What Has Happened to the Cruise Ship Astoria?

By Anna Duncan

The cruise ship Astoria is a classic example of the changing fortunes of marine transport. The ship was launched in 1938 and operated as an ocean liner for many years, even surviving two world wars. However, times have changed and the Astoria has had to change with them.

In the 1950s, the Astoria’s role changed from an ocean liner to a cruise ship. In this new role she traveled to exotic locations around the world, providing passengers with luxurious accommodations and entertainment. The Astoria was one of the most popular cruise ships of her time, making regular trips between Europe, North America and South America.

Unfortunately, by the late 1990s the Astoria had become outdated and was sold to a Spanish company who converted it into a floating hotel. The ship was renamed “The Don Juan de Austria” and operated as a hotel until it closed in 2008 due to financial difficulties.

Since then, the fate of the Astoria has been uncertain. In 2011 she was sold again to an Italian company who planned to use her as part of a marine park in Italy but these plans never materialized. In 2013 she was sold again and moved to Turkey where she remains today with no clear purpose or future plans for her future.

The story of the Astoria is just one example of how dramatically things can change within just a few decades in this ever-changing industry. What started out as one of the most luxurious cruise ships of its time has now become nothing more than an abandoned vessel without a clear purpose or destination in sight.

To conclude, what has happened to the Cruise Ship Astoria is that it has gone through several changes over its lifetime from an ocean liner during World War II to a floating hotel in Spain before ending up being sold multiple times without any clear purpose or destination in sight leaving its future uncertain at best.