, the fire totally gutted the ship and she was scrapped soon after.
I last saw her in Chandris colours in Rhodes in 1988 and two photos are posted on this site.

Built originally for Hamburg America Line in 1939 from Blohm & Voss shipyards as HUASCARAN as combination cargo-passenger ship for service between Hamburg, Germany and the Caribbean. But second world war put her in service as submarine servicing ship. 1945 went to Canadian Pacific Steamships as immigrant transport between Germany and Canada. Then as Italian immigrant liner AURELIA in 1955 sailing between Italy and Australia. 1971 became Chandris cruiseship ROMANZA. 10,480 tons, 487 feet long, 17 knots, 600 passengers.