What Happened to the Cruise Ship Astoria?

By Michael Ferguson

The cruise ship Astoria was a vessel that began operations in the early 1950s. It was one of the first large-scale passenger liners to be used for transatlantic travel.

Built by Italian shipbuilders, the Astoria was an impressive sight, with its two decks, eight restaurants and luxurious accommodations. The cruise ship was a favorite of travelers due to its high levels of comfort and convenience.

However, the Astoria never had an easy time on the seas. In 1953, it ran aground off the coast of Norway due to crew negligence.

Then in 1957, it suffered a major engine fire that caused extensive damage to its hull and interior. Despite these setbacks, it continued to sail until 1960 when it was retired from service.

In 1965, the Astoria underwent an extensive refit in order to become a floating hotel and casino in Miami Beach. Unfortunately, this venture proved unsuccessful and the vessel was sold for scrap in 1970. It was then towed to a scrapyard in Genoa, Italy where it eventually met its fate as scrap metal.

Conclusion: The cruise ship Astoria had a long and storied career before finally meeting its end as scrap metal in Genoa, Italy in 1970. After years of mishaps and misfortunes, there is nothing left of this once grand vessel but memories of what could have been if it had been given more attention during its lifetime.